Maritime Security: Solomon Islands and the U.S. signed the Shiprider Agreement in Honiara aboard the Coast Guard cutter Harriet Lane, letting authorised officers work together to tackle illegal fishing and other crimes in the Solomon Islands’ EEZ—amid sharp sovereignty concerns and claims journalists were excluded at the last minute. Gold Ridge Disaster: Police recovered the first body from the Gold Ridge mine landslide near Honiara and warned it’s too early to confirm how many remain buried; families report missing relatives as search and recovery continue. Mining Overhaul: PM Matthew Wale announced a major regulatory shake-up for the mineral sector, including a planned sovereign wealth fund and changes to royalties and state involvement. UXO Funding Boost: Wale says the U.S. has added US$6m (SBD$50m) to expand unexploded ordnance clearance, with regulatory bottlenecks bypassed to scale up work. Infrastructure Safety: Australia-backed workshops are pushing stronger safeguards and disaster-resilient design for Solomon Islands infrastructure projects after Cyclone Maila. Education Deal: Japan will fund Solomon Islands’ free education rollout via a concessional loan, with a new school pledge from the Sasakawa Foundation. Weather Alert: SIMS issued an Orange Alert for rough seas and hazardous conditions across Solomon Islands waters.