Energy & Transport Costs: Fuel prices kept climbing across the Pacific, with Samoa moving to an “amber alert” and starting power shedding, while Fiji raised diesel caps and Nauru lifted its diesel and petrol price caps for the first time since the crisis began. Food Safety & Shipping Compliance: EU rules on freezer vessels under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1449 are set to affect about 97% of EU-listed Pacific Island-flagged vessels, after Suva hosted a two-week technical training for national authorities to keep access to the EU seafood market. Forestry & Climate Resilience: FAO backed Samoa and Fiji with a hands-on forestry exchange training on sustainable teak and pine production, aiming to close technical and data gaps and strengthen climate resilience. Regional Trade & Connectivity: The Pacific Tourism Organisation urged tighter coordination between tourism and aviation at the 81st ASPA meeting in the Cook Islands, highlighting air connectivity as a key driver for sustainable tourism growth. Critical Minerals Geopolitics: A global critical minerals boom is reshaping trade and power, with producer countries pushing to capture more value as resources become tools in supply-chain competition. Nauru & Detention Policy: A man deported to Nauru from Western Australia has begun a hunger strike, raising fresh scrutiny of conditions in the island’s detention system. Pacific Diplomacy: Solomon Islands PM Matthew Wale announced a “reset” with Australia and work on a new comprehensive treaty, signaling a shift away from a prior pro-China security deal.