China-PNG Trade Push: PNG marked 50 years of ties with China in Beijing, with both sides pointing to China as PNG’s biggest trading partner and major engineering contracting market. US-Linked Investment Drive: PM James Marape urged American firms to shift from aid to trade, pitching PNG’s resource projects and incentives during UNGA week in New York. Hospitality Jobs Pipeline: IHG PNG signed an MoU with Caritas Technical Secondary School to train young Papua New Guineans for hospitality careers. Land Tax Goes Digital (Lae): Lae City Authority launched ServiceLink with NiuPay, letting residents and businesses pay land taxes online and reducing cash handling at municipal offices. Resource Rights Warning: Oro Governor Garry Juffa warned colonial-era resource laws can leave landowners exposed in mining and logging decisions, calling for reform. Energy & LNG Context: TotalEnergies flagged growth beyond 2030, naming Papua New Guinea among portfolio countries, while also moving ahead with Absheron in Azerbaijan. Cocoa Export Boost: PNG’s cocoa industry generated over K1.8b in export earnings last year, with a push to reach K2b. Coffee Supply Disruption: Highlands coffee exports to Lae are stalled during peak season, threatening incomes across the supply chain. Fuel Subsidy Review: Government is considering extending fuel subsidies into next year as global prices stay high. Sports Sponsorship: Trukai renewed K50,000 annual sponsorship for the PNG game fishing national titles in Lae. Diplomacy in Europe: PNG and Montenegro established formal diplomatic relations, targeting cooperation in tourism, renewables, agriculture and digital innovation. Climate Stress on Food: El Niño-linked frosts are damaging crops in PNG, with knock-on food security risks.