Pacific Islands Forum fallout: Palau’s Forum chair Surangel Whipps Jr says the real test is what people see in villages, schools and ports after leaders’ climate, ocean and security promises. Climate & oceans: Tonga, FSM and French Polynesia signed a climate-resilient coral reefs pledge, while leaders backed urgent action to keep 1.5°C alive and strengthened a Pacific oceans statement on fisheries, deep-sea minerals and marine pollution. Gender & community resilience: A new Pacific Pact on Gender and Climate Action puts women’s leadership and gender-responsive climate data and finance at the centre of COP31 prep. West Papua pressure: Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders pushed for a UN human rights commissioner visit to West Papua by end-2026, warning Indonesia’s MSG status could be reviewed in 2027. Regional security & crime: Palau’s justice minister says transnational crime needs political will, better coordination and funding for policing, including intelligence sharing. Deep-sea mining debate: Greenpeace warns a US–NZ port deal in the Cook Islands could open the door to deep-sea mining, and campaigners say Indigenous knowledge must guide decisions. Diplomacy & tech: Taiwan is expanding “drone diplomacy,” including drone donations and overseas training branches, with Palau linked to the push. Solomon Islands politics & aid: Leaked messages show Australia fast-tracking a sweeping $1b treaty package to bolster Prime Minister Matthew Wale after a no-confidence challenge collapsed.