Deep-Sea Mining & Oceans Governance: The new High Seas Treaty will exempt deep-sea mining from stricter environmental impact assessment rules, raising fresh alarm that seabed protection could fall behind as the International Seabed Authority drafts a mining code. Pacific Security & Missile Risk: China’s submarine-launched nuclear-capable missile test has triggered regional pushback, with Taiwan tracking the flight path and Australia and Solomon Islands leaders warning it could destabilise the Indo-Pacific and fuel nuclear proliferation. Australia–Pacific Defence Deals: Australia’s push to deepen ties continues after the Fiji “Ocean of Peace” alliance, with leaders now turning to the Solomon Islands as concerns grow over China’s expanding security footprint. Nauru in the Crosshairs: Taiwan’s intelligence claims the missile’s splashdown was near Nauru, while Australian ministers say they raised concerns with Beijing but won’t publicly detail where it landed. Banaba Mining Shift: Banaban leaders say plans to explore resource extraction have moved into a new phase, with the Rabi Council dropping Centrex and working with Kiribati and Nauru on a feasibility study. Fiji Fiscal Pressure: A World Bank report urges decisive action to cut Fiji’s debt back toward pre-pandemic levels, warning current trends could threaten recovery and sugar-industry viability. Nauru Health: Nauru’s health chief is urging the public to act against dengue.