Pacific Islands Forum prep: Palau is 51 days out from hosting the 55th PIF Leaders Meeting, with officials pushing accommodation options (including Airbnb listings) and building a “progressive” security plan with international support. Regional security: Pacific leaders, including Palau President Surangel Whipps, condemned China’s submarine-launched nuclear-capable missile test as landing “right between our EEZs,” arguing it destabilizes the “blue continent.” Palau governance & business climate: Palau House Speaker Sabino Anastacio was sued for misconduct in office and violation of the Unified Tax Act tied to a 2015 business license dispute connected to a proposed Wyndham Globat Resort land lease. Energy & infrastructure: Palau’s solar-plus-storage project is set to add 19.8MWh of battery storage, lifting total on-site capacity to 15MWac/32.7MWh. Water & recovery (Guam): Guam Power Authority reported partial restoration progress after Super Typhoon Bavi, with about 1,550 customers still without water as of Monday evening. Global fraud crackdown: INTERPOL’s Operation First Light 2026 across 97 countries netted 5,811 arrests and seized about $293M, targeting social engineering scams and crypto laundering. Travel policy: Germany published its 2026 visa-free list for 62 countries, including Palau, for up to 90 days (no employment allowed). Weather risk: Pacific communities were urged to stay vigilant as El Niño strengthens and cyclone season continues.