Health & Development: New analysis shows Pacific life expectancy has climbed to 68.8 years from 52.7 in 1960, but progress is slower than in other income groups; Naoero’s gains are especially weak, sliding from among the region’s top performers to the lowest in 2023. Climate & Finance at the UN: Pacific leaders used the UN General Assembly to press for urgent climate action and scaled grants, with Tuvalu calling sea-level rise a “present reality” and Solomon Islands warning one disaster can wipe out years of development. Ocean Conservation Funding: Bezos Earth Fund announced US$25m in new grants to protect tropical Pacific waters, backing marine protected areas across Cook Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu, plus work toward high-seas protections under the UN treaty. Regional Media Leadership: Papua New Guinea journalist Neville Choi was elected president of the Pacific Islands News Association, with Solomon Islands journalist Lisa Osifelo as vice president, as PINA looks toward a PNG-focused next term. Niue Business Spotlight: A feature on Niue Honey traces how the island’s bee sanctuary and honey business is being rebuilt and scaled again after years of neglect. Pacific Trade & Partnerships: India has been placed on the strategic partner stream in the Pacific Islands Forum, with cooperation flagged in healthcare, renewables, connectivity and capacity building.