Health Tech in Vanuatu: The Vanuatu Ministry of Health has launched the HeartCare app, the Pacific’s first tool of its kind, letting trained community health workers and partners screen for heart risk in local communities. It records blood pressure and other key health markers, then flags people needing follow-up earlier—aiming to tackle high rates of undiagnosed heart disease and related deaths. Digital Infrastructure: NEC will supply the I-2SEA submarine fiber-optic cable linking India (Hyderabad and Chennai), Malaysia, and Singapore, built by a consortium including Lightstorm, Microsoft, Singtel, and Tata Communications. The system is planned to enter service in 2029 to support rising demand from generative AI and cloud services. Pacific Security & Investment: Vanuatu and Australia have signed the “Nakamal Agreement” in a revised form: Vanuatu says it will not allow foreign military bases or infrastructure, while also not banning Chinese investment in critical infrastructure. Deep-Sea Mining Watch: A legal analysis warns that the deep seabed mining rush could trap small sponsoring states in costly disputes, as investor protections and ocean-protection duties under UNCLOS clash. Regional Geopolitics: A separate analysis argues the U.S. and China compete differently in the Pacific—Washington expects clearer alignment, while Beijing focuses on keeping states from undermining Chinese interests. Human Rights: Human Rights Watch says Australia rejected most UN recommendations in its latest Universal Periodic Review, including calls tied to child incarceration, offshore detention, and fossil-fuel phase-out.