UN Spotlight for Kiribati: Kiribati has secured a seat on the UN Commission on the Status of Women for 2026–2030, with Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing calling it a “historic” and “miracle” moment. The election puts Pacific voices at the top table as the commission’s focus heads toward gender and climate change, and Kwansing says her priorities will center on economic empowerment and stronger social protection for women facing climate and economic shocks. Pasifika Dance Festival 2026: The Pacific Dance Festival 2026 opens tonight in Māngere, kicking off a 2.5-week celebration across venues in Tāmaki Makaurau and then moving north for a Matariki programme. Festival director Iosefa Enari says this year’s line-up is the most diverse yet, with works from Papua New Guinea, Wallis and Futuna, Rotuma, Niue, and a Kiribati youth dance highlight, “Marewen.” Regional Security Debate: New Zealand’s response to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “freeloading” claim is sparking calls for a more independent foreign policy and higher funding for diplomacy, aid, and defence. Veterans’ Protest: Hundreds of Camp Lejeune toxic water victims and families are set to rally on the US Capitol, pushing lawmakers to fix long delays in compensation claims affecting hundreds of thousands.