Where’s Our Backbone?
We can be such a weak and pliable lot. Senior officials trample over our rules and regulations with impunity. Often we are paying their legal fees as they race to court to defend themselves. Naturally justice must prevail until someone is found guilty or not guilty. But surely senior officials facing serious charges in court should either stand down for the duration of the case, either LWOP or with pay? If they will not stand down DPM should have the power to make them comply. Or failing that the PM should exercise control over his team and bench them in order to retain the dignity and credibility of the office concerned.
Tax Returns
They say there are just two things in this world you cannot avoid -death and the taxman! But sometimes the rich and famous try to push the boundaries. Trump won’t release his tax returns. Neither will the richest man in the world, trillionaire Elon Musk. But now the King of England has said he will release his. If our Head of State can do it, will it prompt some of our leaders to open up their tax files?
One Nation
No, not ours, the Australian one. Our nearest neighbour faces a lurch to the Trumpian right of chaos and a possible immigration crackdown. Ozzies found Peter Dutton too like Trump but many seem to have developed an appetite for Pauline Hansen’s One Nation Party which could , be poised at the next election, to become the Opposition. What would that mean for PNG? A lot we reckon. They would be likely to block any migration reform -so forget visa on arrival. They would almost certainly take a swipe at foreign aid -Trump eradicated USAID as they went all America First. One Nation will definitely tout an Australia First Policy and that cannot be good for PNG and the region. Do many of Hansen’s supporters still harbour fond feelings of the good old White Australia Policy days? Don’t doubt it. Be ready for a different Australia if the “One Big Island Party ” makes significant gains, PNG!
Hepi Bon Dei Young Guns
We should feel happy that our PM has not even reached 60 yet. US President Donald Trump turned 80 this week. Let’s look at the ages of some other world leaders. Ukrainian PM Volodymyr Zelensky is 48 as is France’s Emmanuel Macron. Italy’s Lady PM is only 49 . Canada’s Mark Carney turns 61 while Albanese and Starmer are youthful 63’s. For the ladies , Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum is a youthful 64 as is Japan’s Sanae Takaichi. Xi Jinping , Putin and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa are 73. Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto and Pakistani President Sharif are 74. India’s Narendra Modi is their longest serving PM and has just turned 75 while Israel’s Netanyahu files the roost at 76. King Charles is 77 and Brazil’s Lula da Silva joins Trump on 80 years young! They say you are only as old as you are feeling.
Figure of the day
Pancreatic cancer is often a painful end and is a major killer. But the figure of 13.2 months, is now the median survival time for patients with pancreatic cancer who have tried a new drug. That is double what it is now. Researchers are excited about this new medical breakthrough.
This Would Be Karma
Some response to our jibe about Trump having to give the World Cup trophy to Iran after they defeated the US. Even better how about Canada thinking the US in the final and he had to give them the trophy? Either way would bring a smile to the world’s face.