Plastic crisis talks: Kiribati is calling for stronger global action upstream to tackle plastic pollution, warning that with limited land and treatment options, the country is stuck dealing with plastic that washes ashore—about 13% of its waste stream, adding roughly 9.7 tonnes of plastic each day to landfills and the environment. Pacific economy pressure: A new World Bank update says growth across the Pacific is losing momentum, with fuel costs, weaker tourism, inflation, and repeated global shocks pushing the region’s 2026 growth likely below 3%. Maternal and child health push: Fiji and Kiribati are coordinating on reducing infant deaths, improving care for pregnant mothers, and strengthening nutrition and social protection systems. Climate adaptation gap: One ongoing theme is that care services are still largely missing from climate planning like National Adaptation Plans and NDCs, even as El Niño risks hit children and vulnerable groups hardest.