Vanuatu–France Legal Fight: Vanuatu says it will take its decades-old sovereignty dispute with France over Matthew and Hunter islands to an international court after talks failed, arguing island ownership would also decide rights to surrounding waters and resources. Vanuatu Opposition Pressure: Opposition Leader Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau demands a government apology over what he calls mishandling and misleading claims during Matthew and Hunter negotiations, including calls for PM Jotham Napat to apologise at Independence Day. Regional Ocean Conservation: Solomon Islands has joined the Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves (MOCOR), a massive transboundary marine protected area led by PNG, Vanuatu and Fiji, though details on enforcement and governance remain thin. Pacific Security Context: China’s missile test continues to spark pushback across the region, with Pacific leaders warning against militarising the “blue continent” and urging stronger regional responses. Vanuatu Tourism–Agriculture Link: The Department of Tourism met hospitality operators in Port Vila with Agriculture and Biosecurity to tackle the weak, unreliable supply of local produce—especially vegetables and eggs—holding back tourism value chains. Governance & Accountability: A Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion heard concerns about aggressive outsiders infiltrating campus protests, while universities discussed how to manage encampments peacefully.