Kanaky & West Papua Rights Push: Civil society groups at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau urged stronger action on decolonisation, human rights and self-determination, warning leaders against a “facade narrative” that claims commitments are already fulfilled; they pointed to the Pacific Peoples’ Mission to Kanaky after the 2024 unrest, including accounts of trauma, alleged law-enforcement abuses and economic hardship. Forum Reform & Climate Unity: Forum leaders backed regional reforms, stronger collective security, stepped-up climate action and more funding for the Pacific Resilience Facility, reaffirming the Blue Pacific 2050 strategy while moving the regional architecture review into implementation. UN Human Rights Visit to West Papua: Indonesia says a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to West Papua is “on the right path,” after Melanesian Spearhead Group states pressed Jakarta and warned associate-member status could be reviewed if the visit isn’t facilitated by 2027. ICJ Island Dispute With France: Vanuatu filed an ICJ application against France over sovereignty for Matthew/Hunter islands (Umaenupne/Umaeneg) and a single maritime boundary tied to New Caledonia; France says its position is “clear and firm,” and the court won’t act unless France accepts jurisdiction. Culture & Learning in Nature: A New Caledonian crow study highlights tool-making traditions and memory, adding a fresh angle on how cultural knowledge can be passed on in the wild.