Pacific Diplomacy: Pacific foreign ministers meet as geopolitical competition sharpens, with China’s recent missile and live-fire drills keeping regional security on the agenda. Bilateral Security: Solomon Islands and PNG reaffirm cooperation after PM Manasseh Sogavare met James Marape, including policing deployments and work on revised border arrangements. Shiprider Agreement Row: Opposition and legal voices clash over the US Shiprider deal, with concerns focused on parliamentary oversight and sovereignty, while the government says local officers retain authority under Solomon Islands law. Anti-Corruption & Economic Reset: PM Matthew Wale tells Parliament his government will keep zero tolerance on corruption, tackle “elite capture,” and push reforms across forestry, mining, land and taxation, alongside plans for free education from 2027. Health & Economy Plans: The Governor-General’s Throne Speech flags medicine supply, clinic reopenings, hospital upgrades, malaria elimination by 2038, and a moderate 2026 recovery driven by mining, fisheries, agriculture and major projects. Telecom Infrastructure: DXN wins about AU$1.2m to build a modular cable landing station for the Adamasia Cable System, aiming for delivery by April 2027. Mining Governance: Deputy PM Francis Sade promises sweeping mining reforms after the Gold Ridge tragedy, including state-owned enterprise models and a gold trading scheme via the Central Bank. Coastal Resilience: North Malaita communities plant 2,000 mangrove seedlings to protect the Malu’u Market coastline, supported by Australia alongside a seawall project. Tourism & Roads: Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel announces a 16-month renovation closure; Mendana Avenue upgrade milestones continue with lanes reopening.