Solomon Islands Leadership Shake-up: Matthew Wale has been elected Prime Minister in a tight 26–22 secret ballot, taking over from Jeremiah Manele after last week’s no-confidence crisis. Wale says “change is coming,” warning the country is not immune to global shocks and promising tighter financial management and a push for youth productivity. Regional Diplomacy: PNG’s James Marape quickly congratulated Wale and pledged continued cooperation on security, climate resilience, trade and fisheries. China vs Australia Watch: Wale has long been more sceptical of China’s 2022 security pact, though his tone has softened in recent years—meaning Honiara’s next moves will be closely watched by Australia and the US. Energy & Cost Pressure: In parallel, the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority and ADB signed up for the country’s first large-scale grid solar project for Honiara, targeting heavy diesel dependence (98% of generation) and fuel-price volatility. Pacific Economy Headwinds: The World Bank warns growth across the Pacific is likely to fall below 3% in 2026 as imported fuel and tourism shocks bite.