Saturday 15 March  2008

News-in-brief
MDP delegation attend UK Conservative Party Spring Forum
Newcastle - Two senior MDP leaders, Hon. Mohamed Aslam, MP for Addu and Ameen Faisal, President of Male' regional branch, are attending the UK Conservative Party's spring conference, held in Newcastle, Gateshead from 14 - 15th of March. In addition to meeting several members of parliament, the delegation also met with front-bench officials of the Conservative party, including Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague as well as the Chairperson of the party, Caroline Spelmen. In the meeting with the Shadow Foreign Secretary, the main topic of discussion was the upcoming elections and the continued detention and intimidation of political opponents, especially MDP members. In these meetings, the conservative party further expressed their total commitment to assisting the MDP and to do all they can to ensure that the current issues are dealt with swiftly. MDP and conservative party has been closely associated since the inception of MDP in 2003 and the conservative party has been extremely forthcoming in extending their support and expertise to MDP. A senior delegation of MDP will also attend the Conservative Party conference to be held in September this year.

UN News Centre
Maldivian acquittal of opposition activist welcomed by UN rights expert
14 March 2008 – An independent United Nations human rights expert today welcomed the recent decision of a court in the Maldives to acquit an opposition party member of accusations of "causing disharmony through an unlawful assembly," saying the ruling demonstrated that the island chain was making progress towards having an independent judiciary. more

BBC News
EU agrees climate plan deadline
EU leaders have agreed to finish talks by the end of the year on an ambitious plan to fight climate change. After a two-day summit in Brussels, leaders for the 27 nations said they hoped new legislation would be enacted in early 2009. The bloc aims to implement a 20% cut in greenhouse gases by 2020, compared with 1990 levels. But EU leaders said they needed to look at the consequences for heavy industry and that could complicate negotiations. more

BBC News
Queen opens new Heathrow terminal
The Queen has officially opened Heathrow Airport's controversial Terminal 5, describing it as "a 21st Century gateway to Britain". Hundreds of airport and construction workers attended the opening ceremony. The £4.3bn terminal, set to begin operating on 27 March, will offer extra passenger capacity but no more flights. more

އޮއިދުނި
ޤައުމުގައި މިހާހާތަނަށް އުފެދުނު އެންމެބޮޑު ޙާއިނުންގެތެރޭގައި ގޮޅާބޯ ހިމެނޭނެ

Friday 14 March  2008

Maldives Royal Family

Death of a Maldive Princess: Oldest member of the Royal House of Huraagey and Hilaaly dies
The Princess Maandhoogey Tuttudon Goma died at her residence, Vaidheriyaage, in Male' on 11 March 2008 at about 9:30 am local time. She was aged 93.The Princess Tuttudon Goma was the youngest child of the Prince Maandhoogey Tuttu Manippulu who was Prince Regent, and therefore acting head of state, to his brother the Sultan Mohamed Imaduddine VI Iskander during the latter's long periods of absence from the Maldives. The Princess Tuttudon Goma did not have children but married the Prince Hassan Farid Didi, who was the de facto head of government during the reigns of the Sultans Mohamed Shamsuddine III Iskander and Hassan Nooreddine II Iskander. Hassan Farid Didi was presumed dead when His Britannic Majesty’s warship he was travelling in between Addu Atoll and Colombo was sunk in 1945 by the Imperial Japanese Navy. more

Minivan News
Prospects Of August Election Recede As Drafting Process In Disarray
Members of the constitutional drafting committee on Thursday said prospects of a presidential election in August were "unlikely", as efforts to draft the crucial chapter on transitional arrangements once again reached deadlock. Despite a demand this week by the Speaker of the Special Majlis (constitutional assembly), Gasim Ibrahim, that a draft be handed over to the assembly by Thursday, a revised draft on transition has proved as contentious as the last. more

Minivan News
17-Year-Old Girl Stabbed To Death
A young girl was murdered by a deep stab wound to the abdomen in Noonu Atoll Henbadhoo on Wednesday, following a failure by the island’s chief to inform authorities of death threats against her as early as January. Nadheema Ismail, 17, was stabbed, allegedly by Ahmed Abdul Sattar, 24, on the streets of Henbadhoo at 5:30 Wednesday evening. more

Open Society Blog
Why do young Maldivians turn to drugs?
Why do so many young Maldivians start taking drugs? Many say that young people start taking drugs at a very early age because they are so prevalent and easy to access everywhere in the Maldives. There is also lack of awareness on what will happen if you start taking drugs so many young people get into drugs without knowing what the horrors of being an addict are. This suggests that more emphasis must be placed on awareness campaigns through schools and among the community overall. more


ArabianBusiness
Emerald launches first vacation ownership property in the Maldives
The Maldives' clear sea and fine weather makes for an ideal holiday destination. UAE-based vacation ownership specialist Emerald Vacation Group is to launch the first ever vacation ownership property in the Maldives. The exclusive Turtle Cove Resort and Spa, located on a private island, will offer UAE investors the opportunity to own a unique vacation property in one of the world's top holiday destinations. Due for completion in 2009, the island has been named after its most famous marine residents, the turtles which can be found in abundance along the Maldivian coastline. more

MDP Presidential Primary
Rally and door-to-door campaigning in Fuahmulah by Anni
Fuahmulah - MDP's former chairperson, Nasheed (Anni) visited Fuahmulah yesterday and held a rally there last night. In addition, he also conducted door-to-door visits to garner support for his campaign. Also, there was a protest in the island due to beach erosion and Anni reportedly met with the protestors and inquired about their cause and supported their move to protest peacefully. view photos

Anni opens new campaign office in Hithadhoo and holds press conference
Hithadhoo - On 13 March, Anni opened a campaign office in Hithadhoo and held a press conference attended by several residents. Anni, who is contesting in the MDP presidential primary answered several questions raised by the public. Anni has been campaigning in the south for the past 4 days. view photos

އެމްޑީޕީ އިންތިޚާބު ޚަބަރު
އިންތިހާބު ކާމިޔާބު ކުރެވިއްޖެނަމަ ދާނީ އިއްތިހާދުގެ މެޒުދޮށަށް ކަމަށް އަންނި ވިދާޅުވިޅުވެއްޖެ

Thursday 13 March  2008

Island Report

Brief glimpse on HA.Dhidhdhoo

The capital of Haa Alifu which is popularly known as Dhidhdhoo has been very much neglected from all dimensions. The home of 3600 people, which was pro-government for ages recently started to undergo changes especially in politics which was something people of Dhidhdhoo never engaged in. As a habit, in the past, people of Dhidhdhoo voted for one single candidate without even wanting to think twice- an obedient community to the leaders. It was a norm in this community to say YES to the leaders and as it was taught to the people it was a crime to show opposition against the leaders. more

Minivan News
US State Department Critical On Human Rights, Reform
The state department of the US government on Tuesday released a report highlighting that “little progress” has been made on the Maldivian government's "Roadmap for the Reform Agenda". "None of the [Roadmap] bills had been passed by year's end," the new Country Report on Human Rights Practices says. more

American Chronicle
IWD 2008: Women's leadership matters globally
On March 8, 2008 women throughout the world rejoice in celebration of their freedom. There is a saying that America is a pioneer country for almost every major invention, and certainly, this holds true on March 8, 2008 when International Women´s Day is being commemorated globally. It was on this day in 1908 that 15,000 American women boldly marched through the streets of New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. Today, one hundred years on, the pertinence of this message is being honored and rejuvenated in every corner of the globe with the theme ´Shaping Progress'. A woman gives birth to man; a woman is a kind mother, a caring sister, a loving aunt, a doting grandmother, but most often a leader. more
 

Country Life

Top 5 luxury eco developments
Dotted around some of the globe's most glorious destinations are some eco-resorts that are leading the way in responsible development; Arabella Youens picks the top five. It's an uncomfortable balance of ideals: to own an escape route to unadulterated bliss in the sun whenever the urge takes hold and the niggling awareness that resort developments have a nasty habit of destroying the natural environment around them. Not to mention, by flying to them you help to pump X-thousand cubic metres of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. more

ރުނޑިންގެ ވަނަވަރު މުރާޖައާ (+18)
ޒުހުރިއްކުއްދާއަކީ ބީއޭ ފެންވަރުގެ ޖާނަލިސްޓެކޯ އަދި ގޮރިއްލާ ހަގުރާމައިގެ އިންސްޓްރަކްޓަރެކޯ؟

Wednesday 12 March  2008

News

Maldivian students in Mysore left destitute due to negligence by Education Ministry
Mysore – More than 26 students reading for Masters in Education in Mysore, India are reportedly struggling very hard. According to our sources, the Education Ministry is not providing them the required stipend. "They give us only 260 dollars a month, when the standard amount in 360 dollars. They have done this saying that we are on a staff development program. In addition to this, we were also supposed to be given 400 dollars as establishment allowance, 100 dollars as book allowance and 60 dollars as departure allowance, but so far none of these payments have been made to us", a student explained. "We are on a 18 month course and only four months remain now but we are really finding it hard to cope. We have even written to the Education Ministry and even to the President but so far no response. Many of us are married and have kids. We are forced to borrow money from friends and family to make ends meet. This is totally outrageous. We feel we are completely neglected by this government", he added further.

Local News
MDP Primary - Anni campaigning in Addu
Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) campaign in the MDP primary was launched in Male' on 8th March. Anni is currently in Addu Atoll, where he held a special meeting on 10th March in Hithadhoo, at Seenu Atoll Education Center. He also held a press conference this on the 11th in Feydhoo. Photo Album

Maldives Medical Watch
Several doctors at IGMH fall sick, few admitted and several OPDs cancelled
In an apparent food poisoning caused by eating food at a party held at IGMH, several Maldivian and Foreign doctors working at IGMH have fallen sick today. Several doctors, more than 20 according to information received from IGMH public relations counter, were absent from work today due to diarrhea, abdominal pains and high grade fever. We have received reports that a few of the doctors were admitted temporarily in the emergency room with severe dehydration and abdominal cramps last night and this morning. more

Minivan News
Sentencing In Absentia Suspended For Criminal Cases
The practice of sentencing suspects not present at the court has been suspended in criminal cases pending new regulations, the Ministry of Justice announced on Tuesday. more

Bluepeace Blog
When groundwater turns deadly
The sad deaths of five young men in a well in Male' Fish Market on 3 March 2008 (Youth Day in the Maldives) shocked the people of the Maldives and have raised concerns about the safety of the use of groundwater in Male'. Those young men had been in the process of drilling boreholes in the well to increase the water level, because the well dried up easily. The well was used as the main source of water for cleaning fish and washing the floor of Fish Market in Male'. more

އަންނި ކޭމްޕް - ނޫސް ބަޔާން
އެމްޑީޕީގެ ތަމްހީދީ އިންތިހާބަށް ފަލީތާލުމަށް ޑީއާރުޕީން ކުރާ މަސައްކަތް ހުއްޓާލާ!

 ކަރާޝިބު ރިޕޯޓު
އަލީ ޙާޝިމް (ބޮޑުކަޓޭ) (އަމޭން ފޯ އޯލް ޔުނިޓް) ގެ ކިބައިން މާލޭ ބައިނަލް އަގުވާމީ ވައިގެ ބަނދަރު ސަލާމަތް ކުރަންޖެހިފައި

ސިވިލް ސާވިސް ކަމިޝަން އޮޅާލުމުގެ ބިލް
ބަލަގަ އަދި މި ގާނޫނު ހަދައިގެން އެޔަށް އަމަލުވެސް ނުކުރެވި އުޅެނިކޮށް މިއޮތީ އިސްލާހު ކުރަން ޖެހިފަ... ދެނޯ؟  މިވަރުގެ ރުނޑިޔަކަށް ކޮން ގާނޫނު އަސާސީޔެއް އިސްލާހު ކުރެވޭނީ... ކޮން ޑެމޮކްރަސީޔެއް ގެނެވޭނީ؟ އަސްލު ވާ ގޮތަކީ މި ބިލު ގޮޅާ ބޭނުންގޮތަށް ބަދަލު ނުކޮއްފިއްޔާ މީނަ އިންތިޚާބުގަ އޮޅުވާލަން އަނބުރާ ގޭސްގަނޑެއް ނޭނބުރޭނެ... އެހެންވެ މަރަށްތެޅޭ މަހެއްހެން އެ ތެޅެނީ... ތިރީގައިވާ ފަރާތްތަކެއް ސިވިލްސާވިސް ކަމިޝަނަކު ނުހިމެނޭނެޔޯ... ކިޔާފަ ހަ، ށަ، ނަ، ރަ، ބަ، ޅަ، މިހެންގޮސް ޕަވިޔަނިޔާ ހަމަޔަށް އެއޮތީ ނުހިމެނޭގޮތަށް... ހިމެނޭނީ ޖަ، ޗަ އެކަނިޔޯ... މިހާރު ދެން ސިވިލް ސާވިސް ކޮމިޝަނާ ހަވާލުވާނީ ކާތިބުންނާ، ޕިޔޯނުންނާ، މަސައްކަތުމީހުން އެކަނި...  ގޮޅާބޯ ހުށަހެޅި ބިލް ކިޔާލަބަލަ! ވަރަށް ސަޅިޔޭ!

Tuesday 11 March  2008

Editorial

BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST
The tale of a megalomaniac

It was the mid 1980s. On a cold and frosty day in London, Dictator Gayyoom and his entourage descended from his brother-in-law's penthouse in the West End. He was on his way for a shopping spree. When he stepped outside, to his total chagrin, he realised that the Rolls Royce Silver Spur parked nearby was not his transport. He demanded to know why his car was "just a Mercedes" while there was a bigger and a more expensive car around? This was a time when people still believed that Gayyoom was a humble and a modest man. Yet the incident turned out to be a brief glimpse of what was to come; a fleeting insight into the megalomaniac he really is. more

Letters to the Editor

Re: Safety and Corruption in Fuel Services Unit of Maldives Airports Company
I am writing in regards to the article published on Dhivehi Observer under the headline "Safety Issues and Corruption in Fuel Services Unit, Maldives Airports Company", by Hassan Hameed, about the corruption charges against Mr. Mohamed Niyaz. I am senior staff at Island Aviation and I chose to give a few details about this matter. What I am writing to you is just my personal view and does not in any way reflect the stance of island Aviation in this matter. I do feel it crucial to raise this matter and bring this serious issue to attention of the government and also to the awareness of the public as this is an issue that should not go unaddressed. more

Minivan News
Civil Service Exclusions Brought Forward
The president of the Maldives has moved to immediately exclude institutions such as the Maldives Police Service and Customs Service, as well as cabinet ministers and their deputies, atoll and island chiefs, from the ambit of the civil service shortly to become independent. more

Minivan News
Parliament Summons Police Commissioner Over Detainees
Commissioner of Police Adam Zahir has been summoned by the People’s Majlis (parliament) to provide evidence to a parliamentary committee about conditions in police detention. It is the first time the committee – which was set up in 2005 after the death of Muaviath Mahmood in police custody to investigate detainee mistreatment – has led an investigation involving evidence from individuals, though it is unclear what Zahir will be asked to testify about. more

The Golden Gate Awards
And the winners are… Maldives gets 'Diamond Award'
BERLIN (eTN) – This year's edition of the eTurboNews-sponsored Das Godene Stadttor (The Golden Gate) has been the biggest so far and the awards ceremony was a rousing success, with Egypt bagging the coveted "Best in Online Advertising" award. Das Goldene Stadttor's "Diamond Award" went to Maldives' "Recharge Your World" entry. more

ޚާއްސަ އިންޓަރވިއު
"ތިރީސްއަހަރު ވެރިކަންކުރަމުންދާ ސަރުކާރެއް އޮވެ، މިހާރު ހުންނެވި ވެރިމީހާ ރައީސްކަމަށް ކުރިމަތިލައްވާނަމަ.. މިނިވަން އިންތިޚާބެއް ނުބޭއްވޭނެ.. އިންތިޤާލީ ސަރުކާރެއް ބޭނުންވަނީ
އެހެންވެގެން" - ނަފާ ނަސީމު

މެންބަރުންގެ ގަލަން
މިނިވަން ވޯޓުލުމުގައި ސެންކޯގެ ތަޞައްވަރު

Monday 10 March  2008

Local Report
Safety Issues and Corruption in Fuel Services Unit, Maldives Airports Company
There is a growing concern over the safety and ergonomics of the environment in which the employees of Fuel Services Unit of Male' International Airport have to work. FSU is run by the so-called Chief Fuel Services Mr.Mohamed Niyaz - a relative of Jangiyaa Nazim. more

TTG News
Credit squeeze fails to dampen demand for luxury
Luxury tour operators have given an upbeat assessment of the market, saying current economic worries have had little effect on demand. Caribtours and Private Travel Company managing director Paul Cleary said both companies had been "unexpectedly busy". One group booking from an agent for the One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives was worth close to £80,000. more

Minivan News
TVM: Watching The Revolution
It's a sweltering Thursday morning in the Maldives, and I find myself in a huge, dimly lit room, watching videos of blizzards from a Canadian local news programme. Despite the incongruous setting, the audience of young Maldivian newscasters is engrossed - analysing the newsreader’s performance, her appearance, her speech, and the story she has put together. more
 

BBC News
Election setback for Malaysia PM
The ruling coalition in Malaysia has suffered its worst election result in decades by winning only a simple majority, say election officials. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition lost its two thirds parliamentary majority and control of five state assemblies. more

އެޑިޓޯރިއަލް
ތިޔަބައިމީހުން ވެރިއަކު ހޮވާއިރު

އަތޮޅު ރިޕޯޓް
ހާލަތު ގޯހުން ގޯހަށްދާއިރުވެސް މެނޭޖްމަންޓް ބަދަލުކުރުމަށް ހެލްތް މިނިސްޓްރީއަށް ނުކުޅެދިފައި! 30 އަހަރު ދުވަހުން ގެނެވުނު ތަރައްޤީ އަކީ ކަރަޕްސަނާއި، މިފަދަ ވިގަނި މެނޭޖަރުންނާއި ހޮސްޕިޓަލްތައް ހަވާލްކުރުން!  

ސަންދާނު 83 ވަނަ އަދަދު މިއަދު ނިކުންނަނީ

Sunday 9 March  2008

News Review

National Day and Our Freedom

As we mark the occasion of the National Day, which commemorates Mohamed Thakurufaanu's victory over the invading Portuguese forces, it is imperative that we re-focus on what we achieved that day - that is freedom after years of being enslaved by one ruler, Andhiri Andhirin. Whether the actual story is myth, legend or truth, what we must not forget is that to be free is a fundamental right of all human beings. And we need to be free from the brutal regime of Dictator Gayoom who has tortured, maimed and killed his own people. The story goes that Andhiri Andhirin was a bloodthirsty tyrant. However, we cannot just relegate his memory to ancient history because tragically we have a similar leader today. The actions of Dictator Gayyoom would probably make the deeds of Andhiri Andhiri look like child's play. more

Minivan News
Anni Launches "Good Life" Campaign
Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) on Friday launched his campaign for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential nomination. But he appeared to avoid mention of the presidency, instead prioritising the issue of a joint candidate to unite the opposition. more
 

Saturday 8 March  2008

Health News
FDA Warning: Think Before You Botox
A while back, remember how Botox injections were approved to help with excessive sweating? Well you may want to put a hold on using Botox for anything, because the FDA has issued a warning against Botox, since 16 deaths have been reportedly caused by it. more

Echoes in Exile
Treks thru' the Tibetan Mindscape Dictators Don't Die Of Old Age..
DICTATOR’S don't die of old age, Physical ailments or in their dreams. They die instead, of perpetual Anxieties and unendurable fears. Of imaginary enemies And ruinously uncertain times,
A karmic product Of their own unconquerable hatred. more

Straits Times
Reef fish get lost as climate changes
SYDNEY - CLIMATE change might be causing reef fish to get lost, unable to return to breeding grounds from the open ocean, which could have profound implications for the survival of reef ecosystems, Australian scientists say. Climate change-induced environmental stress, including warmer and more acidic seawater, could be hindering the development of the ear bones in young reef fish, which rely on sound for navigation, the marine experts said on Friday. more

Friday 7 March  2008

IANS

Mammoth rise in drug abuse among Maldives youths: UN
New Delhi, March 5 (IANS) In the past three years the percentage of injecting drug abusers in Maldives has increased from eight percent to 23 percent, involving 20 percent of men below the age of 20, says a UN report released here Wednesday. "The percentage of Maldivian drug abusers who have injected drugs increased from 8 percent in 2003 to 29 percent in 2006," a report prepared by International Narcotics Control Board said. more

Maldives Medical Watch Forum
Baby dies at IGMH operating theatre following birth by C-section
A baby delivered by a preplanned C-section at IGMH has today died inside the operating theater. According to our sources within IGMH operating room, the baby was delivered in a pre-planned "elective" C section at around 8:30 am on 6th March 2008. The pediatrician on "on-call" duty, a recently joined senior pediatrician from India Dr Bhagwat failed to attend the delivery despite being informed on time by Obstetric surgeon (because of Thick Meconeum in Amniotic fluid, a name given to situation where baby passes stools inside the womb). more

Minivan News
Decision On Alliance Candidate Postponed
The largest opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) will delay a decision on whether to support a joint presidential candidate from the National Unity Alliance until after the April 25 vote for the party candidacy. Dr Ahmed Shaheed, former foreign minister and spokesman for the Alliance – which encompasses five opposition political groups – has said the MDP's decision means the whole Alliance will put the issue on hold. more

Thursday 6 March  2008

YouTube
Robert Evans speaks about elections in Pakistan and the upcoming ones in the regions including Maldives
Member of the European Parliament, Robert Evans speak about the recent elections in Pakistan, highlighting that despite irregularities, the opposition was able to defeat Musharraf. However, Mr. Evans believes that had there been no irregularities then the opposition would have secured more seats. Regarding Maldives, he said they expect Gayyoom not to interfere with the elections and that the people of Maldives should be able to choose their own leader in a free and fair election. He said that they will be observing and monitoring this important election in the Maldives. watch the interview

Minivan News
Ministries Deny Responsibility On Well Death Safety Failures
Since the deaths of five young men in a Male' well this Monday, shocked residents of both the capital and Thaa atoll Dhiyamigili - home to all the victims - have raised the question of responsibility for the deaths. more

BBC News
State 'sanctioned' Kenyan clashes
The BBC has learnt of allegations of state-sanctioned violence in Kenya during the turmoil that followed last December's disputed presidential poll. Sources allege that meetings were hosted at the official residence of the president between the banned Mungiki militia and senior government figures. more

Wednesday 5 March  2008

Minivan News
Record Medical Negligence Lawsuit Over Deaf Child
The parents of a three-year-old girl who became deaf after a series of antibiotic injections at Thinadhoo Regional Hospital are suing the Ministry of Health for a record Rf 7.1 million. A Male' doctor and several overseas paediatricians have told them the antibiotic was inappropriate in her case and was probably the cause of her hearing loss. more


World's Best Airports
Asian airports top world's best airports list
(eTN) – The top spots of the Airports Council International (ACI)'s worldwide "Best Airport Worldwide Quality Survey (ASQ)" appraisal for 2007 Asian airports has awarded the top three spots for world's best airports to Seoul Incheon (serving 25-49 million passengers annually) in South Korea, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (15-25 million) in Malaysia, respectively. Singapore comes third (25-49 million). more

Tuesday 4 March  2008

Local News

MDP Nominations Close
Nominations for MDP presidential candidate primary close
Nominations closed yesterday for the position of MDP's presidential candidate primary as well as for the vacant Chairperson's post. Three leaders are contesting in the presidential candidate primary, MDP President Dr. Mohamed Munavvar, former MDP chairperson and founding member Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) and member of MDP's parliamentary group Reeko Moosa Manik. Contenders for the post of chairperson have not been revealed but sources in MDP say that Mariya Didi, MP for Male' Atoll and Ismailbe', one of the oldest members of the party will contest. Both the ballots will take place on April 25th. Nominated names will be officially announce today. However, fierce campaigning is already going on for the presidential candidate primary, especially between the Anni and Munavvar's camp.

Reader's Review

NNCB : From bad to worse! It's time to "WAKE UP!"

How concerned are we about substance abuse? Past years we have seen a growth in community's voice for drastic measures to combat drug abuse. From increasing NGO's voicing out and even some political leaders are calling for death penalty for drug smugglers. But how concerned is the government on this matter? To analyze the situation better I traced back to an article I wrote two and half years ago. It's been a long time since then but did anything get better? Here are the ending words I left on it. more

Stuff Report
Sinking Pacific atolls 'may be abandoned in a generation'
A leading coral atoll expert has called on the Australian federal government to fund more research into rising sea levels to fully assess the threat to island nations. University of Queensland archaeologist Dr Marshall Weisler has been studying the effects of rising seas on the central Pacific islands of Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, as well as the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. more

   ގޮނުއަނގަ ރިޕޯޓް
ގޮޅާބޯގެ ދަނބިކޮޔަށްޓަކައި ޅ. އަތޮޅު ރައްޔިތުން ގުރުބާންކުރަންވެސް ގޮޅާބޯ ފަހަކަށް ނުޖެހޭނެ

Monday 3 March  2008

Breaking News

more photos

Major incident in Male' Fish Market - Four people possibly dead

Male' - 04:30- Local reports say that a total of 5 people are in fact declared dead in relation to the incident.

Male' - 02:30 - Reports are coming that more than 4 people might be trapped inside a junction in Male' Fish Market. According to sources in the area, four people are unaccounted for, who went down the junction on a routine clean up operation. The source said that it took more than an hour for the police to arrive at the scene and that a policeman has just gone inside as well. There are reports that the first four people who went into the place are already dead.

Editorial

How to choose your leader?

There is no doubt that the politics in the Maldives is going through a complete face-lift since the introduction of multi-party system in 2005. Contrary to the old ways, we now have a say in who should lead our respective parties and eventually who should lead the nation. Of course, the Dictator will try his best to rig the elections but even that chance is now limited. In any case, it would be difficult for him to conduct it on the same scale as in the past. more

News Review

Sultan Golhaabo I, Siri Dhonfoodu Botoxwantha Dementhanavi Raudhamapi Golhaaradhun

Sultan Golhaabo I, Siri Dhonfoodu Botoxwantha Dementhanavi Raudhamapi Golhaaradhun, has a certain imperial ring to it. Or so he must have thought when the Dictator started reviving age-old royal traditions that have been relegated to the annals of Maldivian history for decades.  more

Minivan News
Journalists Silenced At International Briefing On Reform Agenda
Key ministers from the Maldivian government, including the ministers for Justice, Information and Legal Reform, Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General, held a briefing for diplomats on Sunday on the progress of the government's reform agenda. more

WWF
Wildlife, habitats and threats: Sharks
There are an estimated 400 species of shark and new ones are being discovered every year. About 100 are commercially traded, and only 12 are considered dangerous to humans. Not all sharks are carnivorous: in fact the two largest; the whale shark (which can grow as long as 20 metres) and the basking shark; survive on krill and plankton. more

Sunday 2 March  2008

News Review

Environment Ministry, Chief of Protocol and Corruption - Round 4

It appears to be the Round Four of the Corruption Cycle involving the Environment Ministry, Chief of Protocol Ahmed Rasheed and the determination to stop anything being built in H. Ameeneege at any cost. This is irrespective of the fact that this hotel would feed several poor Maldivian families by providing employment to local people. Now that the Environment Ministry has once again given the go-ahead to start the piling activities, the campaign to stop it seems to have begun with a vengeance. All this seems to be mainly directed at protecting one family and that is of the Chief of Protocol, Ahmed Rasheed. This is primarily because the palace where he lives, H.Athiriveli (his wife owns several other houses), is built adjacent to the Asters building and with the windows facing east, towards Ameeneege. So he does not want his view blocked by a big building there. more

Bluepeace Blog
Thilafushi: Toxic bomb in the Ocean
Thilafushi was originally a lagoon called 'Thilafalhu', with a length of 7 km and a width of 200 metres at the shallowest regions, situated a few kilometers from Male’. Reclamation of Thilafalhu started on 7 January 1992, in order to solve the problem of garbage generated in Male'. Thilafushi waste disposal centre was initially started as the main waste disposal centre for Male’. Presently waste from nearby atolls and resorts are also disposed there. more

Minivan News
New Jail For Juveniles To Be Built In Male' Area
A new juvenile prison will be built in the Male' area to hold about 100 serious or repeat offenders under the age of 18, the home ministry has announced. Meanwhile three more prisons have been promised to help combat the shortage in prison capacity – but no specific detail has been provided, such as any budget or timeframe for construction. more

Forum Asia

Suharto dies, impunity lives
For most Asian dictators, death seems to be the most convenient escape route out of prosecution for past misdeed. Upon their deaths, they are honoured instead for the “positive developments” they brought to their countries. It was no different for Indonesia when former President Suharto died on 27 January 2008 at the age of 86: he was buried in a state funeral, with all the pomp and glory befitting a great leader and hero. But was Suharto a great leader and a hero to the people of Indonesia? What does his death mean to Indonesia and to the whole of Asia? more

 

Saturday 1 March  2008

Local News
Dictator promotes his brother-in-law Abbas to Minister rank
Male' - As part of the on-going promotion spree by the Maldives Dictator, Abbas Ibrahim, President of the National Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research, was promoted to the rank of Minister on Wednesday. Abbas, a brother in law of the Dictator, was demoted from ministerial position after he fell out of favour and has been lurking around since at the Linguistic Centre since for more than 10 years. Earlier he held cabinet posts such as Fisheries and Agriculture Minister as well as Minster for Presidential Affairs. On 9th February, the Dictator increased salaries of minister, deputies and state ministers and have been going wild promoting his cronies to the ranks. In addition to the hefty pay package of a minister rank official, Abbas will also get more than 25,000 for being a member of both parliament and the constitutional assembly. This is the Dictator paying his cronies handsomely ahead of the presidential election this year. Abbas is an infamous pyromaniac who ran a long campaign in the capital in the 90s, torching several properties, on the orders of the Dictator.


MDP Press
Opposition boycotts opening of parliament as Gayoom touts mega projects
Making his policy speech for a year of unprecedented political transition and elections in which he himself is contesting, President Gayoom highlighted that his current priority was to attract foreign investment into the country to implement mega projects. He urged the People's Majlis (parliament) and the people to cooperate with the Government to fulfill this goal. more


MDP Press
Panel proposes interim period of 01 April to 22 September 2008 for transition to Draft Constitution
The Drafting Panel of the Peoples Special Majlis (Constitutional Assembly) has proposed the interim period from 01April to 22 September 2008 for the transition to the Draft Constitution now in the final stages of completion. The proposal is being debated in Committee to set a table of activities for the interim period. more

Maldives Madical Watch
Accident or negligence?
We have just received news from a family member of a patient admitted in newborn ICU at IGMH about a terrible accident (?) that has befallen their loved one yesterday. This was a baby who was admitted along with his twin sister 4 days earlier because of premature birth. Family source tells us that baby was reportedly doing very well when something terrible happened. more

BBC News
Mugabe dubs poll rivals 'witches'
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has launched his re-election campaign by calling the opposition a group of "witches, prostitutes and charlatans". He told supporters in Harare that he was certain of victory in next month's presidential and parliamentary polls. Mr Mugabe also called his rivals "traitors and two-headed creatures". more

Press Statement
FORUM-ASIA urges Asian governments to abolish the death penalty
In conjunction with International Death Penalty Abolition Day on 1 March, FORUM-ASIA joins all human rights organisations and defenders worldwide to remind the governments in Asia to respect their citizen's right to life by abolishing the death penalty. more

 

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