Pacific Islands Forum in Palau: Leaders’ no-shows and “wolf warrior” warnings are swirling around the 55th PIF meeting, with experts pointing to Beijing pressure as several heads of state skip in person. Taiwan at the table: Palau’s decision to keep Taiwan involved is framed as a sovereignty move, even as China signals “consequences” over Taipei’s presence. Regional diplomacy & EU ties: Pacific ACP leaders urged ratification of the EU’s Samoa Agreement, while the region also looks to deepen EU partnerships amid geopolitical uncertainty. Next host news: Nauru/“Naoero” is set to be endorsed as the next PIF host for 2028, with a likely shift in how it treats visiting media. Wayfinding & women’s navigation: Four Hawaiian women became the first known female Pwo master navigators, spotlighting Micronesian/Polynesian ocean knowledge without GPS. Arts & culture in Hawaiʻi: After storm disruptions, Creative Micronesia events are consolidated into “Super Saturday,” with hands-on weaving, drawing, printmaking, poetry, and live performances. Sports funding: Australia announced $15.6M to help Pacific athletes and officials train for Brisbane 2032 and other major games. Arts spotlight (US): LACMA’s new David Geffen Galleries open with an “Oceans Not Borders” approach to cross-cultural Oceanic art. Micronesia in sport: CNMI’s Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial scored a win in bare-knuckle boxing, representing “One Marianas, One Micronesia.”