Education Tech: Samoa has launched the Samoa Education Management Information System (SEMIS), aiming to give the Ministry real-time data on students, teachers and schools to improve planning, accountability and learning outcomes, with SPC support. Youth & Inclusion: More than 100 young Samoans at a UN Common Country Analysis youth consultation pushed for better jobs, stronger mental health support, improved education and skills pathways, and—crucially—greater youth participation in decisions, including access to digital technologies. Digital Payments Upgrade: BSP Cook Islands rolled out faster, upgraded 4G EFTPoS terminals (replacing older units), cutting wait times and improving merchant and customer payment experiences across the Pacific. Pacific Fisheries Science: Pacific nations are moving from a science-based tuna harvest framework to enforceable rules, with work underway on implementing arrangements for the South Pacific albacore management plan. AI Safety Watch: A report from the region highlights how AI deepfakes and impersonation scams are targeting real people online, underscoring the need for both laws and public awareness. Crypto/Finance Buzz: HTX wrapped up its TradFi “Trade to Earn” campaign, reporting 63.37M USDT trading volume, 23,477 USDT in rewards, and 22,238 USDT in fee savings.