CoveragePost
June 11, 2020
By Soli Wilson in Apia Trouble continues to brew at the University of the South Pacific with the suspension of the vice-chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwahlia, being met with student and staff protests in campuses and criticism from council members. Following months of opposition against the bid by pro-chancellor Winston Thompson to investigate Professor ... <a title="Fiji suspension move against USP chief ‘nonsense’, says Samoan deputy PM" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/11/fiji-suspension-move-against-usp-chief-nonsense-says-samoan-deputy-pm/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji suspension move against USP chief ‘nonsense’, says Samoan deputy PM">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 11, 2020
By Lena Reece in Suva The Fiji government has denied allegations being levelled against it of trying to “nationalise” the 12-nation University of the South Pacific, describing the claims as “baseless”. Fiji Minister of Education Rosy Akbar was responding to accusations made by some Pacific countries and individuals that Fiji was too heavily involved in ... <a title="Fiji denies allegations of takeover at regional USP as criticisms mount" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/11/fiji-denies-allegations-of-takeover-at-regional-usp-as-criticisms-mount/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji denies allegations of takeover at regional USP as criticisms mount">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 11, 2020
Pacific Media Watch After three days of protests by hundreds of students and staff at the regional University of the South Pacific over the treatment of their popular reforming vice-chancellor, an independent New Zealand journalist has now revealed damning details of previously secret governance reports. Journalist and author Michael Field has revealed that some academics ... <a title="Journalist reports on USP payments scandal as campus backs reform VC" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/11/journalist-reports-on-usp-payments-scandal-as-campus-backs-reform-vc/" aria-label="Read more about Journalist reports on USP payments scandal as campus backs reform VC">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 10, 2020
ANALYSIS: By Albert Schram This article attempts to put the current governance crisis at the Fiji-based University of the South Pacific (USP), one of only two regional universities in the world, in a broader regional perspective. If Pacific regional integration and coordination means anything, then this would be a good moment to demonstrate it values ... <a title="Albert Schram: University governance, academic freedom and institutional autonomy in the Pacific" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/10/albert-schram-university-governance-academic-freedom-and-institutional-autonomy-in-the-pacific/" aria-label="Read more about Albert Schram: University governance, academic freedom and institutional autonomy in the Pacific">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 10, 2020
By Sri Krishnamurthi of Pacific Media Watch After Australia’s misguided attempts at handing over $17.1 of Australian-made television content to the Pacific region last month with programmes such as Neighbours and Border Control, questions have been asked about a $10 million New Zealand grant made in 2018. At the 2018 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting ... <a title="NZ’s $10m grant for Pasifika TV channel – MFAT clears the air" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/10/nzs-10m-grant-for-pasifika-tv-channel-mfat-clears-the-air/" aria-label="Read more about NZ’s $10m grant for Pasifika TV channel – MFAT clears the air">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 10, 2020
By RNZ Pacific Fiji police have raided the headquarters of Fiji’s National Federation Party, apparently in search of information related to social media posts. In a video shared to the party’s social media, it showed several plain clothes officers rifling through files, papers and storage last night. Speaking to RNZ Pacific shortly after the raid, ... <a title="Fiji police raid opposition party headquarters in social media blitz" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/10/fiji-police-raid-opposition-party-headquarters-in-social-media-blitz/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji police raid opposition party headquarters in social media blitz">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 10, 2020
INDEPTH: By Guyon Espiner, RNZ News investigative reporter, with contributor John Daniell New Zealand has lost some of its independence within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and been “drawn in a lot closer” to the US-led spy network, former Prime Minister Helen Clark says. She made the comments in new RNZ podcast The Service, which ... <a title="NZ’s independence from Five Eyes has slipped, says former PM Clark" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/10/nzs-independence-from-five-eyes-has-slipped-says-former-pm-clark/" aria-label="Read more about NZ’s independence from Five Eyes has slipped, says former PM Clark">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 10, 2020
Pacific Media Watch Nauru President Lionel Aingimea has accused a “small group” of Fiji officials of “hijacking” the 12-country regional University of the South Pacific and suspending the vice-chancellor. He has called for an urgent meeting of the University Council to reverse the “illegitimate” action against vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia, which he described as a ... <a title="Nauru president accuses Fiji group of ‘hijacking’ USP in vendetta" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/10/nauru-president-accuses-fiji-group-of-hijacking-usp-in-vendetta/" aria-label="Read more about Nauru president accuses Fiji group of ‘hijacking’ USP in vendetta">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 9, 2020
By Wansolwara staff A “fight for justice and good governance” at the University of the South Pacific has continued as staff and students have echoed strong calls for members of the USP Council to allow the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, to carry out his work without interference. Hundreds of protesting staff and students rallied outside ... <a title="Staff, students back USP academic chief amid tension over allegations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/09/staff-students-back-usp-academic-chief-amid-tension-over-allegations/" aria-label="Read more about Staff, students back USP academic chief amid tension over allegations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 9, 2020
By RNZ News Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announced today that Armed Response Teams will not be part of the New Zealand policing model in the future. A trial of the teams of police carrying firearms (ARTs) were launched in Counties Manukau, Waikato and Canterbury last year and ended in April. In recent days, mass protests ... <a title="NZ police scrapping Armed Response Teams after trial, says Commissioner" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/09/nz-police-scrapping-armed-response-teams-after-trial-says-commissioner/" aria-label="Read more about NZ police scrapping Armed Response Teams after trial, says Commissioner">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 9, 2020
By Antonio Sampaio in Dili Former East Timorese President José Ramos-Horta says it is not opportune for the government to be debating the possible criminalisation of defamation, with the risk of jeopardizing citizens’ rights. Instead, he says, the Timor-Leste government should concentrate on issues like the economy. “I don’t think it is a priority issue ... <a title="Ramos-Horta slams criminal libel plan – threat to rights in Timor-Leste" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/09/ramos-horta-slams-criminal-libel-plan-threat-to-rights-in-timor-leste/" aria-label="Read more about Ramos-Horta slams criminal libel plan – threat to rights in Timor-Leste">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 9, 2020
“Covid-free” New Zealand has moved early today to its lowest restrictions – alert level 1. The change happened at midnight after New Zealanders had done something “remarkable” by uniting in the fight against covid-19, says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. After praising New Zealand’s response to the virus yesterday, she revealed the country would be moving ... <a title="New Zealand relaxes covid restrictions after ‘remarkable’ virus fight" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/09/new-zealand-relaxes-covid-restrictions-after-remarkable-virus-fight/" aria-label="Read more about New Zealand relaxes covid restrictions after ‘remarkable’ virus fight">Read more</a>