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.

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.

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...

#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.

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

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...

Grim story. But glad to be working with Radio Free Asia/BenarNews contributing journalist Sera Tikotikoivatu Sefeti again. "UNICEF rings alarm over child abuse crisis in Pacific" LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Strategic deals between Pacific island nations and their partners have now well and truly switched to overt security transactionalism, from soft to hard diplomacy, writes Tess Newton Cain. Link to story: www.benarnews.org/english/comm... via @BenarNews

Students in Indonesia’s Papua region protest free-meal program, demand free education instead. Authorities responded with force, including the use of tear gas and warning shots. www.benarnews.org/english/news... via Victor Mambor @BenarNews #WestPapua

The number of people living with HIV in Fiji is estimated to be many thousands more than publicly acknowledged, spurred by risky drug injecting and health services ‘destroyed’ by official neglect. www.benarnews.org/english/news... via @BenarNews #Pacific #health #HIV/AIDS

How former PNG PM Sir Julius Chan tried to crush the Bougainville rebellion with foreign mercenaries then became an unlikely ally for independence. Latest for BenarNews by Sue Ahearn: www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Papua New Guinea farewells one of its founding fathers and most controversial prime ministers after seven decades in politics. Sir Julius Chan (29 August 1939 – 30 January 2025) BenarNews photo gallery: www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Moana’s canoe sparked online arguments over its origin and revealed how AI chatbots like ChatGPT can be influenced and adjust their responses, with concerning implications for Pacific knowledge and languages. Debut commentary for BenarNews from Jope Tara. LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/comm...

Leaders in the Pacific raise alarm over ‘direct impact’ of Trump’s climate retreat and aid freeze

What’s happening?! BenarNews this week - USAID freeze ‘devastates’ Pacific - One woman MP elected in Vanuatu poll - Indonesia amnesty for West Papua fighters - Marine sanctuary for Marshall Islands - King reigns over Tongan govt - Trump leaves little for Pacific LINK: benarnews.org/english/news...

"His Majesty's pleasure: King reigns over Tongan government despite democratic reform" First commentary by Kalafi Moala in Tonga for BenarNews. Welcome aboard, very pleased to have you here. Mālō. benarnews.org/english/comm...

Deep freeze: Trump leaves US diplomats with little to offer Pacific Paris climate treaty exit, defunding WHO and foreign aid suspension strikes blow to US in Pacific as “trusted friend," writes Tess Newton Cain. Commentary: www.benarnews.org/english/comm...

What’s happening?! … @BenarNews Pacific this week. - Trump dumps Paris climate treaty - Vanuatu faces return of all-male parliament - West Papua pig feast for land rights - Palau’s ancient monuments - PNG police mutilated, killed Link: www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Vanuatu’s top lawyer calls out the US for “bad behavior” after newly inaugurated President Trump quits the Paris climate agreement for a second time. Link to story from BenarNews #Pacific: www.benarnews.org/english/news... #climatechange

Ancient “pig feast” asserts indigenous West Papua ancestral land rights in face of Indonesian government-backed agricultural programs. Latest from Victor Mambor for BenarNews. LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news...

Pacific’s oldest monuments revealed in Palau as 2,400-year-old earthworks predating stone moai statues of Rapa Nui (Easter Islands, Chile) and megalithic Nan Madol in Micronesia. Latest for Radio Free Asia/BenarNews from Harry Pearl. LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news...

“I am happy to return again and start working very soon; that’s all I have to say for now,” Regenvanu told BenarNews. www.benarnews.org/english/news...

PNG police hunt ‘local terrorists’ after officers mutilated, killed. Violence continues unabated in PNG. Latest from Harlyne Joku, Sue Ahearn @armbrusters.bsky.social for BenarNews. Story link: benarnews.org/english/news...

Only one woman candidate has any hope of being elected to parliament in Vanuatu’s snap election, with most incumbent MPs returned apart from some high-profile departures, according to unofficial vote counting. LINK: www.benarnews.org/english/news... via BenarNews

What’s happening?! … BenarNews Pacific's “most read” atm. Women candidates in Vanuatu’s snap election - Leah Lowonbu PNG’s New Year violence continues unabated - Harlyne Joku with two stories More here: benarnews.org/english/news...