Climate Scholarship: A Samoan student, Lagi Talalupe (19), is one of three recipients of the 2026 Tower Climate Change Scholarship at the University of Waikato, planning to return home to help tackle climate impacts in Pacific Island communities. Local Fire & Safety: A major fire destroyed the Manu’a Store building in Tafuna on Aug. 13; officials say the cause and full damage assessment are still pending, while community support continues and the store had been reopened after prior environmental health corrective steps. Water Quality Training: AS-EPA hosted a six-hour Clean Water Act training with USEPA Region 9, covering permits and compliance topics like Section 401 certification, mixing zones, TMDLs, and industrial effluent limits, plus follow-up inspections of ASPA and StarKist facilities. Deep-Sea Mining Pushback: Pacific and global voices are intensifying opposition to deep-sea mining—African countries back a precautionary pause at the ISA, bishops urge prudence over irreversible harm, and American Samoa-linked concerns grow as the U.S. moves toward seabed lease decisions. Fisheries Monitoring: Samoa is urging stronger fish stock monitoring and EEZ security at WCPFC, coordinating regional efforts against illegal fishing and trafficking, and highlighting the need for better data to keep fisheries sustainable. SPREP Leadership: Wallis-et-Futuna chairs SPREP’s 5th Executive Board Meeting in Samoa, focusing on climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and disaster risks. Scholarships for Fisheries Skills: The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council opened applications for U.S. Pacific Territories Fishery Capacity-Building Scholarships for 2027–2028, supporting local students to manage fisheries and related resources.