Trade & Payments: Bank of the Cook Islands Trade Days opened at Punanga Nui Market with a record 111 vendors, celebrating 25 years of the only locally owned bank in the Cook Islands, plus new digital payment tools and a “Rent a Plate” dishwashing station aimed at cutting single-use plastic. Banking Modernisation: BSP Cook Islands says upgraded 4G EFTPoS terminals (replacing older units since February 2026) are delivering faster, smoother transactions for merchants and customers, as part of a wider regional payments rollout. Water Tariffs Clarity: To Tatou Vai pushed back on social media claims that residential water tariffs will jump from $1.40 to $1.90 per cubic metre in October, saying the 2026 annual review kept the tariff unchanged and that outdated forecast documents were being misread. Climate Finance Skills: MFEM and the Ministry of Education signed a Green Climate Fund Enhancing Direct Access agreement to train builders and inspectors on climate-resilient building codes via CITTI. Health & Outer Islands: Te Marae Ora and the Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation signed an MOU to co-fund airfare costs for Pa Enua women to travel to Rarotonga for breast screening. Deep-Sea Minerals Debate: Te Ipukarea Society and the Seabed Minerals Authority briefed the tourism sector on deep seabed mining, stressing the need for caution, clearer national dialogue, and science-led safeguards. Regional Security Context: A Pacific security expert warned that the region’s “crowded” defence architecture is getting more complex, with Pacific priorities at risk of being sidelined as alliances expand.