AGP Executive Report

Diabetes Watch: A new global snapshot from the IDF Diabetes Atlas (2024) shows diabetes hitting hardest in some countries, with Pakistan leading at 31.4% adult prevalence, followed by the Marshall Islands (25.7%) and Kuwait (25.6%), and projections suggesting Pakistan could reach 34.2% by 2050. Tourism & Wellness Travel: Marriott’s new “Series by Marriott” brand is debuting in New Caledonia with three resorts run by Societe Hoteliere de Noumea (SHN) under Le Domaine du Pacifique—Le Domaine Déva (Bourail, 120 rooms), Le Domaine Oro (Isle of Pines, 48 rooms), and Le Domaine du Pacifique in Noumea—positioned to keep each property’s local identity while adding Marriott Bonvoy standards, including on-site wellness facilities at Déva. Gaming (Not Health, but Local Interest): Medieval Horse Dealer Simulator launched on Steam on 17 August with a 10% discount, and Warhounds (an XCOM-style tactics re-release) hit Steam on 11 August with real ballistics and destructible cover.

Diabetes Watch: A new global snapshot shows diabetes is rising fast and unevenly, with Pakistan leading age-standardised prevalence at 31.4% in 2024, followed by the Marshall Islands (25.7%) and Kuwait (25.6%). Projections point to continued growth, including Pakistan reaching 34.2% by 2050 and potentially overtaking the USA in the total number of people living with diabetes as population and prevalence climb. Tourism & Wellness: Marriott’s “Series by Marriott” is debuting in New Caledonia in partnership with Societe Hoteliere de Noumea (SHN), adding three resorts—Le Domaine Déva in Bourail, Le Domaine Oro on the Isle of Pines, and Le Domaine Oro (Noumea) under the Le Domaine du Pacifique name—to the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. The brand aims to keep each property’s local identity while aligning with Marriott’s global service standards, with wellness facilities and resort amenities highlighted across the collection. Gaming (Not Health-Related): A new SteamWarhounds tactical RPG launched on 11 August with real ballistics and destructible cover, drawing early “Mostly Positive” reviews—interesting, but not a health story for this audience.

Diabetes Watch: New data highlights how diabetes is rising worldwide and how unevenly it hits different countries, with Pakistan topping the list at 31.4% adult prevalence (IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024), followed by the Marshall Islands (25.7%) and Kuwait (25.6%), and projections suggesting Pakistan could reach 34.2% by 2050. Tourism & Wellness: Marriott’s “Series by Marriott” brand has debuted in New Caledonia in partnership with Societe Hoteliere de Noumea (SHN), bringing three resorts into the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio—Le Domaine Déva (Bourail), Le Domaine Oro (Isle of Pines), and Le Domaine du Pacifique properties in Noumea—each keeping its local identity while adding Marriott’s global service standards, including on-site wellness facilities and guest experiences tied to New Caledonia’s lagoons, beaches, and cultural heritage.

Diabetes Watch: New data highlights how diabetes is surging worldwide, with some countries far above the global average—Pakistan tops the list at 31.4% adult prevalence (IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024), with the Marshall Islands at 25.7% and Kuwait at 25.6%, and projections suggesting Pakistan could reach 34.2% by 2050. Tourism & Wellness: Marriott’s “Series by Marriott” brand has debuted in New Caledonia in partnership with Societe Hoteliere de Noumea (SHN), bringing three resorts into the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio—Le Domaine Déva in Bourail (120 rooms, wellness facilities and direct beach access), Le Domaine Oro on the Isle of Pines (48 rooms, lagoon and beach views), and Le Domaine du Pacifique properties across Noumea and beyond—aimed at blending local character with consistent global service standards. Gaming & Health (light): A new SteamWarhounds tactical RPG launched on 11 August with real ballistics and destructible cover, marketed as an XCOM-style alternative for players who dislike “95%” misses.

Diabetes Watch: New global figures highlight how diabetes is surging unevenly worldwide, with Pakistan topping the list at 31.4% adult prevalence (IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024), followed by the Marshall Islands (25.7%) and Kuwait (25.6%), and projections suggesting Pakistan could reach 34.2% by 2050. Tourism & Wellness: Marriott’s “Series by Marriott” brand is debuting in New Caledonia with three resorts run by Societe Hoteliere de Noumea (SHN) under Le Domaine du Pacifique—Le Domaine Déva in Bourail (120 rooms, wellness facilities, golf access), Le Domaine Oro on the Isle of Pines (48 rooms, lagoon and beach views), and Le Domaine Oro’s addition to Marriott Bonvoy’s growing portfolio. Gaming (Health-adjacent): SteamWarhounds launched on 11 August with real ballistics and destructible cover, positioning itself as an XCOM-style tactics alternative—an unlikely but notable pop-culture distraction for health-minded readers.

Diabetes Watch: New global figures highlight how diabetes is surging unevenly worldwide, with Pakistan topping the list at 31.4% adult prevalence (IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024), followed by the Marshall Islands (25.7%) and Kuwait (25.6%), and projections suggesting Pakistan could reach 34.2% by 2050. Tourism & Wellness: Marriott’s “Series by Marriott” brand is debuting in New Caledonia with three resorts run by Societe Hoteliere de Noumea (SHN): Le Domaine Déva in Bourail (120 rooms, wellness facilities and direct beach access), Le Domaine Oro on the Isle of Pines (48 rooms, lagoon and beach-facing bungalows), and Le Domaine Oro’s sister property in Noumea under the same collection. Gaming & Health Tech Culture: SteamWarhounds launched on 11 August with real ballistics and destructible cover, positioning itself as an XCOM-style tactics alternative—an odd but notable reminder of how “precision” themes keep crossing into mainstream entertainment.

Diabetes Watch: New global figures highlight how diabetes is surging unevenly worldwide, with Pakistan topping the list at 31.4% adult prevalence (IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024), followed by the Marshall Islands (25.7%) and Kuwait (25.6%), and projections suggesting Pakistan could reach 34.2% by 2050. Tourism & Wellness Travel: Marriott’s “Series by Marriott” is debuting in New Caledonia in partnership with Societe Hoteliere de Noumea (SHN), bringing three resorts—Le Domaine Déva (Bourail), Le Domaine Oro (Isle of Pines), and Le Domaine Oro/Deva properties under the Le Domaine du Pacifique umbrella—into the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio while keeping each site’s local identity. Sports Health Spotlight: At the 2026 Oceania Volleyball Championships, Australia beat Guam in the men’s semifinals, and New Caledonia advanced to face Australia in the finals after a five-set comeback win over Wallis Et Futuna.

Diabetes Watch: A new global snapshot shows diabetes is rising fast and hitting some countries far harder than the world average, with Pakistan topping the list at 31.4% adult prevalence (IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024), followed by the Marshall Islands (25.7%) and Kuwait (25.6%), and projections suggesting Pakistan could reach 34.2% by 2050. Tourism & Wellness: Marriott’s “Series by Marriott” is debuting in New Caledonia in partnership with Societe Hoteliere de Noumea (SHN), adding three Le Domaine du Pacifique resorts—Déva (Bourail), Oro (Isle of Pines), and Noumea—bringing Marriott Bonvoy standards while keeping each property’s local identity, from lagoon and beach settings to on-site wellness facilities. Sports (Regional Health & Community): New Caledonia’s men’s volleyball team advanced to the Oceania finals after a five-set comeback win over Wallis Et Futuna, setting up a final against Australia, while Guam plays for third place. Gaming (Low Health Relevance): SteamWarhounds launched on Steam with real ballistics and destructible cover, drawing “Mostly Positive” early reviews—more entertainment than health news.

Tourism & Wellness Travel: Marriott’s new Series by Marriott brand has debuted in New Caledonia with a long-running partnership with Societe Hoteliere de Noumea (SHN), bringing three SHN resorts under one Marriott portfolio while keeping each property’s local identity. Local Resorts: Le Domaine Déva (Bourail) pairs UNESCO-listed reef scenery with Kanak-inspired design, plus wellness facilities, pools and direct beach access; Le Domaine Oro (Isle of Pines) offers lagoon and beach-facing bungalow suites; and Le Domaine du Pacifique properties in Noumea round out the collection. Regional Health Angle: The PR push matters for health-conscious travelers too, since these resorts market on-site wellness spaces and easier access to outdoor recreation. Pacific Response Group Update: Separately, the Pacific Response Group (PRG) has shifted hosting and leadership from Australia’s ADF to New Zealand’s NZDF, with partner nations including Fiji, France, Papua New Guinea and Tonga—supporting coordinated humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and crisis response, including health and communications roles.

Regional Health & Emergency Readiness: The New Zealand Defence Force has formally taken over hosting and leadership of the Pacific Response Group, a multinational team supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief across the Pacific. The handover from Australia’s Defence Force took place this week at Joint Forces New Zealand in Trentham, with participating partners including New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, France, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Chile in a supporting role. Health Support Roles: The PRG includes specialist planners and staff covering operations, logistics, intelligence, health, and communications—aimed at coordinated crisis response as the capability enters its third year. Local Sports (Community Focus): In Oceania volleyball, New Caledonia reached the men’s finals after a five-set comeback win over Wallis Et Futuna, setting up a final against Australia following Australia’s straight-sets win over Guam.

New Caledonia finances under strain: The territory’s newly elected government says it is in “cessation of payments” after the May 2024 riots, warning it needs about 13 billion Pacific francs (~€109m) and could face a “complete shutdown” if extra funding isn’t secured by the end of August. A Tuesday meeting with the French state (via MINC) aimed to mobilise money under the “refoundation pact,” with €432m budgeted for 2026 and €141m already disbursed. Regional health & crisis readiness: The New Zealand Defence Force has taken over leadership of the Pacific Response Group from Australia, a multinational team supporting humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and crisis response across the Pacific, including health and communications roles. Pacific sports spotlight: In Oceania volleyball, New Caledonia rallied from two sets down to beat Wallis Et Futuna in five sets, setting up a men’s final against Australia after Guam was beaten in the semifinals.

Local Governance: New Caledonia’s newly formed government is warning of a possible “complete shutdown” after being limited to day-to-day management, citing a “state of cessation of payments” and a funding gap of about 13 billion Pacific francs (around €109 million) unless fresh support arrives by the end of August; officials say talks with the French state via the Interministerial Mission for New Caledonia (MINC) are aimed at mobilising “refoundation pact” funds, with €432 million budgeted for 2026 and €141 million already disbursed. Regional Response & Health Capacity: The New Zealand Defence Force has taken over leadership of the Pacific Response Group from Australia, a multinational team that supports humanitarian assistance and disaster relief across the Pacific, with member nations contributing specialist planning including health functions. Pacific Health Funding: Fiji’s HIV response is in focus in regional reporting, with Australia committing FJD$23.5 million as part of broader partnership efforts. Tech & Wellness: Rollme launched two budget AI smartwatches—AI Watch 2 and AI Watch 3—priced at $39.99, featuring aluminum alloy cases, Bluetooth calling, and quick replies via WhatsApp/Telegram.

New Caledonia Health & Governance: New Caledonia’s newly elected government says it’s in a “cessation of payments” and warns of a possible complete shutdown unless about 13 billion Pacific francs (around €109m) is secured by end of August, as talks with the French state aim to unlock “refoundation pact” funds. Cabinet Portfolios: President Milakulo Tukumuli has unveiled a “collegial” cabinet, assigning health, social protection and transport to the president—while key economic and food sovereignty duties sit with vice-president Christopher Gygès. Regional Health Security: The New Zealand Defence Force has taken over leadership of the Pacific Response Group, a multinational team that includes health functions for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief across the Pacific. Health Alert Beyond the Pacific: Virginia has confirmed its first locally transmitted dengue fever case, linked to mosquito spread after contact with a traveler—officials stress the overall risk remains low. Tech & Wellness Consumer Note: Rollme launched two budget AI smartwatches (AI Watch 2 and AI Watch 3) with aluminum alloy cases and Bluetooth calling, priced at $39.99.

New Caledonia finances under strain: The new government says it is in “cessation of payments” after the May 2024 riots, warning of a possible complete shutdown if about €109 million isn’t secured by end of August, as talks with the French state aim to mobilise refoundation pact funding. Cabinet portfolios revealed: President Milakulo Tukumuli has assigned key roles across health, social protection and transport, with health now under his leadership, alongside economy and food sovereignty responsibilities for other pro-France ministers. Health watch beyond the Pacific: Virginia has confirmed its first locally transmitted dengue fever case after a mosquito likely spread the virus from an international traveler to a local resident; officials stress the risk remains low and there’s no sign of wider spread. Tech & wellness gadgets: Rollme launched two budget AI smartwatches with aluminum alloy cases and quick-reply features, priced at $39.99, aimed at everyday health-adjacent use like translation and voice assistance. Sports (community health angle): Australia beat Guam to set up a men’s final against New Caledonia in the Oceania Volleyball Championships, with New Caledonia rallying from two sets down earlier.

New Caledonia finances under pressure: The territory’s new government says it is in “cessation of payments,” warning it needs about 13 billion Pacific francs (around €109m) and could face a complete shutdown if funding isn’t secured by end of August, after talks with the French state under the “refoundation pact.” Health portfolio reshuffle: President Milakulo Tukumuli has unveiled a “collegial” cabinet, assigning him health, social protection and transport responsibilities, while other key roles include economy, customs, external trade and “food sovereignty.” Mosquito-borne disease watch: A first locally transmitted dengue case has been confirmed in Virginia (US), with health officials saying spread risk appears low; separately, Samoa is urging travellers to protect themselves after a dengue outbreak, citing thousands of confirmed cases and hospitalisations. Pacific response coordination: The New Zealand Defence Force has taken over leadership of the Pacific Response Group, a multinational team supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief across the region, including health and communications roles.

New Caledonia finances under strain: The territory’s new government says it is in “cessation of payments” and warns of a possible complete shutdown if it can’t secure about 13 billion Pacific francs (around €109m) by end of August, as talks with France’s MINC aim to mobilise “refoundation pact” funds. Cabinet health and social protection shake-up: President Milakulo Tukumuli has unveiled a “collegial” cabinet, assigning health, social protection and transport to him, while key pro-France portfolios include economy, customs, external trade and “food sovereignty.” Regional health watch (dengue): A first locally transmitted dengue case has been confirmed in Virginia (US), with officials saying spread risk appears low; separate travel guidance flags dengue risk for Samoa and urges mosquito-bite prevention. Pacific response leadership: The New Zealand Defence Force has taken over leadership of the Pacific Response Group from Australia, with health and communications among the shared functions supporting disaster relief and crisis response. Wearables (AI watch launches): Rollme debuts AI Watch 2 and AI Watch 3 with aluminum alloy cases and low-cost AI features, including quick replies and voice/translation support.