Cook Islands election & governance: PM Mark Brown is set for a second term after his Cook Islands Party won more seats, with analysts saying cost-of-living concerns outweighed geopolitical worries over China ties and consultation with New Zealand. U.S.-Cook Islands ties: Newly appointed US Ambassador Jared Novelly met Brown to discuss ocean science, maritime security, and trade-focused cooperation, including transparent talks on “sustainable” seabed mining. Deep-sea research & seabed minerals: NOAA’s 26-day expedition in the Cook Islands EEZ returned to Rarotonga with findings from 14 dives, including new marine life data and seabed mineral insights that could shape future resource decisions. Deep-sea mining pushback: Te Ipukarea Society took Cook Islands concerns to the International Seabed Authority, opposing a US company’s attempt to pursue an exploration licence via NOAA in an area surrounded by Cook Islands, Kiribati and French Polynesia. Maritime enforcement: The High Court ordered a foreign fishing company to pay a $400,000 fine for illegal fishing and falsifying reports. Youth sport funding: Ruckstars junior rugby is getting support through Australia’s Community Grants Program and BSP, feeding into a wider youth active lifestyles push. Diplomatic updates: India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Muanpuii Saiawi, has been concurrently accredited to Niue, with earlier concurrent accreditation to the Cook Islands. Local shipping assurance: Government says a new Cook Islands Government-owned cargo-passenger vessel will not compete with a local shipping company’s services. Public finance leadership: Auditor-General David Teika Dennis resigned to become Permanent Secretary for Finance and Treasury, aiming to address public financial management capacity gaps.