Cook Islands Election Watch: With polling showing a tight race and no clear majority, voters are weighing cost of living, water tariffs and the country’s deep-sea mining stance as the Cook Islands heads to the polls on Wednesday; Diplomacy & China-West Rivalry: PM Mark Brown defended his term amid diplomatic rifts and Beijing partnerships, with the election increasingly seen as a test of how the small state navigates intensifying China-West competition; Cost of Living & Water: Brown points to growth and welfare increases, while the opposition says it would remove residential and agricultural water use tariffs on Rarotonga and review the water utility’s structure; Deep-Sea Mining & Finance: A majority poll opposes seabed mining, while US-listed merger filings tied to Cook Islands exploration licences raise new questions about how interests are being acquired and the deal timeline; Banking & Payments: The Bank of the Cook Islands rolls out new digital payment tools (TakuEcom and TakuPOS) aimed at helping small businesses and outer islands accept card and online payments; Cyber/Connectivity: The Manatua submarine cable fault has degraded internet services in parts of the Pacific, including the Cook Islands, with repairs dependent on securing a specialist vessel; Climate Pressure: SPREP’s DG warns Pacific communities face a “fight for our lives” from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution despite minimal global emissions.