New Caledonia Politics: Parties have filed their final line-ups for the 28 June provincial elections, with the French High Commission listing 24 political groupings and the South province set to fill 40 seats before Congress seats are allocated. Justice & Independence Tensions: A Paris court dropped all charges against pro-independence Kanak leader Christian Téin and 13 others over the May 2024 unrest, but the prosecution is appealing—keeping the case a live political fault line ahead of the vote. Social Security Funding Shift: The government has approved a draft to create a CAFAT compensation fund that would give Congress control over social security and disability budget allocations by pooling revenues now routed to public bodies. Pacific Diplomacy: Pacific leaders renewed calls for global peace through the Ocean of Peace Declaration, warning rising fuel and freight costs are hitting small economies at the end of supply chains. Tourism & Community Rules: Carnival has warned cruise passengers visiting Lifou (New Caledonia) to follow a “respectful” dress code, limiting swimwear to beaches/pools and banning revealing items and topless sunbathing. Energy Transition Debate: Indigenous voices are pushing back on seabed mining, citing sovereignty and ecosystem risks, with New Caledonia’s 50-year commercial seabed mining ban highlighted as a major precedent.