Camp Lejeune claims: Several claimants are asking a federal judge to keep U.S. settlement offers open past the Sept 27 expiry while they challenge how the Justice Department calculated (or denied) their payouts, including exposure categories that plaintiffs say cut amounts in half. Social protection for resilience: A new UN DESA policy brief says Pacific Small Island Developing States need stronger social protection to reduce poverty and help households cope with climate disasters and food, fuel and energy price shocks; coverage is especially low in places including Kiribati. Regional health access: Three Tongan patients are receiving heart treatment in Fiji after doctors determined specialist care wasn’t available at home, with the Tongan Ministry of Health covering travel and medical costs. U.S. Pacific push: The United States announced new economic, infrastructure, security and disaster-recovery initiatives after a regional tour, including major disaster relief and reconstruction support for the Federated States of Micronesia and steps to restore Peace Corps presence in Solomon Islands. Medical tourism in Fiji: Fiji’s private PSH Hospitals is drawing cardiac and specialist patients from across the Pacific, boosting regional medical travel and foreign exchange.