Tuvalu PM & health priorities: In his Independence Anniversary address, Feleti Teo said Tuvalu’s development should be judged by education and health outcomes, alongside upgrades to classrooms and water storage, and a push to strengthen national health planning. Pandemic preparedness for the Pacific: WHO and partners unveiled a $35.99m Pandemic Fund-backed, 12-country Western Pacific project to boost disease surveillance, labs, and emergency response so outbreaks are caught early. Climate as a health emergency: WHO’s Western Pacific director urged Pacific leaders to treat climate change as health action, calling for climate-resilient health services and aligned climate-health financing. Tuvalu’s legal fight for survival: Teo told the UN General Assembly that the UN’s Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise recognizes continuity of statehood and maritime boundaries—key protection for low-lying nations facing territorial loss. Cancer early detection in the region: Fiji’s paediatric oncologist warned that many children still arrive late for treatment, urging parents to watch for warning signs like unexplained bruising, persistent fevers, weight loss, and vision changes. Water, gender, and climate justice: Pacific research highlights that women are often excluded from water decisions, even though they hold key household knowledge—fueling wider health and climate impacts. Pre-COP focus on 1.5°C: Pacific leaders meeting ahead of COP31 are pushing to keep warming as close as possible to 1.5°C, warning there’s no “safe” future above it for atoll nations.