It’s been a busy year in the Pacific as usual, compounded by the ever intensifying geo-strategic competition playing out between the U.S, Australia and their allies and China.
These are BenarNews Pacific’s “most read” stories for 2024.
[ Papua New Guinea counts cost of riots as prime minister vows Cabinet reshuffleOpens in new window ]
Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby was rocked by rioting with the cost of looting and violence inflicting heavy damage on the impoverished Pacific island country’s economy.
2024.01.15
[AFP]
[ Tonga’s king attempts to strip prime minister of defense portfolioOpens in new window ]
Tonga’s monarch “withdrew confidence and consent” in two members of the cabinet in a controversial move under the royal powers outlined in the country’s 2010 constitution.
2024.02.06
[Mary Lyn Fonua/AFP]
[ Fiji’s media freedom ranking jumps, Papua New Guinea’s plummetsOpens in new window ]
Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index jumped into the top tier of countries after its government in 2023 repealed a draconian media law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs.
2024.05.03
[Saeed Khan/AFP]
[ Fiji’s former PM Bainimarama jailed for one year for obstructing justiceOpens in new window ]
After 16 years in office, the High Court ruled that Bainimarama as prime minister took the oath of allegiance but his actions were a breach of public trust.
2024.05.09
[BenarNews]
[ PNG landslide: Thousands more to evacuate as death toll mountsOpens in new window ]
Villages down hill from a landslide disaster in Papua New Guinea’s highlands were evacuated over fears more of the mountainside would crush them. The final death toll was at least 160.
2024.05.27
[International Organization for Migration/AP]
[ Fiji, PNG call for UN decolonization mission to riot-struck New CaledoniaOpens in new window ]
Fiji and Papua New Guinea urged the U.N.’s decolonization committee to expedite a visit to the French-controlled Pacific territory of New Caledonia after pro-independence protests turned violent.
2024.06.11
[Delphine Mayeur/AFP]
[ Fiji, PNG fail to secure UN human rights mission to Indonesia’s Papuan provincesOpens in new window ]
Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights confirms no progress by the Pacific leaders despite a U.N. report highlighting increasing violent incidents and civilian casualties involving security forces and pro-independence groups.
2024.07.23
[Tatan Syuflana/AP]
[ Dozens feared raped, killed in Papua New Guinea massacreOpens in new window ]
Women and girls were reportedly raped and among more than two dozen people killed during days of tribal violence in Papua New Guinea’s north-west.
2024.07.24
[Supplied]
[ 200 unexploded WWII shells uncovered in Solomon Islands capitalOpens in new window ]
Honiara is estimated to be littered with thousands of bombs and shells left behind on the battlefield after the six-month Battle of Guadalcanal ended in 1943.
2024.08.20
[RSIPF]
[ French Polynesian president asks UN to bring France into decolonization talksOpens in new window ]
Any United Nations’ role in negotiating the territory’s self-determination aspirations has been rejected by France.
2024.10.09
[UNTV]
A Pacific nation finally takes a seat again at the United Nations Human Rights Council from 2025, with climate change and nuclear justice as its top priorities.
2024.10.10
[RMI Office of the President]
[ Photos: Samoa welcomes first British king to visit Pacific islandsOpens in new window ]
Top of CHOGM’s to-do list were climate change and oceans as leaders from 56 Commonwealth nations met in the Pacific.
2024.10.23
[Manaui Faulalo/AFP]
[ US missile test intercepts, downs ballistic target from Guam air baseOpens in new window ]
The Missile Defense Agency declares the first Guam missile test successful as the military build-up on the U.S. territory continues in response to China’s ambitions in the Pacific.
2024.12.10
[U.S. Missile Defense Agency]