US–Pacific Diplomacy: New US Ambassador to New Zealand Jared Novelly says the Cook Islands is “either 1a or 1b” on his priority list, with plans to travel soon to the Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa to present credentials, while hinting at potential US business interest tied to seabed resources. Tourism Data Skills: The Pacific Tourism Organisation wrapped a five-day Pacific Tourism Data Initiative workshop in Nadi, training tourism research and statistics officers from Niue and nine other Pacific countries to strengthen evidence-based tourism planning. Regional Sport Pathways: Strongman Samoa’s co-founder says the new Pacific Strongest competition is helping athletes from Niue and across the region get more chances to compete, including sand-based challenges that push first-timers. Travel Access Snapshot: A Henley Passport Index update places Pakistan at 100th, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival/ETA access to 30 destinations—listing Niue among VOA options. Health & Travel Context: A global obesity roundup highlights Nauru as facing an extreme obesity burden, a reminder that health pressures shape travel and visitor planning across small Pacific states.