Palau at the center of superpower rivalry: As Palau prepares to host Pacific Islands Forum leaders, residents are voicing worries that a growing U.S. military build-up under the Compact could reshape daily life and strain the environment, even as supporters say it strengthens regional security. Missing sailors push for action: India’s Supreme Court issued notices in the case of a missing Indian ordinary seaman after a drone strike in the Black Sea, directing the Ministry of External Affairs to use diplomatic channels to trace him. Indigenous culture in diplomacy: At Australia’s Garma Festival, leaders stressed that First Nations relationships are now a core part of Australia’s Pacific foreign policy, with cultural ties framed as strategic assets. Climate and voyaging updates: The Moananuiākea Voyage sail plan was extended by a year after El Niño-related risks were flagged, with navigators revising routes for safer conditions. Palau security drills for PIF: Palau’s Ministry of Justice ran training and tabletop exercises with regional and international partners to tighten coordination for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. Ocean life, youth, and stewardship: Palau Pledge Dive Club activities are building young divers into ocean ambassadors, pairing reef time with safety briefings and conservation goals. Culture on campus: A new Palau High School mural, “Two Nations. One Ocean,” links Palauan and Australian First Nations artists through shared ocean and environmental themes. Health and food education: A cardiologist in the CNMI is urging schools to help families return to ancestral foods as a way to tackle rising obesity and diabetes.