Our Scans · Cook Islands · Weekly Summary

• [New] China's seabed mining ventures with Pacific nations like Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati, and the Cook Islands expand underwater robotics capabilities that could aid submarine navigation. The Diplomat
• Several other countries have already been exploring the potential to mine their own EEZ, including Norway, India, Japan, and the Cook Islands. Center for Strategic and International Studies
• The United Arab Emirates, Cook Islands, Nauru and Tonga are forecast to have the highest prevalence while China, Egypt, India and the United States will have the greatest number of children and adolescents with obesity by 2050. goeasternoregon
• Highest Prevalence: The United Arab Emirates, the Cook Islands, Nauru, and Tonga are expected to have the highest obesity prevalence rates. archyde
• PRC military diplomacy has sought to expand its reach and influence in Oceania, and the PRC could use an agreement with the Cook Islands to gain a naval foothold near Australia and New Zealand. Institute for the Study of War
• The United Arab Emirates, Cook Islands, Nauru and Tonga are expected to have the highest prevalence, while China, Egypt, India and the US will have the largest number of children and adolescents with obesity by 2050. Newsweek
• A comprehensive strategic partnership with the Cook Islands could present the PRC with an opportunity to make political inroads with a country located close to New Zealand and the US territory of American Samoa. Institute for the Study of War
• 2025 will mark sixty years since the Cook Islands became self-governing in free association with New Zealand. The Beehive
• COOK ISLANDS highlighted the daunting task of addressing the threats in the Blue Pacific amidst financial deficits. IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin
• Congo's authorities could easily use the proposed Tshiani law to unlawfully prevent Congolese citizens from running for political office. Human Rights Watch
• Absent major political and economic pressure, there is no indication that Kigali will withdraw from Congo or imminently cease its support to the M23. Just Security
• With the relative political stability that Felix Tshisekedi's ascension to head of the DRC, the United States reinstated DR Congo into the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a trade pact that waives US import tariffs for select African countries. TechCabal
• Congo might not see the bounty its political leaders are counting on. The Energy Mix
• Autocratic political dynasties will try desperately to cling on to power in Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, and Chad. The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
• Political stability, labour issues, corruption and transparency are risks due to mine production being dominated by Congo, which accounts for over 70% of the global production. The Hindu BusinessLine
• Congo Republic's progress was driven by improved socioeconomic opportunities for women, increased political power and representation of women, as well as more equal access to public services. Mo Ibrahim Foundation
• China has a stronger risk profile than European and American investors when it comes to places such as the Congo, which faces potential political turbulence. Caixin Global Limited
• Cairo aims to strengthen political ties with Kinshasa so as to ensure that Congo will remain by its side in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis. Atid EDI
• Paired with increasing political risk in Congo and the importance of conflict-free metals would give investors one more reason to look for cobalt elsewhere. Mining.com
• Political instability and corruption in Congo could turn industrial logging in the rainforest into a free-for-all. Washington Post
• Commodity Risk Score Comparison demonstrates that raw material production in the DR Congo is heavily linked to panoply of political, social and environmental risks. Maplecroft
• Current leaders in Tuvalu, the Cook Islands and Kiribati, have pointed to the likelihood that the AUKUS arrangements will make for an increasingly militarized and unstable region. Asia Times
• Current leaders in Tuvalu, the Cook Islands, and Kiribati, have pointed to the likelihood that the AUKUS arrangements will make for an increasingly militarised and unstable region. Countercurrents.org

Last updated: 14 June 2025