News and discussions about Maldives :okay:

IOSCO Adds Iceland, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Syria As Members
LONDON -(Dow Jones)- The International Organization of Securities Commissions, a grouping of the world's securities market regulators said Thursday that it has broadened its membership to include Iceland, the Maldives, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

The addition of these countries means IOSCO represents supervisors from 114 jurisdictions who have signed up to the organization's principles designed to harmonize operating procedures between regulators, reduce systemic risks, protect investors and ensure markets operate in a fair, efficient and transparent manner.

The four new countries were accepted as members at a meeting Wednesday of IOSCO's presidents committee. http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/finance/iosco-adds-iceland-maldives-saudi-arabia-syria-members/

India to export rice to Maldives
India will export rice to neighbouring Maldives through the diplomatic route and sell more grains in domestic markets to trim bulging stocks, government officials said on Thursday. India, the world's second-biggest rice producer, had banned exports of common grades of rice in 2008, joining other leading producers in their protectionist measures to bolster domestic supplies. India will export 36,000 tonne of rice to Maldives, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Quick-View/632133/

Maldives Stock Exchange Is Carbon Neutral
The Maldives Stock Exchange (MSE) has announced it is the first in the world to become carbon neutral. It has linked with an offsetting company to measure and offset any emissions linked to its energy usage, waste disposal, business travel and staff commuting with carbon credits.

Ibrahim Nasir, chief executive at the MSE, said he hoped companies listed on the exchange would follow its example and implement carbon emission reduction programmes.`Organisations that implement comprehensive carbon reduction programmes can enhance their corporate reputation by showing customers, staff and prospects that they are taking direct action against climate change,` he added.

The Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed hopes to make the entire nation carbon neutral by 2020. Earlier this year he said that the nation will switch to completely renewable energy sources in a bid to achieve this goal. As the Maldives is one of the lowest lying nations on earth, it is at great risk from rising sea levels.http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=161641&catid=3

MAHB wins Maldives' Airport contract
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has won a bid to build, operate, modernise and expand Maldives' main airport, the Male International Airport, via its GMR-MAHB consortium.

In a statment today, MAHB said it has been successfully partnering with the GMR Group since 2002, a Bangalore-based global infrastructure major with interests in airports, energy, highways and urban infrastructure.

The airport operator said the Male International Airport was situated on the Huhule Island on the politically stable archipelagpo, and was one of the fastest growing airports in the region.

MAHB managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad said the win signified an important milestone for a Malaysian firm leading with its expertise in the international market.

The bid was participated by two other parties, namely the Aeroport De Paris, France-TAV, Turkey consortium, and the Zurich Airport-GVK consortium.

With the project, MAHB now has four overseas airports in its portfolio, including the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Turkey.http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/20100625184745/Article/#ixzz0s7FVjus3

Maldives president to make 1st official visit to S'pore at PM Lee's invitation
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SINGAPORE: The President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed will make his first official visit to Singapore starting on Sunday.

The two-day visit is at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

President Nasheed will deliver the keynote address at the Asia-Pacific Water Ministers Forum (APWMF), held in conjunction with the Singapore International Water Week.

On Monday, there will be a welcome ceremony for him at the Istana followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Lee and a call on President S R Nathan.

President Nasheed will also visit the Singapore Airport Terminal Services' Coolport @ Changi facility and the National Orchid Garden where he will have an orchid named after him.

He will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Shaheed, Housing, Transport and Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam, President of Male Municipality Adam Maniku, and senior officials.http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1065933/1/.html

Maldives hosts meeting on climate change
The Maldives is hosting an innovative meeting of developing and rich world countries that want strong international action on climate change, the Maidivian presidential office said on Saturday in a statement.

According to the statement issued by the office, the "Cartagena Group/Dialog for Progressive Action" is being held Saturday and Sunday at Bandos Island resort near the capital Male.

"A key aim of group is to bridge the divide left after the acrimonious Copenhagen Climate Change negotiations in December and bring like-minded countries together before next UN climate summit in Mexico," said the statement.

The Maldives'meeting is the second such gathering of the Cartegena Group, which was established shortly after Copenhagen. It is an informal space open to all countries who want an ambitious outcome in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and who are committed, domestically, to becoming or remaining low carbon.

In the keynote address on Saturday morning, Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed noted that the forum includes countries from each region in the world.

"It is the ability to come together as friends that is the great value of this Dialogue for Progressive Action," Nasheed said.

The president said that the "disappointments" of the Copenhagen Summit were a reflection of "global realpolitik" in which nations prioritized perceived short-term economic gains over the long-term health of the world's climate.

"I can not accept that the Maldives must disappear, so others can carry on polluting," President Nasheed said.

Stressing the importance of establishing trust and cooperation, Nasheed said "deep divisions" obstructed progress at Copenhagen.

The president said re-establishing confidence "must start in Cancun (of Mexico) by reaching agreement across all core issues, especially the inter-related issues of mitigation, finance, and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification."

The president further challenged nations to change the way they present the issue of climate change action to their domestic electorates.

"Cutting carbon should not be considered a burden that will destroy jobs and hamper economic growth. Instead, going green should be seen as the greatest economic opportunity since the Industrial Revolution," he said.

Countries participating at the Cartagena Group/Dialog for Progressive Action include Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Malawi, the Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Samoa, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Britain.

Being an archipelago of almost 1,200 coral islands just 1.5 meters above sea level, the Maldives is grappling with the very likely possibility to go under water if the current pace of climate change keeps raising sea levels. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7070340.html

Special flight to link Mumbai to Maldives
Maldives, known for its exotic locales and breathtaking beauty, can now be accessed by Indian tourists through a special charter flight from Mumbai, to be launched in October this year. The flight between Mumbai and Gan, the southern part of the Maldives, will commence operations on October 2 as
part of an initiative by a leading travel company, which is offering special holiday packages for this country.

"Initially it will be a twice a week flight from Mumbai to Gan, whose operations are expected to be scaled up at a later stage," Keyur Joshi, co-founder and COO of MakeMyTrip, told reporters in Male on Tuesday.

The company is offering special holiday packages in association with the Tourism Ministry of the Maldives from October 2010 to February 2011 with the starting price of Rs 29,990 in a bid to boost the tourist arrivals from India, where people perceive this country as a high-end destination.

"This exotic destination has been relatively inaccessible to Indians as it is perceived as an expensive holiday destination. With this campaign we plan to fly in about 6000 Indians into the Maldives," Joshi said.

On his part, Maldivian Tourism Minister Toyyid Mohammad said that India is a potential market, but the government here has not been able to make much arrangements for promoting the country among Indians.

"With the Maldives hosting the next SAARC Summit in 2011, we hope to draw in a large number of tourists," he said, adding the tourism sector can help give a boost to people-to-people relations between the two countries.

Indian High Commissioner Gyaneshwar Muleh said that India has invested in the health and education sectors in the Maldives but Indian tourists are still not coming here in a large number. He hoped that with the new initiative, more people from India will enjoy their holidays in the Maldives.

In 2009, a total of 15,850 Indian tourists visited the Maldives, which has almost 2,000 islands, with only 200 of them inhabited.http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/world/Special-flight-to-link-Mumbai-to-Maldives/Article1-588462.aspx

Shihab, new Maldivian envoy to Colombo
Career diplomat Hussain Shihab has been appointed as the new Maldivian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka. Shihab, a senior foreign service officer currently serving as the Maldivian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, is due to assume duties in Colombo from next month.

Ali Husain Didi who was heading the Maldivian mission in Colombo, will move to Brussels, to assume duties as the Maldivian Ambassador to the European Union from later next month.

High Commissioner designate Shihab, 61, has been serving in Saudi Arabia from May 2008. He has previously served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to UN. http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2010/09/19/oostory.asp?sid=20100919_08&imid=19092010_Husain.jpg&dt=[September%2019%202010]

Maldives´ Shah Rukh Khan : Maldivians Learn Hindi Through Bollywood
Nearly 80 per cent of the Hindi speaking population in Maldives learnt the language watching Bollywood movies, says Ali Seaxan, known as the Shahrukh Khan' of Maldivian cinema.

The National award winning actor from Maldives, says that the country's film industry itself draws inspiration from Bollywood and several Maldivian remakes of Hindi movies have made box office hits.

"80 per cent of Maldivian people speak Hindi because of Bollywood movies. I myself know Hindi because of the movies," the actor said.

Ali too has played a role similar that of Akshay Kumar in 'Dhadkan' in a Maldivian remake of the movie. Vikram Bhatt's 'Raaz', a horror film was also remade and proved a hit.

"Bollywood is where we get strength from," he said adding that Shahrukh Khan and John Abraham are hot favourites in Maldives.http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayArticle.php?id=n091910050555

Costa Rica, Maldives set diplomatic ties
Costa Rica and Maldives established diplomatic ties on Tuesday, the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry said.

The diplomatic relation was set after a bilateral meeting at Maldives' Permanent Mission in the United Nations (UN), where Costa Rican Foreign Minister Rene Castro met with his Maldives' counterpart Ahmed Shaheed.

Castro and Shaheed met in New York to discuss issues of mutual interest, such as the cooperation on issues related to the climate change, the frame on the COP-16 Summit to be hosted in Mexico at the end of this year.

Costa Rica and Maldives share the concerns over global warming and the increase of the oceans' water level, mainly in Maldives, which is an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean.

Castro is in New York accompanying Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, who will give a speech in the UN General Assembly Thursday.http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/7147883.html

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.

Referring to flooding in the southern islands, President Nasheed said proper drainage and sewerage systems were necessary to prevent flood in those islands.

The President, in his radio address, also spoke on the discussions underway between the government and the Civil Service Commission.

A special committee that include officials from the government and the Civil Service Commission, had their first meeting on Wednesday in which discussions were on the issue of restoring civil service salaries to their previous levels, streamlining the civil service and establishing administrative framework for local councils.http://doreview.blogspot.com/2010/09/government-to-find-long-term-solution.html

Government halts land selling on Civil Court order
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MALE, September 26 (HNS) – Presidents Office Sunday announced that selling land plots from south-west harbour area was put on hold according to the Civil Court order.

Press Secretary at President’s Office Mohamed Zuhair said the government would abide by the court order issued on Wednesday.

“It is a responsibility of the government to abide by the court orders. So we have decided to hold the process,” he said.

Male Municipality President Sarangu Adam Manik backed the President’s Office statement and said the court will hopefully settle the matter soon.

In the case filed by the opposition coalition formed among Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), People’s Alliance (PA), Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), and Jumhooree Party, Civil Court ruled to halt all land selling transactions as continuing the process is not the most fair way. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32503

3 parties apply to supply oil to STELCO
MALE, September 26 (HNS) – Three parties have submitted proposals to supply oil to State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) for the next one and a half years.

A STELCO official said the company would start evaluating the proposals made by Dubai’s Galana Petroleum, local State Trading Organisation (STO), and Fuel Supplies Maldives Sunday.

The official noted that the company decided not to disclose the prices until the proposals are evaluated.

The second period for bidding expired last Wednesday. Five parties attended to submit proposals in the first period, which expired on July 22.

“The bid-opening was set for July 22 following the pre-bid meeting held on July 1. But the period was extended as it was not enough to submit proposals,” the official said.

STO had been supplying oil to the company. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32499

20 more row houses planned for Hulhumale
MALE, September 26 (HNS) – Additional 20 row houses will be constructed in Hulhumale to accommodate those not chosen, Housing Development Corporation (HDC) said Sunday.

Deputy Managing Director Suhail Ahmed said the decision was made due to the high demand.

“Of those who applied to the 12 row houses, 29 people passed the financial screening and 25 people participated in the selection. That leaves 17 people unselected. So they will be on the top of the reserve list for the new 20 raw house,” he said.

Owners for eight out of the 12 row houses to be constructed in Hulhumale were selected. The other four row houses were bought earlier after full payment.

According to the corporation, the eight were selected from 25 out of 29 eligible participants for Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) loan.

The corporation said the selected people paid Rf120,000 as booking fee. While a row house costs Rf2.5 million, agreements will be signed on October 6, the corporation added.

The corporation stressed that the owners can pay over a period, including the 20 percent down payment to be paid by the owners and the other 80 percent to be paid by HDFC as loan.

Rf472,800 should be paid as down-payment for the three storey rowhouses. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32501

Chagos Islands exiles amazed by speed of Foreign Office's opposition to seabed claim by Maldives
The Foreign Office has signalled its formal opposition at the United Nations to a claim by the Maldives Islands for 160,000 square kilometres of the Indian Ocean seabed that may encroach upon British overseas territory.

The letter to the UN is aimed at protecting national interests in the Chagos Islands, an archipelago from which the native population were expelled 40 years ago to make way for a US airbase on the atoll of Diego Garcia. Leaders of the exiled Chagossians contrast the rapidity with which the Foreign Office has defended its interests with the protracted refusal to permit them to return to the islands, known as British Indian Ocean Territory.

Most were forcibly removed to nearby Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s. A large community now lives in Crawley, near their UK arrival point, Gatwick airport. Having won a high court judgment in 2000 enabling them to return to the islands, except Diego Garcia, the Chagossians were prevented from exercising that right by a highly unusual use of the royal prerogative. Two years ago they had a further setback when the Lords overturned their original high court victory. They are appealing to the European court of human rights.

The Maldives government submitted its claim for an expanded tract of seabed on 26 July this year to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. Britain posted its response on 9 August.

The commission arbitrates on applications from states seeking to extend their prospecting rights for oil, gas and minerals over the ocean floor, up to 350 miles from their coastlines. Environmentalists have condemned the process as validating "colonial land grabs".

The maps sent by the Maldives shows its claim bulging south towards the Chagos Islands. In its letter, the UK warns that "the submission of the Republic of the Maldives does not take full account of the 200 nautical miles Fisheries and Environment Zones of the British Indian Ocean Territory." It promises "to formalise these boundaries [with the Maldives] at the earliest opportunity".

A Foreign Office spokesman added: "All states are able to inform the CLCS of their observations on another state's submission. The UK did not protest the submission by the Maldives to extend their territorial waters.

"We are satisfied that the CLCS will be able to consider the Maldivian submission without prejudice to the position of the United Kingdom. The UK enjoys a strong bilateral relationship with the Republic of the Maldives and is committed to formalising nautical boundaries."

Complicating the dispute is the fact that the archipelago is also claimed by Mauritius, which supports the return of the islanders. Last year Mauritius informed the UN it intends to submit a claim to the seabed around the islands. The republic claims the 65 islands were "illegally detached" by Britain when Mauritius became independent in 1968. The UK has said it is committed to "ceding the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius when no longer needed for defence purposes". No date, however, has been specified.

The Foreign Office's prompt response to the Maldives' plans comes as the government has dismayed thousands of displaced Chhhagossians and their descendants by reversing both Conservative and Liberal Democrat pre-election support.

In April,the Conservatives' foreign affairs spokesman, Keith Simpson, told the Commons: "There is a great deal of sympathy from those on both sides of the House for the plight of the Chagossians, and their interests must be placed at the heart of any decisions made about their homeland."

But a Foreign Office statement issued last week states: "The government will continue to contest the case brought by the Chagos Islanders to the European court of human rights. This is because the arguments against allowing resettlement on the grounds of defence security and feasibility are clear and compelling."

The Chagossians are due to meet Henry Bellingham, minister for overseas territories, to press their case.

Roch Evenor, chairman of the UK Chagos Support Association, said: "[The Foreign Office] seems to be more interested in defending the seabed than the interests of Chagossians.

"Why did [politicians] give us all that sweet-talking before the elections and then afterwards we are back to square zero? We feel emotionally drained."

Last month the Labour Friends of the Chagos Islands sent an open letter to the five Labour leadership candidates urging them to reconsider a decision to convert the British Indian Ocean Territory into a marine protection area which bans any fishing. Before being deported, fishing was the Chagossians' main livelihood.

In 2008 David Miliband, then foreign secretary, had to acknowledge to the Commons that Diego Garcia had been used twice used by US planes as stop-off points for CIA "extraordinary rendition" flights to Guantanamo Bay and Morocco. The US lease on the base is due to expire in 2016.http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/27/chagos-islands-maldives-seabed-claim

GMR, Axis Bank Discuss $360 Million Loan for Maldives Airport Development
GMR Infrastructure Ltd., controlled by Indian billionaire G.M. Rao, is in talks with Axis Bank Ltd. on a loan of about $360 million to fund an airport project in the Maldives.

GMR’s Maldives venture may sign the 12-year loan by the end of this month, Sidharath Kapur, chief financial officer for airports, said in a telephone interview yesterday from New Delhi. The debt may be syndicated to overseas lenders and multilateral agencies, he said, without providing a timeframe.

The Bangalore-based airport operator and partner Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd. in June won a bid to modernize and expand Male International Airport as they seek to benefit from rising tourism in the Maldives, a nation comprising 1,190 coral islands in the Indian Ocean. Indian companies such as GMR have expanded overseas as bureaucracy and land disputes slow infrastructure projects at home.

“For a company like GMR to grow, this is the way it has to be,” said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, chief strategist at SMC Global Securities Ltd., which manages $100 million in assets, in New Delhi. “Indian infrastructure projects can face bottlenecks and execution problems.”

A spokesman for Axis Bank, India’s fourth biggest by market value, said he wasn’t able to immediately comment.

Maldives Growth

GMR Maldives International Airport Ltd. will spend about $510 million on the Male terminal, which will have a capacity to handle 5 million users a year, Kapur said. The airport currently handles about 2.5 million passengers a year, he said.

“The government of the Maldives is taking steps to attract tourism from India and Southeast Asia,” he said. “That will drive growth.”

GMR Maldives, 77 percent owned by the Indian company and 23 percent by Malaysia Airports, will build and operate the terminal for 25 years. The facility will be ready by 2014.

GMR and partners also run airports in Istanbul, Turkey, India’s capital New Delhi and Hyderabad in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

The Maldives attracted 683,000 tourists in 2008, growing at an average 12 percent annual pace since 1980, compared with the world average growth of 5 percent, the government said on its website.

GMR got about 33 percent of revenue from airport operations in the year ended in March, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The company also builds highways and operates power projects.

In July, GMR’s new terminal in New Delhi started international flights. The facility, run by a group also backed by state-run Airports Authority of India Ltd., Frankfurt-based Fraport AG and Malaysia Airports, cost about $2.7 billion to develop, along with other renovations.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-01/billionaire-rao-s-gmr-axis-discuss-360-million-loan-for-maldives-airport.html

Maldives to have floating hotels and golf course
Floating livelihood in south Asia will soon be a reality. India’s neighbour Maldives has signed an agreement with the Netherlands government to set up world’s first floating hotel, agriculture fields, residential homes and a golf course in middle of the Indian Ocean. “Both the governments (Netherlands and Maldives) have agreed,” said Koen Olthuis, creative director of Dutch Docklands, a company that has designed new floating concept for Maldvies, considered one of the most vulnerable nations to sea level rise because of climate change in the world.

“A formal announcement is expected next week”.

Apparently the world’s biggest on sea leisure and residential project is expected to start next year with construction of a hotel near the Maldivian capital city. These hotels will be part of a modern small township in middle of the sea having hotels and a 18 hole golf course.

Maldives like Netherlands does not have enough land available and much of it is below the sea level. So, Maldives had opted for using sea to provide people future livelihood. It has harped upon a unique technology using which Netherlands constructed first floating homes in its capital city of Amsterdam about a decade ago.

There are over 1,000 fully furnished floating homes with garden and parking area in the Netherlands now. “Cost of floating home is comparable with a house on land as one does not have to pay much for water on which the house is built,” said Rutger De Graaf, director research and development with Deltasync, a company dealing with designing floating structures.

But one has to pay for erecting permanent structure to tie the house to the sea ground. “It (the cost) is almost same as for building a basement in the house,” Olthuis said.

The only difference — the floating home can rise by up to six metres depending on the design with a gush of water but does not move sidways.

Another advantage floating house has that it can be moved from one location to another, not so easy with homes on land.

Graaf says constructing a basic floating house in 200 square metre area can cost Euros 280,000 in Netherlands (Rs 16,80,00,00) but experts believe that the cost can come down with more use of technology and in countries where cost of construction is low like Maldives and India.

The first phase of construction will be completed by 2013 and entire project by 2017. The Netherland government has also agreed to a request from Maldivian government to have floating agriculture fields.http://www.hindustantimes.com/Maldives-to-have-floating-hotels-and-golf-course/Article1-607058.aspx

Travel firm wants island staffed entirely by blonde girls
A TRAVEL firm wants to open a holiday isle staffed entirely by blonde girls.

There won't be a brunette in sight among the receptionists, waitresses, managers, beauticians, entertainers and casino staff.

The flights to the Maldives island will have blonde pilots and air hostesses.

And even the yachts ferrying guests from the airport to their Indian Ocean getaway will also be crewed by - yes, you've guessed it - blonde girls.

Lithuanian company Olialia - pronounced Ooh-la-la - has announced plans to open the resort by 2015.


But islanders in the Muslim-dominated Maldives, where most have dark hair, accused the firm of being racist. Maldivian news website Minivan has been inundated with protests. One critic said: "Why do we have to have it in the Maldives?" Latvian journalist Sanita Jemberga wrote: "Sex sells.

Their unique selling point is blonde Baltic women and sex." But Olialia says its philosophy is to show blondes can be powerful in business and overcome their "dumb" reputation. Managing director Giedre Pukiene - who is, unsurprisingly, a blonde - said: "We should not be underestimated. We are smart, beautiful, reckless and purposeful.

"Two years of active developments in Lithuania have proved our capabilities.

"The island of blondes will appear in the Maldives in 2015. It will be paradise on earth."

However Olialia could run into trouble as Maldives rules state resorts must employ 50 per cent local staff. The blondes-only rule could also break EU employment laws.http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/10/06/travel-firm-wants-island-staffed-entirely-by-blonde-girls-115875-22612312/#ixzz11Yzs6d62

:applause::applause::applause:

Maldives President Helps Install His Own Solar Panels
In terms of walking the renewable walk, President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives probably beats every other head of state. President Nasheed was pictured today in a hard-hat and jeans as he helped install a brand-new solar installation on the roof of the presidential residence in the capital city of Male.

The installation - which employs photovoltaic modules from LG Electronics and was designed by Oakland, California solar installer and developer Sungevity - will prevent the emission of 195 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the life of the system and save about $300,000 in energy costs.

The Maldives has special cause to be proactive about sustainable energy - as one of the world's lowest-lying nations, the country's islands are gravely threatened by rising sea levels. It would only take a rise of a few feet to devastate the country.

"The Maldives stands at the front line of climate change and we don't have the luxury of time to sit and wait for the rest of the world to act. We are getting to work to start the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy," the President said in a statement released today.

The White House announced this week that it will install solar panels at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - and President Barack Obama might take the opportunity to mimic the Nasheed's hard-hat and solar panel photo-op. http://www.getsolar.com/News/California/Solar-Installers/Maldives-President-Helps-Install-His-Own-Solar-Panels-800105446

Low turnout for referendum on consolidating islands
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MALE, October 9 (HNS) – A low turnout is observed in general at the polling stations set up across the capital Male for the ongoing referendum on consolidating islands.

“People come once in a while. A large number might come during the last hours. But a very low turnout is observed until noon,” an official at the polling station in Iskandhar School for Shaviyani atoll residents said.

The highest turnout was observed by 12pm at the vote box set up in Iskandhar School for Haa Alif atoll residents where 192 people registered.

Only three out of 50 registered voters cast votes at the two boxes in Jamaaluddin School for Laam and Thaa atoll residents.

The polling station in Ghiyaasuddin International School in Male for residents of Raa atoll Angolhitheemu and Alif Dhaal atoll Dhidhoo was closed until 12pm under the policy which requires minimum two people to be present at the station. While 29 people from Angolhitheemu and 25 from Dhidhoo registered for voting at the station, the box was opened at 12.55pm.

Meanwhile, only 14 out of 225 registered Addu atoll residents cast votes to decide whether the atoll should be deemed a city.

Only 1,297 out of the some 30,000 eligible voters of 29 islands registered for voting in the capital Male. Ten vote boxes were set up in Iskandar School, Thaajuddin School, Jamaaluddin School and Ghiyaasuddin International School in Male.

The same was also observed in the atolls.

Elections Official Mohamed Jaleel in Faaf atoll said the turnout was very low on Bilehdhoo, Magoodhoo, Dharanboodhoo and Nilandhoo.

Elections Official Abdul Hameed Hussein stationed in Dhaal atoll Maaemboodhoo said a very few people cast votes at the polling stations in Kudahuvadhoo and Vaani.

“Although some are casting votes, the public support is very low. The thing is that there is no group to take people to polling stations in this referendum. That might be the reason why the support is low,” he said.

Addu atoll Elections Official Ali Rasheed said over 100 people voted at the six boxes set up in capital island, Hithadhoo.

“There is no support to this referendum. But it will presumably get better afternoon,” he said.

In the referendum held from 8am to 4pm Saturday, 88,882 people are eligible to vote. Elections Commission set up 141 vote boxes in 95 islands to be combined and those decided to be considered as cities.

Commissioner Fuad, however, noted that the polling stations were not closed by 4pm. Vote counting will commence after 4pm, he added.

According to the commission, temporary results of the constituencies will be announced once the counting is over and the permanent results will be announced within two days.

Around 1,000 officials are involved in the referendum which costs Rf11 million from the state budget. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32764

Parliament reaches deadlock over Auditor General endorsement
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MALE, October 12 (HNS) – Monday’s parliament sitting was called off after MPs stalled over endorsing former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner Ali Rasheed Umar as Attorney General (AG).

The Chair cancelled the sitting around 2.10pm after Nolhivaram MP Mohamed ‘Colonel’ Nasheed of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) refused to leave the parliament chamber.

MDP MPs requested for procedural errors consecutively and yelled inside the chamber when parliamentary Finance Committee Chair Mohamed Nazim started presenting the committee report on Rasheed. Bilehdhoo MP Ahmed Hamza and other MDP members reiterated that the committee report was false.

In a procedural error, Nolhivaram MP Nasheed said the committee report presented by Nazim was not passed by the committee majority. Although the matter was informed to Speaker Abdulla Shahid, he only sought information from Chair Nazim, he added.

MPs exchanged heated debates over the matter with the Chair announcing Nasheed’s name and asking him to leave the chamber. Nasheed, however, refused.

The Chair put the sitting on hold at 12.40pm to take Nasheed out of the chamber. The sitting was cancelled after failed attempts by armed forces officers to take Nasheed out of the chamber.

Committee Chair Nazim stressed that the committee followed the normal procedures in studying Rasheed’s name. ACC informed the committee that he was being investigated, he added.

Nazim further emphasised that the committee unanimously endorsed a policy proposed by Mulaku MP Abdulla Yamin and backed by Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed to interview Rasheed and rate his educational qualification, skills, experience and integrity. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32824

DRP calls for better towing mechanism
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MALE, October 12 (HNS) – Opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Tuesday criticised the current method of towing vehicles parked against regulations and urged the government to initiate a better towing method.

In a press conference held at the party office, Deputy Leader Ahmed Shareef said that people park their vehicles against regulations because there is no other way. Expensive properties such as motorcycles are towed and kept at the tow yard recklessly, he added.

Shareef claimed that vehicles of senior Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members are not being towed.

“I think they give more attention to some people’s motorcycles. That is, we do not see MDP members’ vehicle being towed,” he said. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32823

MBC board members’ salaries on request: State Finance Minister
MALE, October 12 (HNS) – Salaries of Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Directors Board members will be arranged on request, Finance Ministry said Tuesday.

State Finance Minister Ahmed Assad said the parliament-assigned MBC board members were not given since July 12 as no request has been made so far.

“State employees are given salaries when the employer requests it. For example, civil servants are given their salaries when Civil Service Commission (CSC) requests it. Independent bodies are given salaries when the designated authority requests it. In the same manner we will give salaries to MBC board members when it is requested,” he said.

Parliamentary finance committee Monday requested the ministry to arrange salaries for the nine MBC board members. However, the State Minister denied having knowledge of the request.

The parliament passed Rf10,000 as the Chairman’s salary, Rf9,000 as Vice Chairman’s salary and Rf8,000 as other members’ salary. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32816/MBC_board_members%E2%80%99_salaries_on_request:_State_Finance_Minister

Protecting child rights an important goal of government: President
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MALE, October 15 (HNS) – President Mohamed Nasheed Friday said protecting the rights of mothers and children is an important goal of the government.

Speaking in his weekly radio address, the president expressed deep concerns over the increasing number of cases of sexual abuse, rape and degrading treatment of children. Stressing that the government “always condemned” domestic violence, President Nasheed thanked opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Rozaina Adam of Thulhusdhoo constituency for submitting a Bill on Domestic Violence.

In his weekly address, President Nasheed also highlighted Hay Festival Maldives, which started Thursday evening with a music concert in Male.

The President said having Hay Festival in the Maldives would be a “hopeful opportunity” for Maldivian artists, poets, and writers.

Besides internationally renowned artists and authors, a number of Maldivian artists will participate in the three-day festival in presidential retreat island, Aarah. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32871

Government publishes administrative constituencies list
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MALE, October 14 (HNS) – President Mohamed Nasheed Thursday published the administrative constituencies list on the government gazette ahead of the local council election.

According to the President’s Office, the 184 administrative constituencies were published after considering the spirit of the public referendum on consolidation islands held on Saturday.

Addu is listed as a single administrative city as the people of Addu supported the government’s proposal to make the atoll a city, the office added.

According to the list, Shaviyani atoll Komandoo constituency includes Upper Komandoo and Lhaviyani atoll Naifaru constituency consists of Naifaru and nearby military training base, Madivaru.

The government and the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) agreed to publish the list on October 17, Sunday. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32870

Commonwealth Secretary General visits Maldives
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MALE, October 16 (HNS) – Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma started his first ever official visit to the Maldives on Saturday.

During his visit from October 16-18, Sharma will call on President Mohamed Nasheed and is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed, Health and Family Minister Dr Aminath Jameel, and the Minister of Human Resources, Youth and Sport Hassan Latheef.

The Secretary General is also scheduled for talks with Parliament Speaker Abdulla Shahid, ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Mariya Ahmed Didi, opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali and Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain.

A statement issued by the Commonwealth Secretariat quoted Sharma as saying that the Commonwealth has a long-standing engagement with Maldives and has been closely associated with the transition to multi-party democracy.

According to the Secretariat, discussions are also expected to focus on capacity-building for socio-economic growth, climate change and other issues faced by small island developing states like Maldives.

A news conference will be held on October 17 at the end of the Secretary General’s series of meetings with the Maldives leadership and key officials. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32876

Maldives first ever Hay Festival attracts enthusiastic youth
AARAH, October 16 (HNS) – Official activities of the Maldives first ever Hay Festival of literature and arts concluded Saturday evening at presidential retreat island, Aarah.

The festival kicked off Thursday evening in capital Male with an inauguration music concert and was moved to Aarah for the official activities which featured both local and international luminaries in literature and arts. The festival, described as “the Woodstock of mind by former United States President Bill Clinton will close officially on Sunday with workshops aimed at developing the artists of the future.

Among the events of Saturday’s session, international novelist Ian McEwan, listed among Britain’s 50 best novelists by the Times, discussed about his latest work, Solar giving an insight into climate change and its impacts on vulnerable nations like the Maldives.

Mohamed ‘Madulu’ Waheed discussed the current trends in local literature and journalism and three oral storytellers revived the long lost Maldivian traditional poetry known as Raivaru.

International historian and biographer Jung Chang (author of Wild Swans and Mao) discussed her work while giving an insight into China in the twentieth century and the creation of one of the world’s new superpowers.

The award-winning foreign correspondent, author and documentary-maker Peter Godwin, former bass guitarist Ahmed ‘X-Ray’ Athif, President’s special advisor on Climate Change Mark Lynas, local environment expert Simad Saeed, multi-form artist Sabina Manik also discussed various topics from their fields. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32877

Kuwaiti billionaire expresses interest in presidential “Arumaazu” yacht
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MALE, October 16 (HNS) – A Kuwaiti billionaire Saturday expressed interest in buying the presidential yacht “Arumaazu” on display at the ongoing “Gulfcraft International Boat Show.”

“This is a very beautiful yacht. But it needs some repairs,” the billionaire who owns three five-star hotels in Kuwait said.

The billionaire went to see the yacht with a Ref Association official.

The official said the interested Kuwaiti billionaire asked to clarify the price.

“He also told me that he is very interested in buying the yacht. But he asked to clarify the undisclosed price,” the official said.

The yacht which costs some Rf100,000 per journey, however, needs renovation. The carpet was dusty and the painting was removed from some areas.

Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MNCCI) Deputy President Ismail Asif said the yacht is on display for “special parties” and investors operating in the Maldives are expressing interest in the yacht.

“We are just facilitating the interested parties to see the yacht. The government will carry out the process of selling it. It is not put on auction. The government has not informed the selling price. The price will be negotiable,” he said.

Asif stressed that no party officially applied to buy the US$4.7 million yacht used exclusively by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Haveeru was unable to contact a government official.

The Boat Show will be held from October 16 to 18 in the sea in front of President’s Office and at Dharubaaruge. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32875

Seylam house residents blame contractors for foundation damages, cracks
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MALE, October 16 (HNS) – Negligence of the contractor at Janbuge is to be blamed for the damages to the foundation of Machangoalhi Seylam, which houses Checkmark shop, residents said Saturday.

Ahmed Nasheed said Housing Ministry confirmed that digging the planned 11-storey Janbuge was done by Zaan Constructions against the regulations.

“So the contractor should take responsibility for the damage. The contractor, however, says that the work was being done correctly,” he said.

Nasheed, who was an engineer, noted that sand slipped out under six-floor Seylam when the contractors drained the water from the eight-foot pit dug next to the house.

“When we checked, about three feet of sand had slipped out from under the foundation. The shopkeeper of Checkmark was the first to notice it and told me that evening. The floor had a crack of about five-foot. Even the door of the shop could not be fully closed. The glass was bent under tension,” he said.

“The two beams of the building foundation are connected via tie beams. One of the tie beams must have deformed or cracked for something like this to happen. The building is no longer safe.”

Nasheed said the third floor sheet was cracked and the people living there had moved out.

“The building has been saved by filling the dig. More cracks are expected to form. So it is hard to predict what will happen to the building next,” he said.

“The sad thing is no one knows what to do when something like this happens. The government does have equipment to monitor such things.”

State Minister for Housing Dr Mohamed Shareef said on Thursday that the construction of Janbuge was put on hold as it was dug against the engineer’s advice. He said he does not feel that the building is damaged beyond liveability, but added that such sites will be monitored. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32873

Rejecting cabinet ministers is like passing a no-confidence motion: Press Secretary
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MALE, October 17 (HNS) – Rejecting some cabinet ministers is deciding that they do not have the confidence, Press Secretary at President’s Office Mohamed Zuhair said Sunday.

On July 13, President Mohamed Nasheed sent the cabinet for parliament approval, a week after reappointing 13 ministers who resigned en masse claiming that opposition MPs were “hijacking” the executive and making it impossible for the ministers to discharge their constitutional duties.

No progress however has been made to the cabinet endorsement. The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) last week devised an undisclosed list of ministers to reject.

Zuhair noted that the parliamentary committee studying the ministers should consider constitutional requirements as done by the president while nominating them.

“The committee, however, is using other policies. The committee is asking questions outside the boundaries of the constitutional requirements. The government believes that the parliament should also consider constitutional requirements while endorsing the cabinet ministers. The government does not believe that it can be outside that,” he said.

“The government believes that rejecting certain minsters is deciding that those ministers do not have the confidence. But there is another way stated in the constitution to carry out the procedure. We expect the parliamentarians to carry out the matter in that way.”

Meanwhile, opposition MPs urged the parliament chair to ask for voting separately while ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members proposed to ask for voting at once.

The cabinet ministers earlier boycotted committee interviews.

The Press Secretary stressed that the article on interviewing cabinet ministers was included in parliament’s rules of procedure by the opposition-controlled committee. The government filed a case in Supreme Court to abolish article 171(i) of the parliament’s rules of procedure because it contradicts with the constitution, he added. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32887

Local council election set for February 5
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MALE, October 17 (HNS) – Elections Commission Saturday set the local council election for February 5, 2011.

According to a commission press release, the date was set after considering the period that should be allocated for legal procedures and opening atoll offices, island offices and courts on religious and national holidays like Eid, Hajj and National Day would not be appropriate.

The periods for candidates and voters registry cannot be put on hold due to a public holiday, the commission added.

President Mohamed Nasheed Thursday published the administrative constituencies list on the government gazette ahead of the local council election.

Commissioner Fuad Thaufeeq said the commission does not get the 90-day period if the election is to be held on December 31.

“We have planned to receive application forms at island offices as well. So it would be very difficult to open island offices on holidays. Besides, the constitution states periods for people to lodge complaints with the court. So we should consider the holidays and the periods before announcing the election. The periods should be counted excluding the holidays,” he said.

Elections Commission earlier said determining the voters’ locations would be very difficult if the election is set for the annual holidays.

According to the Local Council Elections Act, minimum 28 days should be given between the announcement of the election and the candidates.http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32885

Opportunity-hungry young Maldivians make Hay in the sunshine
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MALE, October 18 (HNS) – A huge crowd gathered on Jetty No. 4 in capital Male on Friday in what can be best described as a rather unusual scene for Maldivians on a Friday afternoon. A table with handbooks about the Maldives first ever Hay Festival sat in front of the jetty where young Maldivians were waiting impatiently to leave to Aarah island to witness the first Dhivehi “Woodstock of the mind” which featured international and local luminaries in arts and literature.

“A festival of ideas and creativity is what Maldives needs, what we need. This is like a dream come true,” an enthusiastic youth on the jetty said.

Although the initial ticket sales stayed at roughly 10-20 per day, the sales boomed as the festival approached, with almost 1800 tickets sold for Rf50 and Rf100 and some even sold for Rf300 at the ferry queue on Jetty No. 4.

Topics not commonly discussed in Maldivian day-to-day lifestyle were the main themes of the four-day festival, with discussions focused on climate change, culture and history attracting an opportunity-hungry audience.

President’s Special Advisor on Climate Change Mark Lynas, local environmentalist Simad Saeed and Maldives Minister of Environment Mohamed Aslam discussed the Maldives plan to go carbon neutral in 2020 and the obstacles in achieving the goal, while the minister announced Maldives application to UNESCO to declare the integrality of Baa atoll.

Internationally acclaimed author of Mao: The Untold Stories, Juang Chang traced her past into her childhood, sharing her experiences in growing up during the cultural revolution of China in the 20th century.

Ian McEwan, listed by The Times among the “50 greatest British writers since 1945,” discussed his climate change satire Solar - a novel about a Nobel Prize winning physicist’s research on artificial photosynthesis, which he believes can hold the key to fuel provision in the future.

The two days of literature and arts lessons wrapped up with electronic fusion artist, French DJ Ravin filling Aarah’s quiet and refreshing atmosphere with three hours of musical enchantment mixed with infectious traditional Bodu Beru drumbeats of Harubee.http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/32896

Maldivian gives birth on board flight
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The baby boy Aminath gave birth on board Etihad Airline flight.

MALE, October 25 (HNS) – A Maldivian young medical student en route to Abu Dhabi on an Etihad Airline flight gave birth to a baby boy Sunday.

Dubai’s Gulf News reported that the flight made an emergency landing on Oman’s Muscat International Airport where Aminath Raushan Khaleel, 24 and her newborn baby were rushed to Royal Hospital.

According to the news agency, the baby was in good condition when the agency’s correspondents visited the family at the hospital.

“My wife was due next month around 20th and we had to report before October 30 to complete our transfer from a Russian medical college to the college in Minsk, Belarus,” Aminath’s husband who identified himself as Abdullah Shahid, told Gulf News.

The couple took flight from Trivandrum to Abu Dhabi where they were to take connecting flight to Minsk in Belarus, the news agency said.

Aminath delivered a healthy baby boy 20 minutes before the pilot could land the flight after he was told of her condition on board the flight.http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33033

Maldives sinks in corruption perceptions index
MALE, October 26 (HNS) – The Maldives observed a shocking 28 points lapse in Corruption Perceptions Index (CIP) last year amid government’s announced efforts to tackle corruption, the 2010 CIP report published by Transparency International on Tuesday said.

The report, which assessed corruption in 178 countries, ranked Maldives at 143 – a 28-point lapse against 2008’s 115.

The annual report orders countries according to the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians. A lower score means more perceived corruption.

New Zealand tops the index with Denmark following at the second and Singapore at the third.

Somalia, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Sudan are listed as the worst countries.http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33076

Hulhule Island Hotel wins Luxury Airport Hotel award
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MALE, November 2 (HNS) – Hulhule Island Hotel (HIH) has won the Luxury Airport Hotel award for the third time in a row.

At the World Luxury Hotel Awards (WLHA) 2010 gala ceremony held on October 8 in Thailand’s Dusit Thani Hua Hin Resort, HIH General Manager Utkarsh Faujdar received the award from WLHA Executive Manager Marinique Truter.

The World Luxury Hotel Awards are the world’s most prestigious awards, exclusive to the luxury hotel industry and recognise the best facilities and service excellence offered by the industry.

With major renovations, Hulhule Island Hotel, which was established in 2000, has been attracting tourists who come to the Maldives to enjoy its natural beauty. Maldivians also receive the excellent services offered by the hotel on special occasions like Ramadan.

Hulhule Island Hotel has well furnished 136 rooms, inclusive of various categories on offer. The facilities for the guests at the hotel include the spa, gymnasium, swimming pool, beach area, landscaping, tennis court, golf putting green and extensive food & beverage options. The diverse dining selections include a rooftop signature restaurant ‘Uduvilaa’ with a panoramic view of capital Male, catering to the multi-cuisine creations for the International clientele.

A press release quoted General Manager Faujdar as saying, “this is indeed recognition of the world class facilities and service excellence that Hulhule Island Hotel has attained by achieving the highest international standards in the hospitality industry.” http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33196

Maldives to offer ‘red carpet’ welcome to Miss France participants
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MALE, November 1 (HNS) – Maldives is to receive participants of Miss France 2011 with red carpet welcome and cultural activities at Male International Airport.

Speaking to journalists at Dharubaaruge ‘Fansavees Maalam’ about the contestants’ visit from November 11 to 18, Director of event partner Sunland hotels, Hussein Hilmy said 33 participants of Miss France 2011 will come to the Maldives in one of the biggest tourism events in the Maldives.

“Their visit to Maldives will provide lots of benefits. We are carrying out the event in cooperation with MTPB [Maldives Tourism Promotion Board],” he said.

Hilmy noted that the contestants would travel to Coco Palm Boduhithi resort from Male International Airport in a sailing boat.

“This is the first time such an event is being organised in collaboration with a specific company. Usually such an event would require collaboration with tourism authority of another country. Maldives will benefit more than Sunland,” he said.

Hilmy said French media’s live coverage of the event would include gaining support for the Maldives nomination to the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

According to Sunland Hotels, video and photo sessions and learning to cook Maldivian dishes will take place in Coco Palm, where contestants of Miss France 2009 and 2010 will also attend.

“We are pleased that Sunland has organised this event. This is a huge benefit to the Maldives. This is a good step considering the position where Maldives stands now,” MTPB Deputy Director Mohamed Adam said.

The Miss France contest will be held on December 4 in Caen, France. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33188

Maldives could have dodged November 3 coup with democratic values: Special Envoy
MALE, November 3 (HNS) – The Maldives could have escaped from the failed coup attempt of November 3, 1988 with democratic values, Special Envoy to the President Ibrahim Hussein Zaki said Wednesday.

Addressing the nation on the 22nd Victory Day observed this year, Zaki said the coup attempt forced Maldivians to rethink as it laid the foundation for new thinking.

“The memories of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of this nation and for the sake of its people are fresh in my heart. Those lessons will be carried on to the future generations. They are examples for every courageous individual willing to confront every threat,” he said.

Zaki, who was the then Permanent Secretary at Foreign Ministry, said the coup attempt changed the military philosophy of the Maldives armed forces. The nation has today learned a lesson from the coup attempt which was triggered because of the executive’s commands to the armed forces against the military procedures.

“During an age where such a military policy was executed, the Maldives armed forces fought a historic battle against a terrorist activity. After the day, personnel from both genders gave their selves willingly to military service. The armed forces started receiving training in emergency military services and discharging their services to different parts of the Maldives, which led to a force equipped with modern weapons and trained in confronting terrorist activities,” he said.

“It seems the sound of bullets swarming around the armed forces officers, who were dispatched to confront the enemy, is still echoing in my ears. The officers faced the enemy for the sake of this country without second thoughts; to save this country from the enemy. The bravery showed by young Kulhudhuffushi Hussein Adam at the beginning of the battles will never be wiped off from this nation. Even when the enemy’s bullets were striking his young body, he tried to shoot the enemy. The price of his bravery until the last breath can be estimated only by weighing it with a modern military scale,” he continued.

Highlighting that the Maldives has advanced leaps and bounds since then, the President’s Special Envoy said the country has achieved the “sweetness of political freedom,” a strengthening democracy and separation of powers.

“I would never ever forget the role of the then Indian Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi in [confronting] the coup attempt of November. He monitored the Maldives situation very closely for precisely 72 hours and directly advised me via phone. This is the fruitful outcome of our foreign policy,” he said.

Zaki stressed that using the coup attempt for political gains was observed during the most critical time of the 2008 presidential election.

“Loving the nation is not loving the government. It neither is sacrificing everything else for the sake of government. While people who truly love the nation are few according to some, the country will not produce citizens who love the nation if the head loves the government over the citizens,” he continued.

Zaki further said the Maldives have to get victory from drug abuse, stabbing people and getting low grades in O/Level examination.

“We have to get victory in correcting the youth who are living at the margin of the society. This victory cannot be achieved literally without collaborative efforts by the society. We cannot dodge these much serious issues by putting the blame on the former regime. The people of Maldives brought change to the Maldives because they do not want to see this situation,” he added.
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33224

President appeals MPs to leave cabinet endorsement
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MALE, November 5 (HNS) - President Mohamed Nasheed Friday appealed parliament members to leave the endorsement of the cabinet.

Speaking in his weekly radio address, President Nasheed said parliament refusing to approve a cabinet minister would not amount to the minister’s dismissal from office.

Referring to articles 129 and 131 of the constitution, the president said the constitution stipulated the conditions under which a minister could be removed from office.

Therefore, he said, cabinet members would remain in office whether the parliament approved or rejected a member.

President Nasheed said he believed, as a matter of principle, the parliament should take a block vote in approving the cabinet. However, he said it was not in the national interest to have parliament in deadlock disputing over the way in which the vote should be taken to endorse the cabinet.

Speaking in this regard, the president urged the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs to abstain and remain silent if they felt they were acting against the laws and regulations by participating in a vote taken to individually approve each cabinet minister.

Although he desired the parliament approval for the cabinet, President Nasheed said it was not wise to have the whole country in limbo until a condition that was not prescribed in a law was fulfilled.

In the negotiations between the political parties, opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) said the matter should settled via the Supreme Court. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33251

DRP holds march to commemorate Victory Day
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MALE, November 4 (HNS) – Opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) held a special march on Wednesday evening to commemorate Victory Day – a public holiday marked in remembrance of those who died in the November 3 failed coup attempt in 1988.

DRP supporters dressed in black walked towards west on Majeedhee Magu, turned south on Boduthakurufaanu Magu and went east on Ameenee Magu until Giyasuddin International School, where they walked east on Boduthakurufaanu Magu to return to artificial beach.

The marchers held national flags and photos of the martyrs and Tamil mercenaries.

Parliament Speaker Abdulla Shahid, DRP Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, Deputy Leaders and DRP MPs took part in the march.

Addressing supporters, Thasmeen expressed his condolences to the families of the martyrs and commended the wisdom of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom in saving the country. He thanked the Indian government for their assistance.

“I want to assure the public that not even a single drop of blood shed for the sake of the country and its religion, Islam, will ever be forgotten. Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party will be ready to do whatever is required in the defence of Maldives and Islam,” Thasmeen said.

DRP announced that a rally would be held Thursday evening at artificial beach.
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33247

Maldives Islamic Ministry opposes symbolic tourist wedding regulation
MALE, November 4 (HNS) – Maldives Islamic Ministry Thursday expressed vehement opposition towards the Regulation on Symbolic Tourist Weddings, which came into effect on Thursday.

State Islamic Minister Shaheem Ali Saeed told Haveeru that marriages could not be performed for fun.

“Although the regulation states that the ceremony includes Maldivian cultural activities, marriage is not a cultural aspect; rather it is a sacred Islamic slogan. The regulation does not define the culture stated in it. A sacred religious slogan cannot be carried out for fun and sport,” he said.

Shaheem also questioned about performing renewal of vows ceremonies of other religions in the regulation.

“Renewal of vows can be performed as per the traditions of that particular religion. I cannot think of a way to perform such ceremonies in the Maldives. While marriages can be performed in Islam according to Islamic norms, renewal of vows is referred to a religious ceremony. It proves that those who compiled the regulation are not aware of such facts,” he said.

“This regulation is very complicated. It was drafted against the policies practiced in the Maldives.”

Shaheem, who has been criticising government’s policies on religious matters, also expressed concerns over the lack of cooperation from government authorities in implementing the Religious Unity Regulation.

“Initially the regulation [Religious Unity Regulation] had 70 articles which were later downsized to 40 articles by AG [Attorney General’s] Office. Now it has been days since the regulation was not implemented citing policy issues. We are concerned about the government expediting some regulations and implementing them while the Religious Unity Regulation has been put on hold for more than a year,” he said.

The State Minister further stressed that sometimes President Mohamed Nasheed acts against his pledge to follow Islamic scholars.

“If this goes on repeating, we might also have to leave the government,” he said.

“When we make such claims, some accuse us of hindering the government from discharging its responsibilities. I totally reject that claim. We did not say anything when IGMH [Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital] was handed over to [India’s] Apollo and neither did we say anything when the airport [Male International Airport] was leased to GMR. We make statements in matters concerning the religion.” http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33243

National Library to assist local writers in publicising books
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MALE, November 6 (HNS) – National Library is to assist local writers in publicising books.

Director Ibrahim Shiyam said the library would assist in publicising new books – an opportunity not open for local writers earlier. Shiyam noted that the books would be released at a special ceremony organised by the library, Heritage Department and National Museum.

“Writers usually write books and without introducing it leaves it at a shop. Hence readers do not have enough information about the books,” he said.

He said the ceremony would be held at either the library or the museum.

Shiyam stressed that the opportunity is open for all writers free of charge. The library will also give information about international competitions and events for writers and publishers and will offer the opportunity to take part in such competitions.
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33267

MPs to join Jumhoory Party on Republic Day
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MALE, November 6 (HNS) – Jumhoory Party Saturday announced that some MPs would join the party on Republic Day, November 11.

Secretary General Ali Shareef said a special signing ceremony would be held Thursday morning at the party office. He did not release details on how many or who the MP’s are.

“MPs will sign for our party on November 11. We are now preparing for it.” Shareef said.

Shareef said a general meeting will be held Thursday evening but added that difficulties are there in getting the artificial beach area.

Before the 2008 presidential elections, Jumhoory Party was formed with several prominent persons. Some, however, moved to other parties.

Only Jumhoory Party Leader, Maamigilli MP Gasim Ibrahim currently represents the party in the parliament. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33266

Judicial protection necessary to improve small parties: Vice President
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MALE, November 6 (HNS) – Judicial protection is necessary for the improvement of small political parties, Vice President, also Gaumee Iththihaad Party Leader Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik said Friday evening.

Speaking at the political dinner night organised by the party, Vice President Dr Waheed said small political parties are given a high status worldwide and local parties can play an important role. He noted that within the past two years of Maldives short democracy small political parties had to face bitter experiences.

“Small parties played an important role in the past presidential elections. I want to assure you that small parties will continue to play an important role in the future,” he said.

Speaking in this regard, Dr Waheed noted that small parties could help a major party to form the government, intermediate to reconcile major parties and work towards a specific goal.

“I call upon all small parties to continue their work with spirit. A small party alone may not be able to do much. Accomplishments can be made by joining together and by working in cooperation,” he said.

The dinner night held in Giyaasuddin International School also saw entertainment and food. The food items were named after political and democratic terms like “national rice,” “national interest rice”, “coalition rice”, “liberal food noodles,” “socialist spaghetti,” “vote box salad,” “liberal democratic salad,” “republic pudding,” “municipal prini,” “corner salad," “presidential cancun beef,” “order sliced potato” and “centre right devilled fish.”

Tickets were sold for Rf200 for the dinner night organised by the women’s wing of the party. Secretary General Ahmed Thaufeeq said about 500 tickets were sold.

“The ceremony was held to improve the bonds between different parties and to meet up in a single place on the same time. We definitely got a good support,” he said.

“This is a new thing, but we are very pleased with it.” http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33265

Government to charge for sewerage service in islands
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MALE, November 9 (HNS) – The government Monday announced plans to levy a fee from the sewerage facilities developed in the islands.

The announcement was made by Housing Minister Mohamed Aslam at the ceremony held to hand over the sewerage facilities developed in three islands to the utilities companies.

“At least an operational cost must be obtained by the operators from those who use the service,” he said.

“The amount to be charged has not yet been decided. The amount will be decided accordingly after comparing the rates charged in Male. As you are aware of, providing these services require an operational cost. So we have to get this amount from somewhere.”

The minister noted that Finance Ministry would be responsible for the loan taken from Japan’s JBIC to develop the sewerage facilities in Shaviyani atoll Funadhoo, Baa atoll Eydhafushi and Meemu atoll Muli.

“The government built the infrastructure and provided the capital investment. They will charge an amount from those who use the service to cover the operational cost,” he said.

Aslam stressed that the loan cannot be repaid with the service charge.

Minister Aslam signed the agreement on behalf of the government while Upper North Utilities Managing Director Abdulla Waheedh signed for the facility in Funadhoo, Northern Utilities Managing Director Ali Hassan for the facility in Eydhafushi and Central Utilities Managing Director Abdulla Jameel for the facility in Mulee.

Speaking at the ceremony State Housing Minister Akram Kamaluddin said the facilities were delivered to the companies to provide efficient and sustainable services in a simple way.
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33310

Home Minister blames housing issues for escalating crime rate
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MALE, November 15 (HNS) – Home Minister Mohamed Shihab has blamed the escalating crime rate on the lack of proper housing in Male.

Home Minister told Haveeru last week that housing scarcities in overcrowded Male leads to teenagers committing crimes.

“This is a substantial problem. Male residents are forced to get out of their homes even if they want to get some fresh air. When we were young, we could play indoors. We did not have to go out. Now we are forced to go out and meet up with a gang and are caught up in a hassle. Crime-free places do not exist now. But our living conditions are forcing us to walk into gangs,” he said.

Shihab stressed that the time children spend with their parents must be increased in order to decrease the crime rate.

“This did not happen overnight. Reasons for the increase in stabbings, armed robberies and thefts have to be identified in order to find a solution,” he said.

“The solution is to provide a way in which families can have quality time together; a way to enjoy a meal together. Families should be able to go for an ice cream with their children even if it is once a week just as the president said earlier. It is important to provide ways in which families can live together.”

Shihab noted that improper prison facilities and some legal issues lead to the crimes.

“According to foreign experts in Maldives, this country is 23rd on the list of inmate populations. This happens because of our legal system, which forces us to imprison people for even minor crimes. Most countries rehabilitate drug abusers but we imprison them. Inmates have a small chance of coming back to the society as a good citizen,” he said, referring to World Bank experts who visited the Maldives for a drug abuse study.

“Class rooms, libraries, sports arenas and procedures to periodically allow inmates to move in and out of prisons must be established. A systematic jail is necessary to run such a system.” http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33395

Immigration set up laboratory to identify forged passport
MALE, November 15 (HNS) – Immigration Department has established a laboratory at Male International Airport to identify forged passports.

Immigration Controller Ilyas Hussein Ibrahim said the laboratory established with assistance from Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship started operations early November. He stressed that four Iraqi nationals who tried to transit with forged passports were arrested after the laboratory started operations.

“In addition to the laboratory, we identify forged passports through experience. But this laboratory stores information about thousands of forged passports confiscated in several countries,” he said.

Ilyas also said about 10 people who try to enter Maldives with counterfeit passports are arrested every month. The Rf1 million Addison Software used at the laboratory identifies forged passports and determines security features and details of visa and other travel documents, he added.

The controller noted that Australian Immigration, UAE Immigration, US Homeland Security, and Canadian Border Service share the software developed by Dutch Police in 1980.

According to the department, details of over 3,500 travel documents and security features are stored in the software. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33392

MVK to begin trial bus service in Male
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MALE, November 29 (HNS) – Male Municipality is working on providing trial bus service in capital Male through MVK.

Male Municipality President ‘Sarangu’ Adam Manik said the service is part of “Veshi Fahi Male” – Greater Male Development Programme.

“Providing bus service in Male is very difficult because of the large number of vehicles. But we have to see if there are any possible methods,” he said.

Adam Manik said MVK would use two buses brought in for Addu bus service. He, however, did not disclose the bus fare and the date to start the service.

The government is not required to pay any fee to the company for the trial service, Adam Manik added.http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33620

A veterinarian’s services begin in Male
MALE, December 8 (HNS) – A veterinarian has been brought to Male’ to treat pets.

According to an Agricultural Ministry official, a vet was brought in because of the large number of pets in Maldives. The official also said that the vet will be able to diagnose diseases, give treatments, and provide valuable technical information. The official noted that as Maldives is a member of The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), it is obligatory for a veterinarian to be present in Maldives.

“All types of living animals can now be treated. However we still don't have medicines specific for animal diseases. So we are now attempting to introduce a clinic to provide such medications,” the official said.

The ministry said that the vet who is working under a contract, will provide services in Male’ and other atolls.

They also said that while many different types of animals have been adopted as pets in Maldives, no serious diseases have been recorded yet. After the spreading of Bird Flu, importing of birds were banned except for one-day old chicks.

Indian naval ship joins Maldives marine operation
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MALE, December 7 (HNS) – An Indian naval ship has joined the ongoing joint operation by the Indian Navy and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard to patrol the Maldivian waters.

MNDF Major Abdu Raheem said the Indian naval ship and the Indian Navy aircraft, which arrived in the Maldives last week, are searching the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

MNDF and Indian Navy initiated the operation on Friday after eight Somalis were discovered in dinghies within Maldivian waters last week. The Maldives police, meanwhile, are trying to repatriate the 34 Somalis in custody.

“In this operation the area from north to south of the Maldives will be searched. So far, we have not found any Somalis or suspected activities in the Maldivian waters,” Abdu Raheem said.

He stressed that the operation will continue for an undefined period.

According to reports, Somali pirates operate in the Indian Ocean very far from Somalia. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33743/Indian_naval_ship_joins_Maldives_marine_operation

Australia doubles scholarships to Maldives
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MALE, December 14 (HNS) – Australian government has doubled the scholarship opportunities to Maldivian nationals.

Speaking at the “Australia Awards 2011” ceremony held last evening at Traders Hotel Male, Australian High Commissioner Kathy Klugman said scholarships were doubled this year as a result of President Mohamed Nasheed’s intervention with the Australian government

She also said as a result of the interactions with Australian government by President Nasheed, “we’ve just now taken [Australia-Maldives] relationship to an entirely new level.”

According to President’s Office, 31 scholarships will be provided to the Maldives under the prestigious ‘Australia Awards’ programme. Six out of the 31 scholars were awarded as an Australian Leadership Award Scholarship (ALAS) and the remaining 25 scholars as the Australian Development Scholarships (ADS), the office said.

Following President Nasheed’s meeting with the then Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Canberra earlier this year, the Australian government announced Australia’s aid programme for the Maldives, including an increased number of scholarships, the President’s Office added. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33852

427 ballot boxes in local council election
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MALE, December 14 (HNS) – Elections Commission will set up 427 vote boxes across the Maldives and in three neighbouring countries for the upcoming local council election.

A commission official said 279 ballot boxes would be established in the atolls, 116 in Male, and 26 in the resorts. Ballot boxes will also be established at three prisons, India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.

“The number of boxes may change depending on how many people register before the due date,” the official said.

The commission said ballot boxes would be placed only in resorts with more than 100 voters in the registry.

According to the commission, despite Penitentiary Department’s records show that over 100 inmates are eligible for voting, ballot boxes will be established in Male Prison, Maafushi Prison and Asseyri Prison only if more than 100 inmates register.

The official stressed that more than 300 people from India’s Trivandrum, Kuala Lumpur and Srilanka should register. A box will not be placed in Singapore because the required number of people did not register even after re-announcement, the commission added.

The gazetted voters’ registry lists 224,474 eligible voters that, Elections Commission said, would change once complaints are filed. The commission received 285 complaints most of which were about mistakes in name and address. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33854

President dismisses councillors
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MALE, December 25 (HNS) - President Mohamed Nasheed has decided to dismiss all the appointed councillors from their positions, effective from tomorrow.

A statement issued by the President's Office said the decision was made in order to ensure that local council elections are free and fair.

The statement stressed that the people of Maldives will place one of the biggest responsibilities in national development on the local councils.

"As Head of State, the President therefore believes he is duty-bound to take necessary steps and timely decisions to ensure that the elections are free and fair. Accordingly, with respect to the powers vested on him under Article 115 of the Constitution, the President has decided to discharge all councillors appointed by him, effective from 26 December 2010," the statement read.

Earlier today, Press Secretary at President’s Office Mohamed Zuhair also said President Nasheed will dismiss the councillors after the publication of the candidates list for the local council election slated for February 5, 2011.

Zuhair, however, said coordinators assigned by the president to some islands would remain.

"Coordinators will remain as they are the people who will provide services to the people from the president. But they will not intervene in any matter of the election. Their only job is to coordinate and head the government’s development projects," he said.

Elections Commission, meanwhile, sorted the candidates name today. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33997

Velezinee replaces Abdulla Didi in High Court Bench Panel
MALE, December 25 (HNS) – Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Didi from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) panel created to appoint the High Court bench has been replaced by Presidential Member at the commission, Aishath Velezinee.

A commission statement issued on Thursday said Abdulla Didi was removed from the panel at Tuesday’s meeting.

The commission’s Media Coordinator Hassan Zaheen said the action was not taken due to a problem with Abdulla Didi, but was done to include members who can attend the meetings in order to expedite the process.

JSC said only two meetings were held from December 19-23. The commission in Tuesday’s meeting evaluated the progress of the committee formed to study the candidates to the High Court bench. In Thursday’s meeting, discussions were held on the preparation of the High Court Bench, the commission added.

JSC further said a complaints committee meeting was not held from December 19-23 on the request of Chair Velezinee.

However, a job committee meeting, a meeting of the panel formed to interview the candidates for the High Court bench, and a meeting of the panel compiled to complete the processes declared in the Judges Act and the Judicature Act were held, the commission added. http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/33996

Maldives and India begin joint surveillance operation
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MALE, January 8 (HNS) – Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and Indian Navy are conducting a joint surveillance operation in the Maldivian Economic Zone.

MNDF spokesperson, Lieutenant Abdulla Ali said no suspected activities have been found so far in the operation being conducted since Thursday.

The operation uses Maldivian Coastguard vessels and an Indian Navy Dornier aircraft.

“We carry out joint operations with the Indian Navy in order to strengthen the security of the Maldives Economic Zone,” he said.

MNDF assures that actions will be taken against those who commit illegal activities within the Maldivian Economic Zone.

MNDF and Indian Navy strengthened military cooperation and began joint surveillance operations after several Somalis were discovered in dinghies within Maldivian waters.

The Maldivian Coastguard along with Sri Lankan Navy also announced plans to eradicate piracy, drug trafficking and human smuggling that has plagued the Indian Ocean region.
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/34149/Maldives_and_India_begin_joint_surveillance_operation

Maldivian democracy still work in progress: UN Coordinator
MALE, February 3 (HNS) - The United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Maldives, Andrew Cox, suggested that democracy was still a developing entity in the Maldives, and would require some time before it could grow “deep roots”.

“I think it (democracy) has made very large strides but one should not assume that one has democracy the day after the first National Elections. Democracy is a very hard thing to develop, to give deep roots,” Cox, who is also the UNDP Resident Representative, said, while speaking to Haveeru.

“Everybody has a responsibility to deepen democracy. I think that there is not quite a shared vision of what democracy should become here in the Maldives, and I think that in one way or another everybody could do much more in the political domain to deepen democracy.”

His comments come two days ahead of Maldives’ first Local Council Elections, which the country’s chief UN figure says offer an opportunity to strengthen democracy “in a very different way”.

“It is not entirely clear how a local government will work in the Maldives. All we can do is try and see how it goes,” he exerted, adding that it nevertheless “gives the opportunity for democracy to develop in a very real way for many Maldivians”.

Cox revealed that one of the main steps the UN will have to take in the Maldives, post-election, will be to create a project which identifies and supports the work of a Local Government.

Speaking on the UN’s future objectives in the country, Cox said that the world body would collaborate closely with the Elections Commission and the Supreme Court, two vital components for a stable democracy.

Moving away from the subject of democracy, Cox said that the future would hold a number of opportunities for Maldives to continue in the key role it was playing in the sphere of climate change.

“There are some good investments and good resources coming into the Maldives for climate change, so it is very important to make sure there is proper planning and that those monies are spent properly.” http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/34621

French Naval Academy Training Cruise in Maldives
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MALE, June 8 (HNS) – As we climbed aboard the ship Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Mistral of the French Navy on Monday, I stared in awe captivated by the mere size of the ship.

The seven floor ship is part of the Jeanne d’Arc Mission, a long-term sea deployment which concludes the curriculum at École Navale the French Naval Academy for officers-to-be at the French Navy. For more than a hundred years, the mission has rounded off the Naval Academy training. More:http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/36750

Male's new airport terminal - designed by ADPI architects:

Malé International Airport, Malé, Maldives (http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=17145)
Something new on the horizon...

ADPI designs new international airport terminal dedicated to the sea in Maldives

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On arriving in Maldives, the horizon reveals their incredible aesthetics; sky and sea are separated, yet unified, into a perfect, infinite horizontal line. Millions of tourists come to Maldives looking for this simplicity; a dream picture of paradise.

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Contemplating this exceptional framework, ADPI has designed The New Maldives Airport Facilities taking into account crucial aspects for an international airport: identity, sustainability, economic growth, efficiency, operational excellence, customer service, expandability, security and safety.

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The architects' global approach matches perfectly the natural landscape and culture, with the fulfillment of the airport's essential needs composed mainly through constraints; operational, safety and security. The new airport will form part of a unique line in the horizon ended by two points on the extension of this line, underlining its presence.

The architects describe the design as: "like a ship; it should be like a sail filled by the wind forces." Roof perforations reflect the atolls' pattern seen from above, like an archipelago. The roof's inner face will be covered by bamboo laths, reminiscent of the vegetal fiber used on the roof of many regional constructions. This strong image communicates a promising Maldivian future; contemporary architecture fitted into a familiar picture.

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To make sure it becomes a benchmark in sustainability, the new Malé International Airport will bear LEED Silver Certification and present various approaches aiming to reduce its environmental impact. Site integration, water management, energy management, material and indoor environmental quality are the main areas featuring sustainable design solutions. One example is a SeaWater Air Conditioning (SWAC) system that will take advantage of available deep cold seawater to replace energy-intensive central refrigeration systems that cool chilled water.

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The design also focused on the easy maintainability of the installations and on the efficiency of access. The apron's Taxiways / Runways and Terminal Building has been designed following a global strategy: to reduce environmental impact by the usage and optimum layout available on the site limits. By the efficiency of the apron's new layout, phasing and approach, Maldives Airport will reach its maximum capacity while optimising all the levels of services, without reaching the coral reef.

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http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5029/5558259693_e65bd463fd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mofaj_tohoku/5558259693/)
maldives02 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mofaj_tohoku/5558259693/) by Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake（MOFA, Japan) (http://www.flickr.com/people/mofaj_tohoku/), on Flickr

Maldives is pure paradise!!

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6042/6361968877_0bb4d3e075_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zzeng/6361968877/)
DSC_0748 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zzeng/6361968877/) by 曾@Tokyo (http://www.flickr.com/people/zzeng/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/7034479271_1033a84395_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/garazy/7034479271/)
Maldives (http://www.flickr.com/photos/garazy/7034479271/) by garazy (http://www.flickr.com/people/garazy/), on Flickr

Centara Maldives launches Next Generation Leadership Programme
Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives has launched a programme to groom Maldivians for hotel and resort management, providing training in Thailand and Switzerland to selected personnel who will continue to receive full pay and benefits during their studies.

The programme is operated by Centara Hotels & Resorts of Thailand, who use it to train potential managers as preparation for the continuing expansion of the group, and is facilitated by the head office in Bangkok. Read more (http://www.incentivetravel.co.uk/news/hotel/11256-centara-maldives-launches-next-generation-leadership-programme)

PPM would pursue oil exploration, foreign investment: Abdulla Yameen
The potential for developing a domestic oil industry was launched as a campaign issue during a speech on Monday (January 14) by Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) presidential prospect, MP Abdulla Yameen.

Yameen proclaimed “when the PPM comes to power” it will conduct oil exploration, attract foreign investment and create 26,000 tourism jobs.Read more (http://minivannews.com/politics/ppm-would-pursue-oil-exploration-foreign-investment-abdulla-yameen-51214)

FORMER MALDIVIAN PRESIDENT SEEKS ASYLUM IN INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka Feb. 13 (NNN-Xinhua) -- Former Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed on Wednesday sought refuge at the Indian High Commission in Maldives following summons issued by a local court to produce him over a case.

Nasheed's party, the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) said that the party will have an urgent meeting later in the evening following the latest developments. Read more (http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v3/read.php?id=MjIxMjE2)