Pacific Islands Forum prep: Senior officials have started a Pre-Forum Officials Committee meeting in the lead-up to the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, reviewing progress on the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy and regional priorities. U.S.-Palau security footprint: The U.S. Army staged an AN/TWQ-1 Avenger air-defense system in Palau, adding mobile short-range protection against drones, helicopters, low-flying aircraft and selected cruise-missile threats. Energy finance for Palau: Solar Pacific’s Palau solar-plus-BESS project is getting an augmentation and financing push, with legal advisers supporting funding through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific and Export Finance Australia. Legal testing in Palau: Palau took part in the inaugural administration of the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination across 10 jurisdictions, with most sites running smoothly after some first-day connectivity issues elsewhere. Climate pressure on small economies: A report highlights how relocation and coastal protection costs are hard for small island states to shoulder alone, underscoring the need for partners as sea levels rise. Regional fisheries cashflow: The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency says the U.S. Tuna Treaty remains vital, with a second 2026 distribution totaling US$50.42m supporting tuna management across member states. Superpower rivalry at home: Coverage ahead of the Forum points to Palau’s growing concern about the environmental and community impacts of expanded U.S. military facilities.