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India will lose influence to China, says Nasheed
Three blasts rock Thai capital
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Obama wants $770 m to boost Arab democracy
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India will lose influence to China, says Nasheed
Male, February 14 Calling himself a great lover of India, Nasheed said unlike the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) of former dictator Abdul Gayoom, his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was pro-India by ideology. "My question to Indian establishment is that if they think we did not perform, do they think this is a better option?" asked the 44-year-old who was the first democratically elected President of Maldives, who ascended to power in 2008 after a democratic revolution overthrew Gayoom's 30-year-rule. "Unlike PPM, we are a group of people who strongly believe in India, their role and functions in Indian Ocean and the relationship that we want with India," he said speaking to PTI at his residence. This is not the first time Nasheed has expressed unhappiness with India's response to the political crisis that saw him being deposed last week in what he termed was a coup. Last week, Nasheed made it plain that he was disappointed that India responded to the crisis without understanding the ground situation in his country. Nasheed said while India and the US both had failed to gauge the ground reality, it was the smaller European nations that are trying to find out what the situation is and what will be best way forward. He said India must understand the situation in Maldives and it was "very strange" if it has not. "The thing is India takes us for granted unlike the PPM. I think this is the biggest reason, a more logical reason. They know we will be with them. It is an ideological thing for us," said the former President. Nasheed said China would now start playing a more active role in the country and hinted that Maldives National Defence Force is keen to renew a defence agreement with Beijing. "They (China) will certainly play an active role now. They will play much-much more active role," Nasheed said. He said when his party came into the government in 2008, there was a defence agreement with China. And this was supposed to have been renewed in 2009 and "I didn't". "I had this paper on my desk even two weeks back. The MNDF had sent me the letter again saying I have to sign it. And this time they said I have to sign it," he said. — PTI Ousted Prez alleges assassination plot Maldives' ousted President Mohamed Nasheed has claimed that officers of the Maldivian Army and police had been plotting to detain and assassinate him and that he was aware of the masterminds behind the "coup" that forced him out of power. "They were trying to accomplish it to the last minute, but with the mercy of God, I have been granted the opportunity to be with you all here tonight," he said while addressing a party rally last night, according to a report on the Haveeru newspaper's website today. Nasheed said he was aware of the masterminds as well as of plots to assassinate him but did not disclose any further details or any names pertaining to the alleged assassination plot, the paper said. He said he would not allow the people to suffer at the hands of the "traitors" currently in power and called on the people to practice "civil disobedience" until the demands for snap elections are met, the report said.
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Three blasts rock Thai capital
Bangkok, February 14 Four locals, including a woman, were also injured in the blasts that occurred outside a school on Soi Sukhumvit 71 Road that branches off a busy multi-lane road in the Thai capital far away from foreign embassies. Authorities here did not point fingers or suspect a link between yesterday's incidents in New Delhi and Tbilisi and the blasts in Bangkok, but Israel said a possibility of Iranian link could not be ruled out. Saerb Moradi, one of the three Iranians living in a rented accommodation and allegedly making bombs, blasted the house in Ekamai area of central Bangkok after the police discovered explosive materials there. Moradi along with two other Iranians fled from the scene. He tried to stop a taxi and after the driver refused to accept him, he threw a bomb injuring the driver and ran off. Spotted by police, he threw a third bomb on them but it bounced off a tree and blew his legs off. Moradi is being treated at a hospital. Top police official Pansiri Prapawat said they recovered a passport from the scene which indicated that Moradi was an Iranian. He said so far they have not found any links between yesterday's incidents in New Delhi and Tbilisi and today's blasts in Bangkok. Another Iranian identified as Mohammed Hazaei, 42, was arrested as he was about to leave for neighbouring Malaysia. He was waiting for an Air Asia flight to go to Kuala Lumpur. A hunt is on for a third Iranian. — PTI
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Amartya Sen honoured with Humanities Medal Washington, February 14 "We even have an economist, which we don't always get on stage," Obama said referring to 78-year-old Sen, before he presented the 2011 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities. "Sen is being awarded the 2011 National Humanities Medal for his insights into the causes of poverty, famine, and injustice. By applying philosophical thinking to questions of policy, he has changed how standards of living are measured and increased our understanding of how to fight hunger," said the citation, read by a military aid of the US President. The two Nobel Laureates (Obama and Sen) were seen chatting on some issues during the award ceremony. Sen also attended the White House reception hosted by President Obama on this occasion. The First Lady, Michelle also attended the awards ceremony. The 2011 National Medal of Arts were also awarded to Will Barnet, Rita Dove, Al Pacino, Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Martin Puryear, Mel Tillis, United Service Organization and André Watts. And the 2011 National Humanities Medal were given to Kwame Anthony Appiah, John Ashbery, Robert Darnton, Andrew Delbanco, National History Day, Charles Rosen sand Teofilo Ruiz besides Sen. — PTI
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Obama wants $770 m to boost Arab democracy
Washington, February 14 The new fund is part of $51.6 billion requested for the State Department and US Agency for International Development in 2013, which amounts to around 1.4% of the government’s entire budget, the State Department said. The department said it requested “$770 million for a new Middle East and North Africa Incentive Fund to respond strategically to the historical changes taking place across the region.” “The fund will incentivise long-term economic, political and trade reforms, key pillars of stability, by supporting governments that demonstrate a commitment to undergo meaningful change and empower their people,” it said. US officials said the funds could be used for countries such as Syria, Yemen, Tunisia and Morocco, and at this point it was unclear how the money would be allocated. — AFP
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Male, February 14
Bangkok, February 14
