The biggest and best reads of 2024
20 December 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to take a look back at what has been a big year for the Asia-Pacific region. Throughout this year, you’ve been reading the Asia Media Centre’s coverage of some of the biggest news in the region – and some of the most entertaining too. Here’s a recap of some of our biggest stories in 2024.
2024 the year of elections
Asia turned out to the polls in 2024, in what was one of the biggest election years on record. Back in January, we wrote a roundup of what was coming up across the political spectrum throughout the year, which included some of the world’s biggest democracies heading to the polls; Indonesia in February and India across May.
In Indonesia on Valentines Day, Prabowo Subianto was elected president, with nearly 60 percent of the vote from the country’s 200 million eligible voters. Prabowo took over the office from outgoing president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, whose son is now Prabowo’s vice president.
READ MORE: Indonesia: Election 2024
In India, Narendra Modi was re-elected as India’s president – an unsurprising result for many observers, although his Bharatiya Janata Party lost seats to a stronger-than-expected opposition.
READ MORE: Modi's domination of Indian politics continues
India prime minister Narendra Modi meeting members of the Indian community on a trip to the US in 2024. Image: Wikimedia Commons
India’s election – the world’s largest – took place over several staggered phases, due to the size. This year, the Asia New Zealand Foundation funded two journalists to travel to India to cover the elections: TVNZ reporter Corazon Miller and Stuff reporter Kelly Dennett. Read some of their work below:
READ MORE: TVNZ's Corazon Miller Reports on India's National Election
A day in the life of the world’s largest voting exercise
US election and Asia
Speaking of elections, in November, the world turned to watch the American election. Either outcome of the Trump vs Biden race would push geopolitical waves into the Asian region, and US-Asia relations came under the microscope.
The US-China and US-Philippines relationships in particular dominated some of our top stories this year – read them here:
READ MORE: Who does China want to win the US election?
Philippines-US Relations: Navigating Trump’s Second Term
The big headlines – martial law in South Korea
In early December, South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the country – and the world – when he announced martial law in the early hours of the morning.
Anti-martial law protests in Seoul, South Korea, following president Yoon Suk Yeol's shock announcement. Image: Wikimedia Commons
In a tumultuous week, South Korean lawmakers gathered at the National Assembly to vote against martial law and later moved to impeach Yoon. The unfolding political crisis became a throwback to South Korea’s history of dictatorship – see below for some of our coverage and analysis:
READ MORE: Impeachment against South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol
Political Crisis Deepens in S. Korea
Korea's Dark History of Martial Law
Food
This year hasn’t been all heavy news however - who doesn’t love a good food story? Food is so often how people connect – and as the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s research shows, food is one of the biggest associations Kiwis make with Asia.
No surprises then that articles about food are always well-read on the Asia Media Centre website! Here are some highlights from this year:
READ MORE: The tale of India's iconic chilli - Bhut Jolokia, aka Ghost Pepper
The intricacies of Kashmiri Wazwan
Down the rabbit hole of instant noodles
Bhut Jolokia - otherwise known as 'Ghost Pepper'.
Explainers and resources
The Asia Media Centre is a go-to resource for anyone reporting on, or just curious about, Asia. It’s no surprise that our most popular articles are often explainers — especially ones that dive into naming conventions and what they mean. Have you read any of these yet?
READ MORE: A basic guide to Chinese names
Five things Māori and Asian cultures have in common
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