In Jiwaka Province, an arrest over an unroadworthy and overloaded vehicle escalated into a violent confrontation that left a female police officer injured, after the suspect allegedly mobilized his tribesmen to attack a police patrol unit along the Okuk Highway.The incident began on Saturday, 7 February 2026, at around 4:30pm at Waghi Bruk and later at Rotbum in Minj, when a man was arrested by the Waghi Bruk Police Quick Response Force (QRF) for traffic-related offences. According to police, the suspect had been driving an unregistered, uninsured and unroadworthy vehicle loaded with coffee cherries and failed to stop at a police roadblock. JIWAKA Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Acting Superintendent Laimo Asi, confirmed the arrest and subsequent events in a media statement issued on Wednesday, 11 February 2026. “A man was arrested and charged for four counts of driving un-registered, uninsured, and unroadworthy motor vehicle,” PPC Asi said. He explained that the suspect drove through the police roadblock without stopping, despite police instructions. “When the suspect approached the roadblock, he drove through the roadblock without stopping his vehicle,” PPC Asi said. “He was chased and stopped a few meters away from the road and have him arrested at Waghi Bruk for driving unroadworthy vehicle.” The suspect was taken to Minj Police Station, where he was formally charged and later released on police bail. However, police allege that after his release, the situation took a dangerous turn. PPC Asi said the suspect “organised his tribesmen and set up a roadblock at Rotbum in Minj along the Okuk highway,” where they intercepted a police patrol unit. “He stopped a police patrol unit and smashed the vehicle and caused injury to a policewoman,” he said, confirming the attack occurred at around 4:30pm on the same day. Following the assault, the suspect reportedly went into hiding, prompting police to engage local leaders and issue ultimatums for the surrender of those involved. PPC Asi said an initial deadline was set for Sunday, 8 February 2026. “I have given ultimate time 4.06pm on Sunday 08th February 2026 for the suspects to surrender and the main instigator surrendered to the police whilst the rest went into hiding,” he said, adding that the main suspect is now in police custody with bail “non-negotiable.” Police have since escalated the matter, with PPC Asi confirming that the suspect will face serious criminal charges. “The suspect would be criminally charged for attempted murder, wilful damages and relevant charges under Antiterrorism Act as well,” he said. A second deadline was issued on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, resulting in further surrenders. According to police, six additional suspects surrendered on Tuesday afternoon, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to seven. Three suspects remain outstanding. “So far, we have seven suspects locked up and they will be criminally responsible for the attack on the police unit,” PPC Asi said. “There are three other suspects still outstanding and they must surrender immediately.” PPC Asi strongly condemned the attack on police officers, describing it as part of a troubling pattern in the province. “I will never tolerate such attitude of attack against my police officers in the province,” he said, adding that this was the sixth time police officers, including himself, had been attacked and “this would be the last.” Police investigations are ongoing, with authorities warning that further arrests are likely as they continue to pursue the remaining suspects linked to the attack on the police patrol and the injured policewoman.

The Somare Rapindik Matupit Association was recently launched at the Rapindik Monument site – the birthplace of Papua New Guinea’s Founding Father, the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare in East New Britain Province.Among those who witnessed the official launch was East New Britain’s Governor Michael Marum. According to Governor Marum the site holds deep national and historical significance, yet it had been neglected until a concerted initiative was taken to upgrade and rehabilitate it for public usage. “The launching of this Association today marks the beginning of proper management, structured operations, and sustainable use of this important national heritage site.” Governor Marum pointed out that since the completion of the Rapindik Hot Spring development last year, the site has seen a steady increase in both local and international visitors. He further explained that while the Somare Monument will remain open to the public at no cost as an information and educational hub, the Hot Spring area will generate revenue through controlled gate fees, which will help cover ongoing maintenance and operational expenses. In addition, Governor Marum mentioned that the launch of the IPA certificate and other legal documents now formally empowers the Association’s Executive Committee to seek funding and partnership opportunities from businesses, development partners, and government agencies. Acknowledging the Association's contributions, the Governor committed K20,000 in funding for 2026 to support the site’s operational and maintenance needs. He also recognized the formation of the Women’s Committee, led by Ms. Elizabeth Tami and treasurer Kalat Tiriman, noting that the launch coincided with the opening of the Committee’s bank account. To assist with the women’s operational business plan, Governor Marum provided seed funding of K5,000.

Byron Chan, the son of the late former Governor for the New Ireland province, Sir Julius Chan, has just been declared as member elect in the by election of the Provincial Seat.Mr. Chan was declared winner this afternoon in Kavieng in the New Ireland province by the Provincial Returning Officer Mr. Benjamin Kliawi. The son of the late governor received 21, 481 votes followed by the runner-up, Mr. Kepas Aruban Wali, with 15, 725 votes after the eighth (8th) exclusion. Byron Chan is no stranger to politics. He was first elected into parliament during the 2002 National General Election as the Member for Namatanai, and was twice re-elected before being defeated by Walter Schnaubelt at the 2017 election. Prior to his defeat, he served as Minister for Mining in the Peter O'Neill led government. The by election took place following the passing of the late Sir Julius last year.

Athletics PNG has officially released its official Calendar of events for 2026, with its domestic programme following a similar pattern to 2025 and several international events being specifically targeted to assist its national squad athletes as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games and next year’s Pacific Games.The major domestic events will be the Highlands Open in June, the NCD and Morobe Championships in September and the National Championships in Lae in December. Due to funding constraints, the team to the Oceania Championships in Darwin will be smaller than the one which attended the 2024 Championships in Fiji. President Tony Green said that since 2019 the Area Championships have been highly competitive, with many high-level Australian athletes seeking World Ranking points.  “This year we will priorities athletes that we are targeting for the Commonwealth Games and other athletes who began their preparations early and have shown that they can be competitive,” Green added. Selection for the Commonwealth Games will be based on performances in 2025, and the Justification Committee of the PNG Olympic Committee is expected to meet next month to consider nominations from the various sports. Trial competitions will be staged in Lae in March and April to gauge the progress of athletes preparing for international events this year. The country’s top middle- and long-distance runners have the Philippine Open to look forward to, as well as the Gold Coast half marathon or 10km race and the Australian cross-country championships in August. PNG has a minimum quota of one athlete for the World U20 championships which will be staged in Eugene Oregon in early August. However, the possibility exists for a mixed 4x100m relay if there are sufficient athletes performing at the required level.

Mrs. Rachael Marape, wife of Prime Minister James Marape, has called on international partners and business leaders to continue supporting the medical ship that delivers life-saving health services to some of Papua New Guinea’s most remote coastal and island communities.Speaking as Patron of YWAM Ships PNG, Mrs. Marape addressed more than 280 business leaders and international donors at a fundraising event on the Gold Coast, in Australia, where she highlighted the critical role the YWAM medical ship plays in complementing government health services across Milne Bay, Central, Gulf and Western provinces. Mrs. Marape told the gathering that while the Papua New Guinea Government is doing its utmost to improve health service delivery nationwide, the scale of need—particularly in hard-to-reach maritime regions—remains significant. “The Government is doing everything it can to strengthen health services for our people, but the challenges are vast, especially in remote coastal and island areas,” she said. “YWAM Ships has been doing its part to help ease the burden on the public health system, and for that we are deeply grateful.” Youth With a Mission (YWAM) is a global humanitarian organisation founded in 1960 and operating in more than 180 countries. In Papua New Guinea, YWAM Ships PNG has been providing critical medical, dental and surgical services for more than a decade, focusing on communities with limited or no access to hospitals and specialist care. Through its medical ship, the organisation delivers free primary health care, dental services, eye care and surgical procedures, while also supporting medical training, health education and capacity-building for local health workers. The programme works closely with the Papua New Guinea Government, provincial health authorities and international partners to reach isolated maritime populations. Staffed by volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists and medical specialists from around the world—working alongside Papua New Guinean health professionals—the medical ship has served thousands of patients over the past 10 years. “For many coastal and island communities, it represents their only access to specialist medical care.”

The Rabaul District Administration hosted its 17th public servant’s dedication service recently at the Ratung United in Balanataman Local Level Government (LLG) of Rabaul District in East New Britain province.With the theme, “Transformed and Uphold; Ignite the faith of our forefathers,” the dedication service aims to refocus and realign the approach of public servants. This dedication service reflected on the work of past hardworking public servants over the years who have contributed to the development of Rabaul district and encourage them to work together in improving service delivery and achieving the district’s goals and aspirations. Attending the dedication service were Rabaul district officers, its four LLGs of Rabaul Urban, Balanataman, Kombiu and Watom LLG with their Mayor and presidents including their supports staffs. Also in attendance, was senior officials from the provincial administration and the Rabaul MP Dr. Allan Marat, who was the guest speaker. Meanwhile, Reverend Sakius Tade who was the main celebrant, thanked the Rabaul District Administration for choosing Ratung United Church for the dedication service. When sharing the Word, Rev. Tade highlighted and shared more on the bible text Romans 12:1-2. “This bible text has an important and powerful message.” “As public servants we must present our bodies as living sacrifices; holy, acceptable to God which is our reasonable service.” “Do not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, meaning let us change our mindset,” he reiterated. Dr. Marat also shared similar words of encouragement emphasizing on the bible text Jeremiah 1:5. “God has a plan for each and every one of us.” “Before we were formed in our mother’s womb and birthed, God knew us and sanctified or set us apart for his purpose.” Dr. Marat further urged public servants to not limit their ability to positively influence others and properly serve the people and their communities with honesty, commitment, and integrity. Public servants also renewed their Oath of Loyalty and Service to the State by reciting their oaths to remind officers of rightfully conducting themselves in office and improving service delivery. Meantime, the District Administrator Freddy Lemeki, in his closing remarks said if we want to see change, it must start with us. He stated that if all public servants uphold all their Public Service oath and adhere to the Public Service General Orders, work culture will improve and desired outcomes will be achieved for 2026.

Basken Village situated in ward none in the hinterlands of Sumgilbar LLG of Sumkar District of Madang Province became a fun-filled locality on Friday, 6th February 2026, when the Provincial Member and Governor for Madang, Ramsey Pariwa, visited the area for the finals of the Governor's Cup volleyball tournament.The Provincial Member and Governor for Madang when officiating the finals play offs told the young sports men and women who attended the tournament that the Governor's Cup is the perfect opportunity for them to expose their talents in sports."Most of you have hidden talents that you were born with when you mother brought you into this world," he said."But that talent needs exposure and the Governor's Cup is the perfect avenue for you to show that you have the potential to represent your village and your province through our provincial teams in all sporting codes," Pariwa said."We have raw talents in the rural areas, but successive governments have not considered empowering our young men and women in sports that's why there was no fair representation in all sporting codes and provincial teams," he said.Governor Pariwa added that it's about time the true sons and daughters of Madang must rise up and carry their provincial flag and represent their province through sports on the national level and even on the world stage."I've seen people from other provinces representing Madang in all sporting codes and I wonder when will the true sons and daughters of Madang fly our provincial flag," Pariwa said. "It's about time we rise up and show the true spirit of sportsmanship and show that yes we can and we will represent our province through sports," he said."This is the perfect opportunity for you to expose your talents. Not only here but also in all the 21 LLGs of this province where we have hosted the Governor's Cup," Pariwa said.Governor Pariwa said the main pillars of the Governor's Cup are, to address law and order, expose raw talents, practice healthy lifestyle and an avenue to scout for players to take part in the National Soccer League which Madang is in the process to field a team."I want to make it clear that your participation in this tournament is not because I want you to play, it's because it's an opportunity to change your mindset and progress through sports," Pariwa said."Use this as an opportunity to progress in life, change your mindset, avoid bad habits, practice healthy lifestyle and help in developing Madang province," he said."We have plans in place to establish provincial teams for sporting codes, and we've already started with soccer where we will send a team to participate in the NSL," Pariwa said."So, when you play, give your best because there are scouts going around to identify the best players who will be selected to be part of the squad," he said.Meanwhile, Madang Provincial Sports Coordinator, Mr. Panchito Amepou, assured the Sumgilbar LLG youths that there will be a separate soccer tournament for this year for the NSL selection."These are programs that are in place under the leadership of Governor Pariwa for the young men and women," he said."This is an opportunity for you to come take part in sports if you cannot make it through school. Sports is also a way for you to make it in life," Amepou said.Mr. Amepou thanked the participants from all over Sumgilbar LLG and the local community of Basken for a peaceful and well-organized games which ended on a high note.Mr. Ruben Tabel, the Executive Officer to the Member for Sumkar Hon. Alex Orme Suguman, thanked Governor Pariwa for investing in sports apart from other priority areas in Sumkar District adding that the office of the MP stands ready to assist in any way they can."We've seen alot lot of investment by our Governor in Sumkar District with the latest being the presentation of a cheque to Gaubin hospital when the Prime Minister, James Marape, visited last week," Tabel said."I know a lot of investment in projects are in the pipeline going forward and we look forward to work with our Governor to bring the much-needed services into our district," he said.Mr. Tabel presented K2,000 cash on behalf of the Sumkar MP to the match officials to cater for allowances for referees, officials and the local youths who provided security during the games.A total of 23 teams from both the men's and women's division from all over the Sumgilbar LLG have taken part in the weeklong Governor's Cup volleyball tournament at Basken which ended on Friday which Governor Pariwa personally presented the trophies and cash prizes for the fourth to first placings of both men's and women's divisions.

Police are yet to arrest and charge suspects involved in setting alight two unmarked police vehicles in Hula Village, Rigo District of Central Province on Saturday 7th February 2026.According to the NCD/Central Police Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Turi, suspects have been identified and directed to surrender to authorities tomorrow. “Suspects who were also involved in burning down three houses belonging to the village people had also been identified and were ordered to surrender tomorrow,” he said. ACP Turi said police are still investigating the reason behind the burning of the vehicles. He noted that social media speculation regarding the initial cause will be verified once suspects from both sides are brought in for questioning. “I want to thank my police officers in the command, as well as our Operational Units, which include the Mobile Squad and Dog Unit, who responded when police were notified by rescuing the families of the policeman in the village,” ACP Turi added. According to information provided to the police, a policeman’s daughter was seriously assaulted late last year. She was brought in for medical treatment but died at the hospital. Upon returning home for the burial, relatives reportedly burned down some houses, which prompted villagers to retaliate by burning the unmarked police vehicles. ACP Turi stressed that all parties involved will be investigated and charged accordingly. “While stressing the Hula incident, what the villagers did to the police vehicles was not right because the vehicles are not private property belonging to individual police officers or their families. They are public property,” he said. ACP Turi condemned the actions and called on village leaders and the police to ensure all suspects surrender by tomorrow, Tuesday, February 10th, 2026. He also stated that the police officers responsible for driving the vehicles will be investigated and dealt with accordingly. The burnt vehicles have been towed back to Port Moresby city.

The Tonpar primary school situated in the hinterland of Malala in ward 25 of Almami LLG in Bogia District of Madang province on Saturday, February 7th received a major boost with the delivery of a brand-new Lucas Mill and financial assistance from the Governor for Madang, Ramsey Pariwa.The Tonpar community staged a rousing welcome with their popular "Dabol" traditional dance to receive Governor Pariwa and his delegation who arrived by helicopter to the school which is inaccessible by road. Interestingly, two vehicles purchased last year by Governor Pariwa made history as the first ever to reach the remote Tonpar Primary School ahead of the Governor’s arrival when they travel along the bush tracks which were expanded and maintained specifically to allow one of the vehicles to deliver the Lucas Mill to the remote location. The Lucas Mill, purchased at a cost of over K61,000 from Farmset Limited in Madang, would be a huge boost for the school in cutting and processing timbers to build new classrooms to aid children’s learning and also build houses to accommodate teachers. In addition to the sawmill, Governor Pariwa also presented a cheque of K10,000 in financial assistance to Tonpar Primary School to support the school’s development plans. Governor Pariwa urged the school administration and community to make full use of the new mill to improve infrastructure and create a better learning environment for students. He also encouraged them to share the Lucas Mill with other cluster schools in the area as well as health posts and churches in the Malala hinterland so that more communities can improve their living standard. Governor Pariwa also urged parents to offer their trees freely to the school to get timbers in order to build new school facilities. "I challenge parents to give your trees for free so they can be cut to obtain timbers to build new facilities for the school," Governor Pariwa said. “This support must not stop here. Use this mill to build your classrooms and teachers’ houses and help other schools, health posts and churches as well,” he added. Mr. Pariwa challenged the school board and management to build a new double classroom within the next three to six months and invite him just to come back and cut the ribbon. Teaching Services Commission officer, Kenneth Kalai, in his address at Tonpar thanked Governor Pariwa publicly for always inviting him to travel with him to remote schools to see for himself the plight of teachers who are particularly under his jurisdiction. Mr. Kalai said Governor Pariwa is truly a people-oriented leader who listens closely to the cries of his remote people and responds favorably to them. Tonpar Primary School Board Chairman, Charles Okin, when receiving the new mill, thanked the Governor for what he described as timely and much-needed support. “This is a huge support that the Governor has given to Tonpar Primary School,” Mr. Okin said. "The school was established 17 years ago but we still have 3 teachers in school and several incomplete classrooms and bush material teachers' houses," he added. Ward 25 Member, Anton Kirarka, heaped praise on Mr. Pariwa as the first-ever Governor of Madang Province and even a MP to physically set foot at Tonpar which is on the ridge of the Adelbert Range. Mr. Kirarka urged the community to work together to ensure the mill is properly managed and used in positive ways that will benefit the school and future generations. The assistance reflects the provincial government’s ongoing priority to improve education services and standards in remote parts of Madang Province.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has progressed discussions with the National Government on the transfer of the financial sector regulatory powers.ABG Minister for Treasury and Finance, Albert Punghau, met with National Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey, and senior officials from the National Department of Treasury to present a framework for the drawdown of regulatory oversight of Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) and the establishment of a regulatory presence of the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) in Bougainville. “This partnership with the National Government represents a practical pathway to strengthening Bougainville’s financial system while maintaining regulatory coherence,” Minister Punghau said. “Non-banking financial institutions play a critical role in delivering financial services to our communities, supporting small businesses, and formalizing the informal sector, by working collaboratively with our national counterparts, we can ensure these institutions operate effectively under proper oversight.” NBFIs — including savings and loan societies, microfinance institutions and other financial service providers — are central to Bougainville’s economic development. They improve financial inclusion by reaching communities and businesses not fully served by traditional banks, while supporting private sector growth and broadening the local revenue base. The ABG proposal seeks to assume regulatory oversight of NBFIs under Section 290 of the National Constitution, which provides for the transfer of specific powers to the Autonomous Bougainville Government. This process is supported by the Sharp Agreement 2021, which streamlines arrangements for ABG to exercise meaningful control over devolved functions. To ensure effective and credible oversight, ABG has proposed the establishment of three functional BPNG regulatory units in Bougainville: • Banks and Finance Companies • Savings and Loan Societies • Microfinance As an interim arrangement, the proposed units would be housed within the ABG Department of Treasury and Finance under the Policy Development and Analysis Directorate. This approach ensures regulatory supervision and consumer protection are in place alongside the transfer of powers. ABG has further proposed the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Department of Treasury by February or March 2026, followed by a technical MoU with BPNG by July 2026. National Treasury officials welcomed the proposal and acknowledged that the framework provides a concrete basis for continued engagement and technical work with ABG. The initiative aligns with the Toroama-Masatt government’s commitment to building a strong and sustainable economic foundation for Bougainville ahead of the planned September 2027 independence transition. Through a phased and cooperative approach, ABG continues to demonstrate readiness to assume greater responsibility while maintaining partnership with the National Government. The meeting was attended by the Secretary for Treasury, Mr. Andrew Oaeke; Deputy Secretary for Budget and Financial Management, Ms. Napa Hurim; Assistant Secretary for Provincial Budgets, Mr. Amos Ropkil; and Principal Advisor to the Treasurer, Professor Misty Baloiloi.

A Papua New Guinean women-led haircare brand born online, has officially stepped onto the retail shelves with City Pharmacy launching Niugini Naturals in-store at its Vision City and Waigani Central outlets, signaling a breakthrough moment for local women entrepreneurs.Founded in 2022 by sisters Kazieh and Jemimah Taganny, Niugini Naturals was created to fill a long-standing gap in the market that offers affordable, effective haircare products designed specifically for Melanesian hair. What began as a small online business powered by social media and nationwide deliveries has now evolved into a retail-ready brand stocked by one of PNG’s largest pharmacy chains. The product range now available in City Pharmacy includes Black Girl Magic Hair & Scalp Oil (100ml), Rapid Growth Hair Food (100g), and Mini Whipped Shea Butter (150g) products that have gained strong followings among Papua New Guinean women embracing natural hair care. The in-store launch follows Kazieh Taganny’s participation in the CPL Foundation Inc. Business Mentoring Program, delivered in partnership with Australian Business Volunteers, which ran from November 2024 to April 2025. The program supported six women-led small and medium enterprises, strengthening their business foundations in areas such as planning, financial management, compliance, marketing, risk management, and pitching. At the conclusion of the program, all six mentees pitched their businesses to a panel that included Sir Mahesh Patel, Michael Koisen, and George Constantinou. Kazieh’s pitch was direct and ambitious as she wanted to see Niugini Naturals stocked at City Pharmacy Vision City and Waigani Central. Following the pitch’s acceptance, CPL Foundation worked closely with Kazieh to outline what was required to enter a formal retail environment. Kazieh then independently undertook the necessary steps to make the brand retail-ready, including business registration, product testing, labelling, sealing, and the development of a marketing plan to support in-store sales. In parallel, she worked directly with the City Pharmacy Fashion Category team to finalize a formal supplier agreement covering pricing, supply terms, and delivery requirements further strengthening the brand’s commercial readiness. “I would like to congratulate Kazieh and the team on reaching this important milestone. I know it has been a long journey, and a great deal of blood, sweat and tears has gone into making this possible” said Ajay Patel, Chief Operations Officer of CPL Group. “ Patel also acknowledged the internal support behind the partnership “I would also like to sincerely thank our internal City Pharmacy team, and this achievement would not have been possible without your support. While this may not be business as usual, it reflects a commitment that sits at the very core of who we are and what we do.”

BSP Financial Group Limited has officially reopened its Porgera Branch in Enga Province, restoring full banking services to nearly 19,000 customers after more than a year of intermittent closures caused by security concerns.The branch reopened on Monday, January 26th, following strengthened security measures aimed at ensuring a safe and stable operating environment for staff and customers. The Porgera Branch is the only commercial bank operating in the district, making its return critical to the local economy and daily life in the community. The branch was initially closed in September 2024 due to ongoing security issues. Although it briefly reopened in April 2024 after a year-long shutdown, renewed challenges forced BSP to close the branch indefinitely. During the closure period, the bank continued to support customers through EFTPoS, agent banking services, and recently restored ATM access. BSP Treasury and Markets Group Head of Market Sales, Leighton Crisp, said the reopening is strategically important not only for Porgera but for the national economy. “The New Porgera Limited Gold Mine is a cornerstone of PNG’s economy. It generates substantial foreign exchange earnings through gold exports earnings that are essential for funding the country’s imports of goods, fuel, machinery and other necessities that benefit businesses and communities nationwide” Mr. Crisp said. BSP Highlands Area Manager, John Tomba Jnr, said the bank’s return reflects its commitment to community livelihoods and long-term economic stability in the valley. “We are committed to serving the people of Porgera and intend to remain here as long as peace is maintained in the valley. Protecting essential services like banking is vital for local livelihoods, economic growth, and community wellbeing” Mr. Tomba said. BSP Head of Corporate Banking, David Bishop, reaffirmed the bank’s broader responsibility to serve customers across all segments, including individuals, small and medium enterprises, and corporate clients. “We are guided by our core values! We Care and We Aspire to Grow Our Communities through financial literacy programs and modernization initiatives that deliver the best possible customer experience,” Mr. Bishop said. Community leaders, including the District Administrator and the Deputy Governor, welcomed BSP’s return, noting that access to banking services is essential for everyday transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, school fee payments, and SME financing, which help stimulate the local economy. In addition to in-branch services, BSP continues to expand financial access in Porgera through two ATMs, 40 EFTPoS merchants, and three cash agents operating across the district. BSP says it will continue working closely with local communities and stakeholders to maintain a secure environment, ensuring essential banking services can operate sustainably for the benefit of Porgera and the wider Enga Province.