Stefan Armbruster
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Stefan Armbruster
@armbrusters.bsky.social
110 followers 170 following 44 posts
Head of News (Pacific) @RadioFreeAsia/@BenarNews. 'Industry fellow' GAI Pacific Hub. Fed delegate @withMEAA ✊🏼. Journalist trainer. RTs ≠ 👍🏼 or 👎🏼.
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armbrusters.bsky.social
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...
April 4, 2025 at 9:39 PM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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.
April 3, 2025 at 4:40 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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...
April 1, 2025 at 11:41 PM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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.
March 31, 2025 at 8:42 PM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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...
March 29, 2025 at 12:50 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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...
March 28, 2025 at 3:07 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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...
March 26, 2025 at 9:29 PM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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.
March 25, 2025 at 12:13 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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...
March 22, 2025 at 4:17 AM
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‘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...
March 21, 2025 at 1:48 AM
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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
March 19, 2025 at 5:03 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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
March 19, 2025 at 5:01 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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.
March 17, 2025 at 11:04 PM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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.
March 15, 2025 at 12:36 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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...
March 15, 2025 at 12:24 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
"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...
March 13, 2025 at 3:35 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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
March 11, 2025 at 8:14 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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...
March 8, 2025 at 12:54 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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.
March 6, 2025 at 3:21 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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
March 4, 2025 at 6:37 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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...
February 28, 2025 at 10:02 PM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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...
February 28, 2025 at 7:03 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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
February 27, 2025 at 5:04 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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
February 25, 2025 at 5:05 AM
armbrusters.bsky.social
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
February 21, 2025 at 8:02 AM