Digital Education & Connectivity: UPNG is pushing an AI-and-IT future with a Starlink rollout to help students in provincial centres access online learning, while NICTA says Starlink is “complementary” to PNG’s fibre backbone and is monitoring licensing and operations. School Tech in the Provinces: Kerema Coronation Secondary School in Gulf Province has received Starlink hardware, with teachers reporting around 100 Mbps downloads. Government Accountability Tech: The Bilum Digital Platform aims to make Service Improvement Programme (SIP) spending traceable in real time, boosting transparency and oversight. AI Skills Partnership: PNG’s ICT department and ITI signed a five-year MoU to grow national AI capability through training, internships, and AI-driven use cases. Agriculture Support: PNG Biosecurity Authority’s PlantwisePlus plant clinics are helping farmers tackle pests and diseases with CABI-trained plant doctors. Energy & Exploration: PNG’s Mailu-1 ultra-deepwater well is set to begin within two months, with TotalEnergies and PETRONAS and provincial consultations on safeguards and timelines. Disaster & Food Security: Volcanic pumice rafts from a PNG eruption are disrupting Manus Island sea transport and damaging fishing grounds, raising food shortage fears. Maritime Protection: Oro Governor Gary Juffa calls for stronger protection of PNG’s ocean territory, warning against deep-sea mining risks.