PINA

ANZ has announced it would strengthen its focus on building a world-class digital bank in its core Pacific markets (excluding PNG) of Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Kiribati, as well as Timor-Leste, following a decision to exit U.S community banking in American Samoa and Guam. ANZ Regional Executive Pacific, Tessa Price, said: “In our core Pacific...

The danger is geopolitical competition being appropriated by local actors on both sides of local political tensions. By Tarcisius Kabutaulaka News of an impending security agreement between Solomon Islands and China has alarmed Western nations concerned about China’s assertive influence in the region. But the reaction has underscored the risk that geopolitical competition itself could undermine the sovereignty of Pacific...

The Fijian Drua have had two setbacks ahead of Friday’s Super Rugby Pacific match against the Waratahs, with flooding forcing them to evacuate their Australian training base and then head coach Mick Byrne testing positive for Covid-19. The Drua had to shift this week from Lennox Head in northern New South Wales state to the Gold Coast for the seventh...

Drua winger Vinaya Habosi defied doctors’ orders and a blood infection that nearly killed him to become one of the breakout stars of Super Rugby Pacific. At just 22, Habosi’s speed and tough playing style has him topping the competition for defenders beaten, and in the top four for clean breaks and carry metres. He’s scored two tries for the...

Moana Pasifika have named their team to play the rematch against the Blues on Saturday. Round 7 of DHL Super Rugby Pacific sees the two Auckland-based teams play each other twice in the space of four days. With the short turnaround, Head Coach Aaron Mauger has named a very different side to the team who went down on Tuesday 32-19. Sekope...

Four debutants have been named in the 13-member Fiji 7s team for this month's Singapore and Vancouver 7s. Army halfback Filipo Bukayaro, sensational Fire speed merchant Vuiviawa Naduvalo, lanky winger Tira Wilagi and Police Blue forward Josevani Soro are the new faces in the team announced Thursday. Wardens forward Tevita Daugunu will captain the side and he will be assisted by...

One Pacific leader has spoken out against the proposed security deal between Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China. President David W. Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) wrote to Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare Wednesday to plead with him to deeply consider the long-term security consequences for the Pacific region, if China is allowed to...

Efforts to dissuade the Solomon Islands over a proposed security agreement with China could hinge on fellow Melanesian nations Fiji and Papua New Guinea coming up to with face-saving off-ramp for Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to water down the deal. Pessimism is rising that the deal will not be dumped altogether following Sogavare’s staunch defence of the proposed agreement in...

China’s proposed treaty with Solomon Islands is an “adverse development for Australia’s security” but it may be too late to stop the deal, a former senior Australian intelligence official has warned. Richard Maude, head of the Office of National Assessments from 2013 to 2016 and an experienced former diplomat, urged the Morrison government not to engage in megaphone diplomacy as...

Australia's spending on defence cooperation in the Pacific region is being cut at the same time concerns grow over China's rising influence over neighbouring countries such as Solomon Islands. This week's budget confirmed overall funding for the “Defence Cooperation Programme”, which provides assistance such as language training to mainly Pacific nations, will fall from $236 million (US$177 million) forecast this...