In this bulletin:
1. TONGA — El Niño declared as drought and cyclone risks increase: Tonga Meteorological Service
2. UN — UNESCO launches consultation on fair payment for news in the digital age
3. FIJI — Tui Nayau warns of ‘new generation of drug dealers’
4. AUST — Australia’s biggest ever cocaine bust as police seize another 2.7 tonnes under Operation Minjiang
5. PACIFIC — PIFS, Oceania Customs Organisation sign MOU to strengthen regional cooperation
6. PALAU — Palau’s Ocean Sanctuary found to be active Tuna nursery, Scientists say
7. PACNEWS BIZ — Tonga Parliament passes $949.4 million Government budget for 2026/27
8. PACNEWS BIZ — S&P revises PNG outlook to positive, affirms ‘B-/B’ ratings
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Gas poisoning suspected as Tongan crew members rescued from vessel hull
10. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — WHO and UNAIDS warn HIV gains at risk as funding cuts threaten AIDS response
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — Mānoa: VNR: University of Hawaiʻi researchers awarded $12M grant to advance AI, data science in medicine
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — From satellite imagery to coastal action
TONGA – WEATHER WATCH: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS 3: Mon 22 Jun 2026
El Niño declared as drought and cyclone risks increase: Tonga Meteorological Service
NUKU’ALOFA, 22 JUNE 2026 (TALANOAOTONGA)—Tonga has declared that El Niño conditions are now in force, with meteorologists warning of increased drought risk, reduced rainfall and a potentially more active tropical cyclone season over the coming months.
The Tonga Meteorological Service (TMS), under the Ministry of MEIDECC, announced that sustained warming across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean has pushed sea surface temperatures above the threshold used to define an El Niño event.
According to TMS, the Niño 3.4 index reached +0.92°C during the week ending 14 June, exceeding the El Niño threshold of +0.80°C. Climate models indicate warming is likely to continue through at least January 2027.
Officials briefed Cabinet last Friday outlining the expected impacts for Tonga over the next three to six months.
These include below-average rainfall across all island groups, an increased likelihood of drought, marine heatwaves and coral bleaching, as well as heightened tropical cyclone activity during the 2026–27 cyclone season.
A drought warning is already in force for Ha’apai, while drought alerts have been issued for Niuafo’ou, Niuatoputapu, Vava’u, Tongatapu and ‘Eua.
TMS Director Laitia Fifita said El Niño is a natural climate cycle but can have significant consequences for island nations that depend heavily on rainfall for freshwater supplies.
“Early awareness and preparedness are essential,” he said, urging communities and government agencies to prepare for possible water shortages, extreme heat and severe weather events.
The meteorological service says Tonga typically experiences two to four tropical cyclones during El Niño years, with at least two potentially reaching severe Category 3 to 5 strength.
A special meeting of the National Disaster Risk Management Committee has been scheduled for this week to review preparedness measures and coordinate national response plans……PACNEWS
UN- DIGITAL AGE/MEDIA: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Mon 22 Jun 2026
UNESCO launches consultation on fair payment for news in the digital age
PARIS, 22 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—UN cultural agency UNESCO has launched a global consultation process to inform its Draft Guidance on Fair Compensation for News, particularly as online platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly rely on journalistic content.
The initiative comes “at a time when securing the sustainability of news media is more urgent than ever to protect the future of journalism and safeguard information integrity,” the agency said.
The text under consultation outlines disruptions to the media landscape, including decreased funding for public-interest journalism, the contraction or closure of local and community news organisations, and other challenges that indicate “a fundamental and ongoing change in the structure of the information economy.”
“A small number of large, multinational digital platforms and AI actors now occupy a central intermediary role between media and the public, shaping content discovery, influencing the conditions through which journalism reaches audiences, and mediating access to digital advertising markets in ways that have materially altered the economic conditions in which journalism operates,” it said.
UNESCO is seeking feedback from governments, regulatory authorities, media, civil society, academia and other stakeholders through 30 July.
Through an online survey, respondents can share their inputs and perspectives on how the document “can be improved to achieve the aim of safeguarding freedom of expression, strengthening media viability, and supporting the future of independent journalism in the context of growing digital platforms and AI actors.”
Submissions can be in English, French or Spanish.
Ahead of the deadline, three online regional roundtables will be convened to facilitate dialogue and input from people in Asia-Pacific and the Arab States, Africa and Europe, and the Americas and the Caribbean.
The draft guidance builds on UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, issued in 2023, which call for supporting media sustainability, diversity, and pluralism.
It is also informed by the agency’s work on generative AI governance and human rights impact assessments, as well as global principles promoting fair compensation for journalism.
The initiative further reinforces UNESCO’s broader efforts to strengthen media independence, sustainability and viability.
The final draft of the Guidance will be published later this year, alongside a report summarizing the key insights and contributions received. ….PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Mon 22 Jun 2026
Tui Nayau warns of ‘new generation of drug dealers’
SUVA, 22 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) —The Tui Nayau, Ratu Tevita Lutunauga Kapaiwai Uluilakeba Mara, has warned that Fiji Government inaction over suspected drug packages washing ashore in maritime provinces risks creating a “new generation of drug dealers”.
In a strongly worded statement issued today, Ratu Tevita said communities in Lau were increasingly concerned by the growing number of suspected narcotics packages being discovered along coastlines.
“As a chief with responsibilities to my people, I am issuing a direct warning: if Government continues to neglect our communities in the face of this crisis, the day will come when our own youth realise the true worth of these finds,” he said.
“Through that gross negligence, we will have bred an entirely new generation of drug dealers.”
His comments come amid ongoing investigations into dozens of suspicious parcels recovered from waters around the Lau Group.
Ratu Tevita said the increasing frequency of drug packages washing ashore represented a national security threat and called for urgent intervention.
‘The window to act is now, and it is closing,” he said.
He said Government, traditional leaders and communities all had a role to play in addressing the issue, but argued that coastal communities needed greater support and resources.
“This demands a whole-of-society response,” he said.
He urged Government to restore the necessary regulations and provide the tools and resources to eradicate this social ill.
Ratu Tevita also suggested that traditional leaders must be empowered to act.
“Every layer of our society has a role – but only if Government steps back from the podium and into genuine partnership with the Vanua.
“And to our own people I say: stand, and watch over your shores as your fathers did before you. We are the first line of defence, and we will not surrender our seas, our homes and our villages to those who would poison them,” he said.
The statement follows recent discoveries of suspicious packages in Lau and other maritime provinces, including a package in Kadavu that later tested positive for cocaine.
Meanwhile, Traditional leaders in Lau are calling for stronger maritime patrols and border monitoring after another 35 suspicious parcels were found floating near Vanuabalavu, adding to growing concerns about drugs reaching remote island communities.
The latest discovery brings the number of suspicious parcels recovered in the Lau Group to 62, with police confirming that 27 parcels recovered earlier have already been sent to the Fiji Police Forensics Laboratory in Suva for analysis.
Police officers from the Criminal Investigations Department and Forensics Unit have been deployed alongside the Republic of Fiji Navy to conduct further enquiries and recover the additional 35 parcels found near Munia Island, Vanuabalavu, last Thursday afternoon.
Lau provincial representative Ratu Raivalita said the latest discovery had heightened concerns among traditional leaders, who have repeatedly raised alarm about drug trafficking in the province.
“Just days ago, Turaga Tui Nayau was speaking about drugs in Lau, and now another 35 packages have been found in Vanuabalavu,” he said.
Ratu Raivalita questioned the apparent lack of maritime patrols in the area and urged authorities to strengthen surveillance and monitoring efforts across Fiji’s waters.
He said island communities remained vulnerable to suspicious packages and contraband washing ashore because of the vast maritime area surrounding the Lau Group.
The discovery has renewed scrutiny on efforts to secure Fiji’s maritime borders as authorities continue to investigate a growing number of suspected drug-related finds in coastal areas.
Police acknowledged the role of community leaders in reporting the discoveries, saying the initial parcels were reported by the turaga ni koro before being handed over to Vanuabalavu Police.
The latest discovery was first revealed by Ratu Raivalita, who said the packages were found last Wednesday and later handed to police for investigation.
Responding to concerns raised by Lau leaders, Republic of Fiji Navy Commander Commodore Timoci Natuva said the Navy was not informed of the latest discovery until late Thursday evening.
Police said efforts were now focused on locating and recovering every suspicious parcel for forensic testing as investigators worked to determine the contents, origin and intended destination of the packages.
The discoveries follow a series of similar incidents around the country. In a recent case, a sealed plastic package containing a white substance found in Kadavu later tested positive for cocaine.
The Fiji Police Force said it continued to work closely with local and regional law enforcement agencies as investigations progressed.
Members of coastal communities have been urged to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious packages to police by calling 1681.
Authorities have also warned the public not to handle or open any parcels found along shorelines….PACNEWS
AUST – DRUGS FIGHT: AFP PACNEWS 3: Mon 22 Jun 2026
Australia’s biggest ever cocaine bust as police seize another 2.7 tonnes under Operation Minjiang
SYDNEY, 22 JUNE 2026 (AFP)—The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has seized 2.7 tonnes of cocaineworth more than $800 million(US$560 million) – the largest ever cocaine seizure in Australia – as part of an investigation into an organised crime plot to import and distribute significant quantities of border-controlled drugs along Australia’s east coast.
The seizure formed part of Operation Minjiang, a Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (QJOCTF) investigation. It follows the previous seizure of 178kg of cocaine and 142kg of methamphetamine, representing a total seizure of more than 3 tonnes of border controlled drugs.
AFP investigators executed a search warrant at a semi-rural property in Londonderry, near western Sydney, on Friday (19 June, 2026).
It will be alleged a Plumpton man, 21, and a Liverpool man, 25, attempted to evade police by fleeing on foot before being arrested.
During a search of three shipping containers near the rear of the property, police located the 2.7 tonnes of cocaine in plastic tubs buried in underground bunkers concealed by false container floors.
This amount of cocaine, had it reached the Australian community, had an estimated street value of about $816 million (US$571 million) and equates to about three million street level deals.
The men were each charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
They appeared before a NSW Local Court on Saturday (20 June, 2026) and were remanded in custody. They are next expected to appear before Penrith Local Court on 13 August, 2026.
Police will allege the cocaine seized at Londonderry was imported into Australia near Midge Point, in North Queensland, and transported to Sydney at the behest of a Sydney organised crime group. Investigations into this group are continuing.
Operation Minjiang began in May, 2026, after 40kg of cocaine was located in the water off a boat ramp at Midge Point by the Queensland Police Service (QPS), which was responding to reports of a burnt-out flatbed truck.
Investigators identified a Mackay man, 41, as the owner of the flatbed truck and their methodical work led to the execution of cascading search warrants across north and southeast Queensland, along with one in Sydney.
As detailed last week, six people were identified, arrested and charged as part of their alleged various roles in this failed criminal import enterprise. They have been charged with varying offences relating to the possession of illicit drugs, or conspiracy to possess them.
A Petrie man, 32, charged with possessing a dangerous drug and dealing with proceeds of crime, was further charged on 19 June, 2026, with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug contrary to section 307.5(1), by virtue of section 11.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
He is next expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 31 July, 2026.
A Petrie woman, 32, has also been charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug contrary to section 307.5(1), by virtue of section 11.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
It will be alleged she lived at a suspected safehouse connected to the operation and was complicit in the storage of the drugs.
She is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 31 July, 2026.
A 24-year-old NSW man was charged on 17 June, 2026, and extradited to Queensland on 19 June, 2026. It will be alleged the Green Valley man travelled to Midge Point in May, 2026, and helped facilitate the collection and transportation of the drugs in concert with the Mackay region man.
He is next expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 18 September 2026.
An alleged mother vessel suspected to be part of the illicit drug importation into Midge Point, MV Wealth, remains detained by authorities in the Solomon Islands for further investigation.
The QJOCTF comprises officers from the AFP, QPS, Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Transactions Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and Australian Tax Office (ATO). QJOCTF were also assisted by the NSW Police Force Highway Patrol for this operation.
AFP Commander Stephen Jay praised the unwavering commitment of AFP investigators, and QJOCTF law enforcement partners, to ensure this criminal network did not profit from its ill-gotten goods and keep Australians safe from the growing threat of illicit drugs.
“We know criminals go to extreme lengths, and often risk their own lives, to smuggle drugs into Australia with no regard to the harm they cause to Australian communities,” Commander Jay said.
“This alleged plot to distribute nearly three tonnes of cocaine — by arranging for an international vessel to offload the drugs in Northern Queensland before moving them into Sydney — demonstrates how highly organised and determined these criminal networks are, and the extreme lengths they are willing to go to in pursuit of profit.
“Investigations into the origin of the drugs remain ongoing, and we will work with our international and domestic law enforcement partners to identify the criminal syndicates and anyone else involved in facilitating this alleged attempted drug import.
“I would like to thank the exceptional work of our AFP investigators, together with our QPS and law enforcement counterparts, who have together prevented a significant amount of illicit drugs from reaching our community.
“Let these arrests serve as a warning to those criminal syndicates plotting attempts to bring illicit substances into our country, we stand together ready to act and disrupt your criminal activities, together with our law enforcement partners.”
Queensland Police Service, Crime Command Detective Acting Chief Superintendent, Troy Pukallus said the operation demonstrated the Queensland Police Service’s ability to identify and disrupt organised criminal activity at every level, from regional investigations through to complex national operations.
“This result highlights the strength of the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce and the importance of strong partnerships between frontline police, specialist investigators and our Commonwealth law enforcement partners,” Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Pukallus said.
“This outcome has removed a significant quantity of cocaine and methamphetamine from the criminal market and prevented these dangerous drugs from causing further harm in Queensland and more broadly across Australia.
“What began with the actions of Mackay police and the Mackay Criminal Investigation Branch following the discovery of drugs at Midge Point evolved into a sophisticated, multi-agency investigation targeting an organised criminal network.
“Investigations of this scale require experience, persistence and collaboration, and I want to acknowledge the dedication of all officers involved in bringing this matter before the courts and protecting the community from the harm these drugs can cause.”
Australian Border Force Commander Troy Sokoloff said the outcome demonstrated the strength of the QJOCTF in targeting serious organised crime through a coordinated, intelligence-led approach.
“Criminal syndicates should be on notice – law enforcement agencies are working together to detect, target and disrupt their operations, and those involved can expect to face the consequences,” Commander Sokoloff said.
“The ABF remains committed to protecting Australia’s border and supporting efforts to combat organised crime wherever it operates,” he said …PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS/PIFS PACNEWS 3: Mon 22 Jun 2026
PIFS, Oceania Customs Organisation sign MOU to strengthen regional cooperation
SUVA, 22 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS/PIFS)—The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening regional cooperation across a range of priority areas for the Pacific.
The agreement was signed by Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Divavesi Waqa and Head of the OCO Secretariat Laisiana Tugaga.
According to PIFS, the agreement will boost regional cooperation between the two organisations and is closely aligned with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
Under the framework, PIFS and OCO will advance a shared agenda to facilitate trade, strengthen regional and border security, enhance cybersecurity cooperation, improve customs-related disaster preparedness and timely response, promote data-driven policymaking, and safeguard the Pacific’s natural resources.
The two organisations said the partnership is designed to support coordinated efforts across these areas while strengthening regional collaboration.
Through the agreement, both organisations aim to build a more secure, resilient, and prosperous Blue Pacific region…..PACNEWS
PALAU – OCEAN SANTUARY/TUNA: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Mon 22 Jun 2026
Palau’s Ocean Sanctuary found to be active Tuna nursery, Scientists say
KOROR, 22 JUNE 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) —The ocean around Palau is doing something remarkable and science is finally catching up to prove it.
New research from the Palau International Coral Reef Centre confirms that tuna are reproducing inside the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, offering powerful evidence that protecting offshore waters is paying off.
Scientists from the Palau International Coral Reef Centre (PICRC) brought microscopes, marine research and hands-on conservation education to the public Saturday during World Tuna Day, spotlighting the critical role the Palau National Marine Sanctuary plays in protecting one of the ocean’s most commercially vital fish.
Visitors at the PICRC booth examined live plankton under microscopes, explored ongoing tuna research and learned how the sanctuary — which shields Palau’s offshore waters from commercial fishing — safeguards tuna at their most vulnerable life stages.
“Connecting scientific research with the people of Palau is an essential part of PICRC’s mission,” a PICRC spokesperson said. “Communicating the results of our research, fostering marine stewardship and building the capacity of our community to participate in the protection of marine resources are just as important as the research itself.”
The Palau National Marine Sanctuary, one of the largest fully protected marine areas in the world, is doing more than preserving ocean scenery — it is actively safeguarding the future of tuna fisheries.
PICRC scientists explained that protecting tuna during reproduction and juvenile development is essential to maintaining sustainable populations over the long term. Of particular concern are spawning aggregations — events in which hundreds of adult tuna gather in predictable locations to reproduce — which make the fish especially vulnerable to overfishing.
“By protecting these important stages of the tuna life cycle, the PNMS helps safeguard the long-term sustainability of tuna populations and many other species of fisheries, ecological and tourism importance,” the PICRC spokesperson said.
Healthy tuna stocks, the centre noted, directly support food security, local livelihoods and future economic opportunity for Palau.
New scientific findings are backing up what the sanctuary was designed to do. Working with Belau Offshore Fishers Inc. and the Palau Commercial Fishing Company, PICRC researchers collected gonad samples from harvested tuna to determine whether females were mature and actively spawning within the sanctuary’s boundaries.
Separately, scientists are sampling offshore plankton waters in search of tuna larvae, mapping where larvae are distributed, how they develop and how many survive. Together, the two lines of evidence suggest that tuna are reproducing inside the PNMS, according to findings published in the journal Pacific Conservation Biology in the paper “Navigating Large-Scale Ocean Science in a Pacific Small Island Developing State.”
Those results help managers and fishers make informed decisions as they balance sustainable harvests against long-term conservation goals.
The PICRC booth also featured interactive games on plastic pollution and ocean health, and the centre sponsored prizes for a tuna cook-off held as part of the event.
Organisers — including the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment — used the occasion to reinforce local conservation messages. For PICRC researchers, the event was also a chance to listen: community observations and traditional knowledge, the centre said, are vital to effective marine stewardship.
“Events such as World Tuna Day provide an ideal opportunity to connect with the community and share knowledge about marine science and conservation in a way that is both accessible and engaging,” the spokesperson said…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
TONGA – BUDGET: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 22 Jun 2026
Tonga Parliament passes $949.4 million Government budget for 2026/27
NUKU’ALOFA, 22 JUNE 2026 (TALANOAOTONGA)—Tonga’s Legislative Assembly has passed the Government’s 2026/27 Budget, approving expenditure of TOP$949.4 million(US$398.29 million) after weeks of parliamentary scrutiny and debate.
The budget, passed includes TOP$735.2 million(US$308.14 million) in cash spending and TOP$214.2 million (US$89.63 million) in in-kind support from development partners.
A projected budget deficit of TOP$38.1 million(US$15.94 million) will be financed through the issuance of TOP$35 million(US$14.65 million) in government bonds and TOP$3.1 million (US$1.29 million) drawn from cash reserves, according to Parliament.
Prime Minister and Acting Minister for Finance, Lord Fakafanua, first tabled the budget on 18 May before it was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Public Accounts for review.
The committee later submitted recommendations, after which the estimates were examined in detail by the Whole House Committee covering all 29 government votes.
Parliament then resumed debate, completed the second and third readings of the Appropriation Bill, and formally approved the budget.
The House also endorsed the Government Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2025, approved a resolution authorising a government loan exceeding TOP$15 million(US$6.27 million), and adopted the Auditor General’s Draft Annual Plan for 2026/27.
The budget follows extensive discussion in Parliament, where members examined spending priorities and the Government’s plans to manage the forecast deficit. Recent debates included questions over reliance on bond financing and donor-supported funding.
The new budget is slightly lower than the record $992.8 million(US$416.51 million) budget approved for 2025/26, which also relied heavily on donor contributions and included a smaller projected deficit….PACNEWS
PNG – ECONOMY: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 22 Jun 2026
S&P revises PNG outlook to positive, affirms ‘B-/B’ ratings
PORT MORESBY, 22 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)— S&P Global Ratings has revised Papua New Guinea’s outlook to positive from stable, citing the potential for stronger economic growth driven by major resource projects and ongoing reforms under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, while affirming the country’s long-term and short-term sovereign credit ratings at ‘B-’‘and ‘B’ respectively.
In a statement S&P said the positive outlook reflects the possibility that PNG’s structural growth rate could strengthen over the next 12 months, supported by planned resource developments and reforms aimed at restoring the convertibility of the kina.
“The positive outlook reflects the potential for PNG’s structural growth rate to strengthen over the next 12 months, supported by upcoming resource projects and IMF-led reforms to restore the convertibility of the local currency, the kina,” S&P said.
The ratings agency said new resource projects approaching final investment decisions could lead to higher economic growth than currently anticipated and help address PNG’s long-standing underperformance in GDP per capita growth compared with peer economies.
S&P also noted that PNG has been implementing reforms to address foreign exchange shortages and reduce its fiscal deficit, while meeting most of the targets under its IMF-supported program, which is scheduled to conclude in December 2026.
According to S&P, PNG’s economy expanded by about 5.6 percent in 2025, supported by strong commodity prices, particularly gold, increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) production following the expansion of gas fields, and solid agricultural output.
The agency expects the economy to continue growing at between 3.5 percent and 3.8 percent annually over the next several years.
“Growth should benefit from strong commodity prices and rising business confidence, including in the non-resource sector,” the report said.
S&P said confidence in the economy has improved as foreign exchange order backlogs have fallen sharply and the central bank continues reforms to move the kina toward a more market-determined exchange rate.
The report also pointed to continuing fiscal consolidation, with the fiscal deficit expected to narrow to below 2 percent of GDP this year.
“As a result, net public debt should decrease to below 40 percent of GDP by 2028,” S&P said.
The agency said recent constitutional changes have strengthened political stability ahead of the 2027 national elections.
“Prime Minister James Marape now appears more likely to retain his position until the next election in 2027,” the report stated, following the Supreme Court’s validation of constitutional amendment number 48, which introduced an 18-month grace period after unsuccessful votes of no confidence.
S&P highlighted the proposed US$14 billion Papua LNG project as a key factor that could significantly improve the country’s growth prospects.
“The final investment decision for this project has faced repeated delays, but the operator, TotalEnergies, has indicated that a decision is likely to be reached in 2026,” the report said.
The agency added that Papua LNG could be followed by the development of theUS$12 billion P’nyang gas project, potentially generating several years of additional construction activity.
Despite the improved outlook, S&P said PNG continues to face structural challenges, including weak institutions, a narrow economic base, high crime rates, and dependence on the resources sector.
“Per capita GDP stands at about US$3,000,” the report noted, adding that PNG’s trend growth in per capita GDP remains low compared with peers.
S&P also warned that PNG remains vulnerable to global energy market disruptions because of its dependence on imported diesel fuel. It said fuel rationing remains a possibility if supply shortages emerge.
The report noted ongoing concerns surrounding the future political status of the autonomous region of Bougainville, although S&P’s base case assumes a peaceful resolution.
“In our base case, we assume a peaceful resolution, but any flare-up of tensions could weigh on PNG’s institutional settings,” the agency said.
On fiscal performance, S&P said PNG’s fiscal deficit fell to an estimated 2.2 percent of GDP in 2025 from 3.3 percent the previous year and projected further improvements through 2028.
The agency also pointed to progress under the IMF programme, including reforms to the central bank, tax legislation, state-owned enterprise dividend policies, and exchange rate arrangements.
“PNG has achieved most of the IMF’s benchmarks to date,” the report said.
S&P said the country’s official foreign exchange reserves remained relatively strong at US$3.7 billion as of March 2026, equivalent to around five months of current account payments.
The ratings agency said PNG’s foreign exchange shortages have eased significantly as the kina continues to depreciate gradually and commodity export earnings remain strong.
“The ongoing reduction in kina over-valuation, coupled with strong inflows from commodity exports, has improved the availability of hard currency and the functioning of the domestic foreign exchange market,” S&P said.
However, it also noted that PNG’s monetary policy flexibility remains limited and that the country faces additional scrutiny after being placed on the Financial Action Task Force “grey list” in February 2026 over anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing deficiencies.
Looking ahead, S&P said it could raise PNG’s ratings over the next year if the country achieves stronger and sustained growth in GDP per capita, significantly reduces external and fiscal liabilities, or further eases foreign exchange restrictions.
Conversely, the outlook could be revised back to stable if anticipated improvements fail to materialise or if reform momentum slows as the IMF program comes to an end…..PACNEWS
FIJI – SHIPPING: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 22 Jun 2026
Gas poisoning suspected as Tongan crew members rescued from vessel hull
SUVA, 22 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Five Tongan nationals were rushed to hospital after suffering suspected carbon monoxide poisoning while trapped in the bottom hull of a vessel at Walu Bay.
The National Fire Authority (NFA) said Emergency Ambulance Service first responders and operational crews mounted a joint rescue operation after the men were exposed to the toxic gas in the confined space.
A height rescue operation was carried out to safely extract the crew members from the vessel before they were transported for medical treatment.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas that can be deadly when inhaled in large amounts, particularly in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.
The NFA confirmed all five men survived the incident, suffered no injuries, recovered after receiving medical attention and have since returned to work.
The authority said the successful outcome reflected the importance of rapid emergency response, preparedness and teamwork in life-threatening situations….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
WHO and UNAIDS warn HIV gains at risk as funding cuts threaten AIDS response
By Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, and Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Regional Director for Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
MANILA, 22 JUNE 2026 (WHO)—“United to End AIDS”, a new UNAIDS report released ahead of the 2026 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, sends a clear warning: progress against AIDS is real but fragile.
The devastating funding disruptions of 2025 have exposed how vulnerable HIV responses remain.
Countries have moved quickly to protect treatment when external support was suspended, reduced or delayed.
However, specific programmes that have been under-prioritised in national budgets, including HIV prevention, testing, community-led services and efforts to remove barriers to care, have been hit hard. Without decisive action, these gaps risk fuelling new infections and AIDS-related deaths. Indeed, we are already seeing worrying signs.
Asia and the Pacific, with 60 percent of the world’s population, remains home to the world’s second-largest HIV epidemic. Currently, around 7 million people are living with HIV. Each year, an estimated 280 000 people acquire HIV and 120 000 die from AIDS-related illnesses.
Several countries, including Fiji, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, are grappling with some of the world’s fastest-rising HIV epidemics.
The High-Level Meeting and new Political Declaration must respond to this reality and truly drive the political choices needed to sustain and transform the HIV response.
The Global AIDS Strategy 2026–2031 provides a clear path: country-led sustainability, people-focused services, and community-led response.
Country-led sustainability
The financing landscape has changed drastically. Global development assistance has fallen sharply, and international support for HIV continues to decline.
Our new reality requires a shift away from donor dependence towards country ownership and domestic financing, backed by continued global solidarity.
It is encouraging that across Asia and the Pacific, governments are taking greater responsibility, particularly for treatment.
China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand finance more than 90% of their HIV responses from domestic resources. Since 2025, 12 more countries have reported plans to increase domestic HIV funding, including Fiji, which has allocated an additional US$ 4.5 million to its urgent ongoing national HIV response. Papua New Guinea has allocated an emergency fund of US$ 13.5 million for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
But prevention and community-led services remain heavily dependent on international funding. Around 76 percent of HIV prevention spending in the region still comes from external sources, leaving outreach and community-led services for key populations exposed as international support declines.
Long-term sustainability requires more than replacing external funds. It means integrating HIV into universal health coverage and primary health care, strengthening national systems and data, addressing societal barriers to services, and accelerating access to innovation.
Targeted donor support remains critical in this transition, with UNAIDS, WHO and partners helping countries protect essential services and build sustainable, country-owned HIV responses.
Sustainability will only matter if services reach people
Lifesaving antiretroviral treatment is reaching 5 million people in Asia and the Pacific, but nearly one third of people living with HIV are still not receiving it. The regional treatment coverage remains at 71 percent. Late diagnosis continues to drive avoidable illness and deaths.
Prevention is also far behind: coverage of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, a genuine game changer in preventing infection, is only around 2.5 percent of what is needed.
The new UNAIDS report calls for integrated, differentiated and people-focused services.
Across the Asia-Pacific region, the priority is to ensure that prevention, testing, treatment, and care reach those facing the greatest barriers, including people living with HIV, key populations, young people, and migrants.
This means applying evidence, removing service barriers and combining biomedical tools with stigma reduction and rights-based delivery.
We have clear examples of how this approach can work. Cambodia’s achievement of the 95–95–95 HIV treatment targets (95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed are receiving antiretroviral treatment and 95 percent of people on treatment have achieved viral suppression), a first for Asia and the Pacific, sends a clear message to the region and the world: progress is possible when services are designed around people.
Strong political commitment, national leadership, long-term partnership and community trust have expanded access to testing and treatment, multi-month dispensing, stronger links with the wider health system, and innovations such as PrEP and HIV self-testing.
At the seventy-sixth WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific last year, a joint WHO–UNAIDS session on HIV and substance use engaged 38 countries and areas around this same priority: making services respond to people’s realities.
Innovations accelerate progress, but only if access is equitable.
Long-acting prevention tools, including lenacapavir as a twice-yearly injectable, could transform prevention for people who face stigma, barriers to daily pills, and regular clinic visits.
Asia-Pacific has major manufacturing potential, with four of the six currently licensed generic manufacturers for lenacapavir based in India and Pakistan, which could support faster product introduction.
But scale-up will require more than new products.
We need to combine technical and normative guidance on health-system readiness with advocacy on equity, affordability, rights, community engagement and accountability in the HIV response.
With this support, countries can turn innovation into people-focused services that reach those who need them most and, in turn, enhance community-led responses.
Community-led governance is crucial
In Asia and the Pacific, communities are essential: they build trust, reach people missed by formal systems, and make prevention and treatment services work in practice.
In Thailand, average PrEP retention is 268 days through key population-led providers, compared with 148 days in public health facilities – clear evidence of the value of peer-led services.
As the new UNAIDS report underlines, community leadership is central to a sustainable HIV response, but funding cuts, punitive laws and shrinking civic space are putting it at risk.
Key populations – including men who have sex with men, sex workers and injecting drug users – remain criminalised in 39 countries across the region, while stigma and discrimination trends continue to push people away from services.
Legal and policy reform must urgently remove these barriers so people can seek care without fear or discrimination.
In this regard, young people are key.
WHO and UNAIDS have partnered with the civil society organisation Youth LEAD to bring together young key populations, governments and partners from 11 countries to co-design HIV and STI prevention roadmaps grounded in community leadership, youth engagement and rights-based services.
As foreign assistance for HIV declines, community-led organisations need funding, protection and a formal role in the HIV response.
Social contracting can help by enabling governments to fund civil society organisations to deliver services and connect community systems with public health systems. Yet this modality remains underused. Among 39 countries in the region with available data, only 35 percent report laws, regulations or policies that allow domestic funding for community-led service delivery.
Community leadership is not an add-on. It is central to the AIDS response.
UNAIDS brings the political mandate, community partnerships and accountability role needed to help countries protect civic space, advance human rights and make community-led responses a core part of national HIV systems.
The choice before us
The new UNAIDS report explicitly shows what is at stake. The High-Level Meeting and Political Declaration offer the opportunity to act.
Countries in Asia and the Pacific should seize this moment to sustain financing, close gaps, remove barriers, and put communities at the centre.
The next phase of the AIDS response must be country-led, people-focused and community-driven.
The choice is clear: Squander the significant gains made in tackling one of the biggest public health challenges of all time, or safeguard the progress made and go the last mile in ending AIDS for once and for all…..PACNEWS
For media enquiries, please contact:Snizhana Kolomiiets, UNAIDS Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, at kolomiietss@unaids.org
or by telephone at +4915111009830.
Roy Wadia, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, at rwadia@who.int or by telephone at +639189157260.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Mānoa: VNR: University of Hawaiʻi researchers awarded $12M grant to advance AI, data science in medicine
HONOLULU, 22 JUNE 2026 (UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII)— Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Centre and UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) were awarded more than US$12 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish the Pacific Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID)—a new research centre dedicated to accelerating biomedical discoveries through artificial intelligence and data science to benefit people in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region, and worldwide.
Funded through the NIH’s Centres of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program, the five-year award will provide approximately US$12 million through February 2031. The award was administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, with a federal award date of 04 June 2026.
The centre will be led by Principal Investigators John Shepherd and Youping Deng. Shepherd is chief scientific officer at the UH Cancer Centre, and B.H. and Alice C. Beams Endowed Professor in Cancer Research at JABSOM. Deng is co-director, Genomics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, at the UH Cancer Centre; and professor and director, Bioinformatics Core Facility, at JABSOM.
PAC-AID will serve as a central hub integrating AI into biomedical research to improve health outcomes in Hawaiʻi. Over five years, the project will renovate the UH Cancer Centre Data Centre to establish a new Medical AI Core (MedAI Core), providing advanced, high-performance computing resources and AI expertise. Physically located within both the UH Cancer Centre and JABSOM on the shared Kakaʻako campus, PAC-AID will directly fund four major inaugural research projects and establish a Pilot Projects Program to support more than 8 new, locally relevant pilot studies.
“At the heart of our mission as a flagship research university is the drive to translate innovation into meaningful impact,” said Vassilis Syrmos, incoming chancellor of UH Mānoa. “PAC-AID is a vital expansion of that mission, enabling our faculty to harness the power of artificial intelligence to pioneer new avenues of biomedical inquiry that were previously unreachable, solidifying the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s role as a global leader in health innovation.”
“AI has the potential to unlock major medical breakthroughs and help people live healthier lives, and we need to take advantage of it,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who played a pivotal role in securing the grant. “This new funding will help Hawai’i continue to attract top-tier talent and develop treatments and cures that will benefit people across the state.”
“The US$12 million over five years will substantially strengthen AI and data science capabilities and support the development of the next generation of investigators,” said UH Cancer Centre Director Naoto T. Ueno. “The research advances made possible by PAC-AID will further the UH Cancer Centre’s work toward new understandings and treatments for cancer, to save lives in Hawai’i and the Pacific, and across the globe. In addition, high paying jobs generated by this project will have a strong economic benefit for our local communities.”
“At JABSOM, our mission is to improve the health of Hawaiʻi through education and research,” said Sam Shomaker, JABSOM dean. “This investment will help accelerate discoveries that address the real health challenges facing our communities and ensure that advances in AI translate into better outcomes for patients.”
Enabling workforce development
Shepherd and Deng will oversee efforts to build research capacity, as well as foster the next generation of independent investigators using artificial intelligence and advanced data science approaches to address critical medical and public health challenges. Beyond funding research, this award establishes a workforce development mechanism to support the next generation of faculty investigators.
“This COBRE award provides the critical infrastructure to bridge advanced AI computational methods with our specific clinical and community health challenges,” Shepherd said. “By fostering a collaborative environment for our investigators, we are equipping them with the technical capabilities to tackle the most persistent health disparities in our islands and turn complex data into actionable health solutions.”
“By the end of this project, we expect to have a nationally competitive Medical AI Core, four independently funded research leaders, and more than 10 pilot projects,” said Deng. “Through these efforts, alongside workshops and collaborative research opportunities, we will significantly strengthen Hawaiʻi’s capacity for AI-enabled biomedical research and innovation to address important health challenges in our region and beyond.”
Transforming medical research with AI
Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming healthcare and biomedical research by helping scientists analyze large and complex datasets, identify patterns that may otherwise go undetected, and accelerate the development of new approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Shepherd, who leads the Hawaiʻi and Pacific Islands Mammography Registry, is using a massive breast imaging database to develop AI biomarkers that predict cancer risk specifically for Asian and Pacific Islander populations.
The new PAC-AID will support similar faculty-led research projects, provide funding for pilot studies, and establish shared research resources that can be used by investigators across disciplines.
Initial funded projects include AI-driven research by UH Cancer Centre researchers Kevin Cassel (using full-body imaging to triage skin lesions) and Elizabeth Nakasone (studying pancreatic cancer in Native Hawaiian and Japanese populations); UH Mānoa public health researcher Jonathan Huang (modeling environmental toxicant effects on fetal development); and JABSOM researcher Yiqiang Zhang (identifying genetic traits in congenital heart disease).
COBRE Phase 1 grants focus on the development of independent biomedical researchers and research centres, and are designed to have a 15-year cycle.
“PAC-AID is specifically designed to develop six to eight early-stage faculty members at the University of Hawaiʻi and across Pacific Island institutions who will use artificial intelligence and data science to address cancer and chronic disease outcomes in one of the nation’s most medically underserved and understudied regions,” Shepherd said.
He added that the expected impact to Hawaiʻi is substantial. “Our benchmark for success is that the funded faculty projects, 4 initially and 2-4 more when those graduate in year 3, and will later achieve independent NIH R01 (Research 01 level university) funding at an estimated US$3.25 million per award. That represents a projected US$19.5 million in additional federal research funding returned to the State of Hawaiʻi (6 funded R01s) on top of the initial US$12 million COBRE award itself — a combined potential economic and research impact of more than US$31 million for Hawaiʻi’s research and healthcare workforce. These estimates are for the first 5-year period.”
PAC-AID joins a growing portfolio of NIH-funded Centres of Biomedical Research Excellence at UH Mānoa, including the Diabetes Research Centre, Integrative Centre for Precision Nutrition and Human Health and the Integrative Centre for Environmental Microbiomes and Human Health….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
From satellite imagery to coastal action
SUVA, 22 JUNE 2026 (SPC)—Mangrove forests and seagrass meadows are among the Pacific’s most important natural defences against climate change. They protect coastlines, support fisheries, store carbon, and help sustain the livelihoods of coastal communities. Yet understanding how these ecosystems are changing across thousands of islands and kilometres of coastline remains a challenge.
Traditional field surveys are often expensive, time-consuming and limited to relatively small areas. For many Pacific Island countries, regularly monitoring coastal ecosystems at a national scale has not always been possible.
Earth observation technology is helping change that.
At the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) Subcommittee sessions in Suva, delegates explored how satellite data is being used to improve the management and conservation of blue carbon ecosystems through the Management and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (MACBLUE) Project and SPC’s Digital Earth Pacific (DE Pacific) platform.
The session, facilitated by SPC’s Earth and Oceans Observations team introduced delegates to regional datasets that map mangrove forests, seagrass ecosystems and other coastal marine habitats across the Pacific.
DE Pacific is SPC’s regional Earth observation programme, providing countries with access to satellite imagery, geospatial data and analytical tools that help convert complex environmental information into practical products for planning and decision-making.
For countries managing large ocean territories, these tools offer a new way to understand environmental change.
Rather than relying solely on periodic surveys, governments can use satellite observations to monitor coastal ecosystems over time, identify areas experiencing change and assess where conservation or restoration efforts may be needed.
The information can support a range of national priorities, including marine protected area planning, ecosystem monitoring, climate reporting and the management of fisheries and coastal resources. It can also help countries identify hotspots of environmental degradation and direct limited resources to areas where they may have the greatest impact.
Elenoa Biukoto, Earth Observation Technical Officer at SPC, said Earth observation allows countries to access environmental information at a scale that was previously difficult to achieve.
“For many Pacific Island countries, collecting environmental information across large and often remote coastal areas can be challenging. Earth observation allows us to monitor mangroves and seagrass ecosystems at a scale that was previously difficult to achieve. By combining satellite data with field observations, countries can better understand environmental change, identify priority areas for conservation and generate the evidence needed to support climate action and sustainable management of coastal resources.”
A key part of the MACBLUE approach is combining satellite observations with field-collected data. Participants involved in country activities gather data directly from coastal environments, helping verify satellite-derived maps and improve their accuracy. This not only strengthens confidence in the information being generated but also builds national expertise in geospatial analysis and environmental monitoring.
As pressure on coastal ecosystems grows, access to reliable environmental information is becoming increasingly important. The ability to see change across entire coastlines, rather than in isolated locations, gives countries new opportunities to plan ahead, respond earlier, and make more informed decisions about the ecosystems that support livelihoods, biodiversity, and climate resilience across the Pacific….PACNEWS
For more information: Andiswa Mlisa, Digital Earth Pacific Programme Manager, Pacific Community (SPC) andiswam@spc.int
Sunayna Nandini, Communication, Outreach and Engagement Advisor, Climate Change and Sustainability Division, Pacific Community (SPC) sunaynan@spc.int www.digitalearthpacific.org
