Public Finance & Payroll: PNG has begun upgrading its public service payroll system, moving the payroll office back under the Department of Personnel Management and upgrading Alesco from version 12 to 24 to improve transparency in payments. Budget Pressure: Finance Minister Thomas Opa says public servants’ salaries cost the government more than K6 billion a year (about K280 million every fortnight), pushing reforms to cut inefficiency. Governance Crackdown: Prime Minister James Marape has suspended 70-plus public service chiefs for missing mandatory reporting deadlines, warning there will be no exceptions. SME Funding Probe: Commerce Minister Wake Goi has suspended most SME funding transactions amid allegations involving about K200 million, with the opposition calling for a full independent investigation. Digital ID & Jobs: Western Pacific University students won top honours in PNG’s National Digital ID Hackathon, building tools to link jobseekers and employers using the national digital ID system. Cybercrime & AI: A new push to tackle AI deepfakes and digital impersonation is being debated, with critics warning the wider enforcement package may be broader than needed. Energy & Trade: PNG’s mining and LNG outlook remains in focus as Santos narrows 2026 production guidance, while PNG Ports declares an interim dividend of K22.5 million for FY2025. Mining Investment Rules: PNG is rolling out regulatory, legislative and digital reforms to attract long-term mining investment and improve community returns. Regional Security: New Zealand and PNG signed a 2026–2029 defence cooperation plan to expand training, exercises and personnel exchanges. Diplomacy Shock: China commended PNG’s closure of Taiwan’s economic office, while Taiwan and the US have raised concerns about the move’s economic and political fallout. Local Business Spotlight: A family-run Oro Craft Chocolate business in Northern Province is turning local ingredients into a growing small enterprise.