Alcohol Licensing & Local Business: Guam’s Alcoholic Beverage Control board approved eight applications, including an upgraded class five off-sale license for Cost.U.Less Hagåtña, a takeover license for Tuna Cafe in Tamuning, and a new beer-only vendor approval for Scoop’D at the Micronesia Mall Food Court. Ocean Conservation & Data for Policy: National Geographic Pristine Seas is launching a first comprehensive baseline study of Tokelau’s reefs and deep-sea environments to support future marine protection, including a national ocean policy and marine spatial plan. Deep-Sea Mining Pressure: Environmental and community groups are urging CNMI Gov. David Apatang to use federal authority to halt the PACM-2 deep-sea mining lease sale near the Mariana Trench, ahead of an Oct. 19 deadline. Social Protection for Resilience: A UN DESA brief says Pacific SIDS need stronger social protection systems to cut poverty and better absorb climate and economic shocks, noting coverage is high in Palau and the Cook Islands but below 30% in places including FSM and Kiribati. U.S. Pacific Economic Shift: The U.S. says it will deepen Pacific engagement with more private-sector-led growth and trade-focused “commercial diplomacy,” alongside energy security and maritime cooperation. Regional Security & China: Pacific leaders backed a statement at the PIF summit over China’s intercontinental ballistic missile test overflying the region without notice, with only Nauru and Kiribati declining to sign. Weather & Early Warning: Pacific meteorological leaders meeting in Tonga pushed for stronger early-warning systems and regional cooperation as El Niño impacts and extreme weather risks build.