Pacific Defence Drama: New Zealand’s Winston Peters says China’s recent ballistic missile test shouldn’t be “normalised,” after reports the missile flew over Nauru’s region and landed near Tuvalu and Kiribati—while New Zealand confirms it’s in exploratory talks about joining Australia and Fiji’s new “Ocean of Peace Alliance.” Australia-Fiji Security Move: Australia and Fiji signed the Ocean of Peace pact in Suva, tying their security with “mutual defence” and allowing other Pacific states to join, as Canberra pushes a wider Pacific security posture. Nauru in the Missile Path: Regional leaders and analysts condemned the test as landing in the “blue continent” heartland, with China insisting it targeted no country—yet the launch has intensified calls for stronger regional coordination. Pacific Leaders on the Calendar: Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese is set to host Pacific leaders in Brisbane (PNG, Samoa, Tonga) alongside major rugby league events, as new defence treaties with PNG and Fiji come into force. Sport & Community Spotlight: Weightlifting in the Pacific gets a feel-good boost: New Zealand’s Pasifika lifters are rising after local access barriers were tackled, and the story nods to Nauru’s Marcus Stephen and the region’s coaching legacy.