US Visa Bonds for Pacific Travellers: The US has made its refundable visa bond programme permanent for B-1/B-2 business and tourist applicants from PNG, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, requiring about K88,200 (US$20,000) to discourage overstays, while stressing it is not a travel ban. Pacific Digital Connectivity: Australia says all 18 Pacific Islands Forum members are now connected to undersea telecommunications cables for the first time, backed by 10,300+ km of new cable work and $500m+ since 2018, including links for Tuvalu and Naoero. PIF Split Over China Missile Test: Pacific foreign ministers in Fiji failed to agree on a joint statement condemning China’s July ballistic missile test near Tuvalu’s EEZ, with New Zealand’s Winston Peters accusing “China-friendly” states Kiribati and Naoero of blocking consensus. Tuvalu Net-Zero Push at IMO: Tuvalu is proposing tougher IMO shipping net-zero rules, including higher compliance costs and a revised 2028 step, ahead of MEPC 85. US Tuna Treaty Payouts: The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency says it has delivered a second 2026 payout of US$50.42m to Pacific parties under the US-Pacific Tuna Treaty, with funds placed in term deposits and further distributions planned. Climate Diplomacy Ahead of Pre-COP: Australia’s Penny Wong urges world leaders to “come to the Pacific” for October pre-COP meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu, arguing leaders must see climate impacts firsthand. Solar for Disaster Response (Fiji): Fiji Solar Scholars helped install a solar PV system at FCOSS in Suva to keep disaster coordination running during power outages and ease high electricity bills. Nauru Renamed Naoero: Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, updating the country code from NRU to NRO and the people’s name to dei-Naoero.