Deep-Sea Pollution: A new study found microplastics in 92% of deep-sea animals sampled from hydrothermal vents, with contamination up to 14.7 times higher in the Indian Ocean—directly linking surface plastic to life thousands of feet down. Pacific Security & Diplomacy: Papua New Guinea’s sudden move to close Taiwan’s trade office has drawn US concern and is being read alongside China’s recent submarine missile test in the South Pacific, raising fresh questions for Fiji and the region’s security ties. Fiji Aviation Careers: Harieta Tudreu has become the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji’s first female Aerodrome Inspector, moving from runway engineering to safety regulation and spotlighting more women in aviation. Tourism Skills Push: Fiji’s tourism leaders say growth must come with better service standards, workforce training, and inclusiveness, backed by new Tourism Act 2026 reforms. Weather Tech for Remote Fiji: Fiji Meteorological Service is rolling out low-cost 3D-printed automatic weather stations (3D-PAWS) to strengthen cyclone and flood early warnings, with more stations planned. Forensics Upgrade: Fiji Police forensic crime-scene vehicles were retrofitted with equipment storage support from AFP, boosting response capacity across divisions. Marine Protection Plans: Solomon Islands has joined the Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves (MOCOR), adding to a transboundary push to protect high-biodiversity marine areas.