Pacific Security & Diplomacy: Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese heads into Pacific Islands Forum “summit season” in Palau with a fresh run of defence and policing deals, including deeper PNG ties and a regional police push. Mining & Jobs: K92 Mining is recruiting across Kainantu Gold Mine in Eastern Highlands, advertising 44 roles from trades and processing to underground operations. Agriculture & Trade: PNG’s 70th Agriculture and Trade Festival kicks off in Goroka (28–30 Aug), with government and corporate support aimed at boosting market access, downstream processing and SME participation. Central Banking Reform: Bank of PNG outlines a reform agenda focused on stability, inclusion and investment, including inflation targets and stronger financial sector oversight. Energy Investment: Papua LNG signs three agreements to keep the project on track for a Final Investment Decision by 15 Dec 2026, using a temporary risk-sharing fiscal mechanism. Deep-sea Mining Legal Risk: Pacific governments are warned that changing deep-sea mining rules could trigger costly investor-state disputes. Power Sector Pressure: PM James Marape says PNG Power is in a “terminal” condition, citing ageing infrastructure and weak revenue collection, with reforms underway. Sports Sponsorship: Jarome Luai becomes Pepsi PNG ambassador under a five-year partnership, while Trukai names Cooper Bai as brand ambassador for two years. El Niño Fallout: PNG stakeholders warn of El Niño-driven drought and water stress, with calls for faster emergency response on the ground.