New Caledonia bailout: New Caledonia’s new president, Milakulo Tukumuli, secured an in-principle French rescue package of up to AU$900m to stabilise pensions and health as the territory warns of “brink of total collapse,” with most support expected as grants (still awaiting French parliament approval). Nickel politics: France’s Macron has reportedly ruled out Chinese investment in New Caledonia’s loss-making nickel smelters, steering talks toward Emirati and Indian bidders instead. Digital identity for citizens: France Titres launched an easier way for French nationals in French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna to certify their France Identité via app updates and a town-hall validated QR code, with activation in days. Digital duty of care: Australia circulated draft “My Feed, My Way” legislation pushing platforms to let users switch off algorithmic feeds and adding child-protection duties, including limits on harmful content. Biometrics in finance: US regulators clarified that banks and credit unions can use state-issued mobile driver’s licences and other verifiable digital credentials for customer identity checks under existing rules. Security governance: RAND Europe urged stronger justification, oversight and human-rights safeguards as biometric ID, digital ID and AI spread in security and policing. Cybercrime and AI: Google warned agentic AI is accelerating credential theft, with attackers coordinating mass harvesting campaigns in under six hours.