Cook Islands Sports Awards: Aquatics shone at CISNOC’s Sports Awards in Rarotonga, with swimmers Jacob Story (Sportsman of the Year), Alicia Story (Junior Sportswoman), and Lanihei Connolly (Sportswoman) taking top honours, alongside tributes to mentors and leaders who’ve built sport for the next generation. Drug trafficking & public health: Health Secretary Bob Williams urged a tougher, coordinated Pacific response to drugs, saying the harm often starts in families and communities long before police see cases—so prevention, harm reduction and community support must sit alongside enforcement. Regional security cooperation: At the Pacific Peace and Security Dialogue in Fiji, officials including Cook Islands health leaders warned transnational crime is now established and coordinated across borders, with digital crime and maritime surveillance stretching police capacity. Te Ipukarea Society turns 30: The environmental NGO marked three decades of conservation advocacy and education, rooted in a 1990s push for independent action to protect land, sea and air. Reo Māori writing competition: Cook Islands Māori Language Week plans a poetry and short story competition, with the theme broadened after low entries—submissions close Monday, June 22. Aitutaki youth & lagoon science: Araura College students joined marine researchers and local partners to protect the lagoon, blending Operation Taramea reef work with cultural reflection. Tonga royal welcome: His Majesty King Tupou VI arrived for USP graduation, received in a traditional Cook Islands welcome carried by pa’ata and warriors. Men’s beach handball debut: Cook Islands qualified for the world championships in Croatia, marking a major milestone for the sport’s growth at home. Women’s sport under pressure (Afghanistan): A refugee women’s football team’s push for international recognition highlights how sport can become a lifeline when rights are stripped away.