Kiribati

Bakov expands on plans for new empire in Kiribati

RNZ reports Anton Bakov wants to revive the Romanov empire, which ended in 1917 with the Bolshevik revolution.

Mr Bakov plans to use three uninhabited islands in the Southern Line Islands of Kiribati, making one of the islands, Malden, his capital.

He's currently visiting Kiribati at the invitation of its Government, which is yet to agree to his proposal.

Mr Bakov's wife, Marina Bakova, who translated for her husband during the interview, spoke to Amelia Langford, about their plans.

Russian plan in Kiribati finds support 'in principle'

RNZ reports Anton Bakov, a businessman and the founder of Russia's Monarchist Party, wants to use three uninhabited islands in the Southern Line Islands.

Mr Bakov plans to set up a capital on Malden Island, where he will build hotels.

Teburoro Tito said the multi-million dollar project could benefit Kiribati by providing jobs and attracting tourists.

Kiribati to start farming its land in Fiji

It was reported by Fiji Times that President Taneti Mamau visited the village of Naviavia, which is next to the purchased land, to reassure it that development of the land would be mutually beneficial.

Mr Mamau said yaqona or kava and vegetables were the major commercial crops he envisioned being grown on the land.

He reassured the Naviavia villagers that there would be no drastic measures taken over ownership of the land but said he hoped that they could be good neighbours looking out for each other’s needs.

Russian monarchist eyes Kiribati for Romanov revival

Anton Bakov, a businessman and the founder of Russia's Monarchist Party, said the project involved setting up the capital on Malden Island, where he planned to build hotels.

The proposed empire also included Caroline Island and Starbuck Island.

Mr Bakov, who used to be a parliamentarian, visited Kiribati last year, and claimed the government had approved the establishment of the empire on its territory.

He has reportedly also been in talks with Montenegro to get land for a royal state.

Kiribati makes progress on preventing cervical cancer

This is according to New Zealand gynecologist, Dave Peddie, who has been travelling to Kiribati every six months since 2010 to assist local doctors.

RNZ reports Dr Peddie said with each trip he saw progress being made by local health authorities despite the significant challenges.

He said the cervical screening programme in Kiribati was about 50 percent of the way to becoming a good programme and more work needed to be done.

"They need medical technical equipment. They need the training to use it and a screening program needs coordination," he said.

Kiribati sets up shark sanctuary

RNZ reports Vice-President Kourabi Nenem  at the sanctuary's launch said that the nation was committed to protecting sharks from exploitation and overfishing.

Kiribati has banned commercial shark fishing in the sanctuary, which is about the size of India.

Palau established the region's first shark sanctuary in 2009.

The Marshall Islands and Tokelau followed suit in 2011 and a year later French Polynesia and the Cook Islands created adjacent shark sanctuaries spanning almost 4 million square kilometres of ocean.

Nauru to join Tuvalu medical students undergoing internship training in Kiribati

Health Secretary Dr Teatao Tiira told Radio Kiribati News the new cohort from Tuvalu will join their fellow trainee doctors from Tuvalu who are currently in the country undergoing a two-year internship training under the programme.

Dr Tiira says the Tuvaluan students will be joined shortly in the programme by three medical students from Nauru who are expected to arrive in the country sometimes this month.

Rescued Kiribati sea-drifters arrive in Marshalls

The group left the capital of Tarawa on the 23rd of March in a small wooden boat powered by an outboard engine and were not heard from until a Taiwanese fishing vessel picked them up several hundred miles to the south on the 18th of April.

The men - Tatika Ukenio, Boiti Tetinauiko, Bonibai Akau and Moamoa Kamwea - were last seen when they left Tarawa on the 23rd of March.

Kiribati officials probing fatal freak wave incident

Four men died instantly when a five-metre wave hit their car by the port.

The team is led by the permanent secretary of the President, Saitofi Miika.

It will spend one week on the island to find out exactly what happened and assess the extent of the damage.

Kiribati's Anote Tong to bow out of politics

Tong was first elected president by his parliamentary colleagues in 2003 and has now completed the three allowed four year terms.

Kiribati goes to the polls next week with other three former presidents, Ieremia Tabai, Teatao Teannaki and Teburoro Tito standing among more than 130 candidates.