Deep-Sea Mining Push: American Samoa youth and environmental groups, backed by Greenpeace USA, confronted NOAA’s Okeanos Explorer over concerns that a proposed U.S. lease sale could pave the way for the world’s first commercial deep-sea mining in domestic waters. Pacific Security to Action: At the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, leaders and experts urged governments to turn regional security declarations into practical, year-round coordination—citing cyber threats, transnational crime, maritime risks and climate-linked challenges. Climate Overshoot Alarm: Pacific ministers warned that the world has already missed the 1.5°C goal, with UNEP reporting “overshoot” risks that could intensify sea-level, food and water crises; Tuvalu and others stressed fossil-fuel cuts as urgent, not optional. Missile Test Condemnation: Palau called for a “unified” Pacific response to China’s July ballistic missile test near Tuvalu, while Australia and others rejected claims that criticism is unfair; Taiwan also defended its Forum attendance amid Beijing pressure. Food and Water Fallout: Scientists told leaders that warming could trigger major declines in tuna and coastal catches, hitting fishing-license revenue and household protein access, alongside worsening flooding and saltwater intrusion. Tuvalu Business Angle: With climate and security dominating the agenda, the Forum’s push for funding and resilience finance—alongside renewable energy upgrades in the region—signals where future public and private investment priorities may land.