Author: PNG Haus Bung

42 Teacher-librarians from Buk Bilong Pikinini’s Library Learning Centres across the country will attend a week-long Digital Training program from the 14-18th of December. The digital training program and associated website has been developed in partnership with Deloitte and Deloitte Digital and is valued at more than $100,000. The website will ensure that the teachers can access the new website to continue their training on a needs-basis and will be open for everyone to access. All BbP’s Library Learning Centres will see the implementation of a new Digital Learning Program in 2021 for the enrolled 5-year-old children. BbP’s teacher training…

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The NRL has announced several rule changes for the 2021 Telstra Premiership season to make the game “faster, more free-flowing, entertaining and unpredictable”. The changes are: the introduction of a two-point field goal for kicks taken from more than 40 metres out;six-again to be called for 10-metre infringements;penalties for teams if they leave a scrum before a referee calls “break”;a play-the-ball restart if the ball or player with the ball goes over the sideline;The Bunker will now review replays after an on-field referee awards a try but a conversion attempt will not be allowed until it gets the green light;injured…

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Medical experts advising the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have recommended emergency approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. The decision comes after a 23-member panel met to determine whether the drug’s benefits outweigh the risks. The Pfizer vaccine has already been approved for the public in the UK, Canada, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The drug still needs to be formally approved by the FDA’s vaccine chief, which is expected in the coming days. The recommendation comes a day after the US recorded more than 3,000 deaths in the latest 24-hour period – the highest total in a single day…

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Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has raised the question on where is the bi-partisanship in the opposition as the National Federation Party was not even part of the decision making process to choose the next Leader of Opposition. Bainimarama has also said in parliament that former Opposition Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka did not sacrifice his seat for anyone but he has abandoned his post. The Prime Minister says Rabuka left his party and also left SODELPA’s leadership bitterly divided. Bainimarama says those who are left in parliament and are still praising Rabuka after his departure should do the honourable thing – leave…

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Papua New Guinea has recorded its eighth death from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a 49-year-old male from West New Britain. The deceased had abdominal pains, cough, headache and shortness of breath that started on 4th December. He passed away on 8 December. Papua New Guinea has now recorded a total of 720 COVID-19 cases, with 36 new cases reported in the last 48 hours. Thirty-five of the new cases are from West New Britain (WNB) whilst the National Capital District (NCD) had one new case. Among the new cases reported in WNB, 34 are from Talasea District while one case…

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A member of Tonga’s parliament has filed a motion for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister, Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa. It was submitted on Thursday by the People’s Representative for Tongatapu 2, Semisi Sika, and signed by 10 MPs. Because it came on the last sitting day of parliament for the year the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua, ruled that a tentative date for the motion to be tabled in the house would be the next sitting day, 12 January 2021. Fakafanua ruled it complied with constitutional requirements and that it must be tabled between 5 and 14 working days after…

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The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) wishes to inform stakeholders and the general public that relevant parties to this proposed sale; namely Kina Bank and Westpac PNG, have already approached the ICCC for initial consultations. The ICCC has received verbal undertaking from the parties that they will go through the relevant processes required under the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission Act, 2002 (ICCC Act) to seek ICCC’s approval before completing the proposed transaction. ICCC Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Paulus Ain, said that the ICCC is aware of the proposed deal and is awaiting the parties to submit a…

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Kina Bank’s acquisition of Westpac Bank’s operations in the Pacific once done, will see the bank expand its operations as par it’s 2025 strategy to become a leading full service regional bank in the Pacific Region, with a market leading digital platform.  Kina Securities Limited (Kina or Kina Bank or the Company) announced this week that it has entered into sales and purchase agreements to acquire 89.91% of Westpac banking operations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and 100% of Fiji Westpac Banking Corporation. The Kina Bank in a statement said its customer base, employers, branches, ATMs, Net Loans, and EFTPOS…

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The Secretary for Department of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology Professor Fr Jan Czuba, was arrested and charged by the National Fraud & Anti-Corruption Directorate (NFACD) yesterday in Port Moresby for K4.2million fraud. Professor Fr Jan Czuba,61 of Giwice, Poland was charged with one count of official corruption and 9 counts of abuse of office. Fr Czuba is the current Secretary for the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology and committed the offences whilst in office. He has served in the position since 2017 when he was appointed by the Government. Previously Fr Jan Czuba was the…

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