Healthcare & Infrastructure: Palau’s Office of the President recommends Airai for the new Belau National Hospital, but lawmakers are pushing back over whether the $2.3m-plus site study gave enough detail to justify a possible move from Koror. Public Safety & Data Access: The Attorney General’s Office is installing a dedicated computer to let the public access Palau’s sex offender registry on-site, while questions remain about when the required online search database will go live. Deep-Sea Mining Policy: President Surangel Whipps renewed Palau’s call for a moratorium and precautionary pause on deep-sea mining at the International Seabed Authority, arguing the deep ocean is a common heritage and invoking Palau’s traditional bul practice. Regional Connectivity: Australia says all 18 Pacific Islands Forum members—including Palau—are now linked to the global undersea cable network, with more than 10,300km of new cables delivered to boost trade and digital access. Regional Security Diplomacy: Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers in Suva failed to agree on a joint anti-missile statement after China’s nuclear-capable missile test, with New Zealand’s Winston Peters saying consensus broke down over opposition from China-aligned members. Women & Coastal Resilience: Four Palau states launched the Kiwa Initiative Women’s Work Project, unlocking about $195,000 for women-led coastal restoration and food security, and renewing the Dmakeiukl partnership for cross-state resource management.