Pre-COP31 Diplomacy: Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu kicked off a pre-UN climate meeting in Fiji with only two non-Pacific leaders attending, as Climate Minister Chris Bowen defends a reported $20m+ price tag and pushes the Pacific’s message ahead of COP31. Climate Displacement & Resilience: In Fiji, cyclone-damaged Nabavatu residents remain in tent settlements after 2021 ground failure, highlighting how rising seas and heavier downpours are driving displacement and straining basic housing and services. Deep-Sea Mining Rules Race: A new push to “write the rules” for seabed minerals is intensifying, with Nauru-linked legal action against the International Seabed Authority and broader debate across the Pacific over whether extraction can proceed without undermining sovereignty and marine protection. Ocean Conservation vs Jobs: Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. says Pacific states must invest in both marine protection and “production” industries, pointing to sanctuary expansion and the High Seas Treaty as conservation anchors. Human Rights Implementation: Solomon Islands backed 140 of 181 UN Human Rights Council recommendations but noted 41, citing limited capacity to adopt sensitive legal and social changes without support. Infrastructure for Industry: The Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility highlights a pipeline of upcoming projects and renewed focus on renewable energy and rural connectivity to help unlock private-sector growth.