Gender-based violence spotlight: A new global look at violence against women flags Papua New Guinea among the worst performers, with normalization of intimate partner abuse making change harder—an issue that also affects Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific. Regional economic diplomacy: Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea signed a five-year Framework Agreement on Development and Economic Cooperation (2026–2030), aiming to deepen trade, investment, infrastructure, security and regional engagement. Pacific security competition: Australia’s defence and Pacific affairs minister says strategic competition with China is permanent, while the US is ramping up Pacific push to build resilience and offer alternatives to China’s footprint. Agriculture and rural incomes: East Guadalcanal copra and cocoa farmers praise CEMA for rural buying points that cut transport costs; other Guadalcanal cocoa growers also credit CEMA support for dryers and inputs. Cost pressures from El Niño: Slippery cabbage is running low in Honiara markets as the dry season suppresses harvests, with smaller bundles and higher competition for limited supply. Infrastructure and ports: Road works on Honiara’s Hot Bread Roundabout are progressing, while SIPA plans to expand the Honiara Domestic Port with a new wharf, ramps and further reclamation. Maritime workforce: Solomon Islands marked International Day of the Seafarer with a focus on carrying world trade—and the risks—plus training for disaster rehabilitation and emergency response.