Tag: covid-19
No new covid cases in Fiji – but no need to...
By Talebula Kate in Suva
Fiji has reported no new case of coronavirus infection after the screening of 7560 Fijians and 1212 tests conducted by...
Only seven governors attend PNG’s covid crisis planning meeting
By Thierry Lepani in Port Moresby
Only seven governors out of Papua New Guinea's 21 provinces and Bougainville attended a meeting in the capital Port...
Australia commits $170m to boost Pacific gender equality efforts
By Josefa Babitu
The Australian government has announced an A$170 million (F$267 million) programme for the Pacific region to strengthen gender equality initiatives over the...
Fiji tightens lockdown as covid cases rise in Viti Levu
By Lice Movono, RNZ Pacific correspondent in Suva
Fiji's government has taken the most drastic measures since covid-19 hit the country in March last year.
Most of...
Digital news check: In media, we don’t trust
ANALYSIS: By Tim Murphy and Mark Jennings, co-editors of Newsroom
Less than half the New Zealand public now professes "overall trust" in news media outlets,...
Latest covid case in Fiji remains a concern and health chief...
RNZ Pacific
One of Fiji's latest two cases of covid-19 remains a concern for health authorities.
The Health Ministry said a 53-year-old caretaker from the town...
Pacific women talk about ‘precarious situation’ over covid, climate and rights
By Josefa Babitu
A French Polynesian territorial government cabinet minister says the pandemic and climate justice have provided an opportunity to think about the progress...
Fiji stops police passes at containment zone borders as covid cases...
By Vijay Narayan and Semi Turaga in Suva
Fiji's Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong, has confirmed that the Health Ministry has stopped police...
Shailendra Singh: Some tough covid questions for Fiji after 12 more...
COMMENT: By Shailendra Singh in Suva
Perth in Australia was plunged into a three-day lockdown after community transmission was linked to a returnee from India.
Fiji...
PNG Parliament adjourned for general health and safety, says Marape
By Rebecca Kuku in Port Moresby
Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape has defended the adjournment of Parliament for four months, saying this is...
PNG parliament adjourns amid covid surge and attempt to remove PM
RNZ Pacific
Papua New Guinea's parliament has adjourned for almost four months, dashing an attempt to oust Prime Minister James Marape.
The adjournment allows Marape to...
Fiji health chief attacks ‘reckless’ reporting over covid outbreak
The Pacific Newsroom
Fiji’s Health Secretary Dr James Fong strongly attacked his country’s media for “reckless reporting” today, saying it could spark panic.
He gave no...
NZ plans ‘fairer’ health sector shake-up – DHBs scrapped, new Māori...
By Rowan Quinn, RNZ News health correspondent
New Zealand is scrapping district health boards and creating a new Māori health agency in a radical "fairer...
RSF 2021 Index: Censorship and the disinformation virus hits Asia-Pacific
Reporters Without Borders
The Asia-Pacific region’s authoritarian regimes have used the covid-19 pandemic to perfect their methods of totalitarian control of information, while the “dictatorial...
Fiji breach at quarantine ‘an incident waiting to happen’ as new...
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk
Fiji Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong says the breach at the quarantine facility in Nadi was an incident waiting...
Covid-19 cost more in 2020 than the world’s combined natural disasters...
ANALYSIS: By Ilan Noy, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Nguyen Doan, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
What have...
Bainimarama blames ‘protocol breach’ for second Fiji community covid case
By Praneeta Prakash in Suva
Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says a breach in protocol in relation to the 53-year-old woman now testing positive of...
SAFEnet finds digital attacks targeted academics, journalists and activists
By Dian Erika Nugraheny in Jakarta
The Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) recorded 147 digital attacks in Indonesia during 2020, the majority...
Severe floods hit Timor-Leste capital Dili in Easter disaster
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk
Much of the Timor-Leste capital of Dili has been heavily flooded with rivers bursting their banks after three days of heavy...
Hundreds mass at Dili’s exit points in bid try to flee...
By Antonio Sampaio in Dili
Hundreds of people, many of them students, mobbed exit routes out of the Timorese capital Dili on Good Friday seeking...
Don’t rely on Facebook for accurate vaccine info, says PNG leader
RNZ Pacific
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister has warned citizens against relying on information on Facebook to guide their approach to vaccines.
James Marape was speaking...
West Sepik administration fumes over handling of Papua border crossers
By Jeffrey Elapa in Vanimo, PNG
The West Sepik administration is not happy with the way illegal border crossers are being handled by the Indonesian...