Vaccinated travel rules: Cook Islands says all future tourists aged 12+ must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19, with only medical certificate exemptions, and borders won’t reopen to New Zealand quarantine-free until there’s confidence of no community transmission. Visitor economy resilience: Prime Minister Mark Brown says the country has avoided a worst-case GDP hit despite global fuel shocks, pointing to record visitor numbers and 2025 arrivals of 187,018. Fuel crisis focus: A Pacific-wide response is underway as leaders invoke the Biketawa Declaration to tackle the region’s fuel dependence and rising costs. Airport compliance: Rarotonga International Airport vaping breaches are continuing, with police warning offenders may face tougher scrutiny after multiple incidents, including alleged vaping on flights and in restricted areas. Environment education: Te Ipukarea Society marks 30 years, taking students from Apii Takitumu to the landfill and conservation area to highlight waste sorting gaps and biodiversity protection. Health watch (regional): Hawai‘i reports a travel-related dengue case on Oʻahu involving a visitor; local transmission risk is low, but officials urge travellers to prevent mosquito breeding. Tourism policy debate: A letter questions why MFEM is leading Te Paata, raising concerns about government oversight of private holiday accommodation operators. Legal case update: Lawyer says a New Zealand woman with Aitutaki links detained in the US over a cannabis conviction could be released within days after the conviction was thrown out. Sports & culture: Cook Islands’ senior beach handball team qualifies for the world championships in Croatia; Tonga’s King Tupou VI received a traditional Cook Islands welcome ahead of USP graduation.