Defense & Security: US, Japan and South Korea ran “Freedom Edge” drills in the Sea of Japan, rehearsing ship/air/cyber coordination, then North Korea followed with missile tests over the same waters—raising pressure around the Korean Peninsula. Deep-Sea Mining & Permits: The US is accelerating seabed mining licensing and permits under a new push to move from applications to commercial recovery, with a key question being how fast approvals can happen without weakening environmental review. Local Voice in Resource Deals: Guam’s governor says she learned about planned seafloor mining leases through the news, highlighting how territorial leaders can feel sidelined even when federal rules say community support is required. Pacific Trade Strategy: Washington is shifting its Pacific engagement toward private-sector development and “commercial diplomacy,” including trade and investment summits and digital connectivity support. Nauru–Israel Diplomacy: Naoero/Nauru opened its embassy in Jerusalem, with Vice President Lionel Aingimea and Israel’s FM Gideon Sa’ar framing the move as a major diplomatic milestone. Regional Weather Resilience: Pacific meteorological leaders met to strengthen early warning systems and forecasting, with Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu reporting upgrades including a new multi-hazard centre and AI-assisted monitoring. Health & Mobility: Tonga patients are traveling to Fiji for heart care not available at home, with costs covered by Tonga’s Ministry of Health. Tourism & Visas: CNMI’s bill would add the Philippines to the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program and expand eligibility to several other countries to boost travel and tourism links.