Knights general manager of football Danny Buderus expects halfback Mitchell Pearce to remain at the club, but his future as captain appears doubtful. While Pearce wasn't present when Newcastle resumed pre-season training after the Christmas break on Monday, the off-contract 31-year-old's name was a hot topic following a recent off-field incident. Buderus said it was "a private matter between two parties" and declined to go into great detail. Pearce was reportedly caught texting a female club employee whose partner has friends in the NRL squad. "I think Mitchell will be a player in 2021 at the Newcastle Knights. At this stage, there's nothing for us to say he won't be a part of us in 2021," Buderus said after confirming the club want to keep Pearce. However, the latest drama could mean Pearce's time as skipper – a position he has held since moving from the Roosters in 2018 – is over. "For several months we've been addressing and looking at our leadership model within the club," Buderus said. "[Coach] Adam O'Brien's a big believer in strong leadership, group leadership, and we need to hone down into that and work it out. We're still to really finalise those decisions and which way we're going to go with the leadership. We're going to take our time and roll it out. "But we have got some good candidates for leadership within that group. That will be for Adam and his team, more importantly, to work out which way that captaincy will go." Source: NRL.com

Air Niugini will recommence flights to and from Hoskins airport, West New Britain from tomorrow 5th January until Monday 11th January. Flights between January 5th and 11th are for passengers already holding tickets. There are no restrictions on passengers travelling into Hoskins during this period. Per advice from NCC, passengers departing Hoskins will be required to undertake a rapid COVID test at the airport prior to the flight.  This takes 20-25 minutes for the result, so passengers are requested to arrive early.  From 12th January to 21st January, per instructions from the Controller all passenger flights are then cancelled to and from Hoskins. Passengers with existing bookings may make changes on these without penalty to instead travel in the period up to Monday 11th January. The new measure will remain in force until 12am of January 22nd, 2021. Customers holding Air Niugini tickets for this period that need changes are to contact ANG Call Centre on toll free 180 3444, landline 327 3444 or your nearest Sales Office to revalidate your travel without charge. Air Niugini will continue to operate in a safe and compliant manner, adhering to advice from the PNG Government as per the Pandemic Measures issued to mitigate the risks in the spread against Coronavirus (COVID-19). For detailed information on Measure 13, pls check Air Niugini website www.airniugini.com.pg  We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in managing the spread of COVID-19.

Acting Police Commissioner Donald Yamasombi has described as complete fake news on social media that Police Commissioner David Manning will be arrested when he resumes duty. Mr Yamasombi expressed his disgust at the social media claims which he says are not true and is being peddled by people with sinister motives to destroy the image and morale of the Police Force and its hierarchy. Mr Yamasombi said, “I condemn the release of this fake news over the social media which is not only reckless and aimed at destabilising the police force, but furthermore, has the potential to create a national security issue." “This is not the first time such fake news have been released to the public. I cannot allow this behaviour to continue anymore unchecked and unanswered. I have today established a task force to investigate this matter and arrest those involved in the release of fake news. IT experts and appropriate technology and resources will be committed over a space of three months to identify, expose and deal with those responsible. Their actions are not only unethical but criminal in nature as well and as such they will be charged appropriately under the various laws at our disposal.” Mr Yamasombi also called on the relevant and responsible government bodies including NICTA and the PNG Censorship Board to address the abuse of the social media in creating fear, anxiety and disorder. He said it is becoming a serious concern to police and citizens when people can discredit others and raise false and unsubstantiated claims and allegations over the social media. Mr Yamasombi assured the country that he is in constant daily dialogue with Commissioner Manning on Police operations and administrative matters of concern. “We have a good working relationship and such allegations will not destroy the positive efforts and work we have initiated for the police force and the country as a whole,” Mr Yamasombi said.

While addressing the alarming increase of alcohol related cases presenting to the Port Moresby General Hospital Emergency department since New Year’s Day 2021, it is worrying to see a majority of cases being those in their teens, Surgical Coordinator at PMGH Dr Noah Tapaua said the youngest casualty being just 11 years old and a 17 year old, among the fatalities. “The youngest is about 11 years old and that is abuse related to alcohol,” stated Dr Tapaua. “It’s especially the young group that we are seeing. The oldest so far from New Year till now is about 46, but the majority is in the teenage group.” “Both sexes are equal now. We used to see more males. Now we are seeing both males and females,” Dr Tapaua added.

When Detective Sergeant Rachael Pinda was assigned to a case of child sexual molestation and rape, she was determined to put the perpetrator behind bars. She persevered relentlessly and eventually succeeded when the National Court in Waigani, imprisoned Wagua Maroma, a male adult, to a jail term of 15 years, on 18th November 2019. Maroma was found guilty of sexually touching and penetrating four girls, all children, at different locations and times in NCD. The sentencing has brought some closure for the families of the victims, but Sergeant Pinda said, "I am sharing this story with the media because, I want to create awareness on sexual violence against women, girls and children in our society. She said many survivors and victims remain silent because they fear the stigmatization, shame and humiliation, while perpetrators walk freely. She said, I am sharing this story to break the cycle and encourage families of survivors and victims to report such crimes to police. To report such cases please contact the NCD Sexual Offence Squad at Boroko Police Station on 3244 330 or 3244 331.

An extra surgical theatre had to be opened up at the Port Moresby General Hospital to cater for the influx of patients presenting to the hospital’s Emergency department. Hospital staff said with 40 severe trauma cases including cases having been attended to by the hospital following New Year’s celebrations in Port Moresby, all being alcohol related, it was a necessary step the hospital had to take. Surgical Coordinator of the Port Moresby General Hospital, Dr Noah Tapaua, said an emergency meeting had to be called on Saturday to implement an emergency plan to cater for the alarming increase of trauma cases as sanctioned by the hospital’s CEO Dr Paki Molumi. “We are opening up an extra theatre to cater for the situation that we have,” said Dr Noah Tapaua. “From today until Wednesday we are going to attend to these people to try and give them back that life and I hope that they can rethink and do something better rather than consume alcohol.” Dr Tapaua is calling on chief alcohol distributors in the country to also take responsibility of this situation and control the sale of alcohol to the community, saying that this has never happened before and hopes that this will be the last of its kind. Port Moresby General Hospital's Surgical Coordinator Dr Noah Tapaua

BSP has confirmed today that three (3) of its ATMs were damaged during the festive season including the one at Lorengau Hospital which was damaged by criminals on Friday 1st January, 2021, in an attempt to steal the cash.  The Lorengau Hospital ATM is one of four BSP ATMs in Lorengau and the destruction caused is irreparable and will cause great inconvenience to the people of Lorengau. General Manager Retail, Daniel Faunt, expressed his disappointment that criminals deliberately vandalized and destroyed an ATM without any regard to the impact on people in the area, many of whom would be known to the criminals. “BSP is the only commercial bank that provides services to the people of Manus Province and the only bank to have ATMs in Lorengau.” Faunt added that there was some minor damage done to ATMs at Wewak and Kiunga during the Christmas and New Year period as well. The destruction of the ATMs comes only a month after a robbery at BSP’s Kerema sub branch that has resulted in Kerema Branch being closed until criminal investigations are completed. At the same, there was also an attempted robbery at BSP’s sub branch at Hoskins. BSP Group CEO Robin Fleming commented that in all three (3) locations, Kerema, Hoskins and Lorengau, BSP is the only bank that has been willing to provide banking services to these areas despite the cost of operations and, where robberies are involved, it poses high risks to BSP’s staff. “BSP does all it can to provide services to customers and non-customers alike around PNG notwithstanding the cost of doing so." "This responsibility is carried by BSP disproportionately with other banks choosing only to operate where it is profitable to do so.” Mr Faunt further commented that BSP staff had been proactively monitoring its ATM fleet over the Christmas and New Year period with more than 100 staff country wide working overtime to top up ATM’s with cash and attend to the ATMs to keep as many as possible operational during this period for our customers. “Therefore, the destruction of the ATM at Lorengau was even more disappointing.”

India has formally approved the emergency use of two coronavirus vaccines as it prepares for one of the world's biggest inoculation drives. India immunisation programme is one of the largest in the world The drugs regulatory authority gave the green light to the jabs developed by AstraZeneca with Oxford University and by local firm Bharat Biotech. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it "a decisive turning point". India plans to inoculate some 300 million people on a priority list this year. It has recorded the second-highest number of infections in the world, with more than 10.3 million confirmed cases to date. Nearly 150,000 people have died. On Saturday India held nationwide drills to prepare more than 90,000 health care workers to administer vaccines across the country, which has a population of 1.3 billion people. The Drugs Controller General of India said both manufacturers had submitted data showing their vaccines were safe to use. However, opposition politicians and some doctors have criticised a lack of transparency in the approval process. Dr Swapneil Parikh, an infectious diseases researcher based in Mumbai, told the BBC doctors were in a difficult position. "I understand there is a need to go through the process quickly, remove regulatory hurdles," he said. "However... [governments and regulators] have a duty to be transparent about the data they have reviewed and the process involved in making the decision to authorise a vaccine, because if they don't do this, it can affect the public's faith in the process." Source: BBC News

A heavy rain warning remains in force for Fiji. The Nadi Weather Office says a trough of low pressure remains slow moving over the country. They say that the weather is expected to gradually clear from Wednesday. A flash flood warning is in force for all low lying areas and areas adjacent to small rivers and streams in the Western half of Viti Levu which includes areas from Tuva,Nadroga to Nadi and through to Rakiraki. A flash flood alert is in force all low lying areas and areas adjacent to small rivers and streams in Lekutu through to Nabouwalu to Kubulau, areas along Bagata through to Savusavu to Vinidawa and is also in force for all low lying areas along Labasa and Qawa River. Source: fijivillage

The first batch of coronavirus vaccines arrived in Palau early on Saturday morning, greeted on the tarmac by the president-elect and health minister. Health minister Emais Roberts said 2,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine arrived on a special flight from the United States. "Vaccines arrived," Roberts said in a text message. He said the ministry would start using the vaccine from 3 January, with health workers first in line to receive the jabs. Following that, the ministry said it would look to vaccinate key officials and decision makers, then the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions. Roberts, along with President-elect Surangel Whipps Jr, and US Ambassador John Hennessey-Niland were at the Palau International Airport to greet the 5:30am flight. "On this second day of the New Year, Operation Warp Speed brings hope to the people of Palau," Whipps said. Hennessey-Niland later said in a statement: "The US is a friend and partner of Palau. The arrival of the life-saving vaccines is a wonderful way to start 2021. I thank everyone who has helped getting the vaccine here and keeping Palau Covid-free." Operation Warp Speed is the name the United States has given to its vaccine distribution programme. In the Pacific, both US territories and freely-associated states will receive vaccines. Both Australia and New Zealand have also pledged to fund and deliver vaccines to Pacific countries. Earlier, Whipps had urged the ministry to speed up its vaccination programme after it was announced the first jabs would be administered from 11 January. "There is no reason to wait until January 11," he told reporters last week. "We need to act with a sense of urgency and show our appreciation to be part of Operation Warp Speed." The health ministry said it hoped to have nearly all of Palau's population vaccinated by April. The Palau government has asked for 30,000 doses, which it said it expected to receive in the next three months. The flight continued on to Federated States of Micronesia, to deliver vaccines there. Source: RNZ

Two new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours. A 42 year old male was reported positive in New Ireland province whilst a 24 year old male was reported positive in East New Britain. The 42 year old who lives in Namatanai district in New Ireland province is a mine worker who was tested at the Lihir Medical Centre. He was experiencing fever, cough, headache and muscle ache at the time of testing. In East New Britain, the 24 year old male was tested at Nonga. He did not show symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of testing but swab samples have returned positive. The 24 year old travelled from West New Britain on the 22nd December 2020. The country’s Covid 19 cases now stands at 799 and 9 deaths. A total of 39,761 people have been tested for Coronavirus. 755 people have recovered whilst 281 samples are pending at the laboratories. Thirty-five active cases are in isolation. Sixteen provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville have reported cases. The distribution of the cases is as follows: Provinces                      Cases NCD                                361 Western Province        212 West New Britain         140 East New Britain           21 Eastern H/lands             13 New Ireland                   13 Western H/lands           10 Central                             10 Morobe                            6 East Sepik                        3 Enga                                 3 Milne Bay                        2 West Sepik                      2 Southern H/lands          1 AROB                                1 Hela Province                  1 TOTAL                           799 Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 82,579,768, including 640,505 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The death toll is 1,818,849; of which 11,237 were reported in the last 24 hours.

This news just in! 2 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours. A 42 year old male was reported positive in New Ireland province whilst a 24 year old male was reported positive in East New Britain. The country’s COVID-19 cases now stands at 799 and 9 deaths. Keep to your COVID-19 safety practises, listen in to the news on this station or follow our website pnghausbung.com for more on this story.