Vanuatu Independence Day & health-tech ties: India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar sent Independence Day greetings to Vanuatu and highlighted a Centre of Excellence in IT in Vanuatu, plus healthcare aid links—an example of how digital and health capacity-building are being bundled for Pacific partners. Pacific maternal and child health handover: A regional council in the area is handing maternal and child health services back to the state government, raising concerns about whether community-based support for new parents will be maintained. Kava safety research: New findings on kava’s complex chemistry underline why it’s hard to pin down which compounds may relate to rare liver injuries—useful context for Vanuatu’s ongoing interest in traditional and wellness kava use. MSG leadership in Port Vila: The Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat welcomed its new Director General, Dr Anna Naupa, the first female and first ni-Vanuatu to lead—an MSG governance update with potential knock-on effects for regional health cooperation. Access to care beyond clinics: Reporting from the Pacific region also flags that reliable electricity, not just internet, is the real barrier to keeping health facilities connected—an issue that matters for telehealth and service continuity. Mental health data caution: A global depression ranking story reminds readers that low reported numbers can reflect limited screening, not necessarily better wellbeing—relevant for how health systems measure and respond to mental health.