Pacific security & China ties: Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned Pacific leaders that a region-wide security and trade deal with Beijing could compromise independence and push unsustainable debt, as she urged long-term thinking on where countries want to be in coming years. Solomon Islands governance & oversight: Auditor General David Teika Dennis and Public Accounts Committee chair Dr Paul Bosawai called for stronger legal protections to safeguard the Auditor General’s independence as consultations on the Auditor General Bill 2026 continue. Climate policy push: Solomon Islands is advancing environment and climate law reforms through consultations with the Prime Minister’s Legislative and Policy Cabinet Sub-Committee, while Pacific climate ministers met in Sydney to agree a united agenda ahead of Pre-COP31 and COP31. MP pay controversy: Prime Minister Matthew Wale says he will forego a recent MPs’ salary increase and plans to replace the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission with a Higher Salaries Commission by end-2027; Transparency Solomon Islands is calling for the pay rise to be revoked, while the PEC defends its 6% cost-of-living adjustment. Roads & jobs in Malaita: World Bank-funded SIRAP2 consultations are underway in West Kwara’ae and East Malaita ahead of tar-sealing and drainage upgrades, including DBST sealing and regravelling works. Business & payments: M-SELEN partnered with South Pacific Oil to let customers pay for fuel via M-SELEN Merchant Accounts using QR codes, merchant codes, or *123#. Skills & training: Ela Motors donated automotive toolboxes to SINU’s Automotive Engineering department to boost hands-on apprentice training.