Yearly Archives: 2020
Duterte declares ‘state of calamity’ in Philippines due to coronavirus
By Aika Rey in Manila
President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of calamity in the Philippines as cases of the novel coronavirus in the...
Eight new cases of coronavirus in NZ – $12.1b rescue package welcomed
By RNZ News
New Zealand has eight new cases of Covid-19, all related to overseas travel, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.
It brings the total...
CNN Philippines temporarily goes off air as broadcast building disinfected
Pacific Media Watch
CNN Philippines temporarily stopped broadcasting today after another tenant of the building in the capital Manila where it is located confirmed a...
Military put on alert as PNG announces further restrictions
By Scott Waide in Lae
The Papua New Guinea Defence Force has been put on alert as Health Minister Jelta Wong formally declared the Covid-19...
Lack of confidence in US leadership adds to coronavirus panic
ANALYSIS: By Tony Walker of La Trobe University
When the Federal Reserve cut interest rates to the bone this week, this represented the most decisive...
Coronavirus: Air Tahiti Nui reroutes flights to France via Caribbean
By RNZ Pacific
Air Tahiti Nui has decided to reroute its flights to France via the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.
The change was announced after...
Coronavirus threat to Pacific, Papuan students in NZ and a starfish scourge
Pacific Media Watch
The Pacific Media Centre's weekly Southern Cross radio programme on 95bFM has featured the latest Pacific news brought to you by Pacific...
Highlands tribal fighting in PNG – Scott Waide backgrounds the conflict
Scott Waide's EMTV News report.
Pacific Media Watch
Three children were among ten people killed in a brutal attack in Porgera in Papua New Guinea's Highlands...
Pacific borders tightened further in bid to keep out coronavirus
By RNZ Pacific
Pacific countries have further tightened border measures to try to keep the coronavirus from gaining a foothold in the islands.
Six cases of...
New travel restrictions in force in NZ, chaos at airports in the US
By RNZ News
Health officials have ramped up their presence at airports in New Zealand as tougher travel restrictions came into force today.
From 1am today...
Some travellers trying to beat NZ’s coronavirus deadline turned away
By RNZ News
Some travellers trying to beat the New Zealand deadline early today for self-isolations to prevent the Covid-19 coronavirus spreading have been turned...
Philippines coronavirus rise to 140, with 11 deaths – Manila in lockdown
By Rappler
The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed 29 new cases of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus in the country today - bringing the...
Far-right extremists still threaten NZ, a year on from Christchurch attacks
ANALYSIS: By Paul Spoonley of Massey University
In the hours after the Christchurch mosque attacks on March 15 last year, I wrote that I hoped...
Education key to better life for West Papua, says one of 120 students in...
By Sri Krishnamurthi
A remarkable 120 West Papuan students - all on scholarships - are studying in New Zealand, says Laurens Ikinia, a postgraduate student...
New travel curbs require almost everyone entering NZ to self-isolate
By RNZ News
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced late today wide-ranging travel restrictions which mean as of midnight tomorrow anyone coming into New Zealand will...
Philippines coronavirus cases jump by 34 to 98 as Manila goes into lockdown
By Lian Buan in Manila
The Philippines Department of Health has announced 34 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the country, bringing the...
Coronavirus: We need to shut down PNG borders and prepare our people
OPINION: By Scott Waide in Port Moresby
There is no other way to say this to the government of Papua New Guinea.
Prime Minister James Marape,...
NZ’s canned Pasifika Festival a financial blow for stallholders
By Sela Jane Hopgood of RNZ Pacific
The cancellation of this year's New Zealand Pasifika Festival in Auckland because of coronavirus fears is expected to...
Duterte cabinet members in self-quarantine amid coronavirus fears
By Sofia Tomacruz in Manila
Several cabinet members of the Duterte government are placing themselves under quarantine in an effort to prevent the spread of...
Three PNG children die among 10 killed in Porgera massacre
By Ale Asa in Porgera
Ten people – including three children – have been massacred when a fight between two warring tribes from Tari spilled...
French Polynesia records Pacific’s first coronavirus case with Paris lawmaker
By RNZ Pacific
French Polynesia has recorded the first coronavirus case in the Pacific Islands.
President Edouard Fritch said the carrier was one of French Polynesia's...
Indonesia reports first death – a foreigner – from Covid-19
By Marchio Irfan Gorbiano in Jakarta
Indonesia has reported its first death from the Covid-19 coronavirus today, a 53-year-old woman and foreign citizen identified as...