Australian Volunteers Program: Australia says more than 700 volunteers have supported Solomon Islands since 1965, with 191 volunteers completing 240 assignments since 2018 and 80% of partner organisations reporting good or excellent progress. Mobility & policy links: A new look at Australia–Pacific bilateral agreements highlights how “mobility” is increasingly treated as part of economic development and climate adaptation planning. Business awards: SICCI has launched the 9th Business Excellence Awards, expanding from 12 to 21 categories (plus a Prime Minister’s Award), with a push to include more provincial SMEs. Trade push: The National Annual Trade Fair is back in Honiara under a sustainability theme, with ministers stressing innovation, entrepreneurship and local value-adding ahead of LDC graduation. Finance & regional banking: CBSI Governor Luke Forau reaffirmed the Wansolwara collaboration with PNG and Vanuatu central banks, focusing on payments, inclusion, capacity, climate risks and cybersecurity. Biosecurity: Solomon Islands launched a 10-year National Biosecurity Strategy (2026–2036) to protect agriculture, food security and trade by strengthening prevention, detection and response systems. Climate warning: El Niño is now established and expected to persist into early 2027, with risks of hotter, drier conditions, water stress and impacts on gardens, crops and fisheries. Passport access: Solomon Islands’ passport ranks 59th globally in 2026, with visa-free or simplified entry access to 69.2% of destinations. Education scholarships: Four Solomon Islanders received UK Chevening Scholarships and will travel to the UK later this month. Governance support: Japan pledged JPY 430 million (about US$3m) to UNDP’s Solomon Islands Democratic Governance and Electoral Assistance Project to strengthen electoral institutions.