Regional Energy Security: Prime Minister Matthew Wale says Solomon Islands plans a major regional fuel hub at Aruligo, Northwest Guadalcanal, aiming to store up to 12 months of fuel and cut freight costs by coordinating purchases with PNG and Fiji, including possible sourcing from the US West Coast instead of Singapore. Parliament & Public Finance: Parliament deferred consideration of the 2025 and 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bills because required reports weren’t tabled, while Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo flagged concerns about weak visible capital inflows from mining despite strong gold export earnings. Tax & Revenue Reform: Lilo told Parliament the government will tighten tax collection, curb exemptions and abuse, and move toward a broad-based consumption tax (including a proposed VAT) plus further changes to the Income Tax Act. Freshwater & Climate Resilience: Solomon Islands launched the PacFresH2O Programme with support from GIZ, SPC and Live & Learn to protect freshwater resources and strengthen climate resilience across Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Agriculture & Jobs: Faifatala’a kava farmers in Malaita are preparing a plantation-to-market pilot to meet international demand, while MALD’s SIART-backed Pig Breed Improvement Program has begun with breeding pigs arriving at KG VI Farm. Power & Connectivity: Reeves Envico and CE Group have started work on a 22km transmission line from Tina River to Honiara’s grid, supporting up to 15MW of renewable power. Business & Courts: The High Court ordered the Seventh-day Adventist Church to pay Xiao’s Hardware Company Limited $831,000 in business-loss damages after missing a deadline. Trade & Border: Australia will hand over the new Lofung Border and Patrol Boat Outpost in the Shortlands on 17 August to strengthen western border security and support services and economic growth.