Monthly Archives: April 2020
Jobless immigrants face exploitation, poverty due to virus, says NZ adviser
By RNZ News
An immigration consultant is warning an entrenched underclass of unlawful workers will emerge unless the government provides emergency benefits to unemployed immigrants.
About...
Xanana Gusmão opposes extending state of emergency in Timor-Leste
By António Sampaio in Dili
Xanana Gusmão, president of the second largest Timorese party, has criticised the decision to extend Timor-Leste's state of emergency, considering...
NZ’s coronavirus response ‘one of the strongest’, says WHO
By Max Towle, Worldwatch reporter of RNZ News
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says New Zealand has been world-leading in its response to the covid-19...
Governments knew a pandemic was a threat – why were they unprepared?
By Chris Tyler of UCL and Peter Gluckman of Koi Tū
Most people think or at least hope their government is doing a good job...
RSF challenges Fiji over general’s ‘stifle criticism’ views on virus
The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned an op-ed by a pro-government military commander in Fiji last week defending curbs on freedom of...
‘If you don’t want to die, don’t come to Papua’, warns response team doctor
By Gemma Holliani Cahya in Jakarta
When the first covid-19 coronavirus pandemic cases were detected in Indonesia, one doctor at least knew right away that...
Virus tourism collapse threatens many in Pacific with poverty
PACIFIC PANDEMIC DIARY: By Sri Krishnamurthi, contributing editor of Pacific Media Watch
The collapse of tourism across the world in the face of the covid-19...
NZ hailed for ‘winning battle’ over covid-19 – but the war isn’t over
By Jo Moir, political reporter of RNZ News
New Zealand's Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has had to walk back comments made by...
How might coronavirus change Australia’s ‘Pacific Step-up’?
ANALYSIS: By Tess Newton Cain of Griffith University
Across the globe, the coronavirus pandemic has prompted countries and governments to become increasingly inward-looking. Australia is...
High Indonesian smoking rate factor in highest coronavirus death rate
By Natasia Christy Wahyuni in Jakarta
Indonesia currently has the highest covid-19 coronavirus mortality rate in Asia - between 8–9 percent - owing to its...
Long queues for takeaways as many NZers return to work after lockdown
By RNZ News
Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders are returning to work today under eased level 3 restrictions - and some are queuing in...
Fiji media industry faces challenges over coronavirus disruption
By Apenisa Waqairadovu in Suva
The covid-19 coronovirus pandemic is increasingly disrupting countless industries across the world with a growing global economic crisis.
However, for the media...
NZ lockdown – day 33: One new case, but one further coronavirus death
New Zealand has just one new confirmed case of covid-19 coronavirus, and four new probable cases, the Health Ministry has revealed. But Director-General of...
Off-label drugs may now be used in Philippines coronavirus trials
Pacific Media Centre
Off-label drugs may now be used in clinical trials in the Philippines to test possible cures for the coronavirus, pandemic, the Department...
A media tribute to Fiji’s late former PM Laisenia Qarase
By Anish Chand in Suva
Political leaders are known to beat around the bush when it comes to answering serious topics and when faced with...
NZ lockdown – day 32: Nine more cases, no new deaths
By RNZ News
New Zealand has identified another nine cases of the covid-19 coronavirus, but no new deaths.
The new cases include four confirmed and five...
TAPOL denounces sentences handed to Jakarta Six, calls for their release
Pacific Media Watch
The Indonesian human rights advocacy group TAPOL has denounced the sentencing by the district court of Central Jakarta which found six political...
NZ lockdown – day 31: University’s room fees challenged – new death
By RNZ News
A New Zealand university is asking students to pay a "placeholder fee" for rooms in its halls of residence during the covid-19...
New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day under lockdown rules
By RNZ News
New Zealanders are commemorating Anzac Day all around the country in an unique way today.
Services around the country have been shelved and...
Jakarta court finds 6 activists guilty of treason for holding Papuan protest
By Galih Gumelar in Jakarta
A panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court have found six activists guilty of committing treasonous acts for...
‘Don’t blame the messenger,’ warns UN over media virus crackdowns
Pacific Media Watch
The United Nations rights chief has condemned countries using the coronavirus crisis as an excuse to arrest journalists and restrict information, insisting...
NZ lockdown – day 30: Five new cases of coronavirus, one further death
By RNZ News
Five new cases of covid-19 have been reported in New Zealand in the past 24 hours, with one more death linked to...