Saturday 15
November 2008
Economics
Novels 'better
at explaining world's problems than reports'
Novels should
be required reading because fiction "does
not compromise on complexity, politics or
readability in the way that academic
literature sometimes does," said Dr Dennis
Rodgers from Manchester University's Brooks
World Poverty Institute.
He said: "Despite the regular flow of
academic studies, expert reports, and policy
position papers, it is arguably novelists
who do as good a job – if not a better one –
of representing and communicating the
realities of international development.
more
Science
Scientists
Determine the Fishiest Election Ever
'Some fish
spot the best choice early on, although
others may make a mistake and go the wrong
way,' said researcher David Sumpter of
Uppsala University in Sweden. 'The remaining
fish assess how many have gone in particular
directions. If the number going in one
direction outweighs those going the other
way, then the undecided fish follow in the
direction of the majority.
more
International - Truth and Reconciliation
South Korea
owns up to brutal past
Photo: Mass murder
of South Koreans at Taejon
The commission
is the legacy of Roh Moo-hyun, the former
human rights lawyer and political liberal
who was South Korea's president for five
years until February. It was set up in
December 2005, and operates with a staff of
240 and a budget of $US19 million a year,
with the daunting task of opening up a
century of hidden history. This covers the
Korean resistance to the 1910-45 Japanese
annexation of the country, political
oppression during the postwar occupation
when the Americans and Russians set up rival
regimes in their zones, the Korean War, and
the succession of right-wing and military
dictatorships that lasted in South Korea
until the late 1980s.
more
Thursday
13 November 2008
Indian Ocean
Displaced Chagos
Islanders suffer a Litany of Losses
The US-British agreement that created the Diego
Garcia base in 1966 gave each party a veto on who is allowed on to the islands,
and it is the US that has been exercising its veto behind the scenes throughout
this whole ugly episode... Diego Garcia is an American base, and it is really
the US State Department that is denying the Chagossians the right to go home...
more
News Review
DRP takes the
issue of the 8 Presidential MPs to the Supreme
Court
The DRP has
decided to take the issue of the 8 Presidential
MPs to the Supreme Court. While for most people
it seems ironic and in some ways downright
stupid, the 8 nominees by the former President
Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom has decided that the
current President HE Mohamed Nasheed's decision
to nominate 8 new people as their replacement is
unconstitutional; irrespective of the fact that
the Gayyoom himself has changed the people to
represent him at regular intervals when he was
the President. It seems to be a pretty desperate
act by the likes of Lubna Zahir Hussain and
Mahloof among others to protest against their
dismissal by President Nasheed. Perhaps they are
deluded into believing that the DRP is also part
of this Wathan Edhey Gothah Coalition that has
formed the government and therefore they ought
to represent President Nasheed. However, most
political analysts believe that it is nothing
but pure greed. "They also know that the MPs are
representing the incumbent President. There is
no way DRP members could represent the incumbent
President H.E. Mohamed Nasheed. This is nothing
but a greed-driven court case. They do not want
to lose the money and the privileges associated
with being a Member of Parliament". It appears
that corruption from the old Dictatorship is
still trying to rear its ugly head in the new
democratic Maldives.
OUR WARMEST
CONGRATULATIONS TO H.E. MOHAMED NASHEED,
PRESIDENT OF THE MALDIVES
Power to the
people!
News Review
Gayyoom says Sorry
to the people of Maldives
Dictator Gayoom
has bid farewell to the people of Maldives. In
his farewell address to the nation, for the
first time in 30 years, the Dictator asked the
people of Maldives for their forgiveness for any
acts on his part that may have caused grievances
to them. He stated that he regrets any
grievances that may be felt by anyone due to his
policies, or because of his actions, and he
asked for their forgiveness. However it remains
to be seen whether the hundreds of people who
had been tortured under his regime and the
families of those who have been killed in
custody are willing to forgive him that easily.
Continued
Minivan
News - Recent Business-related articles
MDP Coalition
Seeks Assistance From International Financial
Bodies
It comes at a time
when Maldives is suffering from an economic
crisis, reflected by a slump in foreign
reserves and 30% budget deficit... 'We are
in touch with World Bank, International Monetary
Fund, Asian Development Bank,” Ibrahim Hussein
Zaki said. “They will be fielding a mission here
before end of November to look at our economy to
see what kind of assistance they can offer to
overcome the current difficulties.'
more
Anni Pledges
'Business Friendly' Government
'Due to the nature
of the existing government contracts, there is
no room for land ownership for
businesses…Without the full land ownership they
cannot run the businesses in their full
capacity,' he said... land ownership would
'benefit the people'... under his government he
would encourage private ownership.
But he also
stressed workers' rights, saying:
'We will not
for a minute forget peoples and workers rights.
Within the legal system and through laws those
rights will be given to the people.'
more
Seven Manufaru
Resort Employees Fired After Strike
The resort is
owned by Sun Travel, a company headed by
Ahmed Shiyam, a vice president of the ruling
Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP).
One of the employees told Minivan News that
resort managers had said they did not have to
follow Maldivian law and told him to leave,
after staff stopped work from 6am on Sunday.
more
The world's most intelligent fish - he plays
football, basketball and even limbo dances
Comet the
goldfish has been trained by his owner to
perform an astonishing range of aquatic
activities on demand...
more
Sunday 9
November 2008
Breaking News
New cabinet
announced
The
new cabinet posts for the government of incoming
President Mohamed Nasheed have just been
announced:
Minister of
Home Affairs: Qasim Ibrahim
Minister of Finance and Treasury: Ali Hashim
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Dr. Ahmed Shaheed
Minister of Health and Family: Dr. Aminath
Jameel
Minister of Defence and National Security: Amin
Faisal
Minister of Education: Dr. Mustafa Lutfi
Attorney-General: Diyana Saeed
Minister of Economic Development: Mohamed
Rasheed
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture: Dr. Ahmed
Ali Sawad
Minister of Human Resources, Youth and Sports:
Hassan Latheef
Minister of Housing,
Transport and Environment: Mohamed Aslam
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries: Dr.
Ibrahim Didi
Minister of Civil Aviation and Communication:
Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed
Minister of Islamic Affairs: Dr. Abdul Majeed
Abdul Bari
DO exclusive
English translation
Maldives
President's Office Audit Report 2007-8
Between 2002
and 2005, at different times a total of Rf
7.2 million ($US 565,000) from the
President’s Office budget and fund accounts
were handed in cash to two senior
officers of the Defence Ministry. Rf 6.3
million ($US 494,000) of this money
was given for 'a special government
purpose'.....There is no other written
record of this money in the President’s
Office. There is no way of determining what
the required outcome was to be, and if it
achieved that outcome. Therefore there is no
benefit for the public from Rf 7.2 million
given to the two officers of the Defence
Ministry.
more
Saturday 8
November 2008
News Review
DO Editor in Chief arrives in the Maldives
The Editor-in-Chief of the Dhivehi Observer, Sappe
and his family arrived in the Maldives today after nearly 5 years in exile. He
was warmly received by a huge crowd of well-wishers and family members who were
at the airport to welcome him home. A large crowd was also gathered in Male'
near the jetty. Sappe was also interviewed by independent TV and radio networks
in the Maldives.
Photos available here.
Golhaabo's Shame
Government
Misused Tsunami Aid: Parliament Report
Minivan
News
Shareef called
for an audit of the National Disaster
Management Center saying, "In my atoll they
have taken cash and written down Rf 500 with
a pencil. They made the people sign and gave
them RF 500 and later erased it and wrote Rf
3000, Rf 3500 or Rf 4500," he said.
more
Maldivian Technology Blog
MvTechies -
Leading Techies
Twitter Synch
plugin [4 yahoo] and preview of Windows 7...
wotchaw8tin4
clique here
BBC Science News
Only 50 years
left for sea fish
'Unless we
fundamentally change the way we manage all
the ocean species together, as working
ecosystems, then this century is the last
century of wild seafood.'
more
Curries too cute to eat?
Save
the sea kittens!
Silly idea,
but the 'Create Your Own Sea Kitten' link is
fun.
more
Photo
Gallery: Take a Break 21st-Century Style
Underwater
golf courses - snuggling into a waterfall -
shark infested bedroom views...
large photos
Where's
Europe's Obama?
Europe's
euphoria at Barack Obama's election has
given way to a worm of self-doubt. America
may now have its first-ever black president,
but which European nation could elect a
leader from one of its own ethnic
minorities?
more
Waiting for
the Next Tsunami
German
scientists have designed a tsunami early
warning system for the Indian Ocean. The
project aims to protect Indonesians by
giving them enough time to escape the
danger. The ultimate goal is speed.
more
Friday 7
November 2008
DO News
DO
Editor Sappe’ returning home tomorrow
The Editor in Chief of Dhivehi Observer, Ahmed
Moosa (Sappe’) is returning to the Maldives tomorrow, Saturday 8th November,
after more than 5 years in exile. Sappe’ left the Maldives in October 2003 after
giving a critical interview to the BBC in the aftermath of the killings and
shootings of inmates in Maafushi Jail the month before, in which several of them
were killed, including Evan Naseem and Abdulla Ameen. Since then he has been a
vocal critic of the outgoing Dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom and Dhivehi
Observer, which he founded in early 2004, has been instrumental in the reform
movement which brought an end to the 30 years of dictatorship.
more
Thursday 6
November 2008
Minivan News
"I
Will Take Gayoom To Court": Mariyam Manike
The mother of nineteen-year old Evan Naseem, who was tortured to death by
security forces in 2003, says she will take legal action against President
Gayoom and the Police Commissioner for the murder.“I will take [Police
Commissioner] Adam Zahir to court. I will also take [President] Maumoon to
court,” she told Minivan News. “I will never forgive any of the people who
killed my son”.
read & comment
ޖަޒީރާ
އާ ރައީސަށްވުރެ ބާ ރައީސަށް ލިބޭ އިނާޔަތާއި ހިމާޔަތް ބޮޑުވަނީ ކީއްވެ؟
ހާމަ
ޗައިނާ ސަރުކާރުން ދިވެހިންނަށް 25 ހާސް ގެ އިމާރާތްކޮށްދިނުމާ ބެހޭ ލިޔުމެއް
އެމްޑީޕީ އިއްތިހާދަށް ހުށަހަޅައިފި
Wednesday 5
November 2008
BBC
Obama
wins historic US election
Democratic Senator Barack Obama has been elected the first black president of
the United States. "It's been a long time coming, but tonight... change has come
to America," the president-elect told a jubilant crowd at a victory rally in
Chicago. His rival John McCain accepted defeat, saying "I deeply admire and
commend" Mr Obama. He called on his supporters to lend the next president their
goodwill.
more
Tuesday 4
November 2008
INTERVIEW Reuters
Maldives
president-elect wants private investment
MALE, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The Maldives' president-elect said on Monday he will
open up public enterprises to foreign investors to help create more sustainable
revenue for the tourism-dependent Indian Ocean archipelago. Mohamed Nasheed, 41,
a longtime political prisoner of the man he defeated, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said
he would also conduct a review of people in prison to decide whether they should
stay behind bars.
more
Minivan News
20
Years On: Remembering The 1988 Coup Attempt
Shauna Aminath On 3 November 1988, Maldivians in the capital, Male’, woke up to
gunshots after a group of Sri Lankan mercenaries attacked the island in an
attempted coup, which resulted in 19 deaths.
more
Monday 3 November 2008
Press Release
UK
welcomes the change of government in the
Maldives
In an official statement from the Foreign &
Commonwealth Office, Minister Lord Malloch-Brown welcomed the change of
government in the Maldives and congratulated the President-elect Mohamed Nasheed
wishing his administration success. The statement also expressed support from
the UK for the continuation of the reform process.
more
Photo News
Addu
celebrates the new dawn of democracy
The people of Addu in the South of the Maldives voted heavily in favour of
change and are known to be one of the strongholds for the reformists besides the
capital island, Male'. Since the results of the presidential election was
announced, there have been several events held across the Atoll. Here are some
of the pictures from these events.
view photos
Photo News
Velidhoo
celebrating democracy
A special march was held in N. Velidhoo yesterday to celebrate the victory of
the Wathan Edhey Gothah coalition, which brought an end to three decades of
torture and oppression under Dictator Gayyoom. The march was held peacefully in
the afternoon followed by a big feast in the evening organised by the women of
the island.
view photos
ޚަބަރު
މުރާޖައާ
ބޮޑެތި ޤުރުބާނީ ތަކާއެކު، ޤައުމު އަނބުރާ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް
ހާމަ
އިންތިޤާލީ އޮޑި ހަލުވާލަން ޑީއާރްޕީން ބޭނުންނަމަ ކުރިން އަންގާލުމަށް އިބްރާހިމް
ޙުސައިން ޒަކީ ގޮވާލައްވައިފި
ހާމަ
ބާއޮޑި ފައްތާލާ، އާއޮޑި ދުއްވުން
Sunday 2
November
2008
AP Pakistan
President
Zardari greets President-elect of Maldives
ISLAMABAD, Nov 1 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari has extended felicitation to
President-elect of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed on the success of his election. In
his message to Mohamed Nasheed, President Zardari said, “It is a matter of great
pleasure to extend to your Excellency my heartiest felicitations on your
election as the President of the Republic of Maldives.”
more
AP Pakistan
PM
Gilani congratulates President-elect of Maldives
ISLAMABAD, Nov 1 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf
Raza Gilani congratulated President-elect of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed on his
election as President. Prime Minister Gilani in his message to Mohamed Nasheed
said, “On behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, I would like to
extend to your Excellency my heartiest congratulations on your election as
President of the Republic of Maldives.”
more
ޖަޒީރާ
ނަޝީދު ތީމުގޭގައި ދިރި ނޫޅުއްވާނެކަމަށް ޒަކީ
ވިދާޅުވެއްޖެ
ޖަޒީރާ
ބަޔަކު ވަޅިން ހަމަލަދީ ޒަޚަމްކޮށްލި ޝަނީދު
ސްރީލަންކާގައި ފަރުވާދެމުން ދަނިކޮށް ނިޔާވެއްޖެ
Saturday 1
November
2008
Breaking News
Mohamed
Nasheed declared winner of Presidential Election by Election Commission
officially
Male' - 21:00 - Mohamed Nasheed, of the Maldivian
Democratic Party Alliance has been formally declared as the winner of the 2nd
round of the Presidential Election held on 28th October 2008. The final official
results were announced by the Election Commission as Mohamed Nasheed getting
97,222 (54.21%) and Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom getting 82,121 (45.79%). The total
number of cancelled or void votes was 1,861. The total number of eligible voters
is 209,294. The total turnout therefore works out as 86.5%. The official results
were announced in an official press conference by the Election Commission
members.
read & comment
Local News
Final
official election results to be announced tonight
The final official results of the 2nd round of the Presidential Election
conducted on 28th October will be announced by the Election Commission tonight
at 8:00om, officials said. President-Elect Mohamed Nasheed of the MDP coalition
secured victory with 54% of the votes according to the preliminary results
announced made public just hours after the polling stations closed. The out
going dictator managed to secure just 46% and conceded defeat the next day.
read & comment
UN Press Office
Secretary-General
applauds Maldives after its first multi-party presidential polls
30 October 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated the people
of the Maldives for the peaceful conduct of the Indian Ocean archipelago’s
first-ever multi-party presidential elections this week, calling the poll “an
important step forward in the country’s democratic reform process.”
more
Open Democracy
The
Maldives: a democratic revolution
The people of the Indian Ocean island-state have written a fresh chapter in the
history of their country and even of democracy itself, says Judith Evans. The
citizens of the tiny Indian Ocean nation of the Maldives witnessed an
extraordinary moment on 29 October 2008. A live broadcast on state television
depicted the autocratic president who had ruled the country since 1978 standing
beside his greatest political rival - and acknowledging his defeat in the
just-concluded two-round election.
more
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