In this bulletin:
1. FIJI — “No Need for State of Emergency” – Fiji Government says situation under control
2. SOL — “Press Freedom is not only about the right to report” – PM Manele urges responsibility, accuracy and protection of truth
3. PACIFIC — Forum SG Waqa tells Pacific leaders 2050 Strategy must deliver results
4. UN — Abuse of women journalists made ‘easier and more damaging’ by AI
5. FIJI — ‘We will come for you’ — RFMF warns criminal networks
6. UN — Attacks on media workers must end, UN urges
7. F/POLY — Hospital staff implicated in French Polynesia trafficking case
8. PNG — TB cases soar in Morobe
9. PACNEWS BIZ — ADB launches $70 billion push to connect Asia’s power grids, digital networks
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Risk management seen as crucial to protecting PNG superannuation
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Our Youth, the Pacific’s Hope for a Nuclear-Free Pacific
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Sonsorol State Champions Invasive Species Removal for Island Recovery
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Nuclear fears resurface among younger generations amid global tensions
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Global demining work strained by rising conflicts and shrinking aid
FIJI – NO STATE OF EMERGENCY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 04 May 2026
“No Need for State of Emergency” – Fiji Government says situation under control
SUVA, 04 MAY 2026 (PACNEWS)— Fiji’s Government says there is no need to declare a State of Emergency, assuring the public that national security conditions remain stable following a high-level review.
The assurance follows a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, where key risks and national conditions were assessed.
“The Government wishes to make it clear that there is no need for a State of Emergency in Fiji at this stage.”
“This assurance follows a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, and attended by senior Ministers and officials from key Government agencies,” the government said in a statement.
The National Security Council reviewed multiple areas including security, fuel supply and economic conditions.
“The Council reviewed a range of national security matters, including international developments, Fiji’s fuel supply position, economic and financial conditions, contingency planning, and the current law and order situation.”
Authorities said there is no recommendation for emergency measures.
“Based on advice from the Fiji Police Force and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, there is no recommendation for a State of Emergency, and the situation remains under control.”
Government also moved to calm public concern.
“The Government reassures the public that there is no cause for alarm.”
It said the meeting was part of routine monitoring and preparedness.
“The meeting forms part of the Council’s routine role to assess risks, coordinate preparedness, and ensure Fiji is ready to respond to any potential impacts from global or regional developments.”
On fuel supply, officials said stocks remain stable with shipments secured.
“Fuel remains available and stable, with confirmed shipments for May expected to meet normal national demand.”
“Work is ongoing with suppliers to confirm forward supply schedules for June, and fuel companies have reaffirmed their commitment to meeting contractual obligations.”
However, Government warned external factors could still affect prices.
“Fiji remains exposed to global price fluctuations driven by international conflict, shipping disruptions, refinery constraints, and global demand.”
“These factors may influence local fuel prices even when supply remains available.”
The National Security Council also confirmed financial stability.
“Fiji’s financial system remains stable, supported by strong foreign reserves and continued monitoring of inflationary pressures.”
“Current policy settings remain supportive of economic activity.”
Government said it is working to strengthen long-term energy security and Agencies are also preparing for any changes in conditions.
“Government continues to engage with international partners to strengthen energy security and supply resilience, including work toward a national fuel security and strategic reserves policy.”
“Relevant agencies are actively coordinating across essential sectors, including transport, energy, water, infrastructure, and maritime services, to ensure readiness should conditions change.”
The public is being urged to remain calm and rely on official updates. ……PACNEWS
SOL – MEDIA FREEDOM: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 04 May 2026
“Press Freedom is not only about the right to report” – PM Manele urges responsibility, accuracy and protection of truth
HONIARA, 04 MAY 2026 (PACNEWS)—Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says press freedom must be matched with responsibility, warning that journalism today is defined not by speed, but by accuracy, trust and its role in protecting peace and national unity.
Speaking at the World Press Freedom Day 2026 event on Monday, Manele told journalists that their work sits at the centre of democracy, but also carries serious consequences for society.
“This year’s theme, ‘Shaping a Future at Peace, Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security’, speaks directly to the role of the media in our democracy and across the world.”
He said journalists play a key role in connecting citizens to public life.
“From Honiara to our rural communities and outer islands, and across the wider world, journalists help connect citizens to information that shapes understanding, participation, and trust in public life.”
But he stressed press freedom goes beyond reporting.
“It reminds us that press freedom is not only about the right to report, but about its deeper connection to peace, human rights, development, and national security,” he said.
Manele said informed societies build trust.
“Because when people are properly informed, they begin to understand each other and the decisions around them, and from that understanding, trust begins to grow between citizens, institutions, and communities.”
He also acknowledged the risks journalists face globally.
“Globally, journalists today continue to face serious risks, conflict, intimidation, and restrictions on their freedom, simply for doing their work.”
He said many lose their lives in the course of duty.
“The pursuit of truth continues to come at great personal cost. Recent international reporting from organisations such as UNESCO and the Committee to Protect Journalists has recorded that journalists continue to lose their lives in conflict zones, and in the course of their duties across several regions of the world.”
Manele said Solomon Islands remains fortunate.
“The reality is clear: In too many places, journalism is still practiced under risk when reporting on crime, governance, and security. These realities remind us of something important today. We are fortunate to be gathered in a peaceful nation.”
He described media as a bridge between government and people.
“In this context, we see the media as the vital bridge between the Government and the people.”
He said journalism also holds power to account.
“In a democratic country, your role is to ensure that information flows both ways—translating policy into public understanding, and bringing the voices of the people into the halls of decision-making.”
But he warned that peace is fragile.
“As a people with lived experience of conflict, we understand that peace is not guaranteed. It is fragile, and it is something we must actively protect every single day. The media carries a unique burden in this protection; for while words can build a nation, they can also tear it apart.”
Manele said the Government for National Unity and Transformation supports media independence while improving access to information.
“The Government for National Unity and Transformation recognises the media as an independent institution essential to this stability.”
Since 2024, he said government engagement has improved.
“Since 2024, we have worked to strengthen our engagement through regular press conferences and improved access. Through the Government’s national connectivity program, more than 60 telecommunications towers have already been completed, expanding access to information and strengthening participation in public life.”
However, he warned about misinformation in a connected society.
“But greater access also brings greater responsibility. In a connected society, misinformation can travel quickly, and its impact can be far reaching. In some cases, it can deepen division.”
He said credibility now matters more than speed.
“In this environment, journalism is no longer defined by being first, it is defined by being right.”
“Because while anyone can share information, not everyone applies the discipline of verification, and while many voices contribute to public discussion, it is professional journalism that provides the context, clarity, and balance that the public depends on.”
On technology, he added: “Technology may change how stories are told, but it does not define trust, ethics do.”
Manele also addressed international reporting on Solomon Islands’ media environment, saying assessments must reflect current realities.
“We welcome a fair and balanced assessment that looks at where we stand today, rather than where we stood in the past.”
He said engagement is key to accuracy.
“We believe that direct, ongoing engagement ensures the narrative about our country is anchored in real-time dialogue and ground-level facts, rather than perceptions formed from a distance or through a filtered lens.”
Turning to the national broadcaster, he rejected claims of government control.
“I want to address this head-on.”
“We are all aware of the discussions, and the international reports, that suggest the SIBC has fallen under the direct control of the Prime Minister’s Office. I want to address this head-on.”
He said the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation remains vital.
“In our archipelago, the SIBC is a lifeline.”
“For more than 70 years, the National Broadcaster has been the unifying force that binds our islands together.”
He stressed financial support does not equal control.
“Supporting the national broadcaster financially does not mean controlling its voice.”
“A public subvention is not a purchase of loyalty; it is a commitment to public service.”
He added: “True press freedom is not measured by the absence of government support, but by the presence of editorial independence.”
Manele also acknowledged challenges facing journalists, including funding pressures, advertising reliance, and gender-based barriers.
“We also recognise that women in media continue to face additional challenges, including harassment and barriers to advancement that extend beyond the workplace into family and social life.”
He said engagement structures already exist through the Media Association of Solomon Islands.
“This is where the role of MASI is critical.”
“My message to the media is that the avenues for professional engagement are already in place.”
As the country approaches 50 years of independence, he reflected on the media’s historical role.
“Over five decades, our institutions have strengthened, our society has evolved, and our national identity has taken shape. Throughout this journey, the media has played a vital role, recording our history and contributing to national understanding.”
Looking ahead, he told journalists their work will shape national memory.
“As we look toward the next fifty years, the pen and the lens remain in your hands. It is your work that will define how future generations remember our progress.”
“Press freedom is not only about the ability to speak but also the responsibility to inform, to protect truth in an age of noise, strengthen trust in an age of uncertainty, and preserve unity in an age of division.”
“Happy World Press Freedom Day.”….PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 04 May 2026
Forum SG Waqa tells Pacific leaders 2050 Strategy must deliver results
SUVA, 04 MAY 2026 (PACNEWS)— Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa says the region must move beyond plans and deliver real results under the 2050 Strategy, warning that success will be judged by impact, not promises.
Opening the 2050 Regional Convening, Waqa told leaders, planners and partners that the strategy has entered a critical phase.
“The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent is no longer a vision on paper. It is now firmly in its implementation phase.”
He said this shift demands accountability and discipline.
“This convening is not about celebrating the Strategy. It is about ensuring it remains fit for purpose, grounded in national realities, and capable of delivering real results for Pacific peoples.”
Waqa stressed the need for alignment across the region.
“ONE STRATEGY means alignment.”
“Alignment between national development plans and regional goals. Alignment between political ambition and technical evidence.”
He made it clear alignment does not mean uniformity.
“Our countries are diverse; our contexts are complex. Our strength lies in moving in the same direction, even when our pathways differ.”
The Forum Secretary General said delivery depends on shared ownership.
“ONE STRATEGY only succeeds through MANY HANDS. Shared ownership is not symbolic. It is practical.”
“No single institution, no matter how capable, can deliver this Strategy alone.”
He said governments, regional agencies, partners and communities all have a role.
“It also means recognising the vital role of communities, civil society, traditional leaders, the private sector, and young people. Not as beneficiaries of this Strategy, but as co-owners.”
Waqa warned that action must now take priority.
“ACT is not a slogan, it is a discipline. Align policies, investments, data, and support mechanisms.”
He emphasised the importance of tracking progress.
“Tracking is not an administrative function. It is a leadership function.”
He cautioned that poor data and fragmented reporting weaken decision-making.
“If indicators are poorly aligned, decisions follow. If reporting is fragmented, leadership weakens.”
Waqa also called for honest assessment and course correction.
“If something is not working, we must say so. If priorities need sharpening, we must agree on them. If implementation is drifting, we must bring it back on track.”
He said this is what defines responsible regional leadership.
Turning to youth, Waqa said they must play a central role.
“Young people are not observers of this Strategy. You are the co-owners of its success. And you are its conscience.”
He stressed that youth voices must shape outcomes.
“Youth voices must shape alignment. They must shape how progress is measured. They must shape accountability.”
Waqa said the focus must remain on results that people can see and called for collective leadership.
“The success of the 2050 Strategy will not be judged by words. It will be judged by its impact on the lives of Pacific peoples, by resilience built, by prosperity shared, and by a future secured.”
“I urge you to engage openly, challenge constructively, and lead collectively.”
“Because ONE STRATEGY, held up by MANY HANDS, only delivers when we choose to ACT together.”….PACNEWS
UN – MEDIA FREEDOM: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Mon 04 May 2026
Abuse of women journalists made ‘easier and more damaging’ by AI
NEW YORK, 04 MAY 2026 (UN NEWS CENTE)—Reports of online violence against women journalists have doubled since 2020, with serious impacts on their health and well-being, according to a study published ahead of World Press Freedom Day marked annually on 03 May.
The report by UN Women and partners highlights how online violence targeting women in public life is increasingly becoming more technologically sophisticated, invasive and damaging in the artificial intelligence (AI) era.
“AI is making abuse easier and more damaging, and this is fueling the erosion of hard-won rights in a context marked by democratic backsliding and networked misogyny,” said Kalliopi Mingerou, who leads the agency’s team working to end violence against women.
Tipping point: Online violence impacts, manifestations and redress in the AI age is based on a 2025 survey, with 641 participants from 119 countries responding.
The findings revealed that 12 percent of women human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other media workers have experienced non-consensual sharing of personal images, including intimate or sexual content.
Six per cent have been victims of “deepfakes” – AI-generated images that look real – while one in three have received unsolicited sexual advances online.
Some 41 percent of respondents said they self-censor on social media to avoid abuse, while 19 percent self-censor in their professional work for the same reason.
The picture is even more concerning for women journalists and media workers as harassment has forced 45 percent to self-censor on social media – a 50 per cent increase over 2020. Additionally, almost 22 percent self-censor in their work.
“When right-wing groups online brand me a ‘traitor,’ and thousands of WhatsApp forwards spread these false allegations, simply living in my own country becomes terrifying,” said one environmental journalist from India.
“We have begun to self-censor, withdrawing from investigative reporting. This is because local right-wing operatives, fueled by these posts, have confronted my relatives and spoken rudely to them. It is not easy to live freely; we are forced into silence.”
Women journalists and media workers were also twice as likely to report incidents of online violence to the police compared with 2020 – 22 percent versus 11 percent.
They are also now more likely to take legal action against perpetrators, enablers (such as tech companies) or their employers – from eight percent in 2020 to 14 percent in 2025.
The report documents the severe toll online violence is having on women’s mental health.
Nearly a quarter of women journalists and media workers, 24.7 percent, have been diagnosed with or treated for anxiety or depression.
Almost 13 percent have been diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
One respondent – a journalist and community organiser – shared how these mental health impacts are linked with self-censorship, discussions around the democratic process, and financial hardship.
“When we speak aloud about democracy, there is no ‘feel’ of democracy – only a ‘demo of craziness,’” she told the researchers.
“Unable to cope with the relentless pressure, I resigned from my job in December 2023. I am now sitting at home, focused solely on restoring my mental wellness.”
The situation has caused severe financial problems as she is “currently subsisting on rice porridge, a direct consequence of being forced into silence and out of work.”
Despite the crisis, significant gaps in legal protection against online violence persist, as World Bank data shows that fewer than 40 per cent of countries have laws that protect women from cyber harassment or cyberstalking.
Mingerou stressed that “our responsibility is to ensure that systems, laws and platforms respond with the urgency this crisis demands.”
The report is the second in a series based on the global survey.
The next edition will address a wide range of issues related to online violence towards women in public-facing roles, including analysis of perpetrators’ characteristics and behaviours, and the role of “Big Tech” companies……PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Mon 04 May 2026
‘We will come for you’ — RFMF warns criminal networks
SUVA, 04 MAY 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Criminal organisations dealing in drugs, intimidation and organised crime have been put on notice, with Fiji Military Commander Land Forces Brigadier General Onisivoro Covunisaqa delivering a stern warning that they will be pursued and held accountable.
The warning was issued during the Second Quarter Land Forces Parade on Friday, 01 May, where Brig-General Covunisaqa addressed troops and reaffirmed the Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ commitment to national security ahead of the upcoming Exercise Bougainville 2026 scheduled for 7–28. August.
Brig-Gen Covunisaqa reaffirmed support for the Commander’s directive to confront criminal activity while upholding the Constitution and the laws of Fiji.
In his message, he made it clear that drug pushers, dealers and their criminal networks would be pursued.
“To all of you who sell drugs, who imitate and enable criminal behaviour, who intimidate others, and those of you who profit from the drug trade — this message is for you. We will come for you! Under the guidance of Almighty God, we will come for you. When you are caught, you will face the wrath of the land of Fiji. You will be met by the strong arm of justice to match your actions.”
He said there is no place in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) for divided loyalties.
Covunisaqa warned that any betrayal or collusion with criminals will be met with “swift, decisive action.
He said the RFMF stood at a decisive crossroads in the fight against narcotics and organised crime.
Covunisaqa said the RFMF faced two choices — to remain passive while criminal networks ravage communities, or to rise and fight for the survival, dignity and future of Fiji and its people.
He assured soldiers that leadership would stand with them unconditionally, acknowledging challenges ahead but pledging protection for personnel and their families.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe has warned drug dealers to think twice, saying Police will be “very aggressive” in their operations and will not spare anyone caught breaking the law.
“We will take those who are committing those illicit acts to task. And we won’t spare anybody,” Vusonilawe told the Fiji Sun.
“They have to think twice because we will be very aggressive in our operations,” he said.
His warning follows intensified joint operations between the Fiji Police Force and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) targeting the illicit drug trade across the country.
Police raids intensified across the Suva–Nausori corridor over the weekend, with a convoy of police vehicles with lights and sirens spotted in Laqere and Nabua.
The Fiji Sun understands raids were also conducted in Nadonumai in Lami on Saturday night.
Earlier on Friday, Police with the K9 Unit raided Lagilagi Housing and Veiquwawa Settlement in Raiwaqa based on a tip-off, though officers came up empty-handed at both locations.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe.
However, drugs, suspects and cash were seized at the Carrier Stand in Suva.
The Fiji Police Force said operations are “multi-faceted”, covering community policing, house-to-house visits and joint taskforce operations.
Police are urging the public to report information through their hotline, 1681.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka had earlier hinted at a possible national state of emergency as authorities escalate efforts to tackle Fiji’s worsening drug problem..PACNEWS
UN – MEDIA FREEDOM: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Mon 04 May 2026
Attacks on media workers must end, UN urges
NEW YORK, 04 MAY 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—War in the Middle East has made Lebanon the deadliest country for media workers so far this year, but practically no country offers a safe environment in which to be a journalist, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Volker Türk highlighted growing threats to the media in a message ahead of World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on 03 May.
“When attacks on the media are normalised, freedom itself begins to decay, and with it, the foundations of peace, security, and sustainable development,” he warned.
The High Commissioner paid tribute to the courageous reporters and photographers across the world “who document horrific atrocities, expose corruption, and scrutinize business operations.”
He noted, however, that “journalism today has become an insecure and, at times, dangerous profession” as media workers have been “bombed in their cars, abducted from their offices, silenced behind bars, and dismissed from their jobs.”
At least 14 journalists have been killed since January, only around a tenth of killings in the past two decades has led to full accountability, and covering armed conflict poses the highest risk.
“Israel’s war in Gaza has become a death trap for the media. My Office has verified the killing of nearly 300 journalists since October 2023, with many more injured,” he said.
“So far in 2026, Lebanon is the deadliest country for media workers.”
Furthermore, it is often only local reporters who are covering wars, such as the journalists he met in Sudan “who had faced extreme violence, brutality, and even famine – all while trying to continue their essential work.”
In his message for the Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres affirmed that “recent years have seen a sharp rise in the number of journalists killed – often deliberately targeted – in war zones.”
Although a popular saying states that truth is the first casualty in war, “far too frequently, the first casualties are the journalists who risk everything to report that truth – not only in war, but wherever those in power fear scrutiny.”
But press freedom is also under “unprecedented strain” due to “economic pressures, new technologies, and active manipulation,” he said.
Echoing this, Türk warned that “virtually no country is truly safe for those who speak truth to power.”
The High Commissioner pointed to his recent visit to Mexico, where reporting on corruption, environmental harm or organised crime has exposed journalists, their sources and even their families to grave risks.
“I am deeply concerned that media workers are the primary targets of growing transnational repression and surveillance – most recently seen in attacks against Iranian journalists abroad,” he said.
At the same time, laws on defamation, disinformation, cybercrime, and terrorism are increasingly being used to protect the powerful, while costly legal cases are being used to intimidate and silence journalists.
Worldwide, roughly 330 media workers are currently detained along with some 500 citizen journalists and human rights bloggers.
The UN rights chief voiced concern over online harassment and bullying, which disproportionately affects women journalists—three-quarters of whom have suffered abuse such as smear campaigns and threats of sexual violence.
Such attacks “risk creating a disinformation society, in which the media is forced to obscure facts and deny science to operate in safety,” he said.
Meanwhile, efforts to silence the press “have become disturbingly creative”, such as restricting access, internet shutdowns and news blackouts.
He noted that “in some cases, an unholy alliance between political, corporate, and media power is damaging democracy and polarising societies.”
Economic pressure is reaching record levels, compounding the situation. In nearly a third of countries, funding cuts and media concentration are forcing local news outlets to close.
In the face of these challenges, journalists continue to report in the harshest conditions— “even from hospital beds and wheelchairs”—because they believe the truth is worth fighting for.
Stressing that they cannot fight alone, Türk called for countries “to end the persecution of the press, lift arbitrary restrictions, repeal abusive laws, and align legal frameworks with international human rights standards.”
Governments are urged to prevent attacks against media workers, protect them from surveillance – including when working abroad, investigate violations and ensure accountability.
He also appealed for tech companies to take meaningful action against online abuse and disinformation, and underlined the importance of maintaining independence, transparency, and integrity within media institutions. ….PACNEWS
F/POLY – DRUGS FIGHT: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 3: Mon 04 May 2026
Hospital staff implicated in French Polynesia trafficking case
PAPETETE, 04 MAY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—-Several employees of Taaone Hospital in French Polynesia are under investigation for involvement in methamphetamine trafficking.
Hospital management confirmed the probe a day before three stretcher-bearers and an unemployed man appeared before judges and were placed in pre-trial detention.
According to the prosecutor, the case involves “two transporters, an organiser, and a financier.” The four men face charges of attempted importation or complicity. Three of them have worked at the hospital for years, while the fourth, unemployed and living with a disability, is the brother of one of the stretcher-bearers.
Two of the suspects were arrested in Los Angeles earlier in April with 240 grams of methamphetamine. They were repatriated to Tahiti, leading investigators to detain the other two men.
Lawyers argued against detention, citing health and personal circumstances. One defendant, previously convicted in 2024 for complicity in drug trafficking, was described as a former user who relapsed after the death of his infant child. His lawyer requested house arrest with an electronic bracelet, citing prison overcrowding. Another defendant, aged 50, suffers from mental health issues, with his lawyer warning that detention could endanger his life.
The remaining two stretcher-bearers were portrayed as men who became involved without fully understanding the consequences. One, a 44-year-old father, was said to have participated without clear intent, while the other, a 60-year-old veteran hospital worker, allegedly attempted to smuggle drugs “without even knowing what he had bought in the United States.”
All four men have been remanded in custody pending trial, scheduled for 18 June…PACNEWS
PNG – HEALTH: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 3: Mon 04 May 2026
TB cases soar in Morobe
MOROBE, 04 MAY 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Morobe is ranked second in tuberculosis (TB) cases in Papua New Guinea for four consecutive years, with cases exceeding 6,000 annually since 2022, according to the Morobe Provincial Health Authority’s annual review.
The National Capital District (NCD) is ranked above Morobe.
East Sepik, Eastern Highlands and Madang are third, fourth and fifth respectively.
“For TB, Morobe is number two in the country,” TB programme officer Akisa Kawe told the review.
“The highest was in 2024 at 6,800.”
Of the 6,366 cases recorded last year, Lae district accounted for 4,464, nearly seven in every ten provincial diagnoses.
She said the figures placed Lae in a category of its own, with the next highest district, Huon Gulf, recording 413 cases.
Bulolo followed with 331 cases, Nawaeb with 317, Tawae-Siassi with 278, Markham with 264, Finschhafen with 171, Menyamya with 120, and, Kabwum with eight cases.
Within Lae, the disease is concentrated in specific communities.
Haikost recorded the highest burden at 824 cases, followed by the Centre of Mercy with 764, Tent City with 613, Butibam with 575, Buimo with 504, Malahang with 420, and Taraka with 360.
All are areas defined by dense housing, poor ventilation, and limited access to early diagnosis and treatment.
Kawe said the trend was not isolated to Morobe.
A national comparison of all provinces shows last year’s TB figures are the highest on record in nearly every province, with the NCD and Morobe towering above the rest.
Kawe said the sustained high burden in Lae’s informal settlements pointed to a failure of detection, and not a failure of treatment.
“If we have a lot of TB cases in children, that means there are lots of infectious TB cases or sources out in the public that are still not being detected.”
Her warning was backed by four years of paediatric data.
Last year, 1,063 of Morobe’s TB patients were children, representing 24 per cent of all cases, a proportion that has held steady since 2022.
Children acquire TB through sustained contact with infectious adults.
She noted that a persistently high paediatric rate signals that a large reservoir of undiagnosed, infectious cases remains in the community.
Kawe called for intensified active case finding in high-burden communities as an immediate priority.
“The work of finding and treating those undetected cases remains one of our most urgent priorities.”….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
UZB – POWER GRID: ADB PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 04 May 2026
ADB launches $70 billion push to connect Asia’s power grids, digital networks
SAMARKAND, 04 MAY 2026 (ADB)—The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will back US$70 billion in new energy and digital infrastructure initiatives by 2035, aiming to connect power grids, expand cross-border electricity trade, and improve broadband access across Asia and the Pacific.
“Energy and digital access will define the region’s future,” said ADB President Masato Kanda.
“These two initiatives build the systems Asia and the Pacific need to grow, compete, and connect. By linking power grids and digital networks across borders, we can lower costs, expand opportunity, and bring reliable power and digital access to hundreds of millions of people.”
The Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative will connect national and subregional power systems so renewable energy can flow across borders, while the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway will help close the digital infrastructure gap and enable the region to benefit from AI-driven growth.
Under the Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative, ADB will work with governments, utilities, the private sector, and development partners to mobilise US$50 billion by 2035 for cross-border power infrastructure that can unlock renewable energy at scale.
The initiative will focus on transmission and grid integration, including cross-border lines, substations, storage, and grid digitalization. It will also support power generation linked to electricity trade, including renewable energy export projects, regional renewable hubs, and hybrid generation-storage facilities.
By 2035, ADB aims to integrate about 20 gigawatts of renewable energy across borders, connect 22,000 circuit-kilometers of transmission lines, improve energy access for 200 million people, create 840,000 jobs, and cut regional power sector emissions by 15 percent.
ADB expects to finance about half of the US$50 billion initiative from its own resources and raise the rest through cofinancing, including from the private sector. Up to US$10 million in technical assistance will support efforts to align regulations, adopt common technical standards, prepare feasibility studies and advance other work needed for major projects.
The Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative marks a shift from country-to-country energy links to a regional approach to power trade. It builds on existing subregional cooperation initiatives, including the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation program, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation grid interconnection planning, the ASEAN Power Grid, and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Energy Strategy 2030.
The Asia-Pacific Digital Highway will mobilise US$20 billion by 2035 to finance digital corridors, data infrastructure, and AI-ready economies. Investments will focus on connected infrastructure, including terrestrial and subsea fiber networks, satellite links and regional data centres. ADB will also provide policy and regulatory support, including on cybersecurity risk management, and invest in skills programmes to strengthen digital and AI readiness.
By 2035, the initiative aims to provide first-time broadband access to 200 million people and faster, more reliable digital connectivity for another 450 million people across the region. It is expected to cut connectivity costs in remote and landlocked areas by about 40 percent and help create 4 million jobs.
ADB expects to finance US$15 billion of the US$20 billion initiative from its own resources and raise US$5 billion through cofinancing, including from the private sector. The Centre for AI Innovation and Development will be established in Seoul to support the initiative. Backed by a US$20 million contribution from the Government of the Republic of Korea, the centre will promote responsible and inclusive AI adoption and help train about 3 million people in digital and AI-related skills by 2035…..PACNEWS
PNG – SUPERANNUATION: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 04 May 2026
Risk management seen as crucial to protecting PNG superannuation
PORT MORESBY, 04 MAY 2026 (THE NATONAL)—Robust risk management is not just a regulatory hurdle, but a cornerstone of protecting and growing superannuation members’ savings, says Nambawan Super Limited (NSL) chief executive officer Lachlan Baird.
NSL’s chief risk and compliance officer Seema Dass-Raju, manager compliance Leonisa Bosimbi and manager risk Bonita Pame attended a three-day Risk Management Institute of Australasia risk conference last Tuesday in Canberra, Australia.
“NSL is at the forefront of this effort, ensuring its operations are fully aligned with required standards and expectations,” Baird said.
“Our participation in this international forum underscores our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of governance.
“As the corporate trustee of PNG’s largest superfund, we recognise that robust risk management is not just a regulatory hurdle, but a cornerstone of protecting and growing our members’ hard-earned savings.
“We remain dedicated to ensuring our operations meet and exceed both domestic and global benchmarks.”
The conference covered contemporary issues including enterprise risk management, cyber security, Artificial Intelligence, and operational resilience.
Dass-Raju said: “The RMIA conference provides an invaluable opportunity to engage with contemporary best practices in risk
education and operational resilience.
“In the current global regulatory environment, our focus is on moving beyond simple compliance to drive meaningful impact.
“We are equipping our team with the insights necessary to ensure NSL remains a leader in proactive risk mitigation within PNG and the wider region.
“The importance of this engagement is heightened by the evolving risk, financial and regulatory landscape in PNG.”….PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Our Youth, the Pacific’s Hope for a Nuclear-Free Pacific
By Brittany Nawaqatabu
SUVA, 04 MAY 2026 (PANG)—“Youth are the future, and we are the voices of the victims of the nuclear testing that happened in our home.”
These were the assuring words of the Marshall Islands Students Association (MISA) President, Samuel Jeffereson Barton, during the Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day (NVRD) march held at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Campus on the 30th March this year.
The University of the South Pacific (USP) is home to MISA, a space where history is remembered, retold, and resisted. Every year, MISA brings together local, regional, and international partners to organise the march, and this year was no different.
Beneath the scorching Suva sun, dressed in shades of green, participants carried placards bearing the messages of nuclear injustice as their voices rose in unison, chanting ‘We Walk Hand-in-Hand’, a collective expression of unity and solidarity among Pacific people, as they remembered those affected by the ongoing impacts of nuclear testing, reinforcing the Pacific’s shared call for a nuclear-free and independent region.
Barton, a fourth-year USP Law student, traces his roots to Namdrik, Ailinglaplap, and Arno Atolls in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), with paternal ties to Jaluit and Wotje Atolls.
“It is our collective duty, as Marshallese, to acknowledge these injustices, support affected communities, and contribute toward healing, awareness, and accountability for present and future generations,” he added.
“From a young age, I was taught by my family to assist others regardless of kinship or personal connection, and this value continues to guide me today. This sense of upbringing strengthens my sense of moral obligation to stand in solidarity with those affected and to advocate for nuclear justice, even where there is no familial connection.”
Barton believes that a future shaped by qualified and passionate young leaders will create new opportunities for the RMI.
RMI Ambassador to Fiji and the Pacific, Junior Aini, called for regional support and stronger backing for youth-led movements like MISA.
“We are stronger when we unite. There is a need to support our youth back in RMI in the way that MISA is supported in Fiji.”
“The nuclear legacies in the Marshall Islands remain a priority as it is close to our hearts. There are so many avenues where the region can support us,” Aini commented.
“We are a member of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and have been working with them to raise awareness and stand with the RMI on nuclear legacy issues.
The region as a whole has a responsibility to make sure that nuclear testing history does not repeat itself, especially in the Pacific.”
This year’s NVRD theme, “Anin Jitbon Mar” (“Spiritual Calling from our Islands”), spoke to our Pacific identity and to our deep, enduring connection to the land and ocean.
The University of the South Pacific Student Association (USPSA) Religious Chair, Soane Tupola, reinforced this message, emphasising that culture, land and ocean are deeply cherished by Pacific Islanders.
“The islands in the Pacific are very similar in terms of culture; we are dependent on our land and ocean for survival, in terms of food (crops) and fisheries,” he added.
“We have to do everything in our power to make sure no one takes advantage of or abuses what we hold dear to our hearts.”
Remembering nuclear victims and their importance
Observed annually on 1st of March as a national holiday in the RMI, the NVRD recognises the victims and survivors of Castle Bravo, the largest nuclear bomb detonated in the Pacific, which took place on Bikini Atoll in 1954.
Home to 29 coral atolls and five major islands, the RMI was part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) from 1947 to 1986. A United Nations (UN) strategic trusteeship administered by the United States (US). As the administering authority, the U.S was obligated under the UN Charter to ensure the well-being of the Marshallese people, protecting their rights, supporting their development, and guiding them toward self-government or independence.
In the TTPI, the U.S also had to safeguard land, health, and resources, while remaining accountable to UN oversight through reporting and inspections.
The RMI was used by the U.S for nuclear testing from 1946 to 1958. The U.S Navy had a very well-scripted plan, similar to those of many colonial powers of the time; it framed its intentions in the language of benevolence.
When the Navy arrived at Bikini Atoll, it sought what was presented as “permission” from the local community, telling them it was God’s will, a sacrifice for the peace and security of the world. A total of 67 tests were conducted, among them the 1954 Castle Bravo test, which yielded 15 megatons. The US conducted 23 of these tests at Bikini Atoll, and 44 near Enewetak Atoll, but fallout spread throughout the Marshall Islands. Subsequent analysis by the Arms Control Association (ACA) showed that the Castle Bravo test exceeded the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs in power by over 1,000 times. This was a direct violation of the TTPI duties.
MISA has commemorated the day with a solidarity march since 2019, honouring the victims and survivors of the nuclear testing conducted by the US in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958, a period that continues to have profound and long-lasting impacts on the health, environment, and cultural, social, and economic well-being of Marshallese communities.
The ongoing impacts and an unresolved legacy
Marshallese communities continue to suffer the cruel aftermath of these tests caused by the radioactive fallout. Among the most enduring consequences are widespread health issues that continue to affect communities today.
Exposure to radioactive fallout entered the bodies of Marshallese communities, contributing to long-term health effects and intergenerational trauma. What followed was not only intergenerational trauma but a rise in serious health conditions, high rates of cancer, including thyroid, leukaemia, and stomach cancers, alongside reproductive complications such as miscarriages and stillbirths.
In addition to the health impacts, many Marshallese communities were displaced, raising ongoing human rights concerns. This displacement disrupted traditional livelihoods, food systems, and cultural ties to land. A submission by the RMI to the UN in 2025 found that the loss of ancestral land severed cultural ties, disrupted traditional knowledge systems, and undermined the right to self-determination.
Our Pacific responsibility
In much of the Pacific’s history, the pursuit of nuclear justice has not only been led by governments but carried forward by Pacific peoples. Through the sustained mobilisation of civil society organisations, church groups, artists, academics, youth and women’s groups, trade unions, and activists, communities have come together to resist nuclear testing and assert a shared vision for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific.
These collective efforts played a key role in bringing an end to nuclear testing in Maʻohi Nui (French Polynesia), with 2026 marking 30 years since the last French test in the region, and in shaping regional commitments such as the Treaty of Rarotonga, which came into force 40 years ago.
This legacy of regional solidarity continues to shape contemporary advocacy. Reflected in actions such as the Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day march, led by MISA, these acts of remembrance extend beyond commemoration. They reinforce a shared Pacific responsibility to pursue recognition, accountability, and redress for the enduring environmental, social and cultural impacts of nuclear testing.
This shared responsibility is reflected in moments like the screening of My Fish is Your Fish during the NVRD commemoration at USP, reinforcing the need to keep our oceans clean and free from nuclear threats.
“This spiritual calling calls upon each of us, not just the Marshallese, but all of our brothers and sisters in the Pacific to stand together and continue to raise stories that have not been spoken before,” said the RMI National Nuclear Commission Chairperson and Commissioner, Ariana Tibon-Kilma.
“We share the ocean, the fish in the ocean and everything else the ocean has to offer,” she said.
This generation must carry forward the call for nuclear justice. As these stories ripple far and wide, so too must the demand for accountability from the US until it is met.
The Pacific will continue to stand united in its call for a nuclear-free and independent region…..PACNEWS
For more information, contact: Brittany Nawaqatabu | Media & Communications Assistant | Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) | Email: commssofficer@pang.org.fj
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Sonsorol State Champions Invasive Species Removal for Island Recovery
SONSOROL, 04 MAY 2026 (SPREP)— A significant conservation initiative is underway in Sonsorol State to remove invasive species and restore the health, resilience and livelihoods of island communities. The restoration efforts are being led by the Sonsorol community in partnership with Palau’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The SPREP led Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS), with technical partners, Island Conservation, are providing on ground support, technical guidance and coordination through the PRISMSS Predator Free Pacific (PFP) Programme.
The activities, under the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) project, is funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the United Kingdom International Development.
This initiative is the result of a request made by the Sonsorol community to address the growing impacts of invasive rats and other pests across their islands, particularly on Merir, Sonsorol, and Fanna. These invasive species, including rats, mosquitoes, and coconut rhinoceros beetles, have significantly affected food security, living conditions, and overall community well-being.
After extensive planning and fundraising, the project is now progressing toward implementation, scheduled for May 2026. The operation will use a helicopter-based approach to efficiently deliver bait across the islands, ensuring comprehensive coverage in areas that are otherwise difficult to access due to the remoteness and terrain of Sonsorol State.
A pre-eradication preparation team arrived on Sonsorol Island on 19 March and will remain on-site for one month to support readiness activities. The team is working closely with the Sonsorol community to prepare for the eradication phase.
Activities include cleaning homes and surrounding areas, removing rubbish and debris that provide shelter for rats, and strengthening food storage and waste management practices. Organic and inorganic waste collection systems have been reinforced, and outdoor structures are being sealed to reduce entry points for invasive species.
Lucy Pedro, Governor of Sonsorol State shared that, “the rat eradication project is vital to restoring balance, safeguarding health and biodiversity, securing our future and protecting food security and ecosystems in the Sonsorol islands.”
A representative from Island Conservation shared that, “baseline environmental monitoring is a key component of the project and surveys of seabirds, vegetation, and land crabs are being conducted using sound recorders, transect surveys, and photo monitoring.”
“This data will help measure ecological recovery over time, including improvements in seabird nesting, forest health, and crab populations which are resources that are vital to local livelihoods.”
Community engagement has been central to the preparation process. A community-wide meeting held shortly after the team’s arrival resulted in strong support for the initiative. Additional outreach has included engagement with youth, focusing on safe practices and the importance of proper waste management in ensuring the success of the operation.
The Sonsorol State Government has also mobilised all state workers to assist with island-wide cleaning and maintenance efforts. Interviews with community members are also being carried out to better understand how invasive species are impacting food security and daily life. This information will help guide both implementation and long-term outcomes of the project.
SPREP Invasive Species Adviser, Mr David Moverley shared that, “our work in Sonsorol is about more than removing invasive species, it is about restoring balance to ecosystems, protecting food security and strengthening community resilience.”
“By removing rats and other invasive species, we give native plants, seabirds, and turtles a chance to thrive again, while ensuring communities can live sustainably on their islands and this is resilience in action, to secure a healthier future for Sonsorol and the wider Pacific.”
Despite the logistical challenges posed by the extreme remoteness of Sonsorol State, strong collaboration between the community, the Sonsorol State Government and partners is driving progress forward.
PRISMSS, alongside its technical partners and Pacific nations, will continue advancing scalable and sustainable solutions to manage invasive species and biodiversity conservation across the region….PACNEWS
Media Contact: Sally Esposito, Island Conservation, Strategic Communications Director: ally.esposito@islandconservation.org
·Nitish Narayan, PRISMSS Communications & Liaison Officer: nitishn@sprep.org
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Nuclear fears resurface among younger generations amid global tensions
NEW YORK, 04 MAY 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —The threat of nuclear Armageddon, a constant worry for many who grew up during the tense decades of the Cold War, is becoming a cause for concern for a growing number of young people.
For decades, the possibility of the Soviet Union and United States starting a civilisation-ending nuclear confrontation was the pre-eminent fear of many people growing up in the 20th century.
Whilst the real possibility of this cataclysm never went away, it was supplanted in the minds of younger generations by existential concerns that seemed more pressing, such as the climate crisis and rogue artificial intelligence tools.
But the shadow of a nuclear conflict has never gone away, even if, in part thanks to the 56-year-old nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), nuclear weapons have not been used in a war since the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
The return of nuclear rhetoric
And, in recent years, nuclear rhetoric has been making a comeback, prompting the UN to reach out to young activists and explain why these weapons can never again be used in a theatre of war.
“Nuclear war wasn’t high on my agenda, to be honest,” says 30-year-old Natalie Chen, “and the same goes for my peer group, but disarmament is definitely a major concern, in the context of current conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran.”
Since becoming a member of the Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons (YLF), a programme run by the United Nations, Chen, a UK-based arts producer from Hong Kong, has been learning more about the complexities and key principles of nuclear disarmament, and why nuclear weapons continue to pose such a major risk to world peace.
Chen took part in an event on Thursday at the Poster House museum in New York, organised by the Government of Japan and supported by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), which featured artworks developed by participants from the second cohort of the YLF.
The programme aims to provide the knowledge activists need, in order to be more effective in their disarmament and peace and security advocacy. “I’ve learned how the political process can be powerful if we, as young people, are part of that process,” says YLF participant Abdul Mustafazade, an artist who uses digital media to make global issues more engaging.
“The language of disarmament can be very technical, and I have learned how to use art to make it understandable.”
Izumi Nakamitsu, the head of UNODA, argues that there is an urgent need to explain to young people why this is a key issue, and bring in new generation of experts who have grown up with modern threats, such as AI and cyberspace hacking, which didn’t exist when the NPT was created.
“For about 30 years, following the end of the Cold War, we were fortunate not to have to worry too much about nuclear weapons,” says Nakamitsu, “but geopolitical tensions have returned, and one of the problems with the disarmament community is that they are always looking back to the way things were discussed in the past.
“But there are new challenges, such as the integration of AI into nuclear command and control, that are very scary to talk about.”
The event took place on the sidelines of the 2026 review conference of the NPT, taking place at UN Headquarters until 22 May.
Nakamitsu accepts that the technical language can be hard to follow, but the half-century-old treaty remains as important as ever.
“A world without the NPT would be much less secure because many more countries would be looking to possess nuclear weapons, which would make their use much more likely. Before the treaty was agreed, it was predicted that there would be 30 or 40 nuclear weapon states. That didn’t happen because of the NPT.”
The normalisation of nuclear weapons
The Youth Leaders Fund is one of the ways in which the UN is helping young nuclear disarmament advocates to understand complex military doctrines so that they can hold nuanced debates and be taken seriously by the deterrence community.
It is also a way to push back against the normalisation of nuclear weapons use, something that deeply concerns Nakamitsu, a Japanese national.
“It’s creating the very dangerous narrative, that a small, ‘low yield’ nuclear weapon can actually be used on the battlefield. That is wrong. The bombs used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki would today be categorised as low-yield nuclear weapons.
It is absolutely crucial to keep the memory of what happened alive, and I hope that my country will continue to do so.”….PACNEWS
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Global demining work strained by rising conflicts and shrinking aid
NEW YORK, 04 MAY 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Demining experts from around the world have been sharing their collective shock at the widespread and growing threat from unexploded ordnance, the new head of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) said this week.
“They’re telling me, ‘Never in my career have I ever seen so many conflicts,’” said Kazumi Ogawa, speaking at the close of a Mine Action National Directors and UN advisers meeting in Geneva.
Despite the clear need to continue demining work in the world’s conflict zones and those now at peace, “for various reasons, the level of funding has gone down in terms of humanitarian assistance”, Ogawa noted.
Gaza timebomb
In Gaza, for instance, a staggering 90 per cent of the people that are injured by explosive hazards from the Hamas-Israel war are civilians – “and of those, the majority of them are children”, she stressed.
UNMAS has warned that between five and 10 per cent of all munitions fired in Gaza have not detonated. The result is that potentially lethal unexploded ordnance is now “ingrained” in the devastated enclave, the mine action service chief said.
“We can gather the explosive hazards and we cordon them off in Gaza so they’re blocked off, but we’re not able to destroy them…And so, they sit there in piles that children are expected to walk around.”
She added: “You have fathers that will go through the rubble to try to get home and find explosive devices and won’t know what to do with it; you’ll find children that are playing, right, and coming across these hazards.”
Lacking support
Despite such a massive threat, there’s never enough support for demining and risk education, particularly today, amid a crisis in support for international agencies and bodies including the UN, and a spike in the number of conflicts.
“The problem is, as budgets – national budgets – are diverted towards, defence, for example, and away from humanitarian assistance, what we’re seeing is the effect of that on the ground,” said Ms. Ogawa. “So, in Afghanistan, for example, one child is killed every day.”
The problem is no less shocking in Syria.
“Where normally you would have maybe 300 people killed, through explosive hazards in one year in a particular mine-ridden country, in Syria, you have 200 people killed a week,” the UNMAS Director said.
“It’s unimaginable. And these are the kinds of things that that donor funding would greatly help us with: explosive ordnance risk education, victim assistance, the actual clearance, advocacy to larger parts of the humanitarian community…to ensure that these people stay safe.”
In addition to the human cost of landmines and other unexploded remnants of war, the economic impact is a significant brake on development too.
Long-term care
“If a child is maimed, you’re asking the family to take care of that child through adulthood, the community to make concessions for that child as he or she becomes a participant in the community. I mean, it’s just it’s not just one person dying, right?” Ogawa explained.
The UNMAS Director highlighted the positive work supported by the UN around the world to counter landmines and other unexploded weapons, which is helping communities and nations to rebuild.
In Colombia, where there’s a legacy of antipersonnel mines and other explosive ordnance contamination from the decades-long civil war, an initiative from national transitional justice mechanism involves former fighters “to help with the recovery and restoration of those communities, including through demining and mine action, victim assistance, risk education”, Ogawa said.
“It’s a way of incorporating – instead of penalising the ex-combatants by putting them in jail, it’s really incorporating them to be a part of the community.”
If you talk to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace in Colombia, it’s super exciting what they’re doing.”
Convention boosts ‘safety and security’
The 1997 international treaty to eradicate landmines – known officially as the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention – has proved effective at prohibiting antipersonnel landmines but in 2025 and early 2026, several European nations initiated or completed the process of withdrawing from it.
The new UNMAS Director stressed the value of the Treaty and its relevance to everyone, everywhere:
“Let’s remember that we’re here not just for adherence to international conventions for the sake of adherence for us to be able to say, ‘Oh, here’s one more country.’ It’s so that it then trickles down and creates the conditions for people to live in safety and security,” Ogawa said. …PACNEWS
