The US Embassies of Papua New Guinea and Fiji Islands are currently inviting applications from citizens of nominated Pacific Island nations for the Humphrey Fellowships and Fulbright Scholarships. This follows the reinstatement of the Fulbright program in the region. The nations included in the scheme are PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Nauru and Kiribati, and promotion is being assisted by Fulbright NZ.

Tavake Fusimalohi, award-winning editor of the Kele'a newspaper, has died in his home country of Tonga. Less than 2 months ago he was awarded the Media Association of Solomon Islands Award, recognised for his efforts in contributing to media freedom in the South Pacific region. He was popular both in Tonga as well as throughout the region.

Fiji has welcomed the introduction of a second mobile phone service provider this month, Inkk Mobile. Until this month Vodafone Fiji has held a monopoly position. One of the main differences with the new service is that Inkk's billing service will be calculated on a per second basis rather than a 30 second basis, which will help reduce the cost of calls for Inkk users.

At the official launch, held at JJ's on the Park in Suva on 18th November 2007, the Minister for Commerce, Industry, Investment and Communications, Mr Taito Waradi, stated that it was good to see a second provider entering the marketplace for although Vodafone may have been offering a fair service, it was never good to see monopolostic situations.

The CEO of Inkk Mobile, Mr Paul O’Neile, when first receiving the approval to enter the mobile services arena, indicated that they were proud to have been invited to deliver a "truly unique and competitive mobile experience to both customers and a market that deserves the benefits of honest competition".

Founders of the Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises 'N' Development (FRIEND) are today celebrating their success last night as the overall winner of the Fiji Development Bank's Small Business Awards 2006. The awards were announced and presented at the Holiday Inn Hotel on Victoria Parade, Suva.

FRIEND, a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded five years' ago as a charity organisation to alleviate poverty in Fiji's rural communities through the development of fund-raising ventures to provide the communities with better access to resources.

The head office is based in the city of Lautoka on the main island of Viti Levu, with volunteers from many parts of Fiji.

Australia (AUSAID) has just announced that it will invest $150 million dollars over the next four years in the South Pacific College based in Fiji. The college will also have regional centers in Vanuatu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea. The college will see three thousand student enrolled in the courses of the next 4 years.

Technorati Profile

And the winner is .. Vunivutu! According to a Fiji Government release today, the location for Survivor Fiji is to be Vunivutu in Labasa's interior. Labasa is the principal town on the island of Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island. The announcement thus scotches rumours that an island beach option might have been chosen. Vanua Levu is in a region known as Fiji's 'friendly North', though the participants will no doubt be greeted with a more daunting reception than that afforded most travellers to Fiji!

The 88 year old King of Tonga, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, passed away in New Zealand. A six day state funeral is planned for the late king.