Pacific Islands Forum in Palau: The 55th leaders meeting opens amid major absences, with at least five heads of state skipping or pulling out, including Samoa’s prime minister, as Taiwan-China tensions and disagreements over a China missile test hang over the agenda. Regional unity under strain: Solomon Islands PM Matthew Wale left Palau hours after arriving to face a no-confidence motion at home, while Kiribati’s president sends a senior official instead. Energy and costs: A Pacific peace and security report warns fuel shocks and rising living costs could spill into wider social and political instability, urging faster moves toward renewable energy. Samoa culture spotlight: Samoa launches the Measina Festival, shifting the long-running Teuila celebration to a more community-centred focus on culture, traditions, and youth identity. Human rights in schools: Samoa’s Ombudsman meets the education minister to expand the Friendly Schools Programme and strengthen human rights awareness for students. Power outages: EPC reports two burnt power poles causing weekend outages in parts of Samoa, with repairs underway and restoration completed in affected areas. Sport—OFC U-19 in Apia: The OFC U-19 Men’s Championship kicks off in Samoa with qualification spots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup at stake.