Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs. It will be the second wave of mass redundancies from the tech giant, which laid off 11,000 employees last November. Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the cuts - part of a "year of efficiency" - would be "tough" In addition to the 10,000 jobs cut, 5,000 vacancies at the firm will be left unfilled, he told staff. In a memo, Mr Zuckerberg told employees he believed the company had suffered "a humbling wake-up call" in 2022 when it experienced a dramatic slowdown in revenue. Meta previously announced that in the three months to December 2022, earnings were down 4% year-on-year - though it still managed to make a profit of more than $23bn over the course of 2022. Mr Zuckerberg cited higher interest rates in the US, global geopolitical instability and increased regulation as some of the factors affecting Meta, and contributing to the slowdown. "I think we should prepare ourselves for the possibility that this new economic reality will continue for many years," he said. The latest job cuts come as companies, including Google and Amazon, have been grappling with how to balance cost-cutting measures with the need to remain competitive. At the start of this year, Amazon announced it planned to close more than 18,000 jobs because of "the uncertain economy" and rapid hiring during the pandemic, while Google's parent company Alphabet made 12,000 cuts. According to layoffs.fyi, which tracks job losses in the tech sector, there have been more than 128,000 job cuts in the tech industry so far in 2023. Timeline for cuts Mr Zuckerberg said the recruitment team would be the first to be told whether they were affected by the cuts, and would find out on Wednesday. He also outlined when other teams would be informed: "We expect to announce restructurings and lay-offs in our tech groups in late April 2023, and then our business groups in late May 2023," he wrote in the memo to staff on Tuesday. "In a small number of cases, it may take through to the end of the year to complete these changes. "Our timelines for international teams will also look different, and local leaders will follow up with more details." Source: BBC

NASFUND Contributors Savings & Loan Society (NCSL) announced that they had a security threat that caused them to remove their online services portal while they fixed the threat. NCSL Board Chairman, Ian Tarutia said they have made significant progress so far in restoring the member services and the core IT Systems are on and undergoing further checks before their online services will be available for members. Details and timelines for the rollout of the member services will be announced on Friday, 17th March, 2023. They will be able to announce which member services and order of priority in will be made available for members. Tarutia said that they understand the hardships and members frustrations endured during this outage and he would like to sincerely thank members for their patience and loyalty. He reminded members that their funds are safe and encouraged those members that need funds urgently to email their applications to ceo@ncsl.com.pg. For specific member queries, contact ncsl staff on: Member Services: 7932 1404 | 7100 8587 | 8220 4709 | 8220 4712 | 8220 4710 Lending: 7100 8583 | 7100 6531 | 8220 4711 | 82204713 E-Channels: 8220 4734 | 8220 4735  

The Parramatta Eels have extended the contract of Head Coach Brad Arthur to the end of 2025. Parramatta Eels Chairman Sean McElduff said Brad is the best person to lead the Club towards challenging for a premiership following a Grand Final appearance last year. “We have come a long way as a Club both on and off the field in recent years and Brad has played a major part in our success. “Our NRL team has consistently played finals football since 2019 falling one game short of a premiership last season. “The players love him and we’ve seen many of them develop and become better players under his coaching and guidance.” Brad Arthur said he was happy to have the support of the Club and to continue to build on the success of the last few years. “We are heading in the right direction, and while we’re proud of making it to the Grand Final last year, everyone at the Club is determined to take it one step further this season and deliver the results that our Members and fans deserve. “I love being at this Club and the relationships I have with our staff and our playing group. The best is yet to come from this team, so I'm excited to confirm my future at the Club.”

Michelle Yeoh has won best actress at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday night, becoming the first woman of Asian descent to win the award. Yeoh, who earned the trophy for her acclaimed performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” has also entered the history books for becoming the first Malaysian-born performer to be honored with a best actress Oscar. Yeoh is the fifth person of Asian descent to win an Oscar in an acting category and the first to win in a lead acting category. “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof to dream big and dreams do come true,” Yeoh gushed while accepting her Oscar. She added: “Ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you’re ever past your prime.” Yeoh dedicated her Oscar to her mother, and “all the moms in the world, because they really are the superheroes and without them none of us would be here tonight.” In “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Yeoh portrayed Evelyn Wang, a beleaguered Asian American immigrant who runs a laundromat and is confronted with the staggering prospect of infinite possible lives as part of the multiverse. As she navigates this bizarre new terrain and gains exceptional new powers, she must come to terms with rifts within her family that ultimately pose a grave existential threat – all while also facing a tax audit. Upon learning of her history-making nomination for the film in January, Yeoh told The Hollywood Reporter that “it’s taken a long time. But I think this is more than me.” She also mentioned that constantly, “Asians (are) walking up to me saying, ‘You can do it, you’re doing it for us.’ It’s like, ‘I understand. I totally understand.’ All this time, they’ve not been recognized, they’ve not been heard.” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” also stars Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis, who both won in their respective supporting acting categories on Sunday night. In total, the film won seven Academy Awards out of 11 nominations, including best picture. Among its other wins, “Everything Everywhere” clinched best original screenplay and best director for duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. Source: CNN

Madang Province is taking a new approach in its attempts to resolve social issues, break down in law and order, gender-based violence and many more crippling the province in recent times, and hoping to restore the province to its glory days. Madang governor Ramsey Pariwa has already thrown his support behind PNG Football Association under the leadership of President John Kapi Natto to utilise football as a development tool for the people of Madang and Papua New Guinea. Governor Pariwa was guest of honour to the John Kapi Natto hosted PNGFA Congress in Madang and was delighted to learn that Mr Kapi Natto took time off from his busy scheduled to visit two primary schools and one international school in Madang town while attending the PNGFA Congress in Madang over the weekend. Mr Kapi Natto said PNGFA and Madang Provincial Government can work together to change lives and unite the people through football. Governor Pariwa, who is a keen soccer follower, said people of Madang are passionate about football and it has always been part and partial of their livelihood. It has become the way of life for people of Madang. Mr Pariwa said he firmly believes that football (PNGFA) can work in partnership with the province in service delivery through Integral Human Development. Both parties; PNGFA and Madang Provincial Government must seek a workable solution to work in partnership in resolving social issues; breakdown on law and order, gender-based violence (GBV) plus many more. “Football can be used as a tool to amicably resolve the everyday law and order problems in the town and rural communities," the Madang Governor said. “I have pledged my 100 percent support in the political arena to see PNGFA grow moving forward,” Mr Pariwa said. Mr Kapi Natto said he is looking forward to work with Madang Soccer Association as an affiliated member and the Madang Provincial Government.

East Tanna residents in Vanuatu urgently need following two tropical cyclones and now acid rain from Mount Yasur which is an active volcano. The Vanuatu Daily Post quoted Rita Kelema, who is seven months pregnant, as saying the majority of locally grown food has been damaged. Images show some houses badly damaged. Trucks are taking water to impacted residents and the French Army has been reponding there, handing out essential supplies. Australia and New Zealand have also provided aid. Meanwhile, Save The Children Vanuatu is working to ensure the thousands of people affected by the cyclones get vital assistance. The charity's Pacific manager Kim Koch said her organisation is focusing on the needs of children, both in the short and long term. "Right now what children need are hygiene kits, shelter materials and that's really just buckets and tarps - making sure that families have something to help them get their house back in order and to get access to safe water, to be able to wash food and wash themselves." Koch said they were working with the Ministry of Education to get schools re-opened.   Chinese assistance The Government of China has given $US500,000 to aid recovery efforts in Vanuatu after cyclones Judy and Kevin. Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau received the donation from the Chinese Government Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs, Qian Bo, last week. The Vanuatu Daily Post reports this contribution is additional to the $US100,000 donated by the Chinese Red Cross Society. The Chinese Embassy in Vanuatu said this assistance will go a long way in supporting the people of Vanuatu during these difficult times. The initial estimate of the recovery cost is estimated at six billion vatu, or just under $US50 million.   Coffins exposed Six coffins were reportedly visible at the surface of graves in Port Vila, after Cyclone Kevin smashed through Vanuatu. A family member expressed shock at the sight, and alleged that it was due to a lack of extra effort to properly maintain the cemetery. The Port Vila City Council said it was not aware of damage, but claimed the coffins surfaced due to heavy rainfall during the cyclone. It said this was not the first time graves had opened during such weather. The council confirmed that the coffins would be reburied. Source: Radio New Zealand

Feni Primary School in Tanir Local Level Government now has a new double classroom after its officially launching on Friday. The officially opening was done by The Member for Namatanai and Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation, Mr Walter Schnaubelt during his electoral tour on remote Anir Island. The ceremony was witnessed by a large crowd including students, teachers, community leaders and the general public. A local contractor with the help of the Feni community constructed the double classroom with funding under the ward development support grant at the cost of K50,000. During his speech, Schnaubelt said that he knew it was challenging to build this classroom due to the island being isolated and how hard it was to bring in the building materials. “I understand and appreciate the challenges and as long as I’m your leader, we will work together in addressing some of these challenges going forward.” “I want to say thank you to the school board of management, carpenter and the community for working together in building the double classroom.” He shared that he was happy with the people working together and he committed another K50, 000 to the school for other school infrastructure projects. Minister Schnaubelt also announced that there will be a new policy shift that will help people in the rural areas and that is the Ward Development Support (WDS) program. “This program allows each ward in Namatanai to receive K50,000 each year for the development needs of the people at the ward level. It will be administered by the NMT (Network Management Team) based in each ward,” he said. Schnaubelt further announced as well a housing project whereby 50 recipients in a council ward will receive 16 sheet red colour bond roofing irons together with a K300 voucher from a hardware store to purchase nails and other needed items to help build a house.

Jacob Kiraz and Josh Addo-Carr provided the magic and Viliame Kikau the muscle as the Bulldogs outgunned the Storm 26-12 at AAMI Park on Saturday night. Canterbury went in as heavy underdogs but took the game up to Melbourne early and were rewarded with the opening try through second-gamer Jake Preston, who stormed onto a Reed Mahoney pass on the right edge and got the ball down despite the attention of three defenders. Melbourne found their groove and threatened to grab their first through Nelson Asofa-Solomona but four Bulldogs defenders muscled up and denied the Storm big man. When Young Tonumaipea was sent to the bin for a professional foul in the 25th minute the Bulldogs were quick to pounce, winger Kiraz cruising into the right corner to make it 10-0. Another dazzling attacking raid by Canterbury in the 34th minute set former Storm man Addo-Carr free on the left wing and he dived in to make it 16-0 with Matt Burton's sideline conversion. On the stroke of half-time the Bulldogs went close to a fourth try when Burton grubbered ahead and Kikau picked up the ball to score but replays showed Addo-Carr had knocked on as he tried to regather the kick. A storming run by bench forward Franklin Pele put the Bulldogs on the front foot and a quick shift to the right gave Kiraz the chance to show his strength to get across for his second try of the night early in the second term. Mahoney nailed a 40-20 in the 48th minute and the visitors rubbed more salt into the Melbourne wounds with a try to Jake Averillo, who carried three defenders over the line to make it 26-0. The Storm took their first steps on the long road back when Asofa-Solomona crossed in the 53rd minute and Nick Meaney converted to cut the margin to 20. A blow for the Storm soon after when Asofa-Solomona left the field with a knee injury but superstars Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes lifted, the Kangaroos hooker putting the Kiwi playmaker in for a try in the 58th minute. Down by 14 and with time running out the Storm muscled up in defence to force a mistake from Ryan Sutton but Melbourne's attack wouldn't click when they needed it to and the Dogs snuffed out the raid. With Mahoney controlling the game out of dummy half and Kikau muscling up in defence, the Bulldogs held on for their first win at AAMI Park since 2016. Source: NRL.com

A double to fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow led the Dolphins to an emotion-charged 20-14 win over the Raiders on Saturday night. With heavy rain falling throughout the second half it was the forwards who led the way for the Dolphins, laying the foundation for halfback Sean O'Sullivan and Tabuai-Fidow to work their magic. The Raiders were first to strike in the 14th minute when Jack Wighton took a pass from Danny Levi and powered over from close to the line. A loose offload by Tesi Niu in the slippery conditions handed the Raiders a chance to extend their lead but Dolphins skipper Jesse Bromwich came up with a one-on-one steal on Hudson Young to defuse the situation. Come the 23rd minute and Wighton was starring at the defensive end, denying Jamayne Isaako with a diving cover tackle that knocked the ball from the winger's grasp. A clever grubber by Tom Starling earned the Raiders a repeat set in the 29th minute and the Green Machine cashed in through winger Nick Cotric after slick lead-up work by Corey Harawira-Naera and Matt Timoko. Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King was sin binned six minutes before the break for a hip drop and Jamal Fogarty knocked over the penalty goal to give Canberra a 12-0 lead. Despite being a man down the Dolphins struck back when O'Sullivan grubbered and Seb Kris failed to clean up, allowing Tabuai-Fidow to pounce on the loose ball. The Dolphins mounted pressure early in the second half when O'Sullivan earned a line dropout with a neat grubber but Mason Teague came up with a dropped ball and the pressure was released. Another inch perfect grubber by O'Sullivan in the 63rd minute laid on a try for back-rower Tom Gilbert, who showed great desperation to get to the ball first. Isaako's conversion tied it up at 12-12. With 10 minutes to play, Tabuai-Fidow jumped out of dummy half close to the tryline and caught Young offside at marker. The Raider was sent to the bin and O'Sullivan landed the penalty goal to put the Dolphins up 14-12. Just as the Dolphins took control, O'Sullivan was sin binned for making contact with Harawira-Naera's head after the Raiders back-rower had kicked ahead and Fogarty slotted the penalty goal for 14-14. With the Kayo Stadium crowd in full voice the Dolphins worked their way downfield and five-eighth Isaiya Katoa went to the line and put Tabuai-Fidow into a hole for the match-winning try. Source: NRL.com

A 101-year-old woman has been awarded an honorary degree more than eight decades after qualifying as a teacher. Madge Brown, who lives in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, graduated with a diploma in physical education in 1942 after three years of study and training. The University of London said Mrs Brown and others who became teachers at that time deserved the level of recognition they would have received today. She received the degree on the same day as 94-year-old Sheila Gordon. Both reside on the Isle of Wight and attended the now-defunct Nonington College of Physical Education in London during the 1940s. Mrs Brown said she felt "rather old" to finally be getting a bachelor of education degree, and described her time training as a teacher as "the happiest days of my life". "I'm very grateful for this - but it has been a long time coming," she said. "When I left college, they always said it should be a proper graduation because of the hard work we did. "Why they never made the diploma of physical education a degree I don't know, because it was very intense." Teachers were typically trained on two-year or three-year certificate courses at training college until the 1980s, but this was later replaced with the requirement for all trainees to complete a graduate or postgraduate course. A University of London spokesperson said it was working to present all those who gained teaching certificates from the now non-existent teaching colleges in the city with degrees to recognize "their dedication to teaching and enriching the lives of young people". Source: BBC

Health care workers, Senior lecturers from Lutheran School of Nursing and selected health institutions in Madang Province are preparing themselves for a weeklong training on increasing COVID Vaccinations rates in the province.  This training will be from March 20th to 24th and will be facilitated by donor agencies, the National Department of Health, National Control Centre, and the Madang Provincial Health Authority.  The focus of the Vaccine Taskforce is to ensure that March onward, COVID-19 Vaccines, like routine Immunizations, will be normalized and the uptake of the COVID-19 Vaccines in the country will increase.According to the Deputy Controller/Executive Director Vaccine Taskforce National Control Centre Dr. Daoni Esorom, increasing the COVID vaccination is the way forward to making sure of the protection of one’s health and their families too.    “Make sure to protect yourself and your family by getting fully vaccinated at an authorized vaccination site near you today.” For more information about COVID 19 and vaccination sites., Call hotline number 1800 200 or visit the National Control Centre Facebook Page.   

After news circulated of the sexual assault of a young girl in remote Koroba in Hela Province, Prime Minister James Marape has called on the Police Commissioner to receive a petition by concerned citizens.    Prime Minister James Marape was in East New Britain to launch a project when he made this call.     “I have asked the Police Commissioner to attend to receive the petition and for police to do their job in making arrests on all law-and-order related issues including assaults of all forms on our daughters and mothers.    “My government’s policy focus is more money to Police, Magisterial and Judicial services in 2023 than other government of pasts years.”    “We have passed tougher laws like life imprisonment for rapists and gun handlers, so it is now on law enforcement agencies to do their jobs.”    “It cannot be the Prime Minister doing the police and magistrates' job. Police must do their job of arresting offenders, prosecuting the case, and securing convictions on those who break laws in our country.”    “My job is to pass laws and allocate enough money, both of which we have secured for 2023. Police right across our country must do their jobs.”    Marape said that they will continue to increase funding and capacity building for the police, courts, and correctional facilities over the next 10 years to address these issues.    He added that he will continue to work towards empowering the law enforcement agencies to convict those that commit offenses against the women and daughters of this country.