Maritime Security: Solomon Islands says it will sign a U.S. Coast Guard “ship rider” deal next week, bringing U.S. patrols and local police together to tackle drug trafficking, people smuggling and illegal fishing—after earlier U.S. boardings of Chinese fishing boats drew protests from Beijing. Deep-Sea Mining Tensions: French Polynesia is preparing to challenge an American startup’s seabed mining proposal just beyond its borders, echoing wider Pacific concerns that high-seas mining plans could bypass local input—an issue that also directly touches the Cook Islands’ wider deep-sea debate. Cook Islands Politics & Governance: Cook Islands election season is heating up with multiple candidate moves and youth engagement: former finance secretary Sholan Ivaiti is contesting Titikaveka, Chris Denny is standing for the Progressive Party, and the National Youth Council’s Kai Vānanga sessions put environment, economics, community and culture at the centre of candidate discussions. Local Business & Community: Paradise Supplies marked 10 years in hospitality supply, highlighting its growth from a container operation to an online ordering platform handling 600+ orders a month. Public Safety Support: Cook Islands Police received two new Toyota Landcruiser SUVs from Australia under the Oa Tumanava Partnership to strengthen frontline operations and community engagement. Ocean Research: A month-long expedition is building a baseline of ocean conditions across the Cook Islands EEZ, measuring temperatures, currents, seafloor changes and microplastics to track climate impacts on livelihoods.