National Election Watch: With polling day on Wednesday, the Cook Islands election is shaping up as a tight, fragmented race, with a Cook Islands News poll showing the governing Cook Islands Party (CIP) on 30.5% and the surging Cook Islands United Party (CIUP) on 26.7%, while 25.7% of voters remain undecided—meaning a coalition looks likely. Prime Minister Preference: In a separate leaders poll, caretaker PM Mark Brown is the preferred choice at 35.2%, but a large share of voters are still undecided. Cost of Living Focus: Campaigning is being driven by everyday pressure, with cost-of-living concerns front and centre as parties fight for support across the outer islands. Deep-Sea Mining Debate: A majority of voters oppose seabed mining in a new poll, while leaders stress current work is limited to exploration and research. Critical Minerals Deal Update: A US SEC filing on a proposed US$1billion merger tied to Cook Islands deep-sea licence holders shifts the ownership description to a staged acquisition framework and sets a revised completion deadline of 8 October 2026. Sport—Netball Loss: Netball New Zealand and Cook Islands communities are mourning former Silver Ferns captain Ana Noovao, who died aged 58, remembered for her leadership and her coaching impact in the Cook Islands. Sport—OFC Champions League: Tupapa Maraerenga FC face Rewa FC in the OFC Men’s Champions League, with the tournament set to be streamed live and free on DAZN.