Climate Finance Pressure: Cook Islands PM Mark Brown told Pacific leaders at Pre-COP31 that developed countries must match the region’s urgency with faster climate finance and deeper emissions cuts, after a Tuvalu trip showed communities on the front line. Funding Gap: A Pacific Resilience Facility push saw about $15m pledged (bringing the pot to just under $200m) toward a $500m-after-COP31 target, but leaders warned the pace and terms still fall far short. Rugby League World Cup (Cook Islands): Valentine Holmes headlines the Cook Islands squad for RLWC 2026, with KL Iro and Marata Niukore as co-captains and Esan Marsters and Super League/National League talent rounding out a Group A challenge against Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. World Cup Format: The tournament’s new “inter-group” setup means teams in Groups B and C play the other group’s sides, then the top teams advance to the semis. Drugs & Routes: Cook Islands Police are seeking legal advice on how to safely dispose of nearly 27kg of cocaine found on Mitiaro, with questions growing over how shipments move through the Pacific. Health Access: A Pacific dialysis case in NZ highlights the tough question of who pays for life-saving treatment, with a Cook Islands Māori social worker describing years of dialysis to stay alive.