An expatriate was found dead yesterday in a lane in Male’ near the Justice building, according to police.
The man was found unconscious on the road at 3.50pm and was taken to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), where doctors who examined the body revealed that he was dead upon arrival.
Preliminary examinations reveal no bruises or external injuries, say police, and the case is currently under investigation.
(0)Dislikes
(0)A group of masked assailants armed with swords attempted to assassinate President Mohamed Nasheed at last night’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) rally at artificial beach, claims MDP parliamentary group leader ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik.
Addressing supporters at the launch of the ‘people’s court’ today, Moosa said he first saw rocks being thrown into the crowd from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) office.
While the attention of the rally-goers was directed towards the office, Moosa continued, he saw a group of masked assailants carrying knives.
‘Last night, I saw with my own eyes a group of people trying to attack your president in the open,’ he said.
Moosa called on the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to reveal how the incident occurred to the public.
President Nasheed was escorted from the area during Moosa’s speech by MNDF officers shortly after the disturbance.
His Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair today confirmed that “some people tried to attack the president. A group of people ran towards him to attack him, but his bodyguards confronted them.’’
The clash at artificial beach sparked unrest across the capital, with crowds of MDP supporters gathering outside opposition MPs’ residences to protest.
The opposition has claimed the protests were orchestrated by the government.
Meanwhile, local daily Haveeru reports that a group of people outside MP Abdulla Yameen’s house, Galolhu Dhoovehi, attacked MDP supporters as the protest march made its way north of Alikilegefaanumagu.
The group of about 20 beat up some protestors, took away their flags and set fire to them, according to Haveeru, while some of them tried to restrain the others and took them inside the house.
The People’s Alliance leader, accused by the government of corruption and bribery, is currently reported to be under MNDF protection.
The United Nations meanwhile issued a statement saying the international organisation “stands ready to assist in any way the parties find appropriate.”
“The United Nations urges all parties to resolve political differences through dialogue and address jointly the pressing needs of the nation and the democratisation process,” the UN said.
The US Embassy in Colombo also issued a statement, saying the US was “deeply concerned about rising tension resulting from the ongoing impasse between government and opposition parties in the Maldives.”
“We call on all sides to refrain from violence and to come together to resolve disagreements through dialogue and compromise. We urge all parties to accept international offers of mediation. The United States has full confidence that the democratic process in the Maldives will allow for a peaceful resolution of these issues.”
(0)Dislikes(0)An investigation has found some Pakistani MPs never finished their studies while others bought their qualifications from dodgy colleges, reports the ABC’s Sally Sara.
“A degree is a degree, whether it is fake or genuine,” protested the chief minister of Balochistan Province, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani, and the the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution condemning the media for breaking the story.
However, the Punjab Assembly has now been forced to back down and yesterday it tried to repair the damage by passing a resolution recognising the pro-democracy role of journalists, lawyers and activists, Sara reports.
(0)Dislikes(0)Winter season data shows a “significant sea level rise’ for Maldives, according to Professor Weiqing Han, leading author of a study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder USA.
The study combined sea surface measurements going back to the 1960s and satellite observations. It’s findings suggest that climate warming is amplifying regional sea rise changes in parts of the Indian Ocean, threatening inhabitants of some coastal areas and islands.
Other areas, such as the Seychelles, are experiencing lower sea levels.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Maldives ministry of Islamic Affairs has suspended issuing licenses to deliver Friday sermons without a script, reports Miadhu.
The suspension is to strengthen the Maldives regulation on religious unity, according to the ministry.
The decision came after intense debate within the ministry, said Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, minister of state for Islamic Affairs.
Unscripted sermons were not delivered in the country prior to the new government, comments Miadhu, and many people believe that the religious awareness in the country has increased as a result of the unscripted sermons.
(0)Dislikes(0)“Are the two men [being resettled in Germany] a security risk or are they desperately in need of assistance? Will they be welfare cases or seek vengeance?” ask four writers for the German news website Speigel Online.
In both cases, the German host states are preparing to provide extensive assistance to the men. “To the best of our knowledge, special security measures are not necessary,” says Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Minister Bruch.
The assistance for the two men will apparently consist primarily of psychological counseling, language courses and intensive integration assistance. The goal is to enable the former inmates to live undisturbed in Germany, reports Speigel.
German authorities are determined to prevent the two men from receiving the same treatment as Murat Kurnaz, a Turkish-born resident of the northern city of Bremen. After his release in 2006, he arrived in Germany in chains.
(0)Dislikes(0)Australia’s energy grid could run entirely on renewables such as wind and solar power within 10 years, according to a report endorsed by the International Energy Agency (IAEA).
Only technologies that are proven and commercially available are referred to in the report, according to the ABC.
(0)Dislikes(0)320 people have been arrested by Italian police in dawn raids across Italy.
“This was a huge operation involving some 3,000 carabinieri [police],” reports the BBC’s Duncan Kennedy. People were arrested “on suspicion of crimes including murder, money laundering and belonging to a criminal organisation.”
There have also been associated arrests in the US.
(0)Dislikes(0)Egyptian Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei is challenging Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt for nearly three decades.
“The decisive moment was my return to Cairo in February. I really only wanted to visit my country again and spend a few weeks at my house here near the pyramids. But then, 1,500 people were standing there at the airport,” says ElBaradei in an interview with Speigel Online. “It was a cross-section of our society: students, business people, workers and surprisingly many women, including Egyptian women with head scarves and veiled faces. Some called out: “This country must be changed, please help us make that happen!” Others held signs reading: “ElBaradei for President!” It electrified me.”
(0)Dislikes(0)