A ban on the sale of cheap alcohol products is being considered by relevant authorities in light of the upcoming 2022 National General Elections activities. Police Minister William Onglo made mention of this in Parliament recently following concerns raised by Goroka MP Aiye Tambua on the effect these alcohol have on youths around the time of election. Tambua said in the Highlands provinces, the issue of youths buying and consuming cheap alcohol products has been an ongoing issue. “Can we have a ban in place during the election period so that youths cannot afford these cheap alcohol products and cause issues during elections?” Mr Tambua asked. Minister Onglo in response said discussions are ongoing at this time on the issue between provincial governments and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. “Heading towards the election, we’ll come up with a list of certain provinces that are considered volatile and will put in place a ban on the sale of these cheap alcohol products in those provinces.”

BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) continues to invest in local charities and non-profit organisations that are making a difference in communities where the bank operates in. The PNG City Mission Centre in Port Moresby on Wednesday April 20, 2022, received a much-needed help of K5, 000 from BSP to continue its necessary work in the community. BSP Financial Analyst Cantika Marjen, when presenting the cheque to PNG City Mission said, “Supporting local causes and charities is a core community values of the bank and we believe, as a peoples bank, we not only finance economic growth, but also giving back to our communities to help provide for our people.” “Over the years, BSP has supported communities through volunteerism, charity and responsible approaches where we aspire to help our communities grow into vibrant places to live and work in. This includes investing in our annual community projects initiatives that contribute towards education, health, sports and environment,” said Marjen. Port Moresby City Mission General Manager Gerald Bengesser, received the donation saying, “We are caring for up to 450 young men and in many instances, this is the only chance for these young men have ever had for a better future. Pleasingly, your assistance will mean so much to us. Thank you BSP.” The charity organisation offers young men a no cost, 15-month live-in vocational and agricultural training program, including a comprehensive literacy program. Currently running life-skill training centers in Port Moresby, Lae and Madang, supporting the homeless and neglected youth roaming the streets of these cities. Many of whom have not attended school and have almost no literacy and numeracy skills. As a bank that understands people and community, we continue to build relationships with and enhance livelihood of our communities.

The 2022 Digicel Cup Season will finally kick off this weekend as 12 franchise clubs go into their final preparations to take the field come Sunday 24th of April 2022. For the first time in three years, there will be a full 17 round season for the Digicel Cup this year and the PNG NRL Competition (PNGNRLC) in partnership with PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and their sponsors Digicel PNG and SP Brewery are looking forward to delivering a much bigger and better Digicel Cup competition. PNGNRLC Manager Mr Ora Gairo said all franchise clubs have completed most of the requirements and are set for this weekend’s kickoff with games to be staged in Port Moresby, Lae and the Highlands region. Mr Gairo also mentioned that an approval certificate has been received from the PNG Sports Federation Pandemic Management Committee granting 50% approval at the moment by the Pandemic Controller for the games to commence this weekend. “We are continuously working with all parties concerned to ensure that all compliance and everything that is required by the Pandemic Management Committee is adhered to at all times,” Mr Gairo said. Mr Gairo said it will also be a critical year for the Digicel Cup seeing that the competition will be managed around Covid19 and most importantly around the 2022 National General Elections and so allowances have been factored into the overall season outline to cater for these, especially during the election period. He further stated that with the likely possibility of polling dates being delayed a little further, the PNGNRLC and PNGRFL are on standby to make the necessary adjustments in order to allow for players and team officials to be given the opportunity to cast their votes in their respective electorates. Gairo also acknowledged the sponsors who have made it possible for the Digicel Cup Competition to once again commence for another great season of professional football. “I would like to take this time to thank our main sponsor Digicel PNG and our platinum sponsor SP Brewery for yet again giving their support this year as well as our other key sponsors as without the support of our sponsors, we would not have a competition to launch.” “With our theme for this year being ‘Taking the Game Higher’, I would also like to take this time to invite or welcome any form of support from corporate houses to support the game where they see fit as there are still a few minor areas where support is needed,” Mr Gairo said. Ronan Wilcox of Digicel PNG who was present for the soft launch said that Digicel PNG is delighted to be the main sponsor of the competition and further mention that the organization takes pride in a 12-year history as being the naming rights sponsor of the Digicel Cup Competition. “We are absolutely delighted to continue our support and we look forward to another great season of rugby league and are excited to see which teams are going to progress through to the grand final this year and we wish all the 12 franchises the best for the season ahead,” Mr Wilcox said.

Vodafone PNG tonight officially launched its state-of-the-art network at a Corporate launch event held at APEC Haus, with retail outlets starting operations from tomorrow. Chief guest, Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil who attended the launch on the Prime Ministers behalf said, “Recently much has been said about the lack of benefits cascading to end-users, especially with falling wholesale data prices and therefore, Vodafone PNG’s entry into the market has been eagerly awaited and couldn’t have come at a better time. “The launch marks a significant milestone in what is expected to be the stimulus needed to spur increased competition, resulting in a more liberalized ICT sector with affordable access to connectivity, increased market penetration and greater choice for consumers and businesses. We will invest to the tune of $3 billion Kina into PNG, which is a testament to Vodafone’s commitment to improving the telecommunications infrastructure and connecting the unconnected”, said Kalpana Lal, Chairperson of Vodafone PNG. PNG Government’s ICT policy is focused on digital transformation, through the use of digital technologies to improve governance and progress the Government’s digital economy agenda. It is the Government’s policy objective to promote sustainable competition in the information and communications technology sector and to ensure affordability, accessibility and connectivity through increased market penetration. We believe Vodafone PNG’s entry as the third mobile operator will rejuvenate competition in the market and aid in connecting more Papua New Guineans to the internet. Regional Chief Executive Pradeep Lal said, “We are launching with just over 500 base stations, covering Port Moresby, Lae, Madang, Hagen and Goroka, which covers approximately 50% of the population. However, the journey does not stop here. In the next 8 months, Vodafone PNG intends to have 800 sites live, progressively expanding coverage to 22 provinces.” Within the next 12-18 months, Lal hopes to have 1200 sites on air, covering more than 90% of PNG’s population. He said, “We have received great support and feedback from everyone, including the Government, corporate sector and the people of PNG, and we are really excited to provide Papua New Guineans with more choice and a greater level of affordability when it comes to keeping in touch and staying connected.” A recent study by Deloitte suggests that if developing countries could bridge the gap in internet penetration to reach the levels developed economies enjoy today, they would experience large increases in GDP growth, increased productivity and improvements in health conditions and education opportunities, particularly for its rural and remote communities. In fact, a well-developed, robust and affordable telecommunications infrastructure and ecosystem are critical to supporting the development of other industries and sectors and bridging the digital divide is bound to have a profound impact on people’s lives and the PNG economy. PNG has a low market penetration with 37% mobile phone and 20% internet penetration, with approximately 1 million customers actively using social media. Lal believes that given the low market penetration levels in PNG, the rate of rapid change and increased reliance on digitalization and connectivity, Telecommunications will remain an important industry for at least the next 100 years and one that will have a long-lasting and transformational legacy. He says, “This is one industry that has the potential to significantly transform lives through access to online information, education, telemedicine, financial inclusion, eCommerce and economic inclusion. From tomorrow, customers can pick up free sims from any of Vodafone’s 15 retail outlets and kiosks and over 100 roadshow outlets. There is a music festival planned for Customers on Saturday at Sir John Guise Stadium; the program commences at 2pm with heaps of entertainment, featuring various local artists, special deals, promotions and fantastic prizes. This event is free for the public to attend. Lal said, “Customers can expect simple plans with value-packed bundles, starting as low as 1 Kina per day with an unlimited talk for an hour and data plans starting at 3 Kina per day for 1 GB. There are various other daily, weekly and monthly bundles to choose from.” Based on initial assessment, Vodafone plans are much cheaper than what is offered in the market today and come with a lot more value. This is great news for customers, who are always looking out for the best deals. Vodafone also has launched an introductory offer of $89 on an Alcatel 4G smartphone, which makes it relatively affordable for customers to connect and experience faster data speeds on Vodafone’s 3G/4G+ network. Vodafone will also offer a comprehensive suite of ICT solutions, primarily targeted at businesses and corporate customers. Along with value-packed mobile and data bundles, closed user-groups and cloud-based solutions, Vodafone will offer a one-stop -shop solution for business customers, which will set new standards in PNG. “We are excited to be here and look forward to welcoming customers who are eager to connect to our state-of-the-art network and start enjoying cost-effective and reliable services. We are being  viewed as the breath of fresh air needed to stimulate and rejuvenate the Telecommunications sector. For a long time, the people of PNG have complained about the high cost of telecommunications and data and the question of affordability and reach have almost become rhetoric. As people’s reliance on connectivity becomes ever so crucial, access to affordable and reliable connectivity is no longer a luxury, but an essential service. We are here to change the narrative and the people of PNG have a lot to look forward to”, said Lal.

The Allied Tradesmen, Construction and Mining Workers Union of PNG will be officially launching its’ establishment tomorrow at the Sir John Guise Indoor Stadium in Port Moresby. National General Secretary Mr Benjamin Trinity Yalo said the Union which was officially registered by the Office of the National Registrar on February 23 this year is mainly focused on serving and attending to the needs of the blue-collar workforce in the country which includes workers from the oil and gas and petroleum sectors. “The union was established recently under the industrial relations act of Papua New Guinea for workers in the mining and construction industries and tradesmen workers across the country.” “The purpose of the organization is to represent our blue-collar workforce in PNG as they have been a forgotten workforce since independence.” “For close to 46 years, workers in the mining sector, especially the oil and gas and petroleum and energy sector have been neglected and for that reason, Allied Tradesmen, Construction and Mining Workers Union of PNG was established to accommodate this blue-collar workforce and will be officially launching our Union at the Sir John Guise Stadium tomorrow,” Mr Yalo said. The launching will be officiated by the Prime Minister James Marape with PNG Trade Union Congress' John Paska as the guest speaker and Mr Powes Parkop NCD Governor, Industrial Registrar Helen Saliu and the minister responsible for Labor and Employment Relations Mr Kapil being confirmed to attend the event as well. All 26 sister trade unions in the country have been invited to attend the launching event as well as students and representatives from TVET institutions around the country. Also attending the launching will be employees and workforce from the mining industry. Mr Yalo said so far, there has been a widespread interest for membership to the union and they have already registered a good number of members. “We have received and registered over 3000 membership applications from the blue-collar workforce and at present there are 13 branches of Allied Workers Union across Papua New Guinea to service the needs of the workforce,” Mr Yalo said. Mr Yalo further highlighted some of the main focus areas or notable benefits of the Allied Tradesmen, Construction and Mining Workers Union of PNG and they are as follows: To represent the workforce and be a mouthpiece for the workforce and advocate on issues affecting the workers Legal assistance in the event that a member is terminated without any valid reason Welfare funds for affected family members Savings and Loans Society for members Life Insurance apart from what the employers offer The event which is said to attract interest from the general public as well will be taking place from 12noon to 4pm tomorrow at the Sir John Guise Indoor Stadium in Port Moresby.

The popular boy band Stagajah remained true to their words and had presented musical instruments to the Jubilee Catholic Secondary School in Port Moresby this week. This first-of-its-kind initiative was made possible after the renowned band held a concert in Port Moresby, "Juca Go Back Night" and committed 50% of the funds raised to the Arts Department of the Jubilee Secondary School. This week the Stagajah band presented 15 acoustic guitars valued at around K9,000 to the school which they had purchased from the funds they raised. “This is the first of its kind whereby we have members of certain bands in the city where they’ve gotten this initiative to be able give back to a school where they’ve come out from.” “In the last two years, we’ve actually spent quite a lot of money in buying equipment that should allow students to learn what they need to learn particularly in music,” said School Principal, Mrs Barbara Miles. Mrs Miles thanked the Stagajah band and the other supporting artists who made it possible for the school to receive much needed musical instruments for the students to use. Meanwhile Stagajah band songwriter and rapper, Gaiix said that they started their community service initiative last year when they donated four (4) acoustic guitars to Cheshire Homes. He said that they chose Jubilee Catholic Secondary since he is an Ex-Jubilee student himself and two of his other band members are also ex-Lasallians. Present at the school to do the presentation of the acoustic guitars was the Stagajah band members and Rhee who performed on the concert night as well. Gaiix added that they will continue to give back to the community through their music.

Former Attorney General and Esa’ala MP Davis Steven has called on the Attorney General and relevant authorities to file a Supreme Court reference to determine whether the UBS Loan was lawful or unlawful. Mr Steven made the call today in Parliament following the tabling of the UBS report after the completion of the Commission of Inquiry into the UBS Loan saga. He said instead of playing the blame game on the players in this transaction, he pointed out a recommendation made by the commission in the report on page 29. “The commission recommended the following questions be referred to the Supreme Court under section 19 (1) of the Constitution,” Mr Steven said. “This House can send a very clear picture to the people that we want action by insisting that section 19 authorities make direct instructions to the Attorney General immediately for this Supreme Court reference to be filed.” “The authorities includes the Parliament Speaker, Prime Minister, the Attorney General himself, and the Opposition Leader.” “Why I’m saying this is because all the other recommended steps and actions may not be practicable.” “We’re already at the very tail end of our term, but a reference being filed will survive the lapse of the term of this parliament.” “A reference will clearly establish whether the UBS Loan was lawful or unlawful.”

PNG Power would like to update all our valued clients and customers that the total system power outage was caused by a conductor, snapping off on Transmission Line L401 between Rouna 1 and Rouna 2. Our technical teams are already on site to rectify this problem and have power supply restored. We are in the process to restore power supply and will keep you informed on the work progress. Please call 116 or email callcenter@pngpower.com.pg for more information. PNG Power again sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience caused.

The Newcastle Knights have announced the re-signing of superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga on a five-year deal worth north of $5 million ending the Dolphins’ pursuit of their marquee man. “Newcastle Knights Captain Kalyn Ponga has signed a new five-year contract, securing his future with the Club until at least the end of 2027,” the Knights confirmed in a statement. “This new deal will commence for the 2023 season, replacing all existing options and clauses from the current contract.” “After 76 Knights NRL games, 35 tries and countless magic moments, Ponga has quickly established himself as a marquee player and genuine game breaker, who now leads the Knights into battle as Captain. “During this time, Ponga has gone on to represent the Queensland Maroons in State of Origin four times and Māori All Stars twice. “Newcastle Knights and Wests Group CEO Philip Gardner highlighted the significance of the new deal. “Kalyn is a quality person with great family values,” Gardner said. “We are delighted to secure his future and look forward to watching him lead this club for a very long time. “This signature adds to the forward momentum we are building, giving loyal Knights members and the local community another reason to be excited. “Kalyn sees the vision and direction we have committed to take for the club. He agrees we have the right coach, appreciates the exciting new facilities, and wants to succeed with the Newcastle Knights. “I want to personally thank Kalyn, and his father Andre, for the respectful manner and professional approach they have applied throughout negotiations.” Ponga expressed his excitement with the news and the certainty this new five-year contract delivers. “I would like to thank everyone who has helped throughout this process,” Ponga said. “I’m grateful for the huge amount of time and hard work it has taken to get this new five-year deal completed, especially my family and key people from the club. “My teammates have been awesome, they have shown me every respect and patience, without any pressure throughout the negotiations. “We are a very connected group and I am confident there are great things ahead for us. “It has taken a long time to get to get to this position, I have always said big decisions like these should not be rushed and we have taken the necessary time required. “There has been a lot of reporting and opinions throughout the last few weeks, which I understand completely, and respect is a part of the game. “I would like to thank all of those who have given me the respect of allowing me the space and time I needed to come to this decision – I am excited to have it done and now I can get on with contributing to the club and city that I love.” Ponga joined the Knights in 2018 as an exciting 19-year-old, on a four-year deal. The club identified his unique talent and bright prospects, possessing skills and maturity beyond his young age. The Knights scheduled a press conference for 2pm today, giving Kalyn Ponga a chance to speak about his impending decision regarding his future. The 24-year-old is signed until the end of the 2024 season but reportedly has a clause in his favour not to activate the final two years. Over the weekend, Ponga’s contract extension was reportedly taken off the table, before a dramatic turn of events saw the deal back on. Now, according to The Daily Telegraph, the gun fullback will reportedly sign a five-year deal worth upwards of $5 million to remain in Newcastle. The new contract will reportedly remove all options, meaning the speculation surrounding his future will be well and truly over. Andre Ponga, the gun fullback’s dad, was previously said to be at the centre of the dispute with the Knights about how the extension would be announced. Now, a press conference has been called which will likely announce the new deal. The re-signing is a huge blow for Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins, but will likely mean they move their attention to acquiring Cameron Munster from the Storm. Bennett explained that the NRL’s 17th franchise would continue to search for talent, regardless of where Ponga signs. “I was watching the Knights game on Sunday and suddenly all the news came out about Ponga’s deal being supposedly pulled,” Bennett said to The Daily Telegraph. “I didn’t bother ringing anyone from our place about it. If the deal had been pulled, I would have known about it because we were in contact with the Knights via our CEO Terry Reader and we heard nothing. “Whatever went on down there was up to Newcastle. It was no concern of mine. “We’ve had some discussions with Ponga and it was basically up to him on whether he wanted to stay at Newcastle or come to the Dolphins. “It was a simple decision really. “We can’t dwell on guys we may not sign. Kalyn knew how we felt, we wanted him to play for the Dolphins, so he could make his decision with no grey areas. “What Kalyn wanted to decide was out of our control really.” SOURCE: FOX SPORTS

Patients are still encouraged to wear masks but new guidance issued by NHS England states the service needs to "adapt" to operating with coronavirus. Social distancing rules in the NHS have been scrapped, according to new guidance issued by the health service. Patients in England will no longer need to be distanced from one another in GP and hospital waiting rooms. NHS organisations have been told to return to "pre-pandemic physical distancing in all areas", but people will still be encouraged to wear face coverings. The new guidance covers "all areas" including emergency departments and other hospital settings, ambulances, patient transport services and GP surgeries. However, it states patients and staff should continue to "practice good hand and respiratory hygiene including the continued use of face masks by staff and face masks/coverings by visitors and patients where clinically tolerated". In a letter to local health leaders, NHS England bosses said the service needs to "adapt" to operating with coronavirus in "general circulation and with the virus likely to remain endemic for some time to come". Other changes in measures have also been set out, including changes to cleaning protocols, reducing the isolation period among patients who have COVID-19 and scrapping isolation for those exposed to the virus. The new guidance comes at a time when the NHS is trying to work through a backlog of care, made worse during the pandemic. The number of people in England waiting to start routine treatment has risen to a record 6.2 million. SOURCE: SKY NEWS

Elon Musk defended his offer to purchase Twitter on Thursday, saying during an on-stage interview at the TED conference that he sees the acquisition as nothing less than a turning point for civilization. Musk said the proposed deal is not about the economics of Twitter's (TWTR) business, but about ensuring Twitter remains a trusted platform for democracy — describing his vision in characteristically sweeping terms. "This is not a way to make money," Musk told TED chief Chris Anderson. "My strong intuitive sense is that having a public platform that is maximally trusted and broadly inclusive is extremely important to the future of civilization." The Tesla and SpaceX CEO railed against what he saw as a lack of free speech on Twitter, and said Twitter should open-source its algorithm to increase transparency in the company's content moderation decisions. That would reflect a major shift in how Twitter operates. "The code should be on Github so people can look through it and say, 'I see a problem here,' 'I don't agree with this,' they can highlight issues, suggest changes," said Musk. Asked how he would change Twitter's content moderation, Musk explained that his test for whether a platform adheres to free speech principles is simple: "Is someone you don't like allowed to say something you don't like? And if that is the case, then we have free speech." Musk mused that if a tweet were particularly controversial, perhaps the company should not promote that tweet, but added, "I think we want to be very reluctant to delete things and just be very cautious with permanent bans; timeouts are better." Musk acknowledged that even if he purchased the company, there would still be errors. "I think everyone will still blame me for everything," he said. "If I acquire Twitter and something goes wrong, it's my fault, 100%. I think there will be quite a few errors." Asked whether he had a backup plan if his bid to purchase Twitter fails, Musk said he has "various" ideas. But he coyly declined to elaborate, saying those would need to wait "for another time." SOURCE: CNN NEWS

PNG Air wishes to advise passengers and the travelling public that flights into Tari, Hela Province have now resumed. This follows a suspension that was placed on 1st April due to safety concerns over recent civil unrests in the provincial capital. Passengers can now book tickets to travel online at www.pngair.com.pg, or at your nearest PNG Air, Post PNG Sales Office and Travel Agent. We thank you for your continued understanding and look forward to welcoming you onboard soon. For more information, contact our Call Centre on 16111 (Digicel toll free) or 7411 2644.