Mega-drought science: New research links the “Long Pause” in Polynesian voyaging to a major drought in Samoa and Tonga, with wetter islands ahead helping trigger the eastward migration that shaped the Pacific. Pacific rugby league investment: Tonga’s PM says the new A$250m Pacific Rugby League Partnership will upgrade Teufaiva Stadium and fund school and youth pathways across Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and PNG. NRL as diplomacy: A separate report frames the PNG Chiefs push as “soft power” in a China-influence “knife fight,” with funding tied to security-pact politics. Emergency broadcasting funding gap: Pacific broadcasters are relied on for disaster alerts, but research warns they face a “recognition without resources” problem that can delay life-saving warnings. Samoa conservation boost: Samoa Conservation Society becomes BirdLife’s 125th partner, aiming to strengthen protection for the Manumea and expand technical support. Hydro-met awards: Nominations open for the Pacific Meteorological Council Awards 2026, spotlighting weather and climate services that support emergency action. Taro under climate pressure: USP research is using upgraded crop modelling to help Pacific farmers grow more resilient taro as soils and rainfall patterns shift. Ocean governance: A Pacific learning exchange in Rarotonga highlights Indigenous-led conservation, including customary marine management like rāhui. Reef heat risk: Analysis flags rising coral bleaching danger in Asia and the Pacific as El Niño adds extra ocean heat stress.