Solomon Islands leadership shake-up: Matthew Wale has been elected Prime Minister in a tight 26–22 parliamentary vote, ending Jeremiah Manele’s run after a no-confidence fight that even went to the courts. Wale says “change is coming,” promising tighter financial control and urging young people to be productive—while signaling he’ll “look at” the 2022 China security pact before deciding next steps. Regional diplomacy: PNG PM James Marape quickly congratulated Wale and pledged continued cooperation on security, climate resilience, trade and labour mobility. Energy push: In Honiara, the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority and the Asian Development Bank signed a deal to prepare and tender the country’s first large-scale grid-connected solar project, aiming to cut the grid’s heavy diesel dependence. Governance & capacity: The CAPSA statistics and audit project has completed its mid-term review, backing stronger systems for Solomon Islands decision-making. Pacific economic pressure: The World Bank warns growth is slowing across the region as diesel and global shocks bite—making local jobs and diversification the next battleground.