Iran on Sunday stepped up relief operations in shattered villages in its northeast after saying rescue operations were completed following a double earthquake which cost 227 lives and injured 1,380 people. "Search and rescue operations have ended and we are now working to ensure survivors' needs in terms of shelter and food," Interior Minister Moustafa Mohammad-Najjar told state television as he announced the casualty toll.
He and other officials said the rubble left by Saturday's earthquakes hid no more survivors, making further rescue activities unnecessary.
Around half of the 600 villages located in the disaster zone, an area northeast of the city of Tabriz, were damaged, some of them badly, he said. A dozen or more were completely razed.
The first of the earthquakes registered a strong 6.4 on the moment magnitude scale, according to the US Geological Survey which monitors seismic activity worldwide.
The second, almost as strong at 6.3 on the scale, rumbled through just 11 minutes after the first. Many smaller aftershocks followed.
While Tabriz and nearby towns escaped with only relatively minor damage, many outlying villages where buildings are made of more flimsy mud and concrete bricks were decimated.
The interior minister said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had given orders for home reconstruction to begin immediately because of the harsh winter that the mountainous region experiences.
The region declared two days of mourning for the lives lost in the disaster.
An estimated 16,000 people remained homeless by the quakes or too afraid to return to cracked homes they feared unstable.
Iran's Red Crescent distributed thousands of tents and supplies of food and water to help them through the days ahead, and put up 4,000 emergency shelters in a sporting stadium.
It also said it turned down offers of help from Turkey, Taiwan, Singapore and Germany because Iran was able to cope with the disaster by itself.
The White House also stepped in to offer help and condolences to the people of Iran, with which Washington has no diplomatic relations and has been locked in a tense standoff for decades.
"The American people send the Iranian people our deepest condolences for the loss of life in the tragic earthquake in northeastern Iran," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.
"We stand ready to offer assistance in this difficult time," said the statement, which was addressed to the "Iranian people" and made no mention of the government of the Islamic republic.
Iran's ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, sent his condolences to Ahmadinejad over the earthquakes, Syria's state news agency SANA reported, while Pope Benedict XVI and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle voiced sympathies.
There were many stories of tragedy in Iran's disaster.
Zeinab, a 13-year-old girl seen outside a Red Crescent tent in the village of Mirza Ali Kandi, told AFP how she saw her eight-year-old brother and 16-year-old sister die before her eyes.
"I was outside my home playing when it (the first quake) happened. I ran inside looking for my brother and found him under a big pile of rubble. I tried to get him out. And then I heard my sister cry out and I turned and she has a big stone in her head, and I ran out," she said, sobbing.
"I wish it had been me, too, I wish I hadn't run out," she yelled, prompting her uncle to try to console her.
Others were more fortunate.
"I was working on my farm, on my tractor, and I felt the earth shake and I was thrown off the vehicle," a 40-year-old farmer in one hamlet, Qanbar Mehdizade, told AFP. His family, who had been working with him, survived.
AFP journalists in the zone saw many exhausted residents mourning their loved ones. Grieving women wailed over the bodies of the dead, many of whom were women and children.
"This village is a mass grave," said Alireza Haidaree, an emergency worker who supervised a bulldozer working in the village of Baje Baj, where 33 of the 414 inhabitants died.
"There are so many other villages that have been completely destroyed," he added.
Emergency workers from 14 provinces around Iran arrived to help on Saturday night, drawing on services and resources built up through the country's long experience in dealing with seismic instability.
Iran sits astride several major fault lines and is prone to frequent earthquakes, some of which have been devastating.
The deadliest in recent years was a 6.6-magnitude quake which struck the southeastern city of Bam in December 2003, killing 31,000 people -- about a quarter of the population -- and destroying the city's ancient mud-built citadel.
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Monday, August 13, 2012
Jennifer Aniston is engaged to screenwriter Theroux
For the first time after her ill-fated break-up with Brad Pitt, US actress Jennifer Aniston is engaged to be married again -- this time to a much less known actor-screenwriter, Justin Theroux, his publicist announced. "Justin Theroux had an amazing birthday on Friday, receiving an extraordinary gift when his girlfriend, Jennifer Aniston, accepted his proposal of marriage," Theroux's representative told People magazine late Sunday.
According to the magazine, the couple, who both starred in the movie "Wanderlust", started dating in May 2011.
Aniston, 43, married Hollywood star Pitt in 2000, but the marriage ended in divorce in 2005 following reports that Pitt had been unfaithful to Aniston with another Hollywood mega-star, Angelina Jolie.
Theroux, 41, has not been previously married.
Aniston rose to Hollywood stardom while playing Rachel Green in the situation comedy "Friends" that ran on the NBC network for 10 years starting in 1994.
In that role, she earned several major awards, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award.
She starred in a series of successful movies like "She's the One", "The Good Girl", "Bruce Almighty" and "The Break-Up".
Last February, she received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a sign of industry recognition of her talent and achievement.
Her post-Brad Pitt relationships included actor Vince Vaughn, with whom she co-starred in "The Break-Up".
But it ended in a split in 2006 as did her subsequent confirmed and reported liaisons with British model Paul Sculfor and pop singer John Mayer.
Theroux's career path is much more modest. He is best known for his work in the films "Mulholland Drive" and "Inland Empire".
He played John Hancock in the 2008 HBO TV mini-series "John Adams". He directed his first film "Dedication" in 2006, which made its debut in 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival, a venue for budding American filmmakers.
But he has a stellar pedigree, being related to novelists Paul Theroux, Alexander Theroux and author Peter Theroux.
The engagement was largely expected as the couple was reported to have purchased a mansion in Los Angeles' exclusive Bel-Air neighborhood for roughly $22 million.
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According to the magazine, the couple, who both starred in the movie "Wanderlust", started dating in May 2011.
Aniston, 43, married Hollywood star Pitt in 2000, but the marriage ended in divorce in 2005 following reports that Pitt had been unfaithful to Aniston with another Hollywood mega-star, Angelina Jolie.
Theroux, 41, has not been previously married.
Aniston rose to Hollywood stardom while playing Rachel Green in the situation comedy "Friends" that ran on the NBC network for 10 years starting in 1994.
In that role, she earned several major awards, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award.
She starred in a series of successful movies like "She's the One", "The Good Girl", "Bruce Almighty" and "The Break-Up".
Last February, she received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a sign of industry recognition of her talent and achievement.
Her post-Brad Pitt relationships included actor Vince Vaughn, with whom she co-starred in "The Break-Up".
But it ended in a split in 2006 as did her subsequent confirmed and reported liaisons with British model Paul Sculfor and pop singer John Mayer.
Theroux's career path is much more modest. He is best known for his work in the films "Mulholland Drive" and "Inland Empire".
He played John Hancock in the 2008 HBO TV mini-series "John Adams". He directed his first film "Dedication" in 2006, which made its debut in 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival, a venue for budding American filmmakers.
But he has a stellar pedigree, being related to novelists Paul Theroux, Alexander Theroux and author Peter Theroux.
The engagement was largely expected as the couple was reported to have purchased a mansion in Los Angeles' exclusive Bel-Air neighborhood for roughly $22 million.
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Aleppo battle rages as both sides report atrocities
The Syrian army pressed its assault on rebels in commercial capital Aleppo on Sunday, while both sides reported atrocities and Arab foreign ministers postponed a planned meeting on the 17-month conflict. The exiled opposition said pro-government militia had executed 10 civilians in a roundup in the flashpoint central city of Homs, while the official SANA news agency reported the murder of one of its staff, in the latest case of a pro-government journalist being killed.
The Arab League gave no reason for the indefinite postponement of its planned meeting in Saudi Arabia that had been due to discuss a replacement for international envoy Kofi Annan who announced his resignation earlier this month.
In Aleppo, troops shelled rebel-held districts as fighting flared anew around a southwestern neighbourhood that rebel fighters had quit last week, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The Shaar, Tariq al-Bab, Sakhur, Hanano and Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhoods all came under bombardment, as the army pressed a ground offensive it launched on Wednesday to recapture areas seized by rebels since July 20, the group said.
The Britain-based monitoring group also said that "communications of all forms have been cut off in the city of Aleppo as well as large areas of the province since the morning."
In the city of Homs, three children on a minibus were killed as they tried to flee with their parents from the Shamas district, where a military operation took place, it said.
The Observatory said at least 27 people were killed across the country on Sunday: 15 civilians, seven soldiers and five rebels.
In Damascus, gunfire was reported in the Qadam neighbourhood. Outside the capital, machinegun fire was heard in the town of Al-Tal, where 15 civilians were killed in shelling and clashes the previous day.
They were among 148 people -- 85 civilians, 43 soldiers and 20 rebels -- killed across Syria on Saturday, according to the Observatory.
On the situation in the capital, the pro-government Al-Watan newspaper spoke of "foiled bids to break the calm in Damascus, which was cleansed of terrorist groups who terrified residents."
In Aleppo, the paper said that the army was poised to assault the Sukari neighbourhood in the south of the city, after its recapture of the nearby Salaheddin district on Thursday.
"The door to Sukari district, the second bastion of the armed men in Aleppo, is now open for the army," it said, adding that troops had "gained control of several axes, which would allow them to storm the area."
The opposition Syrian National Council and activist groups said 10 civilians were executed in a roundup of military-aged men in the Shamas district of Homs.
"Militiamen detained nearly 350 people from the Shamas district, assembled them in a courtyard and executed 10 of them," activist group, the Syrian Revolution General Council, said.
"The fate of the nearly 340 others is unknown and we fear greatly that they have met the same fate as the 10 martyrs," the group added.
The opposition SNC issued a similar statement.
"Ten young men were executed in the Shamas neighbourhood of Homs city after the army and pro-regime gunmen stormed the area and rounded up 350 young people," it said.
-- State media targeted --
--------------------------
The official SANA news agency said the head of its home news department, Abbas Ali, was assassinated by an "armed terrorist group" at his home in Jdaidet Artuz outside the capital on Saturday evening.
On Friday, rebels abducted three state television journalists as they accompanied government troops operating near Damascus, the Syrian Observatory said.
It came after a bomb attack on state television headquarters wounded several people last week and after an Al-Qaeda linked group claimed the abduction and murder earlier this month of state television presenter Mohammed al-Saeed.
As speculation mounted over who will succeed Annan when he steps down as international envoy later this month, UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for a "flexible UN presence in Syria" even after the mandate of the troubled observer mission he set up expires.
"A continued UN presence in Syria that goes beyond our important humanitarian work would allow systematic and meaningful engagement with the Syrian stakeholders, inside the country," the UN chief said.
The observer mission mandate is set to expire August 19, after the Security Council voted last month to extend it for a "final" 30 days.
The mission -- originally 300 military observers and now reduced by half -- was deployed in April to oversee a peace plan, which should have begun with a ceasefire that never took hold.
In mid-June, the observers suspended patrols as fighting intensified.
The Security Council is scheduled to debate the future of the UN mission on Thursday, but so far there is little consensus on the conflict which the Observatory says has cost more than 21,000 lives since it began 17 months ago.
Diplomats in New York say veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, a former top Arab League official, has been tipped to replace Annan.
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The Arab League gave no reason for the indefinite postponement of its planned meeting in Saudi Arabia that had been due to discuss a replacement for international envoy Kofi Annan who announced his resignation earlier this month.
In Aleppo, troops shelled rebel-held districts as fighting flared anew around a southwestern neighbourhood that rebel fighters had quit last week, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The Shaar, Tariq al-Bab, Sakhur, Hanano and Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhoods all came under bombardment, as the army pressed a ground offensive it launched on Wednesday to recapture areas seized by rebels since July 20, the group said.
The Britain-based monitoring group also said that "communications of all forms have been cut off in the city of Aleppo as well as large areas of the province since the morning."
In the city of Homs, three children on a minibus were killed as they tried to flee with their parents from the Shamas district, where a military operation took place, it said.
The Observatory said at least 27 people were killed across the country on Sunday: 15 civilians, seven soldiers and five rebels.
In Damascus, gunfire was reported in the Qadam neighbourhood. Outside the capital, machinegun fire was heard in the town of Al-Tal, where 15 civilians were killed in shelling and clashes the previous day.
They were among 148 people -- 85 civilians, 43 soldiers and 20 rebels -- killed across Syria on Saturday, according to the Observatory.
On the situation in the capital, the pro-government Al-Watan newspaper spoke of "foiled bids to break the calm in Damascus, which was cleansed of terrorist groups who terrified residents."
In Aleppo, the paper said that the army was poised to assault the Sukari neighbourhood in the south of the city, after its recapture of the nearby Salaheddin district on Thursday.
"The door to Sukari district, the second bastion of the armed men in Aleppo, is now open for the army," it said, adding that troops had "gained control of several axes, which would allow them to storm the area."
The opposition Syrian National Council and activist groups said 10 civilians were executed in a roundup of military-aged men in the Shamas district of Homs.
"Militiamen detained nearly 350 people from the Shamas district, assembled them in a courtyard and executed 10 of them," activist group, the Syrian Revolution General Council, said.
"The fate of the nearly 340 others is unknown and we fear greatly that they have met the same fate as the 10 martyrs," the group added.
The opposition SNC issued a similar statement.
"Ten young men were executed in the Shamas neighbourhood of Homs city after the army and pro-regime gunmen stormed the area and rounded up 350 young people," it said.
-- State media targeted --
--------------------------
The official SANA news agency said the head of its home news department, Abbas Ali, was assassinated by an "armed terrorist group" at his home in Jdaidet Artuz outside the capital on Saturday evening.
On Friday, rebels abducted three state television journalists as they accompanied government troops operating near Damascus, the Syrian Observatory said.
It came after a bomb attack on state television headquarters wounded several people last week and after an Al-Qaeda linked group claimed the abduction and murder earlier this month of state television presenter Mohammed al-Saeed.
As speculation mounted over who will succeed Annan when he steps down as international envoy later this month, UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for a "flexible UN presence in Syria" even after the mandate of the troubled observer mission he set up expires.
"A continued UN presence in Syria that goes beyond our important humanitarian work would allow systematic and meaningful engagement with the Syrian stakeholders, inside the country," the UN chief said.
The observer mission mandate is set to expire August 19, after the Security Council voted last month to extend it for a "final" 30 days.
The mission -- originally 300 military observers and now reduced by half -- was deployed in April to oversee a peace plan, which should have begun with a ceasefire that never took hold.
In mid-June, the observers suspended patrols as fighting intensified.
The Security Council is scheduled to debate the future of the UN mission on Thursday, but so far there is little consensus on the conflict which the Observatory says has cost more than 21,000 lives since it began 17 months ago.
Diplomats in New York say veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, a former top Arab League official, has been tipped to replace Annan.
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Curtain falls on 'glorious' London Games
The London Olympics closed in a blaze of music and colour Sunday after a two-week sporting festival that electrified the host nation and was watched by billions around the world. Olympics President Jacques Rogge praised the Games as "happy and glorious" before the sporting spectacular was brought to a close in a three-hour ceremony rounded out with a performance from British rock band The Who.
"Through your commitment to fair play, your respect for opponents, and your grace in defeat as well as in victory, you have earned the right to be called Olympians," Rogge said. "These were happy and glorious Games."
The Spice Girls, George Michael, Brazilian football legend Pele and a cast of more than 4,000 entertained a packed crowd of 80,000 at Olympic Stadium, the focal point of a Games which has borne witness to an extraordinary fortnight.
The ceremony also saw the handover of the Olympic flag to the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, a symbolic transfer which launches the four-year countdown to the 2016 Games to be held in the Brazilian city.
Record-breaking sprinter Usain Bolt and swimmer Michael Phelps lit up Olympic Park, a former industrial site, and Jessica Ennis led an unexpectedly high number of British champions who kept fans' excitement at fever-pitch.
The United States topped the medals table with 46 golds, eight ahead of China, while Britain had 29 -- their best since 1904. It was the first Games where every team had at least one female athlete.
After 16 full days of competition, 302 Olympic titles were handed out and 46 world records were broken. More than seven million fans came out to watch Olympic events, and Bolt's 200m win generated a record 80,000 tweets a minute.
"Today was the closing of a wonderful Games in a wonderful city. We lit the flame and we lit up the world," said Games chief Sebastian Coe.
Prime Minister David Cameron received congratulations from US President Barack Obama, who called him to praise the organisation and the performance of the British team.
"We reminded ourselves what we can do and, yes, we demonstrated that you should never ever count Team GB down and out," Cameron said earlier.
Cameron said the Games had reflected the best of Britain's multicultural make-up, taking the example of Mo Farah, the winner of the men's 10,000 title who went on to claim gold in the 5,000m on Saturday.
Farah came to Britain as a refugee aged eight after spending his early years in Somalia and Djibouti.
"It's a Britain where a boy born in Somalia, Mo Farah, can come here, seize opportunities, and run his way into the nation's heart," Cameron said.
"It's a Britain where we cheer ourselves hoarse not just for Team GB but for Team Jamaica or, as people have just done on the Mall, Team Uganda," he added, referring to the winner of Sunday's men's marathon Stephen Kiprotich.
"Over the past couple of weeks, we have looked in the mirror and we like what we have seen as a country," he said.
Britain's newspapers on Monday reflected the country's new-found pride but also betrayed a tinge of sadness that the Games were over.
"Thanks, it's been a blast," said the Daily Telegraph's front page, while the Guardian bade "Goodbye to the Glorious Games".
"No one is as surprised as the hosts that this fraught and complex festival of striving should have gone so well," said The Times, calling the Games a "great exhibition of competence, creativity, athleticism and sportsmanship."
The final day of sport saw 15 medals decided, with the United States' Dream Team wrapping up victory over Spain in the basketball final as the Americans cemented their place on top of the medal table ahead of China.
The last day started in traditional style with the men's marathon, with Kiprotich delivering only Uganda's second ever Olympic gold medal in a race that finished in the shadow of Buckingham Palace.
Kiprotich timed 2hr 08min 01sec on the spectacular course around the streets of central London, with two-time defending world champion Abel Kirui claiming silver in 2:08.27.
Anthony Joshua handed Britain the perfect end to the Olympic boxing tournament with his super heavyweight triumph to win Britain's 29th gold.
Teenager Robeisy Ramirez joined the long list of Cuban Olympic ring kings with a victory in the flyweight final over Mongolia's Tugstsogt Nyambayar.
"The moment I heard I won I fell on the floor because it was overwhelming. I am 18 years old and I am already an Olympic champion," said the teenager.
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"Through your commitment to fair play, your respect for opponents, and your grace in defeat as well as in victory, you have earned the right to be called Olympians," Rogge said. "These were happy and glorious Games."
The Spice Girls, George Michael, Brazilian football legend Pele and a cast of more than 4,000 entertained a packed crowd of 80,000 at Olympic Stadium, the focal point of a Games which has borne witness to an extraordinary fortnight.
The ceremony also saw the handover of the Olympic flag to the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, a symbolic transfer which launches the four-year countdown to the 2016 Games to be held in the Brazilian city.
Record-breaking sprinter Usain Bolt and swimmer Michael Phelps lit up Olympic Park, a former industrial site, and Jessica Ennis led an unexpectedly high number of British champions who kept fans' excitement at fever-pitch.
The United States topped the medals table with 46 golds, eight ahead of China, while Britain had 29 -- their best since 1904. It was the first Games where every team had at least one female athlete.
After 16 full days of competition, 302 Olympic titles were handed out and 46 world records were broken. More than seven million fans came out to watch Olympic events, and Bolt's 200m win generated a record 80,000 tweets a minute.
"Today was the closing of a wonderful Games in a wonderful city. We lit the flame and we lit up the world," said Games chief Sebastian Coe.
Prime Minister David Cameron received congratulations from US President Barack Obama, who called him to praise the organisation and the performance of the British team.
"We reminded ourselves what we can do and, yes, we demonstrated that you should never ever count Team GB down and out," Cameron said earlier.
Cameron said the Games had reflected the best of Britain's multicultural make-up, taking the example of Mo Farah, the winner of the men's 10,000 title who went on to claim gold in the 5,000m on Saturday.
Farah came to Britain as a refugee aged eight after spending his early years in Somalia and Djibouti.
"It's a Britain where a boy born in Somalia, Mo Farah, can come here, seize opportunities, and run his way into the nation's heart," Cameron said.
"It's a Britain where we cheer ourselves hoarse not just for Team GB but for Team Jamaica or, as people have just done on the Mall, Team Uganda," he added, referring to the winner of Sunday's men's marathon Stephen Kiprotich.
"Over the past couple of weeks, we have looked in the mirror and we like what we have seen as a country," he said.
Britain's newspapers on Monday reflected the country's new-found pride but also betrayed a tinge of sadness that the Games were over.
"Thanks, it's been a blast," said the Daily Telegraph's front page, while the Guardian bade "Goodbye to the Glorious Games".
"No one is as surprised as the hosts that this fraught and complex festival of striving should have gone so well," said The Times, calling the Games a "great exhibition of competence, creativity, athleticism and sportsmanship."
The final day of sport saw 15 medals decided, with the United States' Dream Team wrapping up victory over Spain in the basketball final as the Americans cemented their place on top of the medal table ahead of China.
The last day started in traditional style with the men's marathon, with Kiprotich delivering only Uganda's second ever Olympic gold medal in a race that finished in the shadow of Buckingham Palace.
Kiprotich timed 2hr 08min 01sec on the spectacular course around the streets of central London, with two-time defending world champion Abel Kirui claiming silver in 2:08.27.
Anthony Joshua handed Britain the perfect end to the Olympic boxing tournament with his super heavyweight triumph to win Britain's 29th gold.
Teenager Robeisy Ramirez joined the long list of Cuban Olympic ring kings with a victory in the flyweight final over Mongolia's Tugstsogt Nyambayar.
"The moment I heard I won I fell on the floor because it was overwhelming. I am 18 years old and I am already an Olympic champion," said the teenager.
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CNI Co-Chair Selvam leaves for Singapore again
GP Selvam who is the co-chair of the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI), created to investigate the downfall of former President Mohamed Nasheed's government on February 7, has left the country on private business again. An official from the CNI revealed today that Selvam had left for Singapore on August 3 and that it has not been confirmed when he will return.
“We don’t know when he will return, but he will be here before the report is published. The commission’s work is progressing, it hasn’t stopped,†the official said.
Haveeru has learned that Selvam will return on August 25.
Selvam had previously gone to Singapore on a personal trip earlier in July for a week as well. Selvam is also involved in arbitration work in Singapore besides being co-chair of the CNI here.
At a CNI press conference held on August 2, Selvam said that the final report of the CNI will be sent to relevant authorities on August 29 and the report published on August 30.
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“We don’t know when he will return, but he will be here before the report is published. The commission’s work is progressing, it hasn’t stopped,†the official said.
Haveeru has learned that Selvam will return on August 25.
Selvam had previously gone to Singapore on a personal trip earlier in July for a week as well. Selvam is also involved in arbitration work in Singapore besides being co-chair of the CNI here.
At a CNI press conference held on August 2, Selvam said that the final report of the CNI will be sent to relevant authorities on August 29 and the report published on August 30.
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Three projects for the people will commence soon: President
President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that even with the budget constraints, it will soon commence three projects for the benefit of the people. Speaking to reporters prior to departure to Mecca to participate in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) President Waheed shared information about the three projects. President Waheed said that the government is working on facilitating opportunities for students seeking higher studies. He said that around 1,000 students seeking higher studies will be provided loans and scholarship opportunities within the next few months.
“This project is to commence soon†he said. However he did not reveal if the assistance was provided from the government or from foreign aid.
Apart from the loan assistance to students, President said that he anticipates the construction of the Laamu Atoll link road to commence before the end of the year. He added that the preparations for the project are progressing rapidly.
“In addition, there is many other road construction projects going on right now, especially in Kulhudhuffushi and in Addu Atoll, both these projects will go on at a fast speed. The work is now being carried out.†President said.
President Waheed said that two urban health clinics will be established to develop the services offered at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). He said that the purpose of it is to bring these services closer to the people in seeking the services in Male.
“The purpose is to find out where there is a shortage of clinic services and to extend the services of IGMH to these areas. We think that this will decrease the demand in IGMH right now.†President said.
In response to the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) allegations that the government does not do any good for its people, President said that he had promised not to stop anything which benefits the people, on the day he was sworn in to office. He said that all the government planned projects will be carried out.
“As you are aware that the issue of acquiring the excess funds needed to support the project of building housing for 190 families from Male has been discussed with the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) and work on the project awaits Parliament approval.†Waheed said.
He said that the construction work of many housing projects is on track. He said that awarding of flats will be commencing at the end of this year.
“We are working on carrying out the ongoing projects as planned†President Waheed said.
Speaking about the trip to Mecca, President Waheed said that the main focus of his talks will be on the issue of the unrest in Syria, issues facing the middle-east and on strengthening friendship and Islamic unity.
“I anticipate playing an important role in the meetings in creating unity and friendship among Islamic countries as Maldives is also an Islamic country†President Waheed said.
President said that the Islamic Ministry fund to repair and restore mosques is being carried out in a fast pace and that many other plans are being made through the fund. Highlighting the importance of such funds, President said that it is crucial to have a sustainable fund to assist Islamic activities. He added that discussions were held with the Islamic scholars who visited from Saudi Arabia, to commemorate the holy month of Ramadan, on assisting the fund and that he would also be holding discussions about it on his trip to Mecca.
President earlier said that he would pray for Maldives on his trip to the holy city. President’s Office said that the President is to return back after the visit to Mecca, next Saturday.
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“This project is to commence soon†he said. However he did not reveal if the assistance was provided from the government or from foreign aid.
Apart from the loan assistance to students, President said that he anticipates the construction of the Laamu Atoll link road to commence before the end of the year. He added that the preparations for the project are progressing rapidly.
“In addition, there is many other road construction projects going on right now, especially in Kulhudhuffushi and in Addu Atoll, both these projects will go on at a fast speed. The work is now being carried out.†President said.
President Waheed said that two urban health clinics will be established to develop the services offered at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). He said that the purpose of it is to bring these services closer to the people in seeking the services in Male.
“The purpose is to find out where there is a shortage of clinic services and to extend the services of IGMH to these areas. We think that this will decrease the demand in IGMH right now.†President said.
In response to the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) allegations that the government does not do any good for its people, President said that he had promised not to stop anything which benefits the people, on the day he was sworn in to office. He said that all the government planned projects will be carried out.
“As you are aware that the issue of acquiring the excess funds needed to support the project of building housing for 190 families from Male has been discussed with the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) and work on the project awaits Parliament approval.†Waheed said.
He said that the construction work of many housing projects is on track. He said that awarding of flats will be commencing at the end of this year.
“We are working on carrying out the ongoing projects as planned†President Waheed said.
Speaking about the trip to Mecca, President Waheed said that the main focus of his talks will be on the issue of the unrest in Syria, issues facing the middle-east and on strengthening friendship and Islamic unity.
“I anticipate playing an important role in the meetings in creating unity and friendship among Islamic countries as Maldives is also an Islamic country†President Waheed said.
President said that the Islamic Ministry fund to repair and restore mosques is being carried out in a fast pace and that many other plans are being made through the fund. Highlighting the importance of such funds, President said that it is crucial to have a sustainable fund to assist Islamic activities. He added that discussions were held with the Islamic scholars who visited from Saudi Arabia, to commemorate the holy month of Ramadan, on assisting the fund and that he would also be holding discussions about it on his trip to Mecca.
President earlier said that he would pray for Maldives on his trip to the holy city. President’s Office said that the President is to return back after the visit to Mecca, next Saturday.
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Minor thefts common this Ramadan: Police
The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed that compared to and unlike previous Ramadans, this year minor thefts have increased. Deputy Head of the Police Department of Serious and Organised Crimes, Mohamed Dhaudh said last night that compared to previous years, major thefts have declined considerably.
“Minor thefts have increased. That is one thing we’ve noticed this year for sure. Currently snatching mobile phones and passes have become common. So far the only major theft that has come to our attention was from two stores near the harbor where thieves gained access to the shop by removing the roofing of the two shops. Drinks were stolen from one shop while around MVR200,000 was stolen from the other. With the help of forensic evidence the Police has now tracked down and recovered some of the money and those involved has also been arrested,†he said.
Dhaudh explained that during Ramadan the Police have noticed that thieves strike at two particular times that is during Iftar and dawn.
“Some leave the house for dawn prayers and do not lock their houses, and a group of people are taking advantage of this. We know that there are several people out there in our society freed under several programs and it is those on these circles that are committing minor crimes. Repeat offenders are the most common amongst those we apprehend,†Dhaudh explained.
Dhaudh revealed that motorcycle thefts have also increased recently and motorcycles from Male are being stolen and sent off to islands and that several stolen cycles have been recovered from Male and Addu.
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“Minor thefts have increased. That is one thing we’ve noticed this year for sure. Currently snatching mobile phones and passes have become common. So far the only major theft that has come to our attention was from two stores near the harbor where thieves gained access to the shop by removing the roofing of the two shops. Drinks were stolen from one shop while around MVR200,000 was stolen from the other. With the help of forensic evidence the Police has now tracked down and recovered some of the money and those involved has also been arrested,†he said.
Dhaudh explained that during Ramadan the Police have noticed that thieves strike at two particular times that is during Iftar and dawn.
“Some leave the house for dawn prayers and do not lock their houses, and a group of people are taking advantage of this. We know that there are several people out there in our society freed under several programs and it is those on these circles that are committing minor crimes. Repeat offenders are the most common amongst those we apprehend,†Dhaudh explained.
Dhaudh revealed that motorcycle thefts have also increased recently and motorcycles from Male are being stolen and sent off to islands and that several stolen cycles have been recovered from Male and Addu.
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Will participate in talks when harassment stops: President
President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said today that he will only participate in the All Party Road-Map Talks once the harassment of government officials and employees stop. Speaking with reporters prior to leaving for Mecca to attend the summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, President Waheed in reply to a question asked by Haveeru said that the government had clearly stated that it will only participate in negotiations once a calmer environment is established.
“I am ready to join the talks. But the unrest on the roads and the harassment of government officials and employees has got to stop. Once it stops I’ll join the talks,†he said.
When asked if he believed that the halting of the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) Direct Action Campaign has lent a calmer atmosphere to the recommencing of the All Party Road-Map Talks President Waheed said that “compared to earlier the situation has considerably simmered down,†and he thanked the leaders of MDP for doing so.
“But still, harassing government officials and employees have not come to a complete halt. So I believe that will eventually stop too. My hope is to recommence the talks as soon as possible,†he said.
The President revealed that he has been in continuous dialogue with mediator of the All Party Road-Map Talks Ahmed Mujuthaba and expressed hope that once Mujthaba returned from his vacation talks can resume.
“I have said that if matters progress peacefully I will join the negotiations and I have been assured that either leaders or deputy leaders from other political parties will also join the discussions,†he explained.
He also added that he has appointed a representative on his behalf to the Parliament on the request of the Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid to meet with a team of leaders from the Parliament and said that he hoped the discussion designed to pave the way for the reconvening of the Parliament will be held within this week.
The President had appointed Vice President Mohamed Waheedeen as his representative to the Parliament however the government is currently reconsidering the decision following the Vice President being harassed at Hulhumale allegedly by supporters of the opposition during a visit to inaugurate a futsal field.
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“I am ready to join the talks. But the unrest on the roads and the harassment of government officials and employees has got to stop. Once it stops I’ll join the talks,†he said.
When asked if he believed that the halting of the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) Direct Action Campaign has lent a calmer atmosphere to the recommencing of the All Party Road-Map Talks President Waheed said that “compared to earlier the situation has considerably simmered down,†and he thanked the leaders of MDP for doing so.
“But still, harassing government officials and employees have not come to a complete halt. So I believe that will eventually stop too. My hope is to recommence the talks as soon as possible,†he said.
The President revealed that he has been in continuous dialogue with mediator of the All Party Road-Map Talks Ahmed Mujuthaba and expressed hope that once Mujthaba returned from his vacation talks can resume.
“I have said that if matters progress peacefully I will join the negotiations and I have been assured that either leaders or deputy leaders from other political parties will also join the discussions,†he explained.
He also added that he has appointed a representative on his behalf to the Parliament on the request of the Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid to meet with a team of leaders from the Parliament and said that he hoped the discussion designed to pave the way for the reconvening of the Parliament will be held within this week.
The President had appointed Vice President Mohamed Waheedeen as his representative to the Parliament however the government is currently reconsidering the decision following the Vice President being harassed at Hulhumale allegedly by supporters of the opposition during a visit to inaugurate a futsal field.
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Improvement in internal security in Maldives: MNDF Chief
The Chief of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Major General Ahmed Shiyam said that an improvement in the country's internal security can be seen clearly as several steps have been taken to ensure the safety of the public. In an exclusive interview with Haveeru, the MNDF Chief who was in Colombo recently to attend the Defence Seminar 2012 titled ‘Towards Lasting Peace and Stability’ emphasized the need to have defence cooperation among regional countries to maintain regional security.
“Everyone in Maldives focuses on the Police and the Army. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of our country. The internal security in the country has improved drastically and we are working on keeping Maldives safe. Certain steps have been taken to maintain our internal security,†Major General Shiyam said.
“Currently, regional security is an important issue that needs to be addressed. Maldives has been co-operating with several South Asian countries especially with India and Sri Lanka. Recently we conducted joint naval exercises with India and Sri Lanka. We hope to make this a regular naval exercise which will strengthen defence cooperation between the regional countries,†he said.
Major General Shiyam further said that the achievements of the Sri Lanka Army were not a small task despite the country facing several external challenges.
“Some bigger countries try to condemn the smaller nations like us and belittle our achievements. However, what the Sri Lanka Army has achieved in terms of winning the war was no small achievement,†he said.
“On Wednesday (August 8) night many of us who were part of the foreign delegation that attended the Defence Seminar walked on the roads of Colombo and we can see the drastic improvement in terms of security. It was such a good feeling to be able to walk on the streets without fear and all the security. I have been to Sri Lanka during the height of the war and I know firsthand what it felt like and the fear that gripped everyone who came here. But today Sri Lanka is enjoying their freedom, thanks to the Sri Lankan forces,†he said.
The Maldives Defence Chief also added that Maldives will continue to cooperate and support Sri Lanka on achieving common military objectives.
“We have several Maldivian military officers who are currently receiving training here in Sri Lanka. We have always stood by Sri Lanka and the strong ties between both countries have always been there. Many Maldivians live and study in Sri Lanka and the two countries have shared a very close friendship. Even at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva, Maldives rendered its support to Sri Lanka. During our troubles times Sri Lanka has been there with us,†he said.
When Haveeru asked about him showing his bank details to the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) which is probing the events that led to the transfer of power in February, Major General Shiyam said that he was a public servant and he has nothing to hide.
“There were allegations leveled against me saying that I had taken money from certain individuals to take sides. As officers we will never sell our service. I have nothing to hide and that is why I am prepared to be open. Many of us have served our country with a lot honour and integrity,†he said.
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“Everyone in Maldives focuses on the Police and the Army. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of our country. The internal security in the country has improved drastically and we are working on keeping Maldives safe. Certain steps have been taken to maintain our internal security,†Major General Shiyam said.
“Currently, regional security is an important issue that needs to be addressed. Maldives has been co-operating with several South Asian countries especially with India and Sri Lanka. Recently we conducted joint naval exercises with India and Sri Lanka. We hope to make this a regular naval exercise which will strengthen defence cooperation between the regional countries,†he said.
Major General Shiyam further said that the achievements of the Sri Lanka Army were not a small task despite the country facing several external challenges.
“Some bigger countries try to condemn the smaller nations like us and belittle our achievements. However, what the Sri Lanka Army has achieved in terms of winning the war was no small achievement,†he said.
“On Wednesday (August 8) night many of us who were part of the foreign delegation that attended the Defence Seminar walked on the roads of Colombo and we can see the drastic improvement in terms of security. It was such a good feeling to be able to walk on the streets without fear and all the security. I have been to Sri Lanka during the height of the war and I know firsthand what it felt like and the fear that gripped everyone who came here. But today Sri Lanka is enjoying their freedom, thanks to the Sri Lankan forces,†he said.
The Maldives Defence Chief also added that Maldives will continue to cooperate and support Sri Lanka on achieving common military objectives.
“We have several Maldivian military officers who are currently receiving training here in Sri Lanka. We have always stood by Sri Lanka and the strong ties between both countries have always been there. Many Maldivians live and study in Sri Lanka and the two countries have shared a very close friendship. Even at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva, Maldives rendered its support to Sri Lanka. During our troubles times Sri Lanka has been there with us,†he said.
When Haveeru asked about him showing his bank details to the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) which is probing the events that led to the transfer of power in February, Major General Shiyam said that he was a public servant and he has nothing to hide.
“There were allegations leveled against me saying that I had taken money from certain individuals to take sides. As officers we will never sell our service. I have nothing to hide and that is why I am prepared to be open. Many of us have served our country with a lot honour and integrity,†he said.
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52 die in India as bus plunges into gorge
At least 52 people were killed and 45 injured when a heavily overloaded bus plunged into a gorge Saturday in northern India, in one of the worst road accidents in the country in recent years. The bus, which was carrying over 100 passengers -- many of them on the roof -- veered off the road in a sparsely populated and hilly area of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
"Fifty-two people have been killed and 45 injured in the accident," Sunil Chaudhary, district deputy commissioner, told AFP, adding the death toll could rise because at least a dozen of the injured were in a critical condition.
There were anguished scenes as families came to claim the bodies of the victims. Many of the dead had boarded the 42-seater bus when their own bus broke down, locals told AFP.
Some of the bodies were taken away by their families for cremation while the state government brought in four truckloads of wood to cremate other victims at the accident site.
The cause was not immediately known but some witnesses said that the driver lost control of the vehicle on a sharp bend.
The accident occurred in the morning near Chamba town, about 190 kilometres (120 miles) from the state capital Shimla. The area where the accident happened is treacherous and known for zig-zag turns.
Villagers were the first to reach the accident site and frantically struggled to pull the dead and injured from the twisted wreckage. Later, emergency crews arrived, covering the dead in white sheets.
The bus had been on its way to Chamba from Dulera when it flew off the road. Thirty-nine people were killed instantly while the others died on the way to hospital, Chaudhary said.
It was the second major bus tragedy in a week, in a country where road accidents with dozens dead at a time are common.
On Wednesday, 31 people were killed when their bus tumbled into a gorge in Meghalaya state, in India's remote northeast.
In 2008, some 63 bus passengers returning from a religious celebration were killed when a burst tyre ignited the vehicle's fuel tank east of the Taj Mahal city of Agra.
India has the highest annual road death toll in the world, according to a 2009 World Health Organization report, with accidents caused by speeding, careless driving and treacherous roads.
Himachal Pradesh's Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal offered his "heartfelt condolences to the families of the dead" and said the next of kin would get 100,000 rupees ($1,800) from the government.
"The state government has ordered an inquiry into the accident," Dhumal said.
The Chamba district borders Indian Kashmir and has been lashed by heavy monsoon rains in the past few days.
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"Fifty-two people have been killed and 45 injured in the accident," Sunil Chaudhary, district deputy commissioner, told AFP, adding the death toll could rise because at least a dozen of the injured were in a critical condition.
There were anguished scenes as families came to claim the bodies of the victims. Many of the dead had boarded the 42-seater bus when their own bus broke down, locals told AFP.
Some of the bodies were taken away by their families for cremation while the state government brought in four truckloads of wood to cremate other victims at the accident site.
The cause was not immediately known but some witnesses said that the driver lost control of the vehicle on a sharp bend.
The accident occurred in the morning near Chamba town, about 190 kilometres (120 miles) from the state capital Shimla. The area where the accident happened is treacherous and known for zig-zag turns.
Villagers were the first to reach the accident site and frantically struggled to pull the dead and injured from the twisted wreckage. Later, emergency crews arrived, covering the dead in white sheets.
The bus had been on its way to Chamba from Dulera when it flew off the road. Thirty-nine people were killed instantly while the others died on the way to hospital, Chaudhary said.
It was the second major bus tragedy in a week, in a country where road accidents with dozens dead at a time are common.
On Wednesday, 31 people were killed when their bus tumbled into a gorge in Meghalaya state, in India's remote northeast.
In 2008, some 63 bus passengers returning from a religious celebration were killed when a burst tyre ignited the vehicle's fuel tank east of the Taj Mahal city of Agra.
India has the highest annual road death toll in the world, according to a 2009 World Health Organization report, with accidents caused by speeding, careless driving and treacherous roads.
Himachal Pradesh's Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal offered his "heartfelt condolences to the families of the dead" and said the next of kin would get 100,000 rupees ($1,800) from the government.
"The state government has ordered an inquiry into the accident," Dhumal said.
The Chamba district borders Indian Kashmir and has been lashed by heavy monsoon rains in the past few days.
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