Cook Islands Politics: Minister George “Maggie” Angene says he will not resign or leave the Cook Islands Party after Mark Brown’s ultimatum, and he’s floating plans for a new party—while CIP also strengthens its parliamentary position with Mauke MP Stephen Matapo joining, lifting its majority to 14 seats. US-Cook Islands Defence & Infrastructure: The Penrhyn port upgrade is being framed as “dual use,” with the US saying any future military presence is “all being negotiated,” even as New Zealand and the US jointly fund the NZ$101m project. Regional Security/Policy: New Zealand Defence Force personnel have begun work on Penrhyn under Exercise Tropic Twilight, delivering construction, health, water and hydrography support. Economy & Governance: A Cook Islands government report points to a trust-services boom driven by US asset-protection demand, with international trust registrations up nearly 90% in two years. Transport Rules: Rarotonga’s new ride-hailing service Smartie Rides is operating amid an old 1967 licensing framework, highlighting a gap in rules for app-based vehicle-sharing. Health & Society: Fiji’s HIV crisis has escalated to a national emergency, with WHO pledging continued support for expanded testing, treatment and prevention. Sports: Tonga Tala and Samoa qualify for the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027, while Cook Islands and Fiji miss out in the Oceania qualifiers.