Pacific Health & Living Standards: Economists say average life expectancy across Pacific Island countries has climbed to 68.8 years from 52.7 in 1960, with Solomon Islands moving from below the regional average to above it, while Naoero’s gains lag and its ranking has slipped sharply. Ocean Conservation Finance: The Bezos Earth Fund announced US$25m in new grants to protect tropical Pacific waters across Cook Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu, supporting marine protected areas and work under the UN High Seas Treaty. Earthshot Prize Spotlight (Niue): Niue Ocean Wide Trust has been named a 2026 Earthshot Prize finalist for “Revive our Oceans,” backing long-term ocean protection through Ocean Conservation Commitments. Regional Cooperation & Media: SPREP’s Pacific Editors Forum adopted the Savusavu Loss and Damage Media Forum Declaration, urging Pacific media to keep amplifying climate, biodiversity and pollution impacts. Trade & Mobility (Pacific to NZ): Labour says it would expand visa-waiver travel for Pacific Islands Forum citizens to make it easier and cheaper for families to reconnect in Aotearoa for major life events.