Solomon Islands leadership shake-up: Matthew Wale has been elected prime minister in a secret ballot, beating Peter Shanel Agovaka 26–22 after Jeremiah Manele was ousted in a no-confidence vote—an outcome Western diplomats are watching closely as Wale has long questioned China’s security footprint, even if he now says he will “look at” the 2022 pact before deciding what to do. Energy and power push: In parallel, the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority and the Asian Development Bank have signed on for the country’s first large-scale grid solar project for Honiara, aiming to cut diesel’s grip (currently 98% of generation) and assess battery storage. Pacific economic pressure: The World Bank warns growth across 11 Pacific states is set to slow further in 2026 (to about 2.8%) as Middle East-linked fuel and shipping costs bite, with Solomon Islands logging also flagged. Marine science spotlight: A new satellite-tracking study finds whale sharks travel much farther across the Indo-Pacific than previously thought, underlining the need for wider protection. Regional context: Press freedom concerns continue to surface across the Pacific, even as some countries show small gains.