Climate & Risk: A powerful El Niño is back in the Pacific, with forecasts saying this year could be among the strongest since 1950—raising the odds of major heat and disruption across the region. Power & Skills: Eaton and Singapore Polytechnic signed an MoU to train engineers for next-gen power systems, including 800VDC for AI-ready data centres. Crypto & Finance: HTX says its TradFi Trade to Earn Phase 2 ended successfully, returning nearly 59,000 USDT in rewards and pushing TradFi futures volume past 177 million USDT. Regional Security & Fisheries: FFA’s Operation Island Chief 2026 flagged 16 vessels of interest and led to four apprehensions, using surveillance across about 27.5 million sq km and monitoring 3,000+ fishing vessels. Ocean Science in Samoa: National Geographic Pristine Seas will survey Samoa’s newly protected marine areas over four weeks to build the science baseline for sustainable ocean management. Biodiversity Spotlight: National Geographic remote cameras recorded endangered leopard sharks in Samoan waters, adding rare photographic confirmation of the species locally. Fire Response (Savai‘i): SFESA contained two bush fire incidents in Savai‘i, including a recurring blaze at Samalaeulu, with drones used for aerial coordination. Flood Preparedness: Pacific partners are training for impact-based flood forecasting, with Fiji’s Ba Catchment selected as a pilot site. Research for Agriculture: USP research on ant-plant farming in Fiji points to antibiotic-producing microbes that could help sustainable agriculture across the Pacific.