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A young man who, works as a public transport driver, was taken into custody by police in the Northern province following the death of his wife whom police alleged was murdered by the husband himself. According to the Assistant Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Sargent Edric Boera, the alleged murder took place in the early hours of the morning of Friday 18th November at the Musou village, which is adjacent to the Girua Airport in Popondetta, as per the preliminary investigation into the murder. “Between 6 and 11pm was the time where the husband is believed to have killed the wife and placed the body in a PMV (Public Motor Vehicle) named Makiki and transported her body to be disposed of in a block near the town,” said Boera. Boera then added that the body of the deceased was found between 6am and 8am in the morning when the police were alerted of the crime. The police CID personnel in Popondetta went to the crime scene and collected evidence and a post-mortem of the deceased will be conducted to determine the cause of death. The husband now is being kept at the Popondetta Police station where he will be detained until next week pending investigation. He will be taken to court and likely be charged for Murder. Meanwhile, Assistant PPC Boera also confirmed that the murdered woman was the daughter of the Ward Councillor for Sanananda Village.

For two days the APEC House in the capital will be playing host to the 2nd National Integrity Summit showcasing a number of panel discussions with this year’s theme being “Bridge the Integrity Gap.” Through a partnership between the country’s independent watchdog, Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) and the European Union delegation here in the country, the forum will see National Practitioners and reformers to get together to critically and constructively engage all stakeholders and encourage popular demand for good governance and integrity in the public sector. The summit is funded by the EU through TIPNG’s Promoting Anti-Corruption Integrity Strategies [PAIS]. The project is aimed at strengthening public trust in state agencies by ensuring that there are institutional means of addressing corruption in both internally within the organization and externally through the newly established Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Guest and keynote speaker at the opening of the summit, Acting Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi, stated that the theme for this year's summit is very relevant and highly important and added that this summit is very important and critical of what must be done at the present. He commended TIPNG and the EU for their efforts in bringing this platform for discussing certain aspects of society that need to be addressed for the betterment of the country. The first day saw the opening of the 2nd National Integrity Summit, which featured discussions around “Strengthening Integrity in Partnership” with experts from both the country’s Law and Justice Sector and esteemed members from the business sector as well who took part in panel discussions to understand ways in which agencies can bridge the huge integrity gap. Day two today will see more discussions, this time on “Defending Constitutional Democracy in PNG.”

The Police officer that was killed in Banz, Jiwaka was due to a drunken brawl that had occurred prior to his murder. Assistant Commissioner of Police Highlands East Command, Rigga Neggi confirmed this information stating First Constable Glen Afike, was attached to Banz police station. "He had gone out for a party at the Banz Coffee Club when according to the preliminary report, he had caused a disturbance which led to him being kicked out." Neggi added that he was then taken home to the police barracks but it was discovered that he left the barracks with a loaded weapon in the early hours of the morning to return to the Club. From the information obtained he had fired a few rounds injuring an expatriate, which led to him being attacked and killed in the fight. The ACP has stated that are also some conflicting stories coming out of the province but has assured that investigations are still ongoing with a person of interest already in custody. Meanwhile, 6 houses have been burned in the aftermath of the incident over the weekend in Banz after opportunists had taken advantage of the situation in an attempt to rob the club. All has now quietened down and police have stepped up personnel in the in the area to deter opportunists. Neggi is now appealing to the relatives of the late constable to refrain from violence at this time. “I want to appeal to the relatives and the colleagues of the late constable and also the property owner, we have come to an agreement on Sunday and now let the law take it’s course.”

After a week-long intense program hosted by the United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA] in partnership with the National Parliament, youths that took part in the Mock Parliament can walk away with knowledge and skills on how to conduct themselves in parliament, should they wish to go into politics in the future. UNFPA Youth Coordinator, Bronwyn Kili shared that it had been an intense week but is proud of how far the youths have come over the course of the program. “It has been an intense week I’d say, for both the facilitators and the participants as we’ve had both day and night sessions, covering everything that we needed to cover,” Kili said. At the start of the week, Killi stated that they covered mostly topics based on Gender Based Violence, Sexual Reproductive Health and other key issues that youths face that UNFPA have been moving forward to address. Meanwhile, the rest of the week then shifted focus to Governance, where Ethical Leadership and Anti-corruption were some of the key elements discussed with the youths. Overall Kili said its been intense with the mock sittings that they have had because of the diversity of the youth that participated this year. “We’ve had some people from Port Moresby and we also have about 30 youth from outside provinces who also joined for this parliament,” Kili stated. One of the features in this year’s Mock Parliament was the inclusion of an actual member of parliament in East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird who shared his experience in his journey to becoming a leader in parliament. “We wanted the youths to have an interaction with a parliamentarian leader who could share not only his experience as a leader but his journey that led him to where he is now,” she said. Kili further stated that it was refreshing to have a politician to visit and inspire the youths.

The Ministry of International Trade & Investment today made a major announcement in the Governments stride to achieve economic independence. Minister for International Trade & Investment, Richard Maru proudly announced the Ministry’s plan to implement the construction of two new farms that will open up the opportunity for almost 600 new jobs next year. “Today I am happy to announce to the country that next year, the Marape-Rosso Government will invest in 2 more Dairy Farms in the country. One in Lae and one in the Sepik Plains,” Maru said. According to the Minister the Lae Farm will cater for the Highlands Region and all their Dairy requirements including that of the Niugini Islands. The other in Sepik so that it can supply West & East Sepik and target West Papua. Minister Maru further mentioned that this is not a new industry, basing his analysis on the success of the Ilimo Dairy Farm over the last 4 years. He stated strongly that the Marape-Rosso Government is very serious in replacing all food imports and towards the downstream processing of all raw materials such as green bean coffee, cocoa beans, coconut oil and so forth into final products. “This is not only for us to get more value for our raw materials, but also we can create jobs and increase revenue streams,” Maru stated. He added that the country currently still imports between K800-900 million of rice every year, reiterating that this is what we have been doing pre-independence, post-independence and are still importing rice. “Rice can be grown in the country. Our coffee is still being sold as green bean coffee when we should be processing in PNG, in the process will result in increasing prices and our farmers will work the land and we can get more production,” the Minister added.

The increasing number of petty criminal activities at Lae city's main market area needs everyone's effort to address said the city's Metropolitan Superintendent, Chris Kunyanban. He said the main market area is one of the busiest centre in Lae, thus it needed everyone's help to address issues. Kunyanban stated that police men power have dropped and the daily influx of people moving into the city is very challenging for limited police personnel to handle. He made this statement in response to concerns raised by members of the public on the alarming cases of street vending, pick pocketing, public drinking and other illegal activities in the area. Kunyanban said though Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at the market place, the cameras have blind spot areas where people learnt of its settings and have been avoiding, doing illegal activities behind the bind spots. He is urging individuals, business houses and other partners to continue support in any ways that will help maintain the city safer for everyone.

Police in Lae city got a boosting of additional men power when a total of 90 police reservists were officially engaged by the Lae Metropolitan Police Command. Lae city's Metropolitan Superintendent Chris Kunyanban said the engagement of these reservists provides a relief to their limited manpower in the command. He stated that due to population increase in the country's industrial centre, police manpower is needed. The reservists will assist the regular police to ensure general policing, crowd control and petty criminal activities at hot spot areas are attended to. Kunyanban added that despite the issues on police welfare services that remains unaddressed, they continue to engage these reservists to provide better and safer environment for communities and the general public to enjoy their lives here in the country's industrial city.

Madang Governor, Ramsey Pariwa was part of the team that were invited to Malala area in the Almami LLG of Bogia district of Madang province to officially launch a Coconut farmers Co-operative society limited that produces white copra production in the province. Governor Pariwa urged the Malala villagers during the launching of their coconut co-operative that agriculture is a sleeping giant and that it is the answer to taking back PNG economically. Mr Pariwa stressed that 20% of the population are living in the towns and cities whereas 80% are living in the villages thus, if every individuals in villages across PNG go into agriculture and making use of their land he is very firm that this is the answer to boost the internal revenue of this country. He told the farmers that they should take the first step in creating opportunities for themselves like this co-operative has done then the government shall take its next step in bringing services into their communities. "Do not rely too much on money to start something or even asking the government to assist you with money rather start with whatever you have then money will come after it." "We have a responsibility in building the economy of this country, thus agriculture is the major step forward in taking back PNG in terms of increasing the internal revenue of this country." Governor Pariwa reiterated that they should work hard in the field of agriculture to pay more tax so that the government can make supplementary revenues to pass proper budget that can help bring bridges and roads services into their communities. Meanwhile Chairman of the Malala coconut Farmers cooperative society limited, Jeffery Sawai said the coconut co-operative was created so that they are not being left out of the current government services. Sawai appealed to the Malala community to work together to see the government assistance to come. "Whether If you are vanilla or cocoa farmers I urge everyone one of us to hold hands and work together to get the support we need from the government." The Malala coconut Farmers cooperative is an intiative of the Locals from Malala area (Rirunat village) in partnership with Kokonas industri Koporesen (KIK) and the Bogia district to produce white copra production. As of last year Madang exported its first ever white copra production of about 120 metric tonnes to Overseas, which Almami LLG alone produced a total of 75% out of the 120 metric tonnes of white copra that was exported.

Member for Bogia District, Robert Naguri called the Governor for Madang and Chairman of the House of Assembly, Ramsey Pariwa to bring to the attention of Police Commissioner proposed changes of police officers especially with the replacement of the Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Acting Superintendent, Mazuc Rubiang with an unattached officer to as the new Madang PPC. MP Naguri said the Madang Provincial Assembly members are concerned about the changes happening in the Police department. "I for one see that the change in the PPC is not in the interest of people of Madang rather one or two individuals," Naguri said. Mr Naguri insisted that it would be better if the Police Commissioner brought himself down to the Province and discuss the changes in the provincial police head  to the leaders of this province prior to making replacement. "Police Commissioner and the Prime Minister I appeal to you, please do not play around with law and order issues in Madang. We have a copper mine and soon we will have Pacific Maritime industrial Zone (PMIZ), a multi billion kina project in the Pacific and we'd like to ensure that law and order is in order," he said. Naguri said that they did not want unattached officers replacing the Provincial Police Commander rather someone who was actively performing his or her duty. "I am standing here as a leader of this province and I am calling for better decision making when it comes to matters of this province," he said. Meanwhile MP Naguri, reminded members of the Assembly that they are appointed as leaders to make changes and if they want a new change for the province, they need to play their roles as leaders and actively perform their duties in order to bring back Madang to its former glory.