Stefan Armbruster

Thank-you @wakeinfright.bsky.social for your acknowledgement of BenarNews Pacific's important role in the region and the vacuum its absence leaves.

Very much appreciated this as the legal case and political lobbying continues to restore US Congress grant funding cut by a Trump executive order.

What would – and should – happen to the ABC under the next federal government?

In Donald Trump’s America, public broadcasters have felt the full force of his swingeing cuts – it would be disastrous if the same happened in Australia.

Thank-you @wakeinfright.bsky.social for your acknowledgement of BenarNews Pacific's important role in the region and the vacuum its absence leaves.

Very much appreciated this as the legal case and political lobbying continues to restore US Congress grant funding cut by a Trump executive order.

What would – and should – happen to the ABC under the next federal government? In Donald Trump’s America, public broadcasters have felt the full force of his swingeing cuts – it would be disastrous if the same happened in Australia.

Why has there been immediate resistance to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s statement that a Coalition government would “reward excellence” and “keep funding in place” if the ABC is “being run efficiently”? #abc #funding #efficiency

theconversation.com/what-would-a...

Closure of BenarNews Pacific Bureau MEAA stands in solidarity with the journalists and staff impacted by the suspension of BenarNews.

#MEAAmedia stands in solidarity with the journalists and staff impacted by the suspension of BenarNews, particularly those in its Brisbane-based Pacific Bureau. www.meaa.org/mediaroom/cl...

Thanks very much MEAA for your support and for your members at BenarNews in Australia. Appreciate it very much.

What’s happening??!?… one last time Pacific

@BenarNews suspends publishing, US govt grant cut

And in PNG community fears collective punishment, accusers on notice over inciting sorcery lynchings, Facebook shutdown exposes authoritarianism

Thank-you.

www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Residents of an informal Port Moresby settlement that was razed following the gang rape and murder of a woman by 20 men say they are being unfairly punished by Papua New Guinea authorities over alleged links to the crime.

LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Thank-you for your support.

A landmark court conviction in PNG related to the murder of a mother-of-five accused of sorcery is being hailed as a major victory in the fight to stop such attacks and murders.

Lastest from Sue Ahearn and myself for Radio Free Asia/BenarNews’ Pacific service.

www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Legal immunity for security forces, vague use-of-force provisions, spying on citizens all add up to legal overreach by the PNG government, writes Michael Kabuni.

www.benarnews.org/english/comm... on Radio Free Asia/BenarNews.

What’s happening??!? BenarNews this week.

- Hegseth commits US to defense of Pacific territories against China
- What Aust’s election holds for Pacific
- Tonga, Micronesia see big jump in Aust’s Pacific aid budget
- West Papua rebels kill teacher accused of spying

www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. is “not seeking war with China” but warns any attack on America’s Pacific territories of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands would be an attack on the mainland.

www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia will see notable bumps in Australian foreign aid this year, while analysts say there are some indications Canberra is stepping in to fill a void left by the U.S. freeze on USAID.

www.benarnews.org/english/news...

West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) commander claims responsibility for attack that killed a teacher and injured 6 others accused of spying. Indonesian authorities vow swift response, condemn violence as an unprovoked attack on civilians.

www.benarnews.org/english/news... BenarNews Pacific.

What’s happening??!? BenarNews Pacific this week.

- Top Pacific diplomats open to direct talks on Bougainville independence
- NZ lobbies US on foreign aid cut
- Vanuatu defends passport scheme over US 'travel ban'
- Kiribati eyes China deep sea mining deal

More: www.benarnews.org/english/news...

‘Top Pacific diplomats ready for direct talks on Bougainville independence’

Latest from Leah Lowonbu, Harlyne Joku and myself for BenarNews Pacific.

#PNG #MSG #PIF

LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news...

The Trump administration might not cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid pledged to Pacific island nations, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said after talks in Washington.

www.benarnews.org/english/news... via Radio Free Asia/BenarNews

Vanuatu has defended its golden passport scheme as the U.S. government reviews potential visa restrictions involving dozens of countries.

www.benarnews.org/english/news... via Radio Free Asia/BenarNews

Pacific nation of Kiribati explores deep sea mining deal with China

Campaigner says The Metals Company’s loss of a third of its exploration area is sign of a stuttering industry.

www.benarnews.org/english/news... via Stephen Wright and Radio Free Asia.

Debate on Guam’s future as a US territory intensifies with its legislature due to vote on a non-binding resolution to become a US state amid Pacific geostrategic tensions and expansionist declarations by the Trump administration.

LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news... via BenarNews Pacific.

What’s happening??!? This week on BenarNews Pacific …

- Guam at decolonization ‘crossroads’
- Pacific ’threat’ from Cambodian investor
- 'Shock’ as UN women’s declaration ditches reproductive rights
- Fiji’s ship graveyard highlights lax Pacific dumping controls

www.benarnews.org/english/news...

"The poison of patriarchy is back, the masters of misogyny are gaining strength.”

Sexual and reproductive health rights dropped from UN #CSW69 political declaration.

Report from BenarNews Pacific contributing journalist Sera Tikotikoivatu Sefeti and myself.

www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Fiji’s abandoned fishing boats highlight how foreign operators are exploiting weak regulations and enforcement in parts of the Pacific, and grey areas in international maritime law, leaving an unknown number of hulks in the region.

LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news... via BenarNews

What’s happening ??!? … BenarNews Pacific this week.

- PNG police kill 2 in Porgera unrest
- Bikini atoll coral recovery
- Photos: Vanuatu opens rebuilt chiefs nakamal
- Australia monitors Chinese warships off coast

LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Vanuatu has celebrated the reconstruction of the national council of chiefs meeting house, Malvatumouri nakamal, as a place for all.

LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news... via Radio Free Asia/BenarNews and Leah Lowonbu.

Steps forward in New Caledonia political talks For the first time since 2019, there have been tripartite talks on the political status of New Caledonia, during an eight-day visit.

My report for Islands Business magazine on last week’s political status talks in #NewCaledonia – the first round of face-to-face discussions to develop a new political statute for the French Pacific dependency.
islandsbusiness.com/news-break/s...

Papua New Guinea security personnel killed two alleged illegal miners and reportedly wounded three others in weekend clashes at the Porgera gold mine in the restive Enga highlands province.

www.benarnews.org/english/news... via BenarNews

#PNG

In-person or online on the link below on Tuesday 4 March 2025 - 1700 Palau, 1800 PNG/FSM/Qld time, 1900 AEDT Solomon Islands/Vanuatu/New Caledonia/NSW, 2100 Fiji/Tuvalu/Kiribati/Marshall Islands/Tonga/Samoa/NZ, 2200 French Polynesia/Hawai'i.

What we are watching in the Pacific in 2025 | Australian Institute of International Affairs Queensland What we are watching in the Pacific in 2025Join us either in-person or online for a panel discussion on important updates in the Pacific this year.📍 If you are attending in-person, please arrive at Ho...

Join this awesome panel - Leah Lowonbu, Suli Layt, @tncpacific.bsky.social - and myself chairing for a lively chat on what's happening in the Pacific in 2025.

In-person or online on Tuesday 4 March.

Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) link: aiiaqld.glueup.com/event/what-w...

What’s happening?! … BenarNews Pacific this week

UNICEF alarm over Pacific child abuse crisis

Pacific transactionalism: The art of the diplomatic deal

Cook Islands and those contentious China deals

Fiji HIV estimate triples after health services neglected

LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news...