In September, all members of the Pacific Islands Forum were connected for the first time to the global network of submarine telecommunications cables. Among them is Tuvalu, a small state made up of nine islands where the first international cable entered service last year. The Vaka connects the capital, Funafuti, with the Bulikula cable system and is funded by contributions from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan, with the participation of Japan and Google.

The Japanese have been able to verify in recent days that Calbee's potato chip bags have suddenly changed their design. Where previously there were bright colors, eye-catching illustrations and intense orange tones, now more sober, almost bare packaging appears, dominated by black and white. The gesture, seemingly minor, responds to a decision that is unusual in the world of food marketing: to minimize ink usage to ensure continuity of supply.