Heart Health Tech: Vanuatu has launched the HeartCare mobile app to help trained community health workers screen for heart disease risk in people’s own communities, aiming to catch high blood pressure and other risk factors earlier and link people to care. NCD Burden: A Cook Islands report highlights how non-communicable diseases are already widespread, with hypertension driving the highest number of new cases among adults. Eye Care Research: The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is working with Pacific partners to build better data on avoidable blindness using WHO tools, so governments can plan where eye care services will have the biggest impact. Obesity Alarm: A global roundup flags obesity as a major public health crisis, with several Pacific island nations among the highest-rate countries—raising the stakes for prevention and chronic disease support. Ocean & Waste: Cook Islands beach findings point to heavy plastic litter, and a separate Pacific update stresses the need for stronger action on transboundary plastic pollution as countries meet to progress a global treaty. Deep-Sea Mining Risk: New reports warn that deep-sea mining could mobilise naturally occurring radioactive materials into marine food chains, adding another health concern to the push for seabed minerals. Renewables & Lifestyle: The Cook Islands Government is accelerating solar plans to cut diesel reliance and boost renewable energy—an indirect win for long-term health and wellbeing through cleaner power. Sport & Mental Health: Cook Islands Rugby Union’s Super 10s season kicks off with a development focus that includes “Men’s Mental Health,” using sport as a community health pathway.