About 80-100 million Kina, 1,6 to 2 million euros, has been cashed in Milne Bay in the las beech-de-mer (sea cucumber) season; Alotau chamber of commerce and industry said the money has directly benefitted coastal villages across outer islands and atolls

A fire destroyed a commercial building housing a number of businesses in Mendi, southern highlands; started at the generator house after a power failure, it was fought by local boys with buckets, lacking fire brigade service and water tankers

Partial privatization of state energy company PNG Pover Ltd. is moving on after years of lack of initiative, notwithstanding progress in talks; the government is considering options that would benefit customers and investors and a transparent process

A training program for small-to-medium entrepreneurs in Wampar has seen the participation of over 1000 people, with the explicit intent of channelling energies into useful, community building activities, avoiding risk of criminal involvement

191 foreigners have been detained in five days for breaching their visa or work permit; the Special Spot Check Operation in Morobe aimed at discouraging illegal practices that affect national revenue and security