Government to subsidize electricity bills of 14250 electric meters in Male’
Government has decided to subsidize electricity bills of 14250 electric meters in Male’. There are a total of 18905 electric meters in Male’. Under the current framework for giving subsidies, the increment in electricity bills due the recent increase in electricity charges will be paid by the government for a total of 14250 electric meters in Male’. In addition, 60 percent of the increment in electricity bills of 3908 meters will be paid by the National Social Protection Agency. In order to find a permanent solution for the historically higher electricity bills, the government has begun major renewable energy projects in different areas of the Maldives. Government has corporatized the State Electric Company and appointed an independent Board of Directors. As a result, the company had increased the electricity fees to cover the cost of production.

President congratulates the Sri Lankan President on election victory
President Mohamed Nasheed has this afternoon telephoned President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka and congratulated and conveyed well wishes to him on his re-election to office.
President Nasheed also sent a message of congratulations to President Rajapaksa. The message reads as follows:
Quote:
I wish to extend warm congratulations and sincere well wishes to Your Excellency, on your re-election as President of Sri Lanka.

Your victory is a tribute to your foresight, leadership and policies, and it shows the confidence that the people of Sri Lanka have in you and your government. I am hopeful that during your new term of office, the people of Sri Lanka will see a more peaceful, prosperous and egalitarian society.

I am confident that in the years ahead our two countries would be able to further consolidate our long-standing relations and diversify our ties in new areas of cooperation and collaboration. I also look forward to working closely with you on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

President urges to hold back advocating for a 15 percent increase in government employees’ wages

President Mohamed Nasheed has urged all parties to hold back advocating to increase for a 15 percent increase in government employees’ wages for now. He made the statement speaking at the ceremony held at the President’s Office this afternoon to sign the management contracts between the Ministry of Education and province offices to decentralize the functions of the ministry. Furthermore, the President called on all government employees to work to with the best interest of the economy and people in mind. Referring to the statement issued by the International Monetary Fund on the fiscal adjustment measures in the Maldives, the President said the government supported the statement. He noted that the proportion of government employees in terms of gross domestic product in the Maldives is the highest.

Ministry of Education and province offices sign management contracts to transfer some functions of the Ministry to province offices

Ministry of Education and seven province offices have signed the management contracts to transfer some functions of the ministry to the province offices. As part of the government’s decentralization policy, the cabinet decided, on 12 January 2010, to transfer some functions of line ministries to province offices, under a management contract between ministries and seven province offices. At a ceremony held at the President’s Office this afternoon, Minister of Education Dr Musthafa Luthfy signed the contract on behalf of the Ministry, while State Ministers appointed to provinces signed on behalf of their respective provinces. Deputy Undersecretary of the President’s Office Mr. Hussain Adam who is in charge of North Province signed on behalf of the North Province. Speaking at today’s ceremony, President Mohamed Nasheed said the aim of the government was to transfer the functions of all line ministries to province offices to enable the delivery of services directly to the people, under a management contract. In his remarks, the President said a Decentralization Act was needed to establish a solid legal framework to run the administrative regions. He said what the government was doing today was creating a sound administrative structure to deliver services closer to the people

Government welcomes the IMF statement on the implementation of fiscal adjustment measures in the Maldives
The Maldivian government welcomes the statement issued by Mr. Rodrigo Cuberto, mission Chief for the Maldives of the International Monetary Fund on the implementation of fiscal adjustment measures. The IMF statement clearly reaffirms support for the government’s economic policy; in particular the plans to reduce spending on public sector wages and in implementing budget restrictions and control. The new administration inherited unprecedented levels of debt from the previous regime. In order to ensure economic stability and long term prosperity, it is essential that the government breaks away from the reckless policies of the past, reduces spending and brings the budget deficit under control. The IMF statement warns that if expenditure on public sector wages increases, the economic situation in the country will deteriorate, as inflation rises and the money in people’s pockets is not worth as much at the market. The IMF also notes that an increase in the government wage bill may jeopardize prospects for international support for the Maldives, threatening economic recovery. The government is determined to ensure long term economic stability and prosperity. Increasing civil servants’ salaries will undermine the economic recovery and put the future prosperity of every Maldivian at risk. The Maldives government is fully committed to work consistently with the fiscal framework envisaged in the IMF- supported program. Following the IMF statement, President Nasheed urged “all parties to work together to ensure that decisions are made with the best interests of the economy and the Maldivian people in mind.”

President appoints State Ministers for provinces
President Mohamed Nasheed has today appointed the Ministers of State for Home Affairs in provinces as Ministers of State for their designated provinces. President Nasheed presented their Letters of Appointment at a ceremony held at the President’s Office this afternoon.
Ministers of State appointed for provinces are as follows.
1. Minister of State, Upper North Province Mohamed Hunaif
2. Minister of State, North Central Province Mohamed Naeem
3. Minister of State, Central Province, Farooq Mohamed Hassan
4. Minister of State, South Central Province Ahmed Mujthaba
5. Minister of State, Upper South Province Umar Jamal
6. Minister of State, South Province Mohamed Naseer
Speaking after presenting Letters of Appointment, President Nasheed said the government wanted to carry out the decentralization process within a legal framework. However, he noted that that the absence of legislation was not a reason to prevent people from fully enjoying the rights prescribed in the Constitution. Furthermore, he urged the State Ministers to discharge their duties with the best interest of the people in mind.

Indians should know the local language – High Commissioner
Indian High Commissioner in the Maldives has said that it is vital for the Indians to learn Dhivehi language.
Speaking at a function held to mark the Indian republic day, High Commissioner said that Indians should learn Dhivehi language as well, just like any other international languages which they learn. He also said that as many Maldivians are living in India and many Indians are living in the Maldives and as Minicoy, Indian island just off the coast of Maldives speaks Dhivehi language, Indians should learn it. High Commissioner also highlighted the role of the society to fight against poverty. High Commissioner also said that despite India being one of the largest countries, abundance of natural resources and the presence of many rich individuals in the country, India’s development and progress is hindered by the abject poverty in the country. High Commissioner also said “people make it a superpower. All should work to make it a superpower. All individuals should assist as per their abilities and resources, at least assist one particular individual. That’s the only way to remain as a superpower”. He also said that serving for the society shall be a responsibility of all and that could either be done by creating an NGO or by joining an already established one. The function to mark the 60th republic day was introduced by Second Secretary Mr. Kirtik. Indian flag was hoisted and the message by Indian Prime Minister was read out by High Commissioner. The function was concluded by a national song.

[Click to view the photos]

International photographer Milan Josipovic returns to Huvafen Fushi Maldives
From 19-27 March 2010, renowned international photographer Milan Josipovic is returning to Huvafen Fushi Maldives to capture moments of guests' holidays on film. Known for his stunning dramatic eye, using only natural light to create incredible photographs of the subject, whether an individual, a couple, a family or an object, Josipovic received rave reviews from guests last year who had the rare opportunity to be photographed by him. The photographer and short film director has been mastering the art of photography for more than 15 years. Having worked with some of the world's top supermodels during his time with modeling agencies, Next, Elite and Wilhelmina, he also snaps breathtaking images of everyday people, turning them into stunning personality portraits.

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Haiti survivors reluctant to relocate
Government plans to relocate hundreds of thousands of Haitians out of makeshift camps to new temporary shelters have been greeted with suspicion by a disorientated and destitute population. An estimated one million people were left homeless two weeks ago by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti, the worst natural disaster on record anywhere in the Americas. There has already been an exodus of more than 235,000 people, roughly one in 10, from the decimated capital. Port-au-Prince had accounted for some 60 percent of the country's wealth prior to the January 12 quake. "I'm not going to Croix des Bouquets or anywhere for that matter," said Martine Desir, 24, referring to a new temporary community being set up by the government some 15 kilometers (nine miles) outside the capital.

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Sunflower Genome Holds The Promise Of Sustainable Agriculture
As agricultural land becomes increasingly valuable, the need to maximize its utilization increases and decisions about what crops to plant and where, become paramount. The sunflower family includes a number of valuable food crops, with sunflower seed production alone valued at about $14 billion annually. Yet the sunflower family is the only one of a handful of economically important plant families where a reference genome is not available to enable the breeding of crops better suited to their growing environment or consumers tastes. A new research project, largely funded by Genome Canada, Genome BC, the US Departments of Energy and Agriculture, and France's INRA (National Institute for Agricultural Research), will create a reference genome for the sunflower family - currently the world's largest plant family, containing 24,000 species of plants, including many crops, medicinal plants, horticulture plants and noxious weeds.

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Challenger rejects opponent's Sri Lanka poll majority
Less than a year after defeating the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lanka's feuding victors have threatened to unleash a second civil war on the island after an election ended with one war-hero candidate rejecting the vote result and the other trying to have his opponent's candidate nullified. On Wednesday morning, opposition leader General Sarath Fonseka, his hotel surrounded by troops loyal to the government, told reporters that he rejected poll results which showed a 57.8 per cent majority for current president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

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Envoy for Science and Technology meets the Maldives Science Society

Envoy for Science and Technology Ahmed Shafeeq Ibrahim Moosa has today met with President of the Maldives Science Society Mohamed Ijaz and Secretary General Amal Shaheed. Speaking at the meeting, the Envoy for Science and Technology highlighted the importance of small scale and grassroots movements in achieving important outcomes for the development of the nation. He said the Maldives Science Society could contribute to the government’s plans to make the Maldives the first carbon neutral country in the world. He urged the Maldives Science Society to work to make the public more aware of green technologies and environment friendly ways of living. Maldives Science Society was created with the aim of fostering enthusiasm for science and technology, and to create an environment for scientific creativity, research and discovery in the Maldives. Discussions were also held on ways of providing government support and assistance for the activities of the Maldives Science Society.

Four transportation regulations and Civil Court Preliminary Hearings Regulation published in the government Gazette.

Four public transportation regulations issued by the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment are published in the government Gazette today. Transport regulations published in the today’s issue of the Gazette are:
1. Motor Vehicle Driving License Regulation
2. Motor Vehicles Speed Limit Regulation
3. Exempted Vehicles Regulation
4. Public Transport Ferries Regulation
In addition, the Civil Court Preliminary Hearing Regulation is also published in today’s issue of the government Gazette.

Address by President Mohamed Nasheed at the Indian Republic Day Reception

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Two proposals for the development Hanimaadhoo Airport presented to the President

Two proposals for the development of Hanimaadhoo Airport were presented to President Mohamed Nasheed today. At two separate meetings held at the President’s Office this afternoon, two leading architects from Norway and Hong Kong presented their respective proposals and conceptual designs to the President. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the government of the Maldives and GMR Infrastructure Global Development Limited of India on 5 November 2009 to develop a trendsetting international airport in Hanimaadhoo. The conceptual designs proposed under the aegis of the MoU are designed to preserve and enhance the natural beauty and the landscape of the island. During the meeting, the two architects answered the questions from the government officials on the economic and structural feasibility of the projects. Government has today decided to conduct further technical analysis of these projects proposed by GMR.

The Maldives can learn from India’s embrace of democracy, freedom and the rule of law – President

President Mohamed Nasheed, in his address at the reception held to celebrate India’s 60th republic day anniversary, has said that the Maldives could “learn from India’s embrace of democracy, freedom and the rule of law”. “It is only when we examine the past critically, that we are able to learn from others’ experience,” said the President. Stating that India took bold decision to found a republic based on the principles of democracy and freedom, President said that today India was a “shining beacon of freedom and hope around the world”. Drawing parallels between India’s transition to democracy and that of the Maldives’, President Nasheed said that just as Just as India faced “growing pains after Independence, so the Maldives has teething problems of its own”. “And just as we can learn from India’s dedication to a free society, I believe we can also learn from India’s commitment to a free economy,” he added. He also said that as a result of the Maldives economy being “centrally planned and heavily regulated” in the past, it had “prevented growth, repelled investment and thwarted people’s aspirations”. He said that by opening our economy to the world the Maldives also could enjoy economic success. President Nasheed added and that we must “entrench democracy and liberate the economy” for a “brighter, happier and more prosperous tomorrow”. In his address, President extended greetings to the President, the Prime Minister, and the people of India, on the occasion of the country’s Republic Day. President Nasheed also said that he was confident that the longstanding ties of friendship and understanding between the Maldives and India would deepen in the future. First Lady Madam Laila Ali and Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed also attended the function.

Keells Hotels Group gears up for a boost in Sri Lanka tourism in 2010.
With 13 properties located in prime tourist locations of both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, John Keells Hotels Group has strived to create a new and exciting experience for the traveller over a span of more than 35 years. Winning the Presidential Award for the best 5 star hotel in Colombo with their 501 roomed Cinnamon Grand Colombo hotel for two consecutive years, there will be no qualms of believing that they understand the concept of ‘luxury’.

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Centara offers island hopping for incentive tours
Incentives group planners looking for a tranquil place to organise an event will find nowhere more secluded than a deserted tropical island. Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives is offering the choice amongst its selection of island options, taking guests by speedboat to a nearby uninhabited island where a marquee, tables and chairs, and any other requested facilities including audio-visual equipment will be waiting for them. They will spend the day on the white sandy private beach enjoying the sea, the sun, the traditional Bodu Beru band and the magnificent lunch prepared on the island by the resort's chef, which will include a BBQ with fresh fish, lobster and steak.

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The generosity of the United States
During the past year, the United States has seen a President intent on apologizing for what he perceives to be the mistakes and misdeeds of our country. A President who admires countries like Cuba and Venezuela. A President who tends to dismiss those countries that are our allies in favor of those who are our enemies. A President who is very hesitant to say anything good about America or tout it's greatness. Recently, as everyone knows, a devastating earthquake shook one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere - Haiti. Measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, the earthquake toppled buildings, killing and injuring hundreds of thousands of people. Haiti has been impoverished for centuries. The government is corrupt. Haiti's infrastructure is akin to a third world country, with little signs of improvement over the years. Destitute. Most of it's people have no marketable skills and only a small minority finish school. Most Haitians exist on pennies a day. Hard to imagine it could get any worse, but it has.

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India played a key role in Maldives Democratic transition
In the official dinner hosted by the Foreign Minister in honor of Indian foreign Secretary has said that India has played a key role in the democratic transition of the country. Foreign Minister also requested the Indian assistance for strengthening Maldivian parliament, judiciary and independent commissions, and the Indian Foreign Secretary said that Indian will provide any assistance it can to Maldivian people. Speaking to Miadhu Daily Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed has said that the Indian assistance to Maldives have always been “brotherly”. Dr. Shaheed also said that substantive work on “India Maldives Foundation” would also begin this year

Civil servants stand up against political participation
Civil servants had expressed dissatisfaction because certain political parties and politicians are participating and “high-jacking” civil servants efforts to secure their rights. Civil servants are of the view that their participation would create more problems for the civil servants than the added value it would bring. A civil servant who spoke on condition of anonymity said that those political parties could always discuss about the rights of the civil servants in their own party events, but not in the events organized by the civil servants association itself. “One of the biggest problems in this country is that all is mixing-up and we are confused. Civil society’s role and political parties roles are mixing up. Civil servants events are ending up as campaigns of certain political parties and this eventually leaves people more confused than they previously were. They don’t know who to trust” said Mohamed Sameer, a senior civil servant. He also said that such activities could ruin the reputation of civil society. He also said that we should be extremely careful at a time when serious disagreements are arising between the civil servants and political appointees.

India will fuel next industrial revolution: Maldives
India has the intellectual capacity, strength and ability to fuel the next industrial revolution, said the Maldives president. “Countries in Asia need India’s success and we all should partner with India in its efforts to take on global challenges,” said Mohamed Nasheed Friday in Chennai, delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of The Partnership Summit 2010 – “Global Partnerships: Meeting Challenges”, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with the Government of India . He added that Indian companies are making big contribution to the development of Maldives economy by investing especially in its tourism, renewable energy, infrastructure and educational sector. Nasheed said the world is in the brink of the next industrial revolution – the one based on renewable energy. “ India is already in the forefront of developing renewable energy. However, it should evolve strategies to protect itself from the fluctuating oil prices, as countries that do not understand renewable energy, will not be the leaders of the bold, brave new future.”

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Apollo to manage Indira Hospital in Male
CHENNAI: The Apollo Hospitals signed an MoU with the Republic of Maldives for managing the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital located in Male, Republic of Maldives. Preetha Reddy, managing director, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “As a high-end tourist locale, Maldives is well positioned for global medical value travel. It would be an important step towards broadening the economic base of the country.” During the management tenure of 15 years, Apollo will work closely with the Republic of Maldives and the Government of India in developing the Hospital as a destination for healthcare and wellness services, research and development etc.

Maldives Look Towards India for Boosting Its Economy

President Mohammed Nasheed of Maldives extolled India’s success in overcoming global challenges and said that the countries of the region should join forces with India to take forward the economic growth to the next level. The President was delivering his keynote address at The Partnership Summit 2010 on the topic ‘Global Partnerships: Meeting Challenges’. Nasheed said, “The world is on the brink of next industrial revolution – the one based on renewable energy. India is already in the forefront of developing renewable energy. However, it should evolve strategies to protect itself from the fluctuating oil prices, as countries that do not understand renewable energy will not be the leaders of the bold, brave new future.” About Maldivian economy, he said that his government is in the process of opening it up for foreign investments. He said, “From water and sewerage, to aquaculture and fishing, the message is the same: we are open for business.” He said that many Indian companies have already invested in Maldives and reaped rich dividends for it. The Taj Group that has two resorts in Maldives is one of the pioneers in this endeavor. Suzlon has already signed agreement to build wind farm in the southern parts of Maldives. GMR has signed a pact to develop an international port in northern parts of the country. He invited India Inc to visit ‘Invest Maldives’ website for more information on the liberalization policies initiated by his government to attract foreign investment. With the Maldivian airlines flying directly between Male and Chennai, the President hoped the ties between the two countries would see an upsurge.

Privatisation of Maldives Airport Company reaches key RFP stage
MALDIVES. The Maldives government is preparing to issue a Request for Proposals for a controlling stake in Maldives Airport Company Limited (MACL), which manages Malé International Airport. In October the government launched the process to sell a majority stake in the airport company, to fund the expansion and development of Malé International. MACL will also be restructured so that the privatised company is not responsible for air traffic and security services, as it is currently. The government has employed the services of the International Finance Corporation, which advises on infrastructure projects, to help it find an investor.

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Maldives’ poll panel wants to learn from Indian counterpart
The Maldives’ newly-independent Elections Commission wants to learn “a lot” from its Indian counterpart, one of its commissioners said Monday. “We are the first ever independent election commission in the history of Maldives. We are only two months old,” Ibrahim Waheed, one of the five election commissioners, told IANS on the sidelines of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

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President meets Indian Foreign Secretary

President Mohamed Nasheed has today met with Indian Foreign Secretary Mrs Nirupama Rao. The meeting was held this afternoon at the President’s Office. Discussions were held on the ways of strengthening bilateral relations and on possible areas of cooperation between the Maldives and India. President noted that climate change was a very immediate issue for the Maldives and spoke on the significance of the Copenhagen Accord. He further underlined the need for countries to sign the Accord. He also discussed other bilateral and multilateral issues such as security and SAARC. Mrs Rao reiterated India’s commitment to strengthen the close relations with the Maldives. She assured that India would cooperate with the Maldives in all its developmental endeavours.

President Nasheed returns to Malé

President Mohamed Nasheed has last night returned to Malé after concluding his visits to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and India. During his visit to Abu Dhabi, President spoke at the World Future Energy Summit. In Bahrain, President held meetings with senior government officials as well as with banking, investment, and finance sectors in Bahrain. In Chennai, India, Nasheed attended the Partnership Summit 2010 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry. Also during this visit the Government signed an agreement with Apollo Hospitals to mange Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.

President attends a working lunch hosted by CII
As part of his visit to Chennai, India, President Mohamed Nasheed has today took part in a working lunch hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry. Special interest was shown towards government’s privatisation policy and the economic reform measures being undertaken in the Maldives. President Nasheed said that the government was looking for investors for public sector investment programmes, particularly in utilities and other infrastructure projects. He also highlighted on the climate issue and said that Climate change was not an issue in the distant future but that it was a very immediate threat to the Maldive islands. He said, therefore, the islands of Maldives needed adaptation measures. The lunch was attended by representatives from major Indian companies.

Government signs agreement with Apollo Hospitals to manage IGMH

The Government of Maldives has signed an agreement with Apollo Hospitals to mange Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male’. The agreement was signed during President Nasheed's visit to Chennai, India. The agreement was signed on behalf of the government of Maldives by the Minister of Health and Family, Dr Aminath Jameel and on behalf of Apollo Hospitals, its Managing Director Dr Preetha Reddy signed the agreement. The agreement involves the upgradation of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital to provide world class healthcare to the local population of the Maldives and overseas patients. During the management tenure of 15 years, Apollo Hospitals will work closely with the Government of Maldives and the Government of India in developing the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospitals as a destination for healthcare and wellness services, research & development and medical education. Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, President Nasheed said 'we have immense faith in Apollo Hospitals and the pioneering spirit of the group. Under the able leadership of the visionary, Dr Reddy, we are certain that the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and Maldives will emerge as a global healthcare destination.'

Apollo Hospitals to manage hospital in Maldives
New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) Leading Indian hospital chain Apollo will mange the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital located in Maldives’ capital Male for 15 years and help develop it as a destination for healthcare and wellness services. Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and Apollo Hospitals chief Prathap C. Reddy signed the agreement Saturday, the hospital said in a statement. “As a high-end tourist locale, I would say that Maldives is well positioned for global medical value travel. We are confident that it would be an important step towards broadening the economic base of the country,” Reddy said. During the management tenure of 15 years, Apollo will work closely with Maldives in developing the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital as a destination for healthcare and wellness services, research and development, and medical education. The services shall cater to both the local population and foreigners. Speaking on the occasion, Nasheed said that he is optimistic that hospital and his country will emerge as a global healthcare destination. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital is a state owned hospital in Male. A gift from the Indian government, the 275-bed hospital has been providing a range of basic and specialty services since 1999.

Need for more economic co-operation among ASEAN nations stressed
CII’s two-day 16th partnership summit (which was shifted from Hyderabad) began in Chennai on Saturday under the theme, ‘Global Partnerships: Meeting Challenges’, with participation of delegates from 22 countries. Speakers stressed on the need for establishing close economic co-operation between the countries in Asia and reaching comprehensive economic agreements among them. Summit chairman and Union minister for commerce and industry, Anand Sharma said, “ASEAN is a very vibrant region with an annual trade of more than $1 trillion. They account for half of world’s economic growth. The countries should work on integrating their economies.” He asserted the re-energised Doha development round would be concluded this year. If it came through, another $500 billion would be added to global GDP. Sharma also noted, “Wealth created must be re-distributed. We respect intellectual property rights. But, when we have hunger and poverty, it should not be protected at the cost of human welfare and for the benefit of few.”

Karunanidhi mum on issue of Nalini's premature release
Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi on Saturday declined to comment on the proposects of Nalini's premature release from prison. Talking to mediapersons at his residence, Karunanidhi, when asked about the chances of a premature release for Nalini, serving a life sentence in Vellore prison in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, merely said it was not the appropriate time to talk about it particularly when the advisory board was reviewing her plea for an early release. Nalini has been in prison for about 19 years now and had deposed before the advisory board last week. The release requests of 11 life convicts, including Nalini Sriharan, Robert Payas and Jayakumar, who are serving the term in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, came up before the board. Earlier, Karunanidhi met Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed who called at his residence. Nasheed agreed to participate in the world classical Tamil conference to be held in June in Coimbatore. The Maldives president said he would lead a delegation from Maldives for the conference. On Friday, it was the Malaysian prime minister who received an invitation for the world Tamil conference. Karunanidhi held discussion with his cabinet colleagues and Tamil scholars later in the evening on the preparations for the conference. As many as 2,803 delegates from 41 countries agreed to participate in the event, which will begin with a huge rally on June 23, he said. President Pratibha Patil will participate in the inaugural event and special flights will be operated for the event.

Male agrees to work with Dhaka on climate change
The Maldives government has agreed to work with Bangladesh for resolving the global climate change issues.
The newly appointed Maldives high commissioner to Bangladesh, Ahmed Sareer, made the remark when he placed his credentials to President Zillur Rahman at the President’s Secretariat in Dhaka recently. Praising the role of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in the Copenhagen conference on climate change, Sareer said Hasina successfully motivated the world leaders of rich countries for reducing their carbon emission. “We are committed to continuing our efforts for reducing carbon gas emission successfully.”

President meets with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
As part of his visit to Chennai, India, President Mohamed Nasheed has met with Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Kalaignar M Karunanidhi. Speaking at the meeting, President Nasheed thanked Chief Minster, State of Tamil Nadu and the friendly people of Tamil Nadu, for the warm welcome and generous hospitality that was accorded to him and to the members of his delegation in Chennai. He also noted the assistance that the State Government had extended to Maldivians visiting Chennai, and said that strong historical ties existed between the Maldives and Tamil Nadu. The President further highlighted the importance of strengthening cultural relations between the Maldives and Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister said that many Maldivians were studying in Chennai’s educational institutions, and said that Chennai would welcome all Maldivian students coming to Chennai to pursue further studies. Noting the close friendly relations between the Maldives and Malaysia, the Prime Minister said He also briefed the President on Malaysia’s economic situation and the steps the Malaysian government was taking to keep the economy growing. The two leaders also discussed investment opportunities available in the Maldives. Separately the President also met with the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr Thiru M K Stalin. Also, the President and his delegation, on Friday evening, attended a dinner hosted by Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, in honour of visiting dignitaries to participate in the Partnership Summit.

“Unprecedented” economic reforms in the Maldives – President Nasheed
In his speech, today, at the plenary session of an economic forum, entitled “The Partnership Summit 2010”, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, President Mohamed Nasheed has spoken on government’s economic policy and on investment opportunities available in the Maldives. The President said he introduced “unprecedented market-based reforms” in the Maldives and discussed the measures underway. The economic reforms, he explained, involved three crucial parts including.

- financial prudence and long-term stability
- Radical policy of privatisation and public-private partnerships.
- Cutting red tape and reducing government bureaucracy.

Stressing that the state cannot and should not play the role of business, President Nasheed said “for three decades, the dynamism of the Maldivian economy was hindered, by the suffocating regulations of a meddlesome state”. He said his goal was to rebalance the relationship between the public and the private sectors, adding that a “government’s rightful place” was to correct market failure, and also to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable people in society. The President also discussed investment opportunities in the areas, including housing, education, health, fisheries and agriculture. “Many Indian companies have already profited from the Maldives,” he told at the Summit attended by industry people from around the world. After the opening plenary of the Summit, President Nasheed attended a press conference and briefed the media on investment and climate policies of the government.

Cosmos launches first Indian Ocean brochure
Cosmos Holidays has launched its first ever Maldives & Indian Ocean brochure to showcase the new and expanded range of properties and holiday experiences available to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Dubai during 2010/11. Focusing predominantly on the Maldives with its enhanced charter flight programme and range of product from 3 star to elite 5 star to include diving packages, spa resorts, cruising, island hopping and multi-centre holidays, the new brochure features double page spreads on the key units which allows for increased information on room types and board bases available, facilities and extra value honeymoon and anniversary offers, etc. For Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Dubai there is also extensive information on the range of scheduled flights available, upgrades and multi centre options. The brochure also sets out the operator’s pledge towards Responsible Tourism as part of its involvement with the Travel Foundation, ABTA and the FTO. Prices lead in from £1079 to Maldives (7 nights at Summer Island Village flying with Monarch Airlines); from £579 to Dubai (4 nights at Ibis City Centre Hotel, flying with Emirates); from £725 to Sri Lanka (7 nights at the Hibiscus Beach flying with Sri Lankan Airways); and from £1099 to Mauritius (7 nights at Veranda Paul and Virginie flying with Air Mauritius). A variety of two-centres, cruise & stays, tour & stays and island hopping holidays include the Maldives Atoll Explorer Cruise from £1075; the Sri Lanka Splendours of Ceylon Tour from £1135 and the two centre Maldives with a stay in either Sri Lanka or Dubai from £1379 per person. Child prices are from £489 per child. All holidays include in-flight meals, transfers and 20 kg baggage allowance. Promotional offers include Buy One premium cabin upgrade on the Monarch charter flight and receive the second half price (for bookings made by 19 February 2010). Board upgrades include free upgrade from half board to all inclusive at the Adaaran Select Meedhupparu in the Maldives for stays until 30 April 2010. In Mauritius the Heritage Awali Golf and Spa offers one complimentary spa treatment per adult per stay and in Dubai stays at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel receive free unlimited access to the Wild Wadi Waterpark. For honeymooners a range of offers include free champagne and fruit baskets as well as complimentary massages and candlelit dinners. Says Sara Gelder, Head of Specialist Products: “The market is holding up well for the all important, aspirational trips, weddings/honeymoons, special anniversaries, etc and this brochure certainly caters for all of those sectors in greater depth than we could possibly do in the Distant Dreams brochure. We are also including our widest range ever of added value offers which is what our customers are currently telling us they are looking for to help them make that all important decision.” Copies of the new Cosmos Maldives and Indian Ocean brochure is available from all Cosmos-appointed agents.

Government increases security at airports and orders use of sky marshals amid warnings of Islamist terrorist plot to hijack plane.

Airline passengers across India were subject to increased security measures today and sky marshals were placed on flights amid reports that al-Qaida-linked militants planned to hijack a plane. The increased security followed intelligence reports cited by the Times of India pointing to a possible attack by terrorist groups with links to al-Qaida or Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based group behind the Mumbai attack in 2008.

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President Nasheed meets with Finance Minister of Bahrain

As part of his visit to Bahrain, President Mohamed Nasheed has today met with Bahrain's Minister of Finance, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa. Discussions were focused on strengthening economic ties between both countries. President briefed the Minister on the investment opportunities available in the Maldives.

President to give details on the government’s policy to provide electricity subsidy in his weekly radio address
In his weekly radio address, which will be broadcast on the Voice of Maldives at 10 am tomorrow, President Mohamed Nasheed will provide more details on the government’s policy to provide electricity subsidy. The President will also speak on his visits to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and India.

President Nasheed meets with King of Bahrain
President Mohamed Nasheed has today met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain. President Nasheed and the King discussed on possible areas of cooperation between the Maldives and Bahrain. Discussions were especially focused on strengthening trade ties between the two countries. The King expressed his hope that the President's visit has opened doors to further consolidate the ties of friendship and co-operation between both countries.

HIS MAJESTY RECEIVES MALDIVES PRESIDENT
MANAMA, JAN.21 (BNA) -- HIS MAJESTY KING HAMAD BIN ISA AL KHALIFA RECEIVED TODAY AT SAKHIR AIRBASE IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRIME MINISTER PRINCE KHALIFA BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA AND HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS CROWN PRINCE SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA THE PRESIDENT OF MALDIVES MOHAMMED NASHEED. HIS MAJESTY HAILED THE STRONG TIES LINKING BOTH COUNTRIES AT VARIOUS FIELDS AND THANKED THE PRESIDENT OF MALDIVES FOR REPLYING HIS MAJESTY'S INVITATION IN ATTENDING BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW. NASHEED GREATLY APPRECIATED THE WARM HOSPITALITY HE RECEIVED DURING HIS STAY IN THE KINGDOM, WISHING BAHRAIN FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.

IMF’s building reserves plan supporting Pakistan’s economy
The building reserves programme of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Pakistan is supporting its economy, as there are little improvements in the interest rates and political stability, the World Bank (WB) said forecasting disrupt economy in the future. According to a report released by the WB on Thursday, 'Global Economic Prospects 2010, Crisis, Finance, and Growth', the WB said, "Ongoing or new IMF stabilisation programmes for Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and most recently the Maldives, steep reductions in interest rates, and improved political stability." The WB report projected South Asia's gross domestic product average growth to firm from an estimated 6 percent in 2009 to 7 percent in 2010 and 7.4 percent in 2011.

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President meets banking, investment, and finance sectors in Bahrain

During in his ongoing visit to Bahrain, President Mohamed Nasheed has today separately met with Mr Talal Al Zain, CEO of Bahrain Sovereign Wealth Fund; Dr Esam Abdulla Yousif Fakhro, Chairman of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and, Mr Easam Yousif Janahi, Chairman of First Energy Bank and Gulf Finance House. The meetings were on the business and investment opportunities available in the Maldives. Discussions were also held on forging cooperation between Maldives fishing industry and Bahrain fishing companies.

President Nasheed attends dinner with Bahraini Foreign Minister

President Mohamed Nasheed, currently on a visit to Bahrain, attended a dinner hosted in his honour by Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain on Wednesday. Speaking during the dinner, the President and the Foreign Minister discussed ways of enhancing bilateral relations that exists between the two countries.

New startup introduces environmentally-friendly postal service

A new startup in Singapore is cutting business costs and taking on an environmentally-friendly postal service. Global leaders are continuing to urge international action on increasing clean energy usage and climate change awareness. At the start of this week, President of the Maldives, Mohammed Nasheed, expressed concern over the Copenhagen Accord. He said in its present form, the accord would not be enough to prevent climate change. While governments are working on fighting the effects of climate change, companies are coming up with innovative solutions for reducing carbon footprints. It is estimated that, on average, every bill sent costs a company about S$1, but with paperless billing or e-billing, Singapore firm GreenPost said that cost could be reduced by as much as 80 per cent. According to GreenPost, only 5 per cent of Singaporeans have gone paperless when it comes to receiving their bills. The firm has created a secure online portal or "mail box" for users to receive their bills and statements. GreenPost plans to process 10 per cent of bills in Singapore by 2012. Kris Childress, director for Marketing and Strategy, GreenPost, said: "In Singapore, our conservative estimates are (that) there are probably 200 million pages or bills a year that are sent out to consumers. "So we are talking forests and forests of trees involved in that. The main reason we found that people aren't going paperless is because they were concerned about the amount of work it takes to go to different websites. "So just as you have one post office box, you will have one computer box that your bills will come to. You go to a single screen, you call it up, you can look at the bills, you can pay the bills. You can go ... months back and view the bills." GreenPost is working with telecommunications and energy firms in Singapore to provide paperless billing to consumers. It is also in discussions with some local banks. The firm said it also plans to break into the international market. GreenPost believes that markets such as India, Australia and New Zealand offer potential for the development of paperless billing.

Alex Salmond accused of grandstanding in the Maldives
Alex Salmond has been accused of grandstanding overseas after it emerged he is planning a ‘fact-finding’ trip to a tropical island paradise.

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Windows Mobile Maldives – not Quite WinMo 7
With WinMo 7 delayed even more, it appears that Microsoft has to resort to new methods to appease the impatient market. The Windows Mobile 6.6 “Maldives” has finally been confirmed for a launch next February and it promises users that it will deliver Windows Mobile in a whole new experience. With the older versions of Windows Mobile 6, navigation through the interface has been the biggest hurdle, if MS is able to make Maldives significantly easier to use (a failed attempt by 6.5.3), then many people might just consider switching to a WinMo phone. Despite the fact that Maldives will be launching soon, MS has yet to confirm the devices that will be compatible with it. Hopefully, the HTC HD2 will be able to run the new OS since many consider the HTC device as the most successful WinMo phone ever made –and it did not even use a stylus.

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President Nasheed meets with Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region of UAE

As part of his visit to Abu Dhabi, President Mohamed Nasheed has yesterday met with Ruler's Representative in the Western Region of UAE, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in various avenues. Separately, the President also met with Dubai World’s Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. During the meeting, the President spoke on investment opportunities available in the Maldives.

President’s Office issues directive on reporting disasters and abnormal incidents
The President’s Office has issued a directive to government offices on reporting disasters and abnormal incidents. The Directive requests information on natural disasters and abnormal incidents be shared promptly with responsible government agencies as well as the President’s Office. The Directive states sharing information will facilitate prompt response from the government. Cabinet Secretary was appointed as the focal point for reporting by government offices.

Vice President meets with the visiting USAID team

Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed has today met with the visiting team from USAID. The meeting was held this afternoon at the President’s Office. The USAID officials briefed the Vice President on a study commissioned by USAID that seeks to capture examples of good practice that will be useful for disaster management professionals. The report also seeks to help meet the challenges resulting from displacement caused by climate-related disaster events, and the effects of climate change adaptation over the longer-term. The study is being implemented by a team of five technical specialists with backgrounds in displacement-related relief, water and sanitation, public health, architecture and urban planning, economics and governance. Vice President expressed confidence that the USAID-funded study would be very helpful for the Maldives in terms of disaster management.

President Nasheed arrives in Bahrain
After concluding his visit to Abu Dhabi, President Mohamed Nasheed has this afternoon arrived at Bahrain. On arrival at Bahrain, the President was received by Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa. The President was also presented with an honour guard at the airport. Later, the President and members of his delegation attended a lunch hosted by His Highness Sheikh Ali Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain. The key purpose of this visit is to seek investments to various developmental projects and to facilitate Bahraini businesses to operate in the Maldives.

Hamdan Bin Zayed receives Malaysian PM, President of Maldives
WAM Abu Dhabi, Jan 19th, 2010 (WAM) -- Ruler's Representative in the Western Region HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan received here today Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak and his accompanying delegation currently visiting the country. Welcoming the Malaysian premier Sheikh Hamdan praised the level of the special relations between the UAE and Malaysia and the growth of those relations and cooperation. They also discussed ways to strengthen the efforts in the development of economic relations, tourism and joint trade as well as investment promotion and industrial projects. The meeting was attended by HE Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nasser Abdullah Al Aboudi, UAE ambassador to Malaysia, His Excellency Sultan bin Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Director of the Office of HH the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan later received President Mohamed Nasheed of Maldives and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in various avenues. Nasheed hailed UAE's efforts that have contributed to the success of the meetings of the IAEA helping it to achieve its objectives. The meeting was attended by HE Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Finance Affairs and Sultan bin Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Director of the Office of HH the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and a number of senior officials in the state.

Korean Air announces direct flights to the Maldives
Korean Air confirmed Wednesday that it will operate a total of 24 direct charter flights between Incheon and the Maldives four times a week. The direct flights, operating from April 25 - June 4, will reduce the travel time to the Maldives to nine hours from 15-plus, as the journey currently requires at least one transfer at another airport.

Huvafen Fushi Offers The Most Desirable Valentines Destination
In the season of love, Huvafen Fushi turns into an enticing lovers’ paradise as the most exclusive retreat in the Maldives offers a tempting Valentine’s treat for couples for the whole month of February. From February 1st to 28th, the chic island retreat becomes the definitive destination for an intimate and seductive romantic getaway, made even more exciting by a Grecian mythology-inspired theme. The unrivalled offer includes a seven-night stay at the retreat’s famed beach bungalows, a couples’ treatment at LIME the world’s first underwater spa, and a romantic sandbank lunch on a secluded island all for a package price starting at US$12,108.

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Pruksa eyes 27% growth from 48 projects
The listed developer Pruksa Real Estate Plc - a new English spelling removes the "e" from Preuksa - plans to invest at least 20 billion baht to develop new projects this year, CEO Thongma Vijitpongpun said yesterday. It aims for 27% growth in sales and revenue this year, recording 29 billion baht in sales and 24 billion in revenue. The company also targets overseas expansion with more developments in India and its first project in the Maldives. It plans to launch 48 new projects worth 30 billion baht this year. Of those, 16 are townhouse estates, 14 single house developments, 16 condominiums and two overseas projects.

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Future of energy should be sustainable

In the first international meeting on the subject since Copenhagen, which resulted in a non-binding agreement to reduce temperatures, representatives of various countries said it was necessary to continue to bring down emissions and support developing countries in their efforts.

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President Nasheed meets with UAE Minister of State and Chairperson of Dubai Cares

As part of his visit to Abu Dhabi, President Mohamed Nasheed has yesterday met with UAE’s Minister of State and Chairperson of Dubai Cares, Ms Reem Al-Hashimy. Dubai Cares is a UAE-based philanthropic establishment launched in September 2007 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, with the aim of improving children's access to primary education in developing nations. Discussions at the meeting were mainly focused on providing support of UAE government and Dubai Cares to the Maldives to strengthen the education sector. President Nasheed said that the government’s aim was to provide quality education in the Maldives and that government alone would not be able to achieve this. Therefore, he said, the government welcomed any private party to help the government in this endeavour. Ms Reem Al-Hashimy briefed the President on the education system in UAE and how religion is taught in UAE schools.

President Nasheed meets with Turkish PM

During his visit to Dubai, President Mohamed Nasheed has yesterday met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations that exist between the two countries. President also sought the possibility of getting more Turkish assistance to strengthen the education sector. Prime Minister Erdoğan agreed to continue to provide and increase its assistance to the Maldives in the field of education. He said that more opportunities for Maldivian students will be provided in Turkish institutions. Turkish PM also agreed to share Turkish experience, being an Islamic democracy, in strengthening the structure of the government.

President Nasheed meets British Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change

President Mohamed Nasheed has yesterday met with Ed Miliband, British Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change. Discussions were mainly focused on getting more countries to adopt the Copenhagen Accord. Speaking at the meeting, President briefed Ed Miliband on what the government of the Maldives was doing to get more countries to sign the Copenhagen Accord. He said his Special Envoy Mr Ibrahim Hussain Zaki had been calling environment ministers and foreign ministers of different countries to discuss the matter. President and Ed Miliband agreed that countries should agree to a legally binding agreement on climate change. President and Ed Miliband also discussed the importance of understanding how the Accord should operate and how to make sure the commitments the countries made during the formulation of the Accord are fulfilled. Both agreed that there should be an operational plan or a map for the accord. Maldives and Britain agreed to work together in getting more countries to sign the Copenhagen Accord and to make Copenhagen Accord a legally binding treaty.

President appoints Board of Directors to Maldives Environment Company Limited
President Mohamed Nasheed has appointed Board of Directors to Maldives Environment Company Limited.
Ms Mariyam Waheeda was appointed as chairperson of the Board. Other members appointed to the Board include:
- Mr Abdulla Shafeeq
- Mr Mohamed Imad
- Mr Hassan Zareer
- Mr Ahmed Asif
- Mr Ahmed Fahud

India, Sri Lanka, Maldives run scrapped by Greek cruise line: report
Jan 19, 2010 (LBO) - Louise Cruises, a Greece based line which started a service running out of India to Sri Lanka and Maldives was pulling out after suffering losses due to high cost of operating out of Indian ports, media report said.

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Salmond’s planned Maldives trip sparks outrage
FIRST Minister Alex Salmond was today blasted over plans to fly to the Maldives on a fact-finding mission about climate change. Mr Salmond is considering a trip to the tropical islands as part of a trip to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. The First Minister plans to travel to the Maldives in October after vowing to build links with the nation, which is under threat from rising sea levels. The plan comes just weeks after Mr Salmond headed a delegation of politicians and civil servants to a climate-change conference in Copenhagen. Mr Salmond met the Maldive President Mohamed Nasheed during the summit in the Danish capital, which was attended by 11 Scottish politicians and aides. And he signed up to a declaration from the Maldives demanding action to tackle climate change and rising seas. The First Minister, who is also the SNP Gordon MSP, was today slammed by opposition politicians. North-east Labour MSP Richard Baker said: “Climate change is something we must not ignore, but to be splashing out what would be a hefty sum of cash on a trip to a tropical island is unacceptable – it’s wasting money. “Many North-east families will be appalled at this junket.” North-east Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone, said: “It has not yet been explained how Scotland will benefit from Mr Salmond’s relationship with the Maldives.” A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: “The First Minister is hoping to be at the Maldives at around the time of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, but nothing has been confirmed.”

Cabinet decides to transfer some functions of Ministries to province offices, under management contract

The cabinet has today decided to transfer some functions of line ministries to province offices, under management contracts between ministries and the seven province offices. The decision was made by the cabinet in its meeting held this afternoon at the President’s Office. The Cabinet on 13 October 2009 appointed a committee to review the issue of decentralization and make recommendations to the Cabinet. A technical team, under the supervision of the committee, has now identified functions that can be transferred to province offices. The management contracts will be signed between relevant Ministers and State Ministers appointed for provinces.

President ratifies Clemency Bill
President Mohamed Nasheed has today ratified the Clemency Bill. The bill proposed by the government to set guidelines for the President to grant pardons and commute sentences was passed by the People’s Majlis on 31December 2009. Following ratification, the bill has been published in the Government Gazette. Article 115 (s) of the Constitution states that the President has the power “to grant pardons or reductions of sentence as provided by law, to persons convicted of a criminal offence who have no further right of appeal”. Under the legislation, an 11 member clemency board would be appointed to review and advice the President. The board will work under the supervision of the Attorney General who will be the President of the board. The government is working on the speeding up the clemency process for eligible convicts.

Spa Opens at Centara Grand Island Resort - Maldives
The Spa Cenvaree, offering traditional Thai spa therapies, has opened at the Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives. The oceanfront village spa has 11 multi-function therapy rooms, a Vichy rain shower, wet treatment room with Jacuzzi and herbal steam baths, a manicure and pedicure salon, hair and makeup services, and outdoor relaxation lounges. With a décor inspired by clear open skies and the use of natural woods and fabrics, Spa Cenvaree aims to sooth the senses through a combination of music, aroma, traditions and touch

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India's first eclipse cruise
Call me lucky and I, in all modesty ,will agree. I have seen a solar eclipse from the land, last year I saw the eclipse from the air and in two days I will see it from the middle of the Indian Ocean. Infact, I have become an official eclipse chaser for CNN IBN. Last year in July a Delhi based organisation called S.P.A.C.E (www.space-india.org), working for development of science and astronomy in India, organised a special flight to see a total solar eclipse. I too was on board that special flight that flew over Taregana in Bihar to watch a celestial marvel that lasted for just about four minutes but made an impression in my mind that I will never forget. Before that whenever I heard about eclipse chasers, I wondered what motivates them to go around the world chasing these eclipses. In those four minutes I had my answer. That is why when I heard SPACE is organising an eclipse cruise to see the century's longest annular eclipse; I made sure I was on it. The last time such an annular solar eclipse was viewed in India was on November 22, 1965 and the phenomenon is not expected to be repeated before June 21, 2020.This annular eclipse will be visible all over India but only partially. Just few places in South India including Kanyakumari, Dhanushkodi and Trivandrum will see the total eclipse or annularity. Maldives will have the longest duration annularity (also known as the ring of fire)-10 minutes and 46 seconds. This cruise will leave Cochin on Jan 13 and reach Maldives on Jan 14. It will then leave Maldives on Jan 15 and reach Cochin on Jan 16. About thousand passengers on board Aquamarine will be watching this eclipse on Jan 15. Apart from the eclipse watching on Jan 15, SPACE has even organized star parties on the four-day cruise. In few hours I will be on the ship and I will update this blog regularly, so for more, keep reading this space.

World more repressive in 2009: Report
NEW YORK — Freedom was in retreat internationally for the fourth straight year in 2009, including in key countries U.S. President Barack Obama has slated for "engagement," a respected annual study released Tuesday shows. The authoritarian regimes in China, Iran, Russia and Venezuela all became more repressive last year, the democracy watchdog group Freedom House says in Freedom in the World 2010. This was despite bids by the Obama administration to reach out to those countries in contrast to more confrontational U.S. policy under former president George W. Bush. The study also shows democratic values were in retreat in Afghanistan as the Obama administration hopes that a troop surge will be able to quell violence there.

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Fears of major catastrophe as 7.0 quake rocks Haiti

A huge quake measuring 7.0 rocked the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti Tuesday toppling buildings and causing widespread damage and panic, officials and AFP witnesses said. "I think it's really a catastrophe of major proportions," Haiti's ambassador to the United States, Raymond Alcide Joseph, told CNN television. All communications with the island went down after the earthquake and no details were immediately available on any people killed or injured in the disaster. A tsunami alert for the Carribean region was immediately issued after the earthquake struck at 2153 GMT. An AFP correspondent said the ground shook for more than a minute. Later three aftershocks measuring 5.9, 5.5 and 5.1 on the moment magnitude scale hit, US officials said. In Port-au-Prince, local media reported that the presidential palace, parliament, cathedral and several ministries were badly damaged.

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Millions gather on the Ganges for mass Hindu festival

Hundreds of ash-covered, naked holy men and millions of Hindu pilgrims are making their way to northern India to take part in one of the largest religious gatherings on Earth. For Hindu devotees, the three-month Kumbh Mela, which begins Thursday in the towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh, offers the chance to wash away their sins with a ritual bath in the holy waters of the River Ganges. Even in a country where mass events are commonplace, the Kumbh Mela stands apart for its sheer size and the enormous logistical task involved in its organisation. "Putting on the Kumbh Mela is like setting up a city within a city," said Alok Sharma, the director general of the 2010 event.

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Surrounded by floodwaters, Albanians refuse to leave home

Surrounded by raging waters, the villagers of Obot in northern Albania are determined to stay put to secure their modest homes flooded after heavy rains pelted this rural region for days. "If God has decided that I should die here, let it be. At least I will die in my house, with the only cow that I still have," 60-year-old Gjon Cepi said somberly from the first floor of his little house. The ground floor is already flooded and only the contours of several pieces of furniture are visible under the murky waters. Obot, a small village with some 450 inhabitants, some ten kilometres (six miles) north from Shkodra, the main town in the area, has suddenly come under spotlights after disastrous floods swallowed more than ten thousand hectares (25,000 acres) of this Albanian farming region.

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Caribbean tsunami warning issued after Haiti quake

A US government agency on Tuesday issued a tsunami warning for countries bordering the Caribbean sea, after a powerful 7.0 quake rocked Haiti. "This message applies to countries within and bordering the Caribbean sea," the Pacific Tsunami Warning center said, "except for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands." A specific warning was issued for Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas and Dominican Republic. The center said the warning had been issued to other Caribbean nations "for information only" at this time.

Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd. Participates in Water Supply and Sewage Operation in the Maldives
TOKYO - (Business Wire) On January 11, 2010, Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd. (TOKYO:1970) reached an agreement with the government of the Republic of Maldives (hereafter called “the Maldives”) to take a 20% stake in the Maldivian water and sewage company Malé Water and Sewerage Company Pvt. Ltd. (hereafter called “MWSC”) (Head office: Malé (the Maldives), Representative: Mohamed Ahmed Didi, currently wholly owned by the Maldivian government). Based on this agreement, Hitachi Plant Technologies will participate in the operation of MWSC.

India jumps 35 positions on Quality of Life Index news
New Delhi: Moving ahead of nations like Russia and China, India has jumped 35 places to become the 88th best country in the world to live, according to a survey. It also means that it has become the second best place in the Indian sub-continent to live, after Bhutan.

Chasing the 'Ring of Fire' in the sky from sea cruise
The Aquamarine is no ordinary vessel. It is India’s first eclipse cruise, which will sail to Male in the Maldives on January 13 to chase the ‘Ring of Fire’, or the millennium’s longest annular solar eclipse. The eclipse will be seen for the longest time in the Indian Ocean nation on January 15. A science communication organisation SPACE (Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators) has tied up with Louis Cruises India to run the luxury vessel from Kochi to Maldives carrying eclipse chasers looking to see the ‘Ring of Fire’ when the Sun’s disc will be covered by the Moon

Coral reefs quickly create new species

New species originated 50 percent more quickly in coral reefs than other tropical marine habitats during the last 540 million years, German scientists said. Researchers at Humboldt University, Berlin, found coral reefs to be evolutionary "hotspots" that today are at risk from climate change, lead researcher Wolfgang Kiessling said. "Our study shows that reefs are even more important than currently assumed. They are not only ecologically important for the marine environment, but also in an evolutionary sense," Kiessling told the BBC in a story published Friday. Kiessling, who likened coral reefs to rainforests in terms of enormous biodiversity, studied fossils dating to the Cambrian explosion to find the earliest evidence of animals that lived and died on the ocean floor. The study, published in the journal Science, shows reefs are centers of marine biodiversity, said Carl-Gustaf Lundin, head of the marine programs at the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Longer growing season cuts tree CO2 intake

Western U.S. sub-alpine forests will soak up less carbon dioxide than they do now as the climate warms and growing seasons lengthen, a university study found. As a result, more of the so-called greenhouse gas will be left to concentrate in the atmosphere, the study by researchers at the University of Colorado in Boulder indicated. "Our findings contradict studies of other ecosystems that conclude longer growing seasons actually increase plant carbon uptake," said Jia Hu, who conducted the research as an ecology and evolutionary-biology graduate student. While a smaller spring snowpack tended to advance the onset of spring and extend the growing season, it also reduced the amount of water available to forests later in the summer and fall, Hu and researcher Russell Monson found in their study published in the February issue of the journal Global Change Biology. The water-stressed trees were then less able to absorb CO2 -- and summer rains were unable to make up the difference, the researchers said. "Snow is much more effective than rain in delivering water to these forests," said Monson, a fellow with the university's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences. Even as late in the season as September and October, 60 percent of the water in stems and needles collected from sub-alpine trees along Colorado's Front Range could be traced back to spring snowmelt, the researchers said. Sub-alpine forests -- including lodgepole pine, sub-alpine fir and Englemann spruce trees growing in mountainous regions just below the timberline -- account for 70 percent of the Western U.S. carbon storage area. Their geographic range includes much of the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada and high-elevation areas of the Pacific Northwest.

Wedded bliss in the Maldives
Whether it’s a wedding ceremony at sunset or on a private sandbank, Sun Hotels & Resorts offer an unparalleled romantic island experience that will ensure the big day is both stress free and unforgettable. From the traditional drummers escorting the bride down the sandy aisle and a tree planting ceremony to commemorate the wedding to a romantic dhoni sail afterwards and optional Maldivian traditional dress, Sun Hotels & Resorts can offer a number of personal touches which will make the occasion truly remarkable.

Kyoto to Copenhagen: Why UN's glacial global warming talks need overhaul
Copenhagen, Denmark
Take 45,000 participants, complex global-warming issues, and negotiators from more than 190 countries. Add a last-minute dash of presidents, premiers, and prime ministers, and what do you get

The sinking Sundarbans
A child looks out at low tide. The water rises higher and higher due to rising sea levels, especially during the new moon. Due to rising sea levels and increase and intensity of cyclones the problems villagers of the Sundarbans are great. Threy are losing their house, land and farm land. Last month they had three cyclones. When a cyclone hits the first thing they do is pack all their stuff and take it to the shelter. They then grab their kids. 'We can lose our house and things, but not our kids.' Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to extreme weather because of it's geography, and it's large agriculture dependent population

Neighbourly neighbours
New Delhi should take very careful note of the visit of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed. It is not merely that this is India’s second largest neighbour. It is that her visit could mark a sea-change in relations between the two countries if India is prepared to think long-term and act generously. Bangladesh has never been a threat to India, but it has only intermittently been seen a friend. Sheikh Hasina has always represented the best hope for changing this in a positive way. The possibility of realising this potential now exists. One is that she comes with the strongest electoral mandate that any India-friendly government has had in Dhaka in three decades. Two, the spread of Islamicism that was seen during the last Bangladeshi regime indicates that India can no longer maintain a policy of benign neglect towards this country. Three, the two countries are now much more confident of their economic trajectories than they were in the past. Bangladesh is no basket case: It matches India’s human development index and has overtaken it in apparel exports

50 Steps to Simple Happiness
With apologies to Jay-Z, the current Empire State of Mind might not be something to brag about—at least according to the recent study ranking New York as the least-happy state in the nation. In the nation! Which seems, to us, rather unbelievable. Yes, nearly half of the state’s residents live in a city that’s inordinately stressful (expensive, noisy, crowded, pushy). Yes, it’s hard to find a peaceful place to sip coffee, much less live. But on the flip side—everything else! Still, mired in the middle of January, you may need a little mood enhancement. What to do? On the following pages, you won’t find long-term, expensive fixes like therapy, pharmaceuticals, or a three-week jaunt to the Maldives. What you will find are quick, easy, and affordable ideas for feeling good in body and spirit, as well as bits of modern folk wisdom, some goofier than others, from a range of experts. So: Try a little self-administered acupressure. Eat an ounce of dark chocolate. Say yes to more sex. Break the silence in the elevator. Exercise. If a 3 a.m. ginseng soak isn’t your thing, keep reading. You’ve got 49 other chances to find your idea of bliss.

Off the rack: this month's travel magazines
This Olympics thing out west might just get some attention next month. In addition to seeing plenty of stories in the Star and, on Jan. 3 a couple stories in the Sunday New York Times, there are more than a few magazines trotting out their Vancouver/Whistler coverage in advance of the Feb. 12 opening ceremony

Japanese project aims to turn CO2 into natural gas

Japanese researchers said Wednesday they hoped to enlist bacteria in the fight against global warming to transform carbon dioxide buried under the seabed into natural gas. The researchers at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology aim to activate bacteria found naturally in earth to turn CO2 into methane, a major component of natural gas. A team led by chief researcher Fumio Inagaki have already confirmed that the bacteria exists in the crust deep under the seabed off the northern tip of Japan's main island, a spokesman for the institute told AFP.

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Seaweed chokes Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Australian natural wonder the Great Barrier Reef is overgrown in places by seaweed in what could be a worrying indication of the health of the coral structure, scientists said on Wednesday. Surveys of the World Heritage-listed reef, already at risk from global warming, found that more than 40 percent of areas closest to shore were dominated by green weed, Professor David Bellwood said. "We knew there would be some weed there, we were just surprised how much," Bellwood, a marine biologist from James Cook University, told AFP.
"We are concerned about it because it does look like a lot of weed and in other places in the world, weed is an indication of decline."

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New brain scan better at detecting early Alzheimers

A new kind of brain scan seems to be better at detecting early signs of change related to the onset of Alzheimer's disease, new research published Wednesday in the online issue of Neurology found. The scan, called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), could prove important to earlier detection and in turn better treatment.
"As better medicines for Alzheimer's disease become available, it will be important to identify people at high risk for the disease as early and accurately as possible so treatment can be most effective," said Norbert Schuff of the University of California San Francisco, who wrote an editorial about the study.

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Second Smallest Exoplanet Found To Date Discovered At Keck Keck Observatory.

Planet hunters using Keck Observatory have detected an extrasolar planet that is only four times the mass of Earth. The planet is the second smallest exoplanet ever discovered and adds to astronomers' growing cadre of low-mass planets called super-Earths. "This is quite a remarkable discovery," said astronomer Andrew Howard of the University of California at Berkeley, or UCB. "It shows that we can push down and find smaller and smaller planets." He announced the discovery at the 215th American Astronomical Society meeting in Washington D.C. Dubbed HD156668b, the planet orbits its parent star in just over four days and is located roughly 80 light years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Hercules.

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ISRO Reviews Cryogenic Engine

The indigenously built highly sophisticated cryogenic engine is undergoing a final review by ISRO before it is cleared for use in the test launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-D3 later this year. "We are conducting a final thorough review of the cryogenic engine that will power the GSLV," Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Radhakrishnan told PTI on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here. He said a meeting of top scientists involved in the project would be held in Bangalore later this month where the launch date of the GSLV-D3 would also be decided. Reports had it that ISRO had delayed the launch of GSLV-D3, which would put into orbit the GSAT-4 communications satellite.

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Astronomy Question Of The Week: How Old Is The Universe

In the field of archaeology the age of finds or the time of events can sometimes be determined relatively easily, for example via the number of tree rings or the rate of decomposition of radioactive elements. However, there is unfortunately no direct and absolute indicator for the age of the Universe. Astronomers have, however, found two ways to arrive at a good estimate. The Universe is at least as old as the oldest objects within it. What are the oldest objects whose age can be determined? Stars are promising candidates; however, several things must be taken into account. The higher a star's mass, the shorter its lifetime.

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President meets with Chief Hydrographer of India

President Mohamed Nasheed has today met with Chief Hydrographer, Vice Admiral B R Rao of India. The meeting was held this afternoon at the President’s Office. At the meeting, the President sought assistance from India’s Naval Hydrographic Department, to claim for an extended continental shelf.  President Nasheed and Vice Admiral Rao also spoke on the status of the hydrographic survey that is being carried out with the assistance of Indian Navy. On 10 October 2009, the cabinet decided to see if the Maldives can claim for an extended continental shelf. When continental shelf coordinates are determined, a country will have the right to exploit the minerals, natural resources, and sedentary species, in the seabed. The Maldives had not done any work on claiming the area for its continental shelf, since it signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 26 years ago.

Cabinet expresses concern over continued “culture of police torture”

The cabinet has expressed concern over the continued “culture of police torture” at the Maldives Police Service. The cabinet expressed their concern after convening the new government’s first emergency Cabinet meeting, which was held on Saturday at the President’s Office.  After deliberating on the matter, the Cabinet decided to investigate the issue and appoint Minister of State, Principal Collector of Customs, Mohamed Aswan, as Minister of State for Home Affairs to bring necessary reforms to the Maldives Police Service. The cabinet appointed a committee including Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad, Attorney General Husnu Suood, Minister of Human Resources, Youth and Sports Hassan Latheef, to investigate the issue. The cabinet acknowledged that despite incidents of police torture, the majority of men and women serving at the Maldives Police Service were professional and sincere.

A New Swell and Sunny Skies Greet the Billabong Pro Am and Occy Grom Comp
A welcome new swell and clear sunny skies greeted the contestants, crew, and spectators on Day 2 of the Billabong Pro Am Malaysia and Occy Grom Comp today at beautiful Cherating Beach in Malaysia, and with the increase in swell size, everybody was frothing to jump in the water and dig their fins into the 2-3 foot walls reeling down the point. The action got started an 8 am with the Men’s Open competitors taking to the water. Highlights of the morning included some high level surfing by the two brothers from the Maldives, Abdullah and Hussein Areef, as well as by young 14 year old Jay-R Esquivel from the Philippines, who wowed the audience with his amazingly clean 180 degree chop hop at the end of a waist high wave.

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Skeptical of Political Process, Hip-Hop Artist Gabriel Teodros Takes the Mic at Tonight’s Inauguration Shindig
Mayor Mike McGinn’s inauguration party at the Showbox SODO tonight features a pretty diverse musical line-up: The old soul men of Wheedle’s Groove, the orchestral pop of Hey Marseille, the nine-piece alt-county band The Maldives, and hip-hop artist Gabriel Teodros. Wheedle’s Groove is the draw. A collective of local funk and soul musicians from the 1960s and early ’70s, they recently reunited to put out an album on retro label Light in the Attic Records. They don’t perform collectively very often, and they’re also the subject of the recent documentary, Wheedle’s Groove: The Story of Seattle’s Soul and Funk Scene of the 1960s and 1970s

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Double number of ex-cons join the US army
This article appeared in the Guardian on Tuesday April 22 2008 on p17 of the International section. It was last updated at 00:05 on April 22 2008. The US army doubled its use of "moral waivers" for enlisted soldiers last year to cope with the demands of the Iraq war, allowing sex offenders, people convicted of making terrorist threats, and child abusers into the military, new records released yesterday showed. The army gave out 511 moral waivers to soldiers with felony convictions last year. Criminals got 249 army waivers in 2006, a sign that the demand for US forces in Iraq has forced a sharp increase in the number of criminals allowed on the battlefield. The felons accepted into the army and marines included 87 soldiers convicted of assault or maiming, 130 convicted of non-cannabis-related drug offences, seven convicted of making terrorist threats, and two convicted of indecent behaviour with a child. Waivers were also granted to 500 burglars and thieves, 19 arsonists and nine sex offenders. The new data were released by the oversight committee of the House of Representatives. Henry Waxman, the Democratic chairman of the oversight panel, said that while "providing opportunities to individuals who have served their sentences and rehabilitated themselves" is important, the waivers are a sign that the US military is stretched too thin. The number of moral waivers in the military, mostly for misdemeanours such as speeding fines, reached 34,476 in 2006, or nearly 20% of all enlisted soldiers, according to the Palm Centre at the University of California. Recruits with felony convictions are more likely than other soldiers to drop out or be released from the military. More than one felony conviction disqualifies recruits from the army or marines, but the navy and air force can admit those with multiple offences.

Why India cannot deliver on climate change
Last month, the world failed to agree on a process that would slow down the rate of climate change. Scientists believe that the world is heating up because of an increase in three gases in our atmosphere: carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing due to human activity. It is already at its highest in 650,000 years; we know this from analysing ice that has remained frozen during this period with bubbles of air trapped inside.

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SHANGRI-LA'S VILLINGILI RESORT AND SPA, MALDIVES OFFERS LUXURIOUS PRESIDENTIAL VILLAS AND A STRESS-FREE WELCOME FOR GUESTS ARRIVING BY PRIVATE JET
January 8, 2010 - Located just eight minutes away by private speedboat from Gan International Airport, Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives offers guests traveling by private jet a stress-free arrival experience and two presidential villas for a comfortable and luxurious holiday escape.

SEEK CHANGE, NOT PAYOFFS
Instead of crying out for industrial policy change, Bangladesh should have demanded that the developed countries commit to reducing carbon emissions. The Climate Summit in Copenhagen created unity as well as division, trust as well as suspicion among the rich and poor countries. The bone of contention was the issue of reducing carbon emissions, which is widely regarded to be the major cause of devastating global climate change.The countries in attendance at the Summit appeared to have been divided into three camps. The industrialist rich countries have maintained a position of appeasement by proposing yearly instalments of $100 billion (Dh367.8 billion) and other supplemental incentives to poor nations until 2020, while maintaining the status quo of their industrial output. The developing few, especially China and India, have declined to underscore their industrial base as a significant contributing factor to the cause of climate change, and thus remain adamant in rejecting any policy that would undermine their industrial growth. And finally, the poor nations that are mostly vulnerable to the climate change, such as Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal, cried out for industrial policy change to reduce the deadly carbon emission levels drastically

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U.S. Job Losses in December Dim Hopes for Quick Upswing
The United States economy lost more jobs than expected in December, tempering hopes for a swift and sustained recovery from the Great Recession. The government reported on Friday that the economy lost another 85,000 jobs last month, but that the unemployment rate held steady at 10 percent. And in a surprise that highlighted the erratic nature of economic renewal, the Labor Department reported that 4,000 jobs were actually created in November — rather than a loss of 11,000 the government originally projected — the first gain in nearly two years. Another 16,000 job losses were added to October’s tally.

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Embattled British PM survives new plot
Ministers rallied round embattled British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Thursday after he faced down a leadership challenge, but the failed plot dealt him a new blow months ahead of general elections.

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Tranquil private villas. Underwater dining. Boundless horizons.
The morning sun dappling the crystal-clear waters of a secluded lagoon. Afternoons spent sunbathing by your private infinity pool, just steps from the ocean. An evening stroll across soft white beaches, the moonlight casting shadows on the sand. Nights spent dreaming to the sound of the waves in an overwater villa. Imagine life on a luxurious deserted island - an island of swaying palm trees and unending horizons of blue. A haven of pool villas, Anantara Kihavah Villas Maldives offers the ultimate in privacy and luxury, your own sanctuary within a sanctuary. Expansive space that opens on to brilliant tropical nature, with private pools, high ceilings, timber interiors and marble floors. Flavours of culinary art and wine served amidst a panorama of aquatic life in the world's only underwater restaurant and wine cellar.

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Thumbs up to Copenhagen pact
Canada, along with Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Maldives, is among the first countries to officially notify the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of its intention to sign on to the Copenhagen pact on climate change. Countries have until Jan. 31 to notify the international body of their willingness to ratify the deal; so far, only Cuba has denounced the agreement brokered by U.S. President Barack Obama. Under the terms of the pact, countries must pledge to keep the increase in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius, and developed countries must commit $100 billion U.S. by 2020 to the developing world to help emerging economies deal with their emissions. It does not include any caps on carbon emissions

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