Climate & Food Security: A University of Melbourne-led project is working with Samoan farmers to boost taro resilience as soils weaken and weather turns harsher, testing alley cropping with nitrogen-fixing trees, improved weed control (mulch, sheep grazing, limited herbicide), and fallow cover crops to restore soil between seasons. Child Protection Lawmaking: Parliament moves forward on an Overseas Adoptions Legislation Bill, aiming to add safeguards after concerns that some overseas adoptions lacked basic protections. Historical Abuse Redress: A Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill is also progressing, backed by a stated $533m, four-year push to improve support for survivors and strengthen the state’s redress system. Emergency Communications: Pacific broadcasters are relied on during disasters, but research warns they face a “recognition without resources” problem—critical warnings don’t help if they can’t reach people in time and in trusted formats. Conservation & Culture: A Pacific exchange in Rarotonga spotlights community-led conservation, customary sea and land governance, and tools like Rāhui as climate adaptation. Ocean & Reef Risk: New reporting highlights how El Niño can worsen coral bleaching risk across Asia and the Pacific, stressing the need for better monitoring and response. Sports Tech & Infrastructure (Regional): Tonga’s rugby league gets a major facilities boost under a Pacific Rugby League Partnership, with upgrades planned for Teufaiva Stadium and youth pathways across Samoa and the region.