Pacific Islands Forum: Smaller Island States leaders met in Palau as Kiribati handed over the SIS chair to Palau, with a shared focus on building stronger economies that improve livelihoods and deepen regional integration. Regional attendance and health: New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister said some leaders’ absences from the 55th Forum are disappointing but understandable, including health-related reasons, while noting delegations remain strong. Niue remembrance: Thirty-nine memorial headstones were delivered to Niue to honour First World War servicemen, with the Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules transporting them for installation across villages—marking a sacrifice felt by about four percent of Niue’s population at the time. Health research (regional): A new analysis highlights the regional burden of spinal pain across Asia-Pacific from 1990–2023, underscoring ongoing disability impacts and the need for effective rehabilitation approaches.