Court Ruling: The Cook Islands Court of Appeal has upheld the cocaine sentence of deportee Peter Uelese, detailing how he allegedly stole GPS-tracked cocaine from a container yard and later handed over 8kg in Christchurch for $150,000. Climate Finance Push: Prime Minister Mark Brown urged the Asian Development Bank to make climate resilience funding easier to access and to be lenient on debt servicing, warning micro-economies like the Cook Islands are being forced to borrow for survival. Regional Crime Threat: Australia announced a $600m plan to target cocaine traffickers using the “Pacific drugs highway,” citing narco-sub incidents and cocaine finds including a Cook Islands reef case in July. Local Governance & Community: A community working bee is planned at Nikao Cemetery after shock vandalism of First World War veterans’ graves, with police saying they have a continuing lead. Energy Sector Governance: Cook Islands Investment Corporation announced leadership changes at Te Aponga Uira, including a new deputy chair and fresh board directors, aimed at strengthening governance for reliable electricity services. Transport & Business: Smartie Rides launched in Rarotonga, positioning a home-grown ride-hailing app as a cheaper alternative to international platforms. Infrastructure: Construction has started on a $300,000 purpose-built cargo shed for Mauke, due for completion in early November.