Pacific Security Jitters: At the Micronesia Security Dialogue on Guam, island leaders and analysts warned that Beijing–Washington brinkmanship over Taiwan could quickly become a local security problem, with China now seen as a “co-superpower” rather than a distant threat. Digital Leap for Kiribati: NEC says it has completed the 2,250 km East Micronesia Cable System (EMCS), linking Tarawa (Kiribati) with Nauru and onward through Kosrae to Pohnpei—ending reliance on satellite-only links and aiming for faster, steadier internet for digital payments and e-government. Deep-Sea Mining Pressure: A security forum heard concerns that critical-mineral mining plans are tied to future military drones and AI weapons, and that Pacific states like Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga may be “played off against each other” in negotiations. Plastic Crisis Push: Kiribati called for stronger upstream action on plastic pollution, stressing it’s largely a downstream country with limited capacity to treat waste. Jobs and Growth Strain: The World Bank warns Pacific growth is slowing under fuel costs and shocks, while youth unemployment remains stubborn—meaning Kiribati’s young population needs a real jobs agenda to pay off.