Thursday 2 September 2010

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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