Tag Archives: Maldives

Articles of Interest

Chrissy Teigen Designs Bridal Swimwear Line For Beach Bunny (PHOTOS)

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By The Huffington Post News Editors

Sports Illustrated models and swimsuits go together like peanut butter and jelly. So we weren’t surprised to learn that our favorite model, Chrissy Teigen, was trying her hand at designing swimwear — bridal swimwear, that is.

The idea came to Teigen when she began planning her honeymoon in the Maldives (the Thai-Norwegian beauty is slated to marry R&B singer John Legend this fall).

“I want to wear a bathing suit for my husband that makes me feel sexy. I know other women feel the same way, so I was inspired to design a line,” she recently told People magazine.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

W Hotels Worldwide to More Than Double Asia Presence Over Next Five Years

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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W Hotels Worldwide to More Than Double Asia Presence Over Next Five Years


Recent W Hotel Openings in Singapore and Bangkok Ignite Asia Pacific Growth That Will See Nearly 20 W Hotels and Retreats in the Region by End of 2018

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– On the heels of recent W Hotel openings in Singapore and Bangkok, W Hotels Worldwide today announced plans to more than double its Asian presence by the end of 2018, offering global jetsetters nearly 20 W Hotels and Retreats in nine countries in the region. More than half of the W brand’s global pipeline is slated for Asia Pacific, including the first W Hotel in mainland China opening in Guangzhou later this month, followed by other China openings in Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, and Suzhou over the next five years. Additional W Hotels have been announced in India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

“Asia is a rapidly growing market, long known for exemplary, traditional service in hospitality,” said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide, St. Regis, and The Luxury Collection. “With each new W Hotel opening, we are able to reinvent the luxury hotel landscape, offering cutting-edge design, whatever/whenever service, and insider access to what’s new and next for both our guests and locals alike.”

The W brand first entered Asia in 2004 with the opening of W Seoul – Walkerhill. Since then, W Hotels has strengthened its presence in the region with eight hotels and retreats in seven countries, including properties in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Maldives, and Hong Kong.

“The growth spurt of W Hotels in Asia Pacific reflects a significant growth in demand for stylish luxury brands,” said Stephen Ho, President, Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “In addition, we believe W Hotels’ reinterpretation of luxury is what contributes to the brand’s success. W Hotels have now become a landmark and symbol of transformation in key cities and premier resorts across Asia Pacific.”

W Hotels will open eleven new properties in the Asia Pacific region by 2018, including:

W Guangzhou Hotel & Residences – March 31, 2013 – Amid old Chinese opera stages, charming dim sum teahouses and dusty curio shops, W Guangzhou is located in the heart of Pearl River New Town, a new upscale district …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Articles of Interest

Mohamed Nasheed, Former Maldives President, Arrested In Abuse Of Power Case

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By The Huffington Post News Editors

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The former president of the Maldives was arrested Tuesday on charges of abuse of power during his tenure, setting off violent protests in the capital which saw seven policemen hurt.

Police spokesman Hassan Hanif said Mohamed Nasheed was arrested at his home in Male, the capital, and will be produced in court on Wednesday. He said Nasheed failed to appear for a hearing and evaded two arrest warrants.

He said Nasheed’s supporters turned violent soon after the arrest, attacking police and burning a motorbike.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post

News, Politics, Government

Former Maldives president leaves Indian Embassy

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The former president of the Maldives has left the country’s Indian Embassy, where he had taken refuge for 10 days claiming his life was under threat.

Mohamed Nasheed left the embassy on Saturday. He arrived there on Feb. 13 after a court ordered his arrest for not attending a hearing on charges that he illegally ordered the detention of a senior judge, a move that led to his ouster from power last year.

Nasheed has said the case against him is politically motivated to disqualify him from contesting the presidential election scheduled for September.

Nasheed did not explain why he left the embassy on Saturday, but said he believed he would be free to participate in politics.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Maldives opposition threatens to boycott election

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Maldives‘ main opposition party will boycott a presidential election scheduled in September unless it is held under a transitional government, a party spokesman said Tuesday.

Ahmed Naseem, a former foreign minister and a spokesman for the Maldivian Democratic Party, said the party doesn’t trust President Mohammed Waheed Hassan to hold a fair election. He said the party wants a transitional government led by the speaker of Parliament for two months as allowed under the constitution of the Indian Ocean nation.

“An interim government and then elections. Nothing else. If these arrangements are not made, the MDP will not participate in the election,” Naseem told reporters in Colombo in neighboring Sri Lanka. Maldives is scheduled to hold its second multiparty presidential election on Sept. 7.

The country’s former president, MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed, has taken refuge in the Indian embassy since last Wednesday, when a court ordered his arrest for not appearing to face charges that he illegally ordered the arrest of a senior judge while president.

Nasheed says the charges are politically motivated to disqualify him from running in the presidential election.

Nasheed became the Maldives‘ first democratically elected president in 2008, ending a 30-year autocracy. He resigned as president last year after losing the support of the military and police during weeks of public protests over the judge’s detention. His deputy, Hassan, succeeded him.

An inquiry commission last year dismissed Nasheed’s claim that he was ousted in a coup.

Maldives police said they have asked for help from the Foreign Ministry in arresting Nasheed from the embassy.

The Indian government has said it will deal with Nasheed on a day-to-day basis.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Maldives court issues 2nd warrant for ex-president

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Maldives police say they are asking for help from the Foreign Ministry in arresting the country’s former president, who has taken refuge inside the Indian embassy.

Police spokesman Hasan Haneef said Monday that a court has issued a second arrest warrant for Mohamed Nasheed to face charges he illegally ordered the detention of a senior judge. The judge’s detention led to Nasheed’s ouster from power last year.

Nasheed took refuge inside the Indian embassy last Wednesday, when a court issued an earlier arrest warrant against him for failing to appear to face charges. Nasheed’s party has said his life is under threat.

The Indian government has said it will deal with Nasheed on a day-to-day basis.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Maldives ex-leader demands president's resignation

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The former president of the Maldives took refuge for a second day Thursday in the country’s Indian embassy, and his party spokesman said he would not leave the building until the current leader resigns.

Abdul Gafoor, spokesman for the Maldivian Democratic Party, said former President Mohamed Nasheed was in danger and the party had urged him to remain in the embassy in the capital, Male.

“The threat level is high. The party is advising him not to step outside,” Gafoor told The Associated Press.

Nasheed entered the embassy Wednesday after a court ordered his arrest for not attending a hearing on charges that he illegally ordered the detention of a senior judge, a move which led to his ouster from power last year. Nasheed says that the charges are politically motivated to disqualify him from running for the presidency in September elections.

The government says the arrest warrant expired Wednesday night but Gafoor said the party feared for Nasheed’s life.

Nasheed demanded in a statement Wednesday that President Mohammed Waheed Hassan resign and install a caretaker government to oversee the election. He said Hassan could not be trusted to hold a free and fair vote.

The Indian government says it has not decided whether to give Nasheed asylum. Foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said the government will take it “a day at a time.”

However, the Indian government issued a statement Wednesday saying that candidates from all political parties must be free to participate in the election.

“Prevention of participation by political leaders in the contest would call into question the integrity of the electoral process, thereby perpetuating the current political instability in the Maldives,” it said.

In response, the Maldives Foreign Ministry said “it is unfortunate that the government of India has decided to publicly comment on today’s events instead of opting for bilateral discussions between the two governments.”

Nasheed became Maldives‘ first democratically elected president in 2008 after 30 years of autocratic rule. He resigned last year after weeks of public protests over the judge’s arrest and after losing the support of the military and police. His deputy Hassan took over as president.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Maldives ex-leader seeks refuge at Indian Embassy

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The former president of the Maldives said Wednesday he has taken refuge at the Indian Embassy after a court ordered his arrest.

Mohamed Nasheed tweeted that he took the step “mindful of his own security and the stability of the Indian Ocean.” He did not explain.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said India has not decided whether to grant Nasheed refuge at the embassy.

A court ordered police to arrest Nasheed and present him to the court on Wednesday after he failed to appear for a hearing Sunday on charges that he illegally ordered the detention of a senior judge, a move that led to his ouster from power last year.

His party said Nasheed was in India on Sunday and could not return because of health reasons.

Nasheed became the first democratically elected president of the Indian Ocean archipelago in 2008. He resigned a year ago after weeks of public protests against the judge’s arrest. His deputy, Mohammed Waheed Hassan, succeeded him.

An inquiry commission last year dismissed Nasheed’s claim that he was ousted in a coup.

Nasheed says the charges against him are politically motivated to disqualify him from running for the presidency later this year.

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News