Climate Finance: The Cook Islands joined a new ADB-led Pacific resilience programme aiming to mobilise more than US$1 billion for 14 island economies. The plan, backed by US$250 million from the Green Climate Fund, targets stronger roads, water systems, power supplies and coastal defences. Seabed Mining: Two U.S. companies are seeking permission to explore deep-sea mining sites in international waters near the Cook Islands. The U.S. process bypasses the UN-linked seabed regulator, drawing objections from regional officials and environmental groups. Public Safety: Prime Minister Mark Brown says agencies are coordinating a broader response to reports of hard drugs reaching the Cook Islands, working with regional partners to protect borders and communities. Fuel Costs: New Zealand briefings put the Pacific’s extra fuel bill at NZ$935 million in the crisis’s first six months, with prices in Rarotonga among those reaching high levels. Maritime Security: Cook Islands police and other agencies have begun U.S. Coast Guard-led training in search and rescue, disaster response, pollution risks and maritime security.