Wind Propulsion for Local Shipping: bound4blue has installed a 22-metre eSAIL suction sail on the new multipurpose vessel Na Hiro E Pae, the first known wind-propelled “goelettes” style ship of its kind, linking Tahiti with the Austral Islands and aiming to cut energy use by about 10% while supporting up to 200 passengers and 1,500 tonnes of cargo. Telecom Resilience: the Manatua Consortium says a technical fault on the Manatua submarine cable (about 144 km offshore from Samoa) is degrading internet services, with Niue and the Cook Islands hit most; partners are lining up a specialist repair vessel for a permanent fix. Pacific Trade & Food Exports: Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia will host a Pacific Showcase at Fine Food Australia 2026 (31 Aug–3 Sep) bringing 15 exporters from eight economies, including French Polynesia’s Bora Bora Sea Salt, into a major buyer-focused event in Melbourne. Regional Environment Funding: SWAP2 progress reviews at SPREP in Apia cover waste and pollution work across French Polynesia and other Pacific territories, backed by AFD funding, with beach surveys and marine-litter audits already completed. Deep-Sea Mining Debate: a public comment period is open on a US company’s high seas deep-sea minerals exploration application involving areas between Kiribati, the Cook Islands and French Polynesia, prompting PICAN’s “Speak Up for Our Shared Ocean” campaign. Travel Connectivity & Deals: Air Tahiti Nui and Air Tahiti’s codeshare makes it easier to book one itinerary from Tahiti onward to the Cook Islands, while Alaska Airlines’ Atmos “Global Getaways” promotion includes economy award routes to Papeete (Tahiti) with deals bookable by Aug. 8.