Sports & Community: A Cook Islands youth tennis team (ages 9–16) wrapped up a two-week visit to French Polynesia, mixing training, medals, and cultural exchange across Raiatea and beyond, with lagoon cruising, vanilla and black pearl stops, and family-style hospitality. Health & Lifestyle: New French Polynesia health figures show obesity climbing fast over the past decade, with adult obesity up to more than one in two, and rising diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease—fuelled by sedentary habits and unbalanced diets. Ocean Culture & Indigenous Stewardship: Rapa Nui’s marine protection push is set to expand into a vast indigenous-managed ocean reserve, with local communities holding a voting majority on a “sea council” to keep protections effective. Regional Cooperation: Samoa and France discussed fresh collaboration on education, maritime issues, security, and drug control, including ideas for university exchanges and showcasing Samoan films at a Papeete festival. Deep-Sea Governance: Te Ipukarea Society took Cook Islands concerns about seabed mining to the International Seabed Authority, challenging a U.S. company’s bid tied to an enclave of international waters near French Polynesia. Science & Tourism: Ocean conservationist Dr. Sylvia Earle says her new “Honu” submersible will make its first dive in French Polynesia later this year, aiming to make deep-ocean exploration feel safer and more responsible.