Breast Cancer Fundraiser: The Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation is set to host its inaugural Beehive Ball in New Zealand Parliament on Saturday, August 8, with Dame Lynda Topp and other major performers helping raise support for life-saving screening and care. Heart Health Research: A University of Otago PhD study is exploring whether bathing in naturally warm lagoon waters could support heart health for Cook Islands Māori communities, linking everyday culture with high blood pressure and heart disease risk. NCDs & Leadership: A letter raises concerns about political leadership standards at a time when non-communicable diseases remain a major public health challenge, urging candidates to model healthier lifestyles. Scabies as Public Health: A commentary argues scabies is far more than an itchy rash, linking it to serious skin infections and even conditions like kidney disease and rheumatic fever, calling for it to be treated as a priority. Dengue Risk for Travellers: Travel advisories warn Australians heading to Samoa to protect against mosquito bites amid a dengue outbreak, citing thousands of cases and hospitalisations across the Pacific. Language & Wellness: Cook Islands Māori Language Week highlights urgent support needs for te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani, with community leaders warning language loss threatens cultural wellbeing. Deep Sea Mining Debate: Pacific-wide arguments over deep sea mining continue, with the Cook Islands weighing potential economic benefits while others push for moratoriums over environmental uncertainty.