Dhivehi Observer News: October 2010

Saturday, October 09, 2010

India, Pak should develop good ties for SAARC: Maldives presidentMaking it clear that prosperity of South Asia is linked to relations between India and Pakistan, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed today pressed the two countries to develop good ties and felt it was "doable". He said the two countries should work from the grassroot level to develop ties and in this regard suggested that Indian multinationals should invest in Pakistan. read & comment

President Nasheed Meets Indian PresidentPresident Mohamed Nasheed met with the President of India, Pratibha Patil on Monday. HRH Prince Albert II of Monaco, the President of Nauru Mr Marcus Stephen, and the Governor General of New Zealand, Mr Anand Satyanand were also present at the meeting which was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. read & comment

Government to Find a Long Term Solution for Flood-Prone Islands – President Nasheed
In his weekly radio address, President Mohamed Nasheed has said the government will aim for a sustainable solution to prevent flooding in islands during rainy seasons. He added that necessary funds for the purpose would be included in the next year’s budget. read & comment

So what’s wrong with the MDGs?This week’s UN summit will call for a big renewed effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. But there are reasons for starting to think a bit further ahead. A new report from International Alert asks us to get ‘beyond the MDGs”. read & comment

The Commonwealth Games: Can India Avoid a Debacle?The 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi may have been intended to showcase India as a cosmopolitan emerging economic powerhouse, but with just 11 days to go, the event threatens to become a debacle of epic proportions. The collapse of a footbridge outside the flagship Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Tuesday (which injured 30 people) and the caving-in of the ceiling at the Games' weightlifting venue the following day appeared to symbolize the end of India's dream of hosting the "best ever" Commonwealth Games. read & comment

Spreading hate, one prejudice at a timeSo much was read into the announcement by Pastor Terry Jones that he would burn the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 that this formerly obscure preacher must be delighted. His Koran-burning announcement set off a global debate about Islamophobia. Editorials were written about the clash of civilisations. And the world's politicians — starting with Barack Obama — lined up to persuade the old boy to throw his match-box away on that day.more

Medics fly to Maldives to pass on Sheffield skills
A LEADING children's doctor from Sheffield has shared his specialist skills and expertise with medics in the Maldives - part of efforts to improve the country's healthcare system. Dr David Campbell, who works as a consultant at Sheffield Children's Hospital, spent two weeks in the country after receiving an invitation from the Maldivian government, via the Friends of Maldives scheme. more

Maldives Tourism Goods and Services Tax Bill ratifiedPresident Mohamed Nasheed has today ratified the Tourism Goods and Services Tax Bill that was passed by the People’s Majlis on 26 August 2010. read & comment

ކުނބުރުދޫ ހަސަނު ގެ ފުރެންޑެއްގެ ގަލަމުންހަސަނުމެންގެ ވެރިކަމަކީ ރައްޔިތުންގެ ވެރިކަން، މީޔަކީ އަމުދުން ސަމާސާއެއް ނޫން... ދެން ލަ ލަ ލާ

Government in talks with DRP to determine local council constituencies

Government representatives and delegates from the main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) began talks on 6th September 2010, to determine constituencies for local governance ahead of upcoming island and atoll council elections. read & comment

Independent MP joins MDP

Independent MP Zahir Adam who represents Gadhdhoo constituency, has joined the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on 5 September 2010.read & comment

“Drag” regional countries in development, Maldives President tells IndiaAn outspoken Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed urged the regional super power India to “drag” neighboring countries in its development efforts, and otherwise it would give rise to “resentment” in the region, in an exclusive interview with the Asian Tribune. “With newly found wealth in India with its development, I think it is very important for India to drag other countries in the region in its development efforts,” President Nasheed opined. more

VOLUNTEER AS A TEACHER IN THE MALDIVES
The Maldivian Government and Friends of Maldives (FOM) are recruiting volunteers for the International Volunteer Programme (IVP), to teach English, science, mathematics and other subjects to students aged 6-18 in Maldivian community schools and participate in local community work. Maldives follows the British curriculum and Maldivian students prepare GCSEs and A’ Levels. read & comment

President calls for dialogue to resolve labour disputes

In his weekly radio address, President Mohamed Nasheed has said to resolve labour related disputes through dialogue and discussion is crucial to forge good relations between employers and employees. read and comment.

Parliament’s paralysing of HRCM is “unforgivable”: Saleem

Parliament’s failure to approve a President and Vice President of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) before going into recess has left the country without a functional human rights body, according to former HRCM President Ahmed Saleem. more

Maldives a 99.41 percent Muslim country, claims RISSC reportThe Royal Islamic Strategic Research Centre (RISSC)’s report into the global state of Islam has described the Maldives as a 99.41 percent Muslim country. RISSC is an independent research entity affiliated with the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, an international Islamic non-governmental institute headquartered in the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. read & comment

ހަރުގެ

ދިވެހި ސަޤާފަތުގާހުރި ތަރައްޤީއަށް މަގުފަހިކުރާ ފުރުޞަތުތައް

Universal issues statement “deeply deploring” actions of strike organisersUniversal Enterprises has issued a statement announcing the return of guests to the Kurumba Maldives resort from August 26, following last week’s industrial action. The statement said the company “deeply deplored” the actions of strike organisers at Kurumba last week, claiming they “sent employees armed with makeshift weapons to blockade the main kitchen and physically threaten staff serving meals to guests”. read & comment

President reaffirms commitment to rule of lawIn his weekly radio address, President Mohamed Nasheed has said his administration will use laws only to uphold the rule of law. Expressing concern over the misuse of laws and the courts, the President said that “some politicians think of laws or even the courts as political tools”. read & comment

Pee is for power: Your electrifying excretionsWhy let your waste go to waste when it could be powering your mobile phone – or even your car? IT IS a bright spring morning here at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, UK, where I have come to meet my interviewee for this article, Shanwen Tao. Normally when I interview someone, I give them a business card and maybe the latest issue of New Scientist. Today, I give Tao a bottle of my own pee. read & comment

Upper North Utilities Ltd signs an agreement with Merciel International to provide utilities services to Upper North ProvinceUpper North Utilities Limited (UNUL) has signed a collaboration agreement with Merciel International of the United States to provide utilities services to all the islands of Upper North Province.read & comment

Maldives Holidays See Strong DemandIn the current age of austerity you may expect that demand for Maldives holidays are on the wane, but not according to one company International Travel Connections who have just launched a new brand, Maldives Connection, to cater for the continued strong demand for The Maldives. more

Kurumba staff return to work after 19 arrestedStaff at Kurumba Resort have ceased striking and returned to work following the arrest of 19 staff members on charges of vandalism and intimidation. Almost all the resort staff have been on strike for the last three days complaining of management inaction over poor staff accommodation, food, unfair distribution of service charges and staff discrimination. Rising tension prompted management to move around 250 guests to other resorts run by the Universal group yesterday, while other visitors chose to depart the country. read & comment

Cabinet decides to stop licence for cargo at ports except Male’, Thilafushi and regional portsAt a meeting held at the President’s Office today, the Cabinet has decided to stop issuing licence for cargo at all ports except Male’, Thilafushi and the two regional ports. Taking the decision, the Cabinet noted that it was crucial to closely monitor the items imported into the country and strengthen cargo facilities. read & comment

If a Country Sinks Beneath the Sea, Is It Still a Country? Rising ocean levels brought about by climate change have created a flood of unprecedented legal questions for small island nations and their neighbors. Among them: If a country disappears, is it still a country? Does it keep its seat at the United Nations? Who controls its offshore mineral rights? Its shipping lanes? Its fish? more

Kurumba management evacuates guests as strike talks deadlockAn ongoing strike at Kurumba Maldives resort near Male’ has prompted management to move the island’s guests to other resorts run by the Universal Group, while other visitors have chosen to leave the country. More than 150 Maldivian and expatriate staff are on strike after complaining of poor staff facilities, low wages, unfair distribution of service charges and discrimination between local and foreign staff. more

“Woodstock of the mind” coming to the MaldivesImagine Ian McEwan, author of Atonement, performing a reading or participating in a panel discussion on a beach in a Maldivian island. That is exactly what Hay Festival Maldives promises to do. Famously described as “the Woodstock of the mind” by former US President Bill Clinton, the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts is among the most famous literary festivals in the world. more

President Nasheed ratifies Maldives' Broadcasting BillPresident Mohamed Nasheed on Sunday ratified Broadcasting Bill passed by the People’s Majlis at its sitting on 3 August. Following the ratification, the Broadcasting Act has been published in the government gazette. The Broadcasting Act makes provisions to establish a broadcasting commission to implement broadcasting policy. The Act states duties and responsibilities of the commission, and stipulates how broadcasting license can be issued. read & comment

Maldives to join International Criminal Court
Miadhu - Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed has said that he hopes that the next cabinet meeting will discuss on joining the International Criminal Court (ICS). Speaking to Miadhu, Dr. Shaheed said that after legal consultations with Attorney General (AG) it has been sent for approval to the cabinet ministers’ commission. read & comment

Maldives ship seized in MadrasThe Madras High Court has ordered the arrest a Maldives registered ship lying at the anchorage of Kannur port in Kerala. The court order, issued last week, follows alleged non-payment of dues to a Tuticorin-based company, the Siasath Daily reported. “Justice V. Peruya Karuppiah passed the interim order on an application from Hari Company alleging that the owners of the ship M/v Dhuvaafaru Galaxy had not paid for various items worth 248,386 USD (approx Rs.1.27 crore) supplied to the ship,” it said. read & comment

President Shares Views on Determining Inhabited Islands for Council ElectionsPresident Mohamed Nasheed, in his weekly radio address, discussed government’s views on determining inhabited islands for local council elections. The President said one view under consideration was to combine two nearby islands as one island for the purposes of decentralised administration, adding that such consolidation would bring a number of socio-economic benefits. read & comment

President Nominates a President and a Vice President for HRCMPresident Mohamed Nasheed has proposed to the People’s Majlis, a President and a Vice President for the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. Ms Mariyam Azra was nominated as President while Ms Jeehan Mahmood was nominated as Vice President. read & comment