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By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

HAGATNA, Guam (Marianas Variety, Nov. 4) – A retired Navy lieutenant who discovered radioactivity on Guam three days after a hydrogen bomb test in the Marshall Islandls in 1952, will apologize to the island’s residents for withholding the information for five decades, according to Robert Celestial, president of the Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors.

Celestial said retired Lt. Charles Bert Schreiber will offer a formal apology at today’s prayer vigil at Skinner Plaza, which will highlight the commemoration of Operation Ivy Mike.

"This is the first time that Schreiber came back to Guam since 1952. He will deliver a speech to formally apologize, especially to those who have suffered various diseases as a result of radiation exposure," Celestial said.

The Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors, which is spearheading the commemoration event, has invited Schreiber to come to Guam.

The Ivy Mike operation that involved...

By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.

KOROR Palau (Palau Horizon, Nov. 4) — A joint resolution endorsing the establishment of an executive residence on the main island of Babeldaob in Palau has been introduced in the House of Delegates.

Authored by Noah Idechong, Speaker Augustine Mesebeluu and Joel Toribiong, the resolution calls for the establishment of an executive residence to be owned and maintained by the republic in the soon-to-be new capital in Melekeok.

The resolution cites the need for the protection and security of the president as he acts in accordance with the duties granted by the Constitution, such as conducting negotiations with foreign nations and serving as host to foreign guests and dignitaries.

The resolution stated that the private residence of the president often serves as a place for negotiation and entertainment without any due compensation.

The national legislature, the Olbiil Era Kelulau, "finds that an executive residence is...

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, Nov. 3) – Melbourne-based bank ANZ and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Tuesday signed an agreement to bring banking services and financial literacy education to rural Solomon Islanders in the villages of West Guadalcanal.

This is the first time such a service has been available in the Solomon Islands and will see ANZ operating a mobile bank on the Guadalcanal Plains before the end of the year.

UNDP will conduct a program of financial literacy training for the people of West Guadalcanal that will enable them to save, invest, grow and make informed choices about their money.

The General Manager of ANZ Solomon Islands, Mr. Tait Jenkin, said: "This unique and exciting initiative is a product of ANZ’s desire to have a real partnership with the people of Solomon Islands as they rebuild their national economy.

"We know the...

PAPEETE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse, Nov. 2) – September's 19,828 tourists was the highest September volume over the past four years, which the Temaru government attributed Wednesday to the first signs of success of Air Tahiti Nui's new Sydney-Papeete and New York-Papeete flights and strong performances in the European markets.

"The recovery that started in August was confirmed in September," a Tourism Ministry analysis stated. "Overall there were a few more tourists in September 2005 compared with September 2004—307 more.

"More Americans (not including cruise ship passengers), more Europeans, lots more Australians, a stable number of French, fewer New Zealanders and a lot fewer Japanese" highlighted the Tourism Ministry's analysis.

However, the net result for the first nine months of 2005 was 153,927 foreign visitors, or 2.95 percent fewer than for the same period last year. Last year, the first nine months produced 158,613 foreign visitors, or 4,686 more than this...