Banking Leadership: Palau’s National Development Bank of Palau will change leadership after its board declined to renew CEO David Proctor’s contract, appointing CFO Karla West as acting CEO amid staff concerns raised earlier this year. Local Enterprise & Environment: Young entrepreneur Miel Sequeira-Holm says her reef-safe, locally made sunscreen business, Pura Vida Palau, grew from worries about commercial sunscreen impacts on coral reefs. Education & Engineering: Ekei Women’s Organization awarded its annual scholarship to Seattle University civil engineering student Ylianna K. Rudimch, backing her path toward environmental or structural engineering. Renewables & Grid Resilience: Palau is moving toward greater energy security with a planned 19.8-megawatt-hour battery storage expansion tied to its existing solar facility, supported by Australian development financing. Maritime & Safety: The U.S. Navy has started removing derelict vessels from Koror waters to reduce pollution and hazards, including work underway at Malakal Harbor. Energy/Shipping Security: Armed men hijacked the oil products tanker Sibu 1 in the Gulf of Aden and diverted it toward Somalia, renewing piracy worries along major shipping routes. Climate Outlook: Forecasters warn Palau faces a high chance of unusually low rainfall from September through November as El Niño strengthens. Business Skills: Palau SBDC is rolling out community trainings on financial recordkeeping and practical AI use for women, farmers, and small businesses. Food Safety: Palau Ralm Company recalled Ralm Bottled Water and Palm Spring Bottled Water after bacteriological contamination was found in routine testing.