Medicaid & welfare IT procurement: A Guam opinion piece questions how a 196-page request for proposals for a new computer system could still leave families paying twice—once in costs and once in lost competition—highlighting how outdated, disconnected eligibility processes affect Medicaid, food assistance, and cash aid. Disaster recovery & health security ties: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met Pacific partners including the Federated States of Micronesia, surveying recovery after Typhoon Sinlaku in Chuuk and signaling over $100 million for relief and reconstruction under the Compact of Free Association. Public health & waste: FSM rolled out Plastic Repurposing Training Workshops across Yap, Chuuk, Kosrae, and Pohnpei to turn PET waste into crafts and reduce single-use plastics, aligning with Micronesia Clean Up Day. Teacher wellbeing linked to learning: A Pacific literacy and numeracy report in Suva warns that heavy workloads, staffing gaps, absenteeism, and limited resources are stressing teachers—affecting student achievement alongside hunger and emotional wellbeing. Health diplomacy pressure: Leaked claims tied to China’s Taiwan strategy allege payments to Micronesia to influence World Health Assembly positions, including requests to keep Taiwan-related issues off the agenda. Regional fisheries & deep-sea mining: CNMI says it gained Micronesian Forum backing for sustainable commercial fisheries and wants more scientific data before moving ahead with deep-sea mining in the Marianas. Climate risk to health: ChildFund New Zealand warns El Niño could worsen drought, rainfall extremes, and drinking-water pressure across parts of Micronesia, threatening children’s health and food supplies.