Cook Islands–Fiji Sports: Ridgeline senior Aliana Vakaloloma returns to girls soccer after training with Spokane Zephyr FC and playing for the Fiji national team, adding another milestone to her fast-rising career. Aviation Costs: International airfares for New Zealanders jumped 21.5% year-on-year to August, driven by fuel and rising aviation system charges, even as travel demand stays strong. Deep Sea Mining Protest: Greenpeace activists occupied a New Zealand government-owned research vessel in Wellington, protesting deep sea mining plans tied to an American company and warning of irreversible damage to the Pacific. Cook Islands–China Diplomacy: The Cook Islands High Commission in Fiji hosted China’s BBNJ envoy Yi Xianliang, briefing Pacific missions on China’s bid to host the permanent BBNJ secretariat. Planning Tool: LiDAR Cook Islands has gone live, delivering detailed 3D mapping to support land and near-shore planning. Local Governance & Economy: Public consultation is underway on the future of Punanga Nui Market, with new surveys for vendors and users following Stage 1 upgrades. Health: The Te Marae Ora mammogram programme screened 398 women and flagged follow-up needs, including repeat scans, ultrasounds and biopsies. US–Penrhyn Wharfs: The US ambassador says Washington is not discussing a military base at Penrhyn/Tongareva, stressing security talks focus on fisheries and narco-terrorism. Regional Media & AI: Pacific leaders at the PINA media summit urged journalists to verify facts and use AI responsibly, not as a replacement for human judgement. Tourism Leadership: CITIC re-elected Liana Scott as president for 2026/27, with priorities including workforce pressures, policy reform and destination sustainability.