The marine riches of the Maldives

Project goal: the IUCN 'House Reef' program aims to enhance the resilience of coral reef ecosystems in the Maldives, especially the Ari atoll, to climate change

Duration: From 2012 to 2016

Size: Seven IUCN staff members are based in the Maldives. Five hotel resorts are currently involved in the project

Funding: 6.3 million Euros as part of the Blue Solutions Network by the International Climate Initiative, additional funding by Global travel company Kuoni, shopping giant Global Blue and USAID among others

Key species: Manta rays, whale sharks

Coral reefs contain a dazzling variety of species and are considered among the world’s most sensitive and valuable ecosystems. But in the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, the colorful underwater reefs have in some places been reduced to clumps of gray chalkstone. That’s bad news because the Maldives would not survive without intact reefs. They don’t just help to provide a natural barrier against high waves but also provide a crucial source of revenue for the country. Tourists from all over the world are drawn to the Maldives to dive and explore the underwater world of sharks, manta rays and endemic fish species. But tourism is also part of the problem with waste being dumped in the sea and some tourists breaking off corals to take home as a souvenir. It’s a vicious cycle - coral reef erosion means a loss of fish and without algae-eating fish, the corals are overtaken by water plants that squeeze off oxygen supply. Fishermen tend to accelerate the process by casting their nets directly near reefs. Coral reef expert Ameer Abdulla from the nature conservation organization IUCN wants all stakeholders to take responsibility for preserving the reefs. He’s set up the 'House Reef' project to convince hotel managers to set up private marine conservation zones with the help of marine biologists.

International Monetary Fund sees strengthening but uneven global growth

The International Monetary Fund has predicted the worldwide recovery will strengthen this year as output in richer nations picks up.

 But it warned that recovery is not evenly robust with rising risks in emerging economies. Global output is set to expand 3.6 percent this year, which is slightly lower than its forecast in January. It was 3.0 percent last year

. For 2015 the worldwide forecast is for 3.9 percent expansion. While less fiscal austerity should help unshackle growth in the United States and Europe, emerging markets are likely to grow more slowly than thought just a few months ago due to tighter financial conditions, the IMF said.

US growth should be 2.8 percent, the eurozone 1.2 percent , China 7.5 percent and Japan 1.4 percent. Next year it sees slight increases in the US – to 3.0 percent – and the eurozone – 1.5 percent. There are likely to be falls in China – to 7.3 percent and Japan to 1.0 percent. The Fund sharply raised its forecasts for British growth, to 2.9 percent this year, easing to 2.5 percent next year. That was up from previous forecasts of 2.4 and 2.2 percent. But for all of its pace since early 2013, Britain’s economy is only expected to get back to its pre-crisis size in the second quarter of this year, significantly lagging other economies such as the United States and Germany. In its twice-yearly ‘World Economic Outlook’, the IMF said politicians need to come up with more ideas to raise the world’s productive capacity and avoid a prolonged period of sluggish growth. It highlighted the eurozone and Japan as being at risk of stagnation without the right policy actions.

 Growth in the eurozone is expected for the first time in three years despite the region’s high unemployment, with even Spain’s economy due to expand by 0.9 percent this year. Among other major eurozone economies the IMF sees French growth reaching 1.0 percent with Germanys economy expected to gain 1.7 percent The IMF repeated its warnings about the very low level of inflation in the eurozone and called again for stimulus from the European Central Bank. Deflation is less of an immediate threat to Japan than it has been in the past, the IMF said, largely because a planned increase in the consumption tax will help support prices because the tax will have the effect of raising prices. But it said the tax hike would likely cut into Japan’s growth and warned of a one in five chance the world’s third-largest economy could slip into recession this year.

IMF cuts global growth outlook over aftermath of Ukraine crisis

The IMF said Tuesday the world's two largest economies, the US and China, could continue to expect growth of 3.6 percent this year and 3.9 percent in 2015. The figures were rolled back, though, by 0.1 percent from January's forecast.

The IMF's latest World Economic Outlookhad a slightly less optimistic tone as it was issued after the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis caused by an anti-government revolt and Russia\'s annexation of Crimea.

The crisis was found to have exacerbated Russia's sharp economic downturn, with the country grappling with sanctions from the West and the IMF worried about the impact spreading beyond the region.

Austerity versus stimulus

The report also addressed a sharp decline in economic momentum in other leading emerging countries such as Brazil, South Africa and Turkey, which were said to be a drag on global output.

The IMF noted those nations remained especially vulnerable to turbulence that started with the US Federal Reserve's slow tightening of monetary conditions, driving a rise in interest rates and pulling capital away from riskier markets.

The new figures also once again raised the sensitive issue of whether strained governments should forego deficit-slashing austerity programs and spend more to boost economies.

China ship detects ´pulse signal´ in Indian Ocean

PERTH: China´s official news agency says a Chinese ship that is part of the multinational search effort looking for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane has detected a "pulse signal" in southern Indian Ocean waters.

The report says a black box detector deployed by the vessel, Haixun 01, picked up a signal at 37.5Hz per second Saturday at around 25 degrees south latitude and 101 degrees east longitude.

The report said it was not established whether that the signal was related to the missing jet.

The Australian government agency coordinating the search would not immediately comment on the report.

China approves sale of Nokia handset business to Microsoft

Finnish telecommunications group Nokia said Tuesday it had cleared a big hurdle of the sale of its mobile devices business to Microsoft after securing approval from Chinese regulators.

China's Ministry of Commerce became the latest regulator to approve the deal after the European Commission and the US Justice Department had already given the green light.

The takeover was expected to be completed later this month, Nokia said, confirming the deal was worth 5.44 billion euros ($7.2 billion). It said it consisted of 3.79 billion euros for the company's devices and services division and another 1.65 billion euros for its patents.

Patents in focus

According to Bloomberg, China regulators took more time than expected to analyze the deal against rivals such as Samsung and Huawei, having voiced concerns about a drastic rise in Nokia patent licenses after the takeover.

But market experts said important licenses would not involve higher fees, with crucial patents not allowed to change hands for five years.

Nokia was once the world's leading mobile phone maker until smartphones from Apple and companies using Google's Android operating system overtook the Finnish firm.

After the planned sale of its handset business, Nokia will consist of its network infrastructure and services division (NSN) and its mapping services unit called HERE

Arab youth rank the UAE as most desirable Arab country to live in

For the third consecutive year, the UAE has been named the country that most Arab youngsters would like to live in, as well as the country they would most like their own nations to emulate, according to the sixth Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey, which was released today (Monday, April 7). Conducted by international polling firm PSB, the survey canvassed 3,500 Arab youngsters, aged between 18 to 24 years, in 16 countries across the Mena region.

Thirty nine per cent of Arab youngsters cited the UAE as their most preferred country to live in from a list of 20 nations that included the US, the UK, France and Germany, up from 31 per cent in 2012. The UAE is followed by the US (21 per cent), Saudi Arabia (14 per cent), France (13 per cent) and Qatar (13 per cent). When asked which country they would most like their own nations to emulate, the UAE ranked first again, retaining the number one spot as a model nation among young Arabs for the third consecutive year. Thirty nine per cent named the UAE, followed by the US (25 per cent), with France (14 per cent), Turkey (ten per cent) and China (seven per cent) completing the top five places. Again, the UAE showed a strong year-on-year increase, up from 30 per cent in 2013.

Joseph Ghossoub, chairman and CEO of the MENACOM Group, the regional parent company of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, says: “The vision and wisdom shown by the UAE’s leadership – with an emphasis on economic diversification, free market reforms, technological innovations and investments in human capital – resonate around the world and clearly continue to strike a chord with the Arab youth. This vote of confidence from young people across the region strengthens the UAE government’s resolve to continue to provide the best possible environment for living, working and doing business.”

The UAE was also named number one happiest country in the Middle East region and number 17 in the world in the 2013 World Happiness Report, commissioned by the United Nations. These findings are echoed in the sixth Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey, with UAE nationals ranking highest among all of the other participants from 16 countries, when asked about a sense of optimism in the future of their country. Sixty nine per cent of young Emiratis agreed with the statement, ‘I feel optimistic about what the future holds for my country’, more than the others.

Sunil John, CEO of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, says: “The popularity of the UAE is likely a reflection of the country’s strong economic outlook and status as a safe haven, amid the regional political turmoil. The Gulf country, which is the Arab world’s second largest economy with a GDP of $390 billion, is expected to grow by 4.5 per cent in 2014 on the back of a number of factors, including its successful bid to host Expo 2020. Its moderate government, coupled with the ease of doing business, has placed the country in a unique position to be able to attract foreign direct investment.”

Regional confidence among Arab youngsters in their national governments was notable in the survey’s findings. More than 68 per cent was either ‘very confident’ or ‘somewhat confident’ in their governments’ abilities to deal with rising rates of unemployment, while similar numbers were optimistic about their administrations’ abilities to deal with war (67 per cent) and enhance living standards (66 per cent).

The 2014 Arab Youth Survey, which has received the largest polling since it began in 2008, canvassed respondents from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Algeria, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen – with Palestine added for the first time this year.

Refugee-host Lebanon at “breaking point,” says UN

The number of Syrian refugees finding refuge in Lebanon has surpassed one million, the UNHCR said on Thursday. Lebanon had the world's 'highest per capita concentration of refugees' and urgently needed boosts in funding.

A current humanitarian aid appeal for Lebanon was only 13 percent funded, the agency said, adding that 2,500 new refugees entered Lebanon daily – more than one person per minute.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said the impact on Lebanon – a small country of 4.5 million people – was 'staggering.'

The influx had severely stretched Lebanon's health and education sectors as well as its electricity, water and sanitation services. Lebanon had shown 'striking generosity' but was 'struggling to cope,' he said.

Children make up half

Half of the Syrian refugees - living in tented settlements and makeshift shelters (pictured) in Lebanon - are children, according to the UNHCR. Only around 100,000 of them are attending public schools.

The majority of school-aged Syrian refugees in Lebanon lacked schooling, with many forced to work. Girls were often off married young, lacking education.

Fiery protest

In Beirut, UNHCR regional representative Ninette Kelley said the self-immolation by a Syrian refugee mother in Lebanon last week was a 'telling reminder of the consequences of the Syrian emergency.'

Mariam al-Khawli is being treated for 70 percent burns to her body after an unexplained cut in aid funding to her family, including her disabled husband and three children suffering from blood ailments.

Khawli told Reuters Wednesday: 'We got hungry … but they burned my heart before they burned my body. They burned my heart from the inside.'

Kelley said UN teams in Lebanon gave aid to the most vulnerable first and made regular checks on families who were not covered.

'We simply do not have enough [funding],' Kelley said.

Syria's three-year civil war has also left some 600,000 refugees registered in Jordan and around 670,000 in Turkey.

Sectarian strains

In a further sign of Lebanon's attempt to cope with the spillover from Syria's war, Lebanese troops moved into a restive Sunni area of the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the army had entered the adjacent Alawite precinct of Jabal Mohsen.

Syria's conflict has split Lebanon between Alawites who tend to back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Sunnis who tend to back those opposing his regime.

Sectarian clashes between fighters of two Tripoli neighborhoods in the Mediterranean port city claimed at least 30 lives in March.

Tripoli residents said Wednesday they hoped the army's bid to cap sectarian tensions would restore a semblance of urban normality.

High toll in 3-year war

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syria's three-year civil war has claimed at least 150,000 lives.

It said on Tuesday its death count included more than 51,000 civilians and nearly 8,000 children.

In addition, at least half a million Syrians had been left wounded.

An additional 17,000 people were missing and 'tens of thousands' were held in regime prisons, the observatory said.

Aid agencies, including the International Red Cross, have repeatedly called for protected field access for aid deliveries. Forty percent of Syria's hospitals have been destroyed, according to the UN.

Syria's economic output has fallen 45 percent since the uprising's start in 2011.#