OFC U-16 Women’s Championship: New Zealand finished the group stage with an 8-0 win over the Cook Islands, booking a semi-final spot and leaving the Cook Islands to play for seventh place. OFC U-16 Women’s Championship (Group A): The Cook Islands also held Solomon Islands to a 0-0 draw in their second match, with both sides missing key chances as semi-final hopes now hinge on the final pool game. Climate finance push: Cook Islands PM Mark Brown urged the Asian Development Bank to make climate resilience funding easier to access and be lenient on debt servicing, warning micro-economies are forced to borrow for survival. Drugs crackdown: Australia announced a A$600m plan targeting cocaine traffickers using a “Pacific drugs highway,” citing recent cocaine finds including on a Cook Islands reef. Health & climate leadership: Te Marae Ora health secretary Bob Williams backed a Pacific action plan linking health and climate change at a Nadi conference. Governance & local voice: A columnist questions who speaks for Rarotonga’s villages after the island’s local government structure was abolished. Marine life: Te Ipukarea Society says humpback whales are returning to Cook Islands waters, with education sessions for local students. Education: Rarotonga schools wrapped up Literacy Week with themed activities, storytelling and Māori legends. Sports (Netball): Cook Islands netballers head to Tonga for Oceania qualifiers aiming for a top-three finish and 2027 World Cup qualification. Electricity governance: CIIC announced new Te Aponga Uira board appointments and leadership changes to support reliable power services. Community news: Nikao Cemetery in Rarotonga was vandalised, with calls for prosecution.