Pacific news in brief for 5 June

7:12 am today

About 100 Solomon Islands nurses are already contributing to health services in Vanuatu.

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Vanuatu

Vanuatu is to recruit another 100 nurses from Solomon Islands as it tries to address a major shortage of health workers.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reports the Acting Director General of Health, Santus Wari, saying the recruitment needs funding to be confirmed before it can go ahead.

Solomon Islands has been assisting Vanuatu's health workforce in recent years, with its nurses filling vacancies and helping with training. It is part of a broader cooperation agreement between the two Melanesian countries.

Dr Wari said about 100 Solomon Islands nurses are already contributing to health services in the country, and the plan is for a hundred more to come soon.

Papua New Guinea

Telikom PNG is reassuring customers its official retailer status with Starlink won't affect existing service.

Last week, the PNG public telecom announced its partnership with Starlink, operated by SpaceX, to deliver Low Earth Orbit satellite connectivity solutions across the country.

Telikom will provide local support, installation, and services to help customers with Starlink.

At the launch, Telikom chief executive Amos Tepi said this is not about replacing existing platforms, but strengthening PNG's digital ecosystem.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea's national parliament is debating how to address bed shortages at Port Moresby General Hospital.

Local media reports Opposition MP Puka Temu has questioned whether Cabinet knows the true cost of fixing the problem, after allocating 12 million kina in 2025 to expand capacity.

Health Minister Elias Kapavore said the hospital, built in the 1980s, was never designed for a population of over one million.

He said funding instead upgraded smaller clinics, leading to more births outside the general hospital.

Fiji

An Opposition MP in Fiji is questioning the status of public funds for a planned embassy in Jerusalem, following the opening of a new Israeli Embassy in Suva.

MP Ketan Lal said the government had allocated FJ$1.3 million for the Jerusalem project, with assurances it would be reimbursed.

In a social media post, he is now asking whether those funds have been returned, and if so should be used for cost of living relief.

He is calling on the Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel and Prime Minister Sitivini Rabuka for answers.

New Zealand/Pacific

Pasifika MPs say New Zealand must stand firm on its nuclear-free status.

It comes after New Zealand's Minister for Defence Chris Penk said it would be helpful have a conversation on the country's approach to nuclear-powered submarines - given Australia is purchasing some.

Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono told PMN's Pacific Mornings NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's call to walk back those comments was the right one.

Another opposition MP, Labour's Dan Rosewarne said New Zealand's nuclear-free policy is not up for negotiation.

All three coalition parties have come out against Penk's comments, saying Aotearoa's nuclear-free stance will remain.

Palau

President Surangel Whipps Jr says Chinese ships are sailing in Palau's waters without their approval.

Speaking to Kyodo News, Whipps said Palauan officials have evidence that equipment has been set up there.

He said China have been pressuring his country to drop their diplomatic ties with Taiwan, including with economic offers, but he has refused.

Taiwan is supporting Palau financially as it gears up to host the Pacific Islands Forum in September.

Vanuatu

Prime Minister Jotham Napat has received Russia's Ambassador-Designate Mikhail Petrakov for a courtesy call this week.

Vanuatu's President Nikenike Vurobaravu also received Petrakov, formally accrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia.

The two countries have had diplomatic ties since shortly after Vanuatu gained independence in 1980.

Napat emphasised Vanuatu's sovereign and non-aligned foreign policy, and highlighted Russia's role as an important development partner for Vanuatu.