The skull of a creature the size of a baboon and living in a warm forest 28-29 million years ago in western Saudi Arabia, is being described as one of the most significant fossil finds in decades “because it illuminates a critical moment in evolution when ancient primates split into two separate lineages,” reports the Guardian’s Ian Sample.
Few such fossils have been found of this period of life on earth. It has been named Saadanius hijazensis.
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(0)The main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), People’s Alliance (PA), Jumhoory Party (Republican Party) and Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) began a series of “continual protests” on Friday night against the detention of Mulaku MP Abdulla Yameen by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
DRP MPs as well as senior officials of the minor parties addressed a large crowd of supporters outside the DRP office near the artificial beach area, calling for the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed and accusing the government of targeting political opponents.
While participants held “Free Yamin” placards, the opposition politicians vowed to continue the protests until the PA Leader was released.
Gemanafushi MP Ilham Ahmed, deputy leader of the DRP, told reporters at a press conference to announce the protests that the party considered public demonstrations a measure of last resort.
Ilham warned that Monday’s sitting of the People’s Majlis could not take place in the absence of the MP for Mulaku.
Galolhu South MP Ahmed Mahlouf meanwhile criticised police for their handling of violent protests outside PA MP Ahmed Nazim’s residence, which caused damage to private property.
A short distance from the DRP office, the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has been conducting its “continual protests” behind the Dharubaaruge convention centre as part of its “People’s Court” that was opened on Thursday.
Meanwhile, local media reports that crowds demanding the arrest of Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed were dispersed by police outside his residence last night.
(0)Dislikes(0)An unmanned Zephyr solar plane has flown for 7 days non-stop and is still in the air, according to the BBC’s Jonathan Amos.
The Zephyr is being tested at the US Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, and will be brought down after it has flown for two weeks.
“Zephyr is basically the first ‘eternal aircraft’,” says project manager Jon Saltmarsh.
(0)Dislikes(0)“Many people around the world have criticised their leaders for behaving like children. But perhaps our critics give us too much credit. If we took 191 children from each corner of the globe… if we explained the climate crisis to these children, I suspect they would act more sensibly than we do,” said President Nasheed at the ‘Cartagena Group / Dialogue for Progressive Action’ being held on Saturday and Sunday at Bandos Island resort near the Male’.
“I cannot accept that the Maldives must disappear, so others can carry on polluting,” he said.
“Deep divisions” obstructed progress at Copenhagen, Nasheed claimed. “[We] must start in Cancun by reaching agreement across all core issues, especially the inter-related issues of mitigation, finance, and monitoring, reporting and verification.”
Nations need to change the way they present the issue of climate change action to their domestic electorates, according to the President.
“Cutting carbon should not be considered a burden that will destroy jobs and hamper economic growth,” he said. “Instead, going green should be seen as the greatest economic opportunity since the Industrial Revolution.”
Transcript of President Nasheed’s speech
(0)Dislikes(0)People’s Alliance (PA) leader Abdulla Yameen has told local media outlets that he is being held against his will by the Maldives National Defence Force.
The MNDF has claimed Yameen sought their protection after violent clashes between MDP supporters, police and another group outside his house on the evening of July 14.
The leader of the minor opposition party, who was last week released from house arrest by the Supreme Court, had been accused by the government of corruption, bribery and treason. The MNDF have refused to present Yameen in court, despite an order from the Criminal Court on July 15.
The government has meanwhile said it intends to monitor the judiciary to ensure corruption does not obstruct the judicial process.
Speaking to private broadcaster DhiTV from the Presidential Retreat ‘Aarah’ last night, Yameen said he was contacted repeatedly by Chief of Defence Force Moosa Ali Jaleel and told that the army had orders to take him under protection by force if necessary.
Providing his account of the incident, Yameen stressed that he refused the offer of protection and requested that security forces control the crowd outside his residence.
He added that Moosa Jaleel informed him between 12:00am and 1:00am on Wednesday night that MNDF had “no choice” but to take him under military guard.
Yameen said he was at PA MP Ahmed Nazim’s house at the time when crowds began gathering outside his residence.
“MNDF suddenly somehow knew that I was at Nazim’s house and MNDF soldiers came and took over the whole area,” he said. “They started banging on the door and threatened to come in. Finally, my lawyer Abbas Shareef who was outside called me and said they have warned that they will break down the door and charge in if I did not come out.”
As he was a guest at Nazim’s house and did not wish to “dragged away so inhumanely”, Yameen continued, he left with the officers because “I was forced to and did not have any choice.”
Yameen, former Trade Minister and younger brother of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, strongly criticised the government’s handling of the political unrest in the capital.
“Imagine, every night they come out and smash and destroy so many places,” he said. “What about the rights of my neighbours? It wasn’t just my house that was damaged. What about the children that are traumatised?”
Yameen called on the security forces not to be “too concerned with one individual” and ensure the safety of the public.
“They know who it is that come out like this every time and holler,” he said. “They will do well to take legal action against those people. In no event should they have to neglect maintaining peace and all the soldiers come and protect me.”
Yameen and Nazim along with MP Gasim Ibrahim is currently under investigation for alleged corruption involving “cash for votes” in parliament.
A press release issued by the President’s Office on Thursday states that the unrest was precipitated by an attack on the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) rally on Wednesday night.
It adds that a group of people tried to incite violence and attacked participants at the rally.
In his weekly radio address on Friday, President Mohamed Nasheed said the government was “forced” to isolate political leaders after considering the consequences of inaction.
“Therefore, the isolated individuals will remain so for now,” he said. “The government has now decided to carry on with this.”
The Maldives was experiencing “teething pains” with the present political crisis, Nasheed continued, as multi-party democracy was in still in its infancy.
“When we mature for such a system, we have to always accept that we have to face a number of things that are inevitable and unanticipated,” he said. “I want to assure citizens, we have complete confidence that we can face this. We see the bigger picture. We know the difficulty we are facing today. God willing, we will emerge from it, and no matter how hard the road we have to walk, I have complete confidence that we can walk down it.”
Despite Nasheed’s apparent confidence in resolving the country’s political deadlocks lawfully and peacefully, the outbreak of violence has drawn the attention of international bodies such as the UN.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement “urging all political parties to restrain those who promote violence and confrontation, and to resolve their differences through dialogue.”
“Political rivalries should not be allowed to jeapardise the significat gains the country has registered in democratic reform,” Ki-moon said, pledging the assistance of the UN in resolving the situation.
The UN “recogises the positive steps taken by the Maldives to advance democracy in recent years, and underlines the importance of cooperation and accomodation among the various political actors as an essential ingredient of building democracy,” the statement read.
The United States has meanwhile urged the Maldives to accept offers of mediation from the international community to resolve the political crisis.
“We call on all sides to refrain from violence and to come together to resolve disagreements through dialogue,” the US Embassy in Colombo said.
US Ambassador Patricia Butenis and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse have already held mediation sessions in the country to resolve a deadlock between the executive and what President Nasheed has described as “elements within parliament.”
(0)Dislikes(0)“Many people were ready for direct action to show the level of their disapproval of corruption,” said President Nasheed today in his weekly radio address. “Government, therefore, is forced to take swift measures, and do whatever possible to find a solution for corruption.”
The President was commenting on the recent political turmoil in Male where senior opposition figures in the Majlis were charged with bribery and treason, and then released by Supreme Court judges. A Criminal Court judge suspended the police prosecutors.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the Maldivian Democratic Party, of which Presdient Nasheed is a leading member, staged demonstrations in the capital calling for an end to corruption, and condemning the decisions of the judges.
(0)Dislikes(0)The government is behind the unrest in the capital Male’, claims the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), accusing the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of openly attacking and damaging the property of political opponents.
Following the launch of MDP’s nationwide protests against corruption on Wednesday, crowds of people gathered outside opposition MPs residences as well as the homes of some judges over the past two nights, leading to violent clashes, injuries to civilians and police officers as well as damage to property.
A press release by DQP claims that the MDP serial protest has been “a disaster” for businesses and has made movement in the capital “a burden”.
“While MDP’s leaders happen to be leaders of the Maldivian government as well, the best venue for putting forward MDP’s proposals is not the streets of Male’,” it reads.
The party calls on MDP to immediately cease its activities in Male’, which are intended to “protect the interests of certain people” by fueling political tensions and creating unrest in the capital.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) expressed concern with the recent political unrest and turmoil in the capital, condemning the damage to private property and physical harm caused to police officers and civilians during clashes that took place on the night of July 14.
A press statement issued by the commission yesterday notes “regrettably” that irresponsible rhetoric that creates hostility and strife among the public was undermining the rights and freedoms enshrined in the constitution as well as threatening social stability and public safety.
“And since such actions on the part of either political parties or responsible persons that encourage unrest and inhumane acts hamper the rights of citizens under a democratic system of governance, the commission calls on all parties to restrain from such acts and conduct political activities responsibly,” it reads.
The HRCM further calls upon the government to strengthen its efforts to protect an individual’s right to life, liberty and security of person as well as the right to privacy and the right to protect one’s reputation and good name.
The commission urged the government not to make arrests outside the bounds of the law.
(0)Dislikes(0)British Muslim writer Idris Tawfiq will arrive in the Maldives today on an invitation from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, reports of Voice of Maldives.
The former Roman Catholic priest will deliver two lectures at the Islamic Centre hall on Friday and Saturday nights.
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