Bilateral Health & Resilience Talks: India’s High Commissioner to Kiribati, Suneet Mehta, met Kiribati officials in Tarawa to expand cooperation across multiple sectors, reaffirming the close partnership and exploring new opportunities. Climate, Water and Health Risk: Pacific leaders are bracing for El Niño, with warnings that drought and heavy rain can quickly turn into unsafe drinking water, food shortages, and disease spread—especially for children in places like Kiribati where unsafe water is already common. Smaller States Health Workforce Focus: At the Pacific Islands Forum, Smaller Island States leaders agreed to prioritize health workforce support alongside transport, fisheries, procurement, and climate finance—pushing for practical regional mechanisms to strengthen care delivery. Regional Summit Disruptions: The PIF leaders meeting in Palau is starting amid major absences and political strain, raising concerns that health and climate priorities could lose momentum while diplomacy and security tensions— including Taiwan–China disputes—take center stage. Digital Connectivity for Services: A landmark East Micronesia Cable project is set to improve reliable internet for Tarawa and other communities, supporting essential services that depend on connectivity.