PNG Haus Bung

https://pnghausbung.com/breaking-news-11-new-covid-19-deaths-brings-total-deaths-to-82/

Published on April 15, 2021

BREAKING NEWS!! 11 NEW COVID-19 DEATHS BRINGS TOTAL DEATHS TO 82

11 new COVID-19 death has been reported in the last 24 hours increasing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to 82. Deaths are reported from NCD, Eastern Highlands and WNB. Also in the last 24 hours a total of 204 new cases were reported from 13 provinces bringing the national total to 9188. All 22 PNG provinces have reported cases of COVID-19. Continue to practice COVID-19 safety protocols

Published on April 15, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/fairprice-fights-the-fair-way-with-tipng/

Published on April 15, 2021

FAIRPRICE FIGHTS THE FAIR WAY WITH TIPNG

FairPrice has joined Transparency International PNG in the fight against corruption as the latest Corporate Member in the SME Category. It is simple to join and they encourage others to join too. The initiative to join was led by FairPrice staff after TIPNG held a lunch & learn workshop with them last year. TIPNG defines corruption as the abuse of power for private gain; it hurts everyone who depends on the integrity of people in positions of authority. “We understand corruption affects the economy, business operations and even simple sporting games. It matters to us, our families and our livelihood,” comments FairPrice staff. “Fighting corruption is everyone’s business, and sustainable change in this regard can only be achieved through our collective action” says TIPNG CEO Arianne Kassman. Therefore, it is important that SMEs such as FairPrice join in the anti-corruption movement as even their small voice can be of collective impact in the long run. “In joining TIPNG we gain access to resources and information that inform and empower our team to act against corruption in our everyday lives. We see it as a good investment for many reasons” says FairPrice Director Mr. Elphick. For interested SMEs who would like to join, contact Memberships and Events officer, Kalia. Maraga on email: kalia.maraga@transparencypng.org.pg [pdf-embedder url="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/FairPrice-joins-TIPNG.pdf" title="FairPrice joins TIPNG"]

Published on April 15, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/is-alibabas-fate-a-warning-to-chinas-tech-giants/

Published on April 15, 2021

IS ALIBABA'S FATE A WARNING TO CHINA’S TECH GIANTS?

Over the weekend, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma's e-commerce giant Alibaba was fined $2.8bn (£2bn) by Chinese regulators, who said it had abused its market position for years. Then on Monday, Chinese digital payments firm Ant Group - an affiliate of Alibaba - announced a drastic restructuring plan with regulators forcing it to act more like a bank than a tech firm. And on Tuesday, 34 companies, the who's who of China's tech world, were summoned by officials and warned: let Alibaba be a lesson to you. China forces Jack Ma's Ant Group to restructure Alibaba accepts record fine and vows to change China's tech giants fall under regulator's pressure They've been given one month to "self-reflect" and comply with China's new rules for platform companies. Alibaba is the grandfather of China's tech industry. It dominates the marketplace there with over 800 million users in China alone. That is why it was a wake-up call for others in the tech sector when the firm was fined and officially reprimanded. The investigation into Alibaba determined that it had abused its market position for years by restricting merchants from doing business or running promotions on rival platforms. The fine amounts to about 4% of the company's 2019 domestic revenue. Industry players tell me "everyone is tense". The big firms are worried they're next. Companies like Tencent, JD.com, Meituan, Bytedance and Pinduoduo are all looking at Alibaba's experience, and trying to avoid crossing any red lines set by Beijing. No-one can be more powerful than the Party On the face of it, Alibaba's fine is about increased regulation in the sprawling Chinese tech sector, and for many it is a good sign that the market has matured. "If you read the laws, Chinese regulators are trying to be more forward looking and think ahead, in an attempt to regulate an industry that is moving so fast," says Rui Ma, a China tech analyst and co-host of the podcast Tech Buzz China. "They are including the use of algorithms, not just market share. They are trying to understand the platform economy and trying to be in line with what more developed economies are doing." But the moves are also seen as political. They are an indication that under President Xi Jinping, nothing can be bigger or more powerful in the lives of ordinary Chinese people than the Communist Party. These companies have created an alternative virtual world for Chinese people, and have a huge hold over their lives. You can't get through a day without accessing one of these apps in China. But that same influence over the lives of Chinese people puts them in direct competition with the Chinese Communist Party. Sources in China's financial circles tell me they suspect it "irked a lot of the top leadership in Beijing" when the godfather of Chinese tech Jack Ma made a speech dismissing the traditional banking sector last year. The speech led to state media criticising Mr Ma's businesses Alibaba and Ant Group. Then Mr Ma and his team were summoned by regulators and the much-anticipated share market launch of Ant was suspended. Observers tell me what Mr Ma said at that symposium has cost him dearly. It is clear both Ant and Alibaba are keen to draw a line under these events. In an investor call this week, Alibaba's executive vice-chairman Joe Tsai said: "From a regulatory standpoint….in our case we have experienced the scrutiny and we're happy to get the matter behind us." He added: "I think on a going forward basis, globally the trend is that regulators will be more keen to look at some of the areas that you could have unfair competition." China tech's 'Wild West' is changing Chinese tech firms were born and grew up in an environment with little or no regulation. The sector operated a bit like the Wild West, with a "build it and they will come" philosophy. And for a long time the government actively encouraged that. "China has had national schemes to promote entrepreneurship and innovation," Angela Zhang, associate professor at the University of Hong Kong tells me. She is an expert on Chinese law and is the author of a recent book called Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism. "In the past regulators were a bit more lax in their approach. They used alternative regulatory tools which were more lenient to the tech firms." But that regulatory landscape is changing as China tries to rein in these firms.

Published on April 15, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/pm-marape-pays-last-respects-to-late-mendani/

Published on April 15, 2021

PM MARAPE PAYS LAST RESPECTS TO LATE MENDANI

PM Marape with Deputy Speaker Hon. Koni Iguan, Opposition Leader Hon. Belden Namah, Government Ministers and other MPs paid their final respects as the casket laid-in-State in the Grand Hall of the National Parliament. “On behalf of the people of Papua New Guinea and my family, I would like to pay our last respects to the Late Hon. Richard Mendani,” PM Marape said. He said the Late Hon. Mendani was a serving member of Parliament, when he passed away on March 20th, 2021, after a long illness. “He was elected into Parliament in 2012 and was very vocal about corruption in his own province of Gulf,” PM Marape said. “Late Hon. Mendani was a young leader who had a lot of potential to contribute extensively to the development of his electorate and the country. “His passing is a great loss to the people of Papua New Guinea.”

Published on April 15, 2021

DPM GOES VIRTUAL

Department of Personnel Management will now be using an online application as a new working tool that will enable working remotely and working under the new normal protocols in light of covid-19. As the Department endeavors to find innovative practices of conducting business internally and with other government agencies under the new normal. Department of Personnel Management Secretary Ms. Taies Sansan said, in light of the challenges faced by Public Servants during this covid-19 period the need to be innovative and find new ways of working that can help prevent the spread of the virus is critical. “As a lead government agency – I have insisted on the use of such working tools by my Department and I am glad this app can be used by DPM staff for meetings and workshops that requires more than 10 people to be one room especially in communicating with the provinces”. The Department today (14th April) held its Executive Management meeting via this Microsoft Google Application as part of efforts to commence using the application. “Despite a few technical issues – the executive management meeting was conducted via the use of this app with success”. Secretary Sansan said, such innovations can be applied by line agencies to ensure the Public Service is adhering to the covid-19 protocols under the government’s National Isolation strategy. “All that DPM has undertaken is in line with covid-19 protocols and the recent joint Circular Instruction issued by the Department and the office of the Controller which highlighted the need for government business to continue to function and services to continue to be performed by public servants”. Policies and guidelines for the use of the app by the department are being finalised to guide the use of the app. [pdf-embedder url="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/DPM-GOES-VIRTUAL.pdf" title="DPM GOES VIRTUAL"]

Published on April 15, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/marie-stopes-png-to-host-free-vasectomy-clinic/

Published on April 15, 2021

MARIE STOPES PNG TO HOST FREE VASECTOMY CLINIC

Leading family planning and sexual and reproductive health services provider Marie Stopes Papua New Guinea (MSPNG) is encouraging fathers and young men to consider the option of vasectomy when they are certain they do not want any more children. As part of the non-profit’s efforts to promote the permanent male family planning method, a FREE no scalpel vasectomy (NSV) clinic will be held at its Port Moresby centre from 16-17 April 2021. “In 2009, when we started doing NSV, we served 17 men. By 2019, we provided vasectomies to more than 2,400 men in PNG covering both urban and rural communities.” said MSPNG Service Delivery Director Loretta Bele. According to Bele, MSPNG has performed over 10,000 non-scalpel vasectomies since it began operations in 2006. “In order for pregnancy to occur, sperm travels through a tube called the vas deferens to the penis. NSV works by tying up or blocking the vas deferens tube so that sperm is not able to be released during sexual intercourse,” explained Bele. However, sexual desire remains unchanged. The fifteen-minute procedure differs from the traditional vasectomy method in that it does not require an incision to be made, it is less invasive and has a quicker recovery time. No admission is required. The man walks in and walks out the same day. Bele said historically, men have had a limited choice when it comes to family planning services. “Most contraceptives focus on women but the NSV is one highly effective contraceptive method that allows men to take on a greater role in family planning,” said Bele. When compared to tubal ligation (the permanent family planning method for women), Bele says NSV is quicker, has less complications and faster recovery rates. “It doesn’t require general anaesthesia like tubal ligation that women get. It is the most effective form of birth control available with the lowest failure rate.” According to MSPNG Family Planning Trainer and NSV clinical provider, Mulas Salum, the most common misconceptions men have are that a vasectomy is going to be painful or that the procedure will affect their sex drive. “The only thing that a NSV prevents is pregnancy. It does not affect sex drive or performance. It takes less than 20 minutes, and you can walk out straight after receiving the procedure,” explained Salum. "Getting a vasectomy is something all men should think about and discuss with their partners. It is a very effective form of contraception and is much safer than a tubal ligation,” he added. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, MSPNG has seen an increase in its client numbers with many men reaching out to enquire about the permanent family planning method. “Previously men were accompanying their partners to our centres, but now they are coming in as clients. While there’s still more awareness to be done, it’s good to see that we’re slowly changing our perception on family planning,” said Mulas.

Published on April 15, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/grandad-80-wins-euromillions-prize-after-forgetting-glasses/

Published on April 15, 2021