Tourism etiquette: A viral incident involving Italian students on Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain has reignited debate about rude tourist behavior, with phones out, apologies issued, and the wider question of how to curb disrespect while traveling. New in town: Amu Kitchen opened on Langston Blvd, bringing western Afghan comfort food—kabobs, qabuli palau, and baked goods—plus board games like chess and Ludo to make waiting feel like part of the meal. Ocean & food security: Pacific Foreign Ministers backed stronger fisheries protection and ocean governance, pushing sustainable funding and clearer maritime boundaries as climate and rising costs squeeze island livelihoods. Gender & safety: Ministers also called for more reliable financing to prevent gender-based violence, urging gender-responsive budgeting and stronger women’s leadership in climate and resilience planning. Local environment trial: Ngaraard is running an experimental sea urchin cage culture trial to understand growth and survival as habitat changes threaten the state’s sea urchin resources. Youth & sport: A new Palau–Australia basketball partnership aims to expand youth and community pathways through Basketball For Good, including 3x3 and coaching support. Health coverage policy: Reporting highlights how federal changes could cut Medicare and other coverage for some lawfully present immigrants, while optional Medicaid/CHIP for eligible immigrant children may help soften the impact. Palau funding update: Palau has drawn $45.8M from Compact Review Agreement and Compact Trust Fund through Q3 FY2026, with major portions tied to education and health programs. Cyber security watch: A global index ranks Albania top for cyber defenses, while Palau is listed among the lowest-scoring countries—an issue as digital protection becomes more urgent.