Judiciary Budget Scrutiny: Palau’s Senate held a rare oversight hearing on the Judiciary’s FY2026-27 request of about $5.2 million, with officials flagging courtroom shortages, security gaps, unfilled judicial posts and a caseload topping 2,000 new cases a year. Pacific Sovereignty at UN: Palau President and Pacific Islands Forum chair Surangel Whipps Jr told the UN General Assembly the Pacific must remain an “Ocean of Peace,” warning against turning the region into a theatre for geopolitical rivalry. Climate Project Tracking: A proposed Palau-linked digital carbon platform (“Angarva”) was presented at the Pacific Islands Forum, aiming to help governments monitor carbon projects and progress toward national climate targets, though it’s not yet adopted. Carbon and Reef Response: Australia backed Palau’s crown-of-thorns starfish cull, helping remove 2,200+ starfish and training local partners to prevent future outbreaks. FinTech and Cyber Oversight: Palau’s Financial Institutions Commission joined Pacific regulators in Fiji to strengthen supervision of FinTech, cyber resilience and consumer protection. Health Tech Pilot: Palau launched its first community health-monitoring pilot with 25 residents using wearables to alert family and clinics when health concerns or inactivity are detected. Power Efficiency Watch: A Palau government cooling-system inspection found failed equipment and pumps running at full speed, raising concerns about wasted electricity and higher fuel costs.