Ocean Governance & Climate: Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr urged urgent global action on ocean governance at the Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo, warning sea-level rise, coral bleaching, ocean acidification and extreme weather are already hitting island nations hardest. Diplomacy & Maritime Security: In a separate Tokyo interview, Whipps defended Palau’s Taiwan ties amid China pressure and said authorities have documented Chinese vessels conducting unauthorized research in Palau’s waters. Coral Science in Action: PICRC is boosting marine science across Palau, from Angaur students learning via hands-on outreach to regional ReefCloud training in Kosrae to strengthen coral monitoring with AI-powered tools. Power Reliability: Palau Public Utilities Corporation says it’s targeting major outage reductions and cutting solar curtailment costs by 95% using new battery storage, alongside grid upgrades supported by Japan’s JICA. Regional Ocean Summit Momentum: Palau also highlighted its participation in the 51st U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in Puerto Rico to strengthen reef resilience and international collaboration. Health & Tech Spotlight: Taiwan showcased smart medical technologies in Geneva during the World Health Assembly, thanking Palau for continued support of its international participation.