Cruise and tourism: Royal Caribbean is set to expand its Australian fleet to three ships for the 2027-28 summer, with Ovation of the Seas returning to Brisbane after refurbishment and Lelepa’s opening looming as a key regional draw. Climate and environment: SPREP Director General Sefanaia Nawadra warns Pacific communities face a “fight for our lives” as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution intensify despite the region’s tiny share of global emissions. Funding and resilience planning: Palau is sending a delegation to learn from Vanuatu’s approach to coordinating climate and development financing—turning national priorities into projects, tracking progress, and improving delivery to communities. Regional diplomacy: Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu have broken ground for a new PNG diplomatic mission in Port Vila, with Vanuatu donating land and pledging VT100 million to support a permanent base and closer cooperation on infrastructure, stability and climate policy.