One Famous Himalayan Hug Turns 60

And Nepal celebrates those who've been to the top. But not everyone thinks that so many people should be inspired by George Mallory's motivation. 

How Much Did Our Ministers Take Home Last Year?

Salary, per diem and other perks. And was their output commensurate with what they cost us?

Not a bad idea if we ranked them. Or grouped them.

Manraj Report to Cost An Extra Billion

According to media reports of the press point of the PM yesterday. The report itself can be downloaded here. Just thinking aloud: why hasn't the duty free car privilege been cancelled and replaced with a bus pass?

Maurice, Ile Durable?

India Welcomes Back Friend As Chinese Premier

Li Keqiang is back in India today after 27 years for a 3-day visit. This is his first overseas trip as Chinese PM. Which is happening a few days after the standoff in Ladakh ended peacefully.

He will be meeting the Indian PM for talks on a wide-ranging number of issues. Including border claims and dams that the Middle Empire wants to build on the Brahmaputra.

Norton Deems Lexpress.mu a Malicious Site

Got this unusual warning message when I was trying to read the report on that terrible accident. The other media sites seem ok. Bizarre.

Manu Wins 20th, Ivanovic To Be Tested For Rabies

After being bitten by the Premier League Top Scorer until last night. Luis Suarez has already apologised, been fined by Liverpool, offered anger management classes and is likely to face more than the standard 3-match ban from the FA. But depending on when the suspension actually starts he could still score more goals than anybody else this season. And win the PFA Player of the Year award. Too. In five days.

Human Computer Dead At 73

Shakuntala Devi passed away yesterday morning in Bangalore after respiratory problems caused two heart attacks according to the Times of India.

She caused a sensation on her first visit to Mauritius while the Guiness Book of Records did not immediately believe that her gifts were for real.

Not bad for someone who was too poor to attend school.

Boston Marathon Ends in Carnage

Two or three dead and over one hundred wounded when a few bombs explode as the international event was drawing to a close. Police are still piecing the story together.

Robertson Publishes Preliminary Media Report

And you can read it here. Skimmed a few pages earlier today.

What do you think of the report?

Iron Lady Dead At 87

Margaret Thatcher was the longest serving British PM. She was for deregulation, weak trade unions and privatisation of state-owned enterprises. The former PM also waged war against Argentina to recapture Islas Malvinas. Here she is talking about socialism at the end of her 11-year Prime Ministership. 

And here is Meryl Streep winning another Oscar for her extraordinary portrayal of the Iron Lady.

Cell Phone Turns 40

Fifteen Centimetres of Rain Kill Eleven in a Flash

That's way too many Mauritians to die in a few hours. It's equivalent to about 10,600 deaths for India. Which is roughly the number of lives that were lost there in the 2004 Tsunami. The sheer scale of Saturday's tragedy requires that we find out exactly what went wrong and what needs to be fixed. And what has been done since the Domah report on the 2008 floods was published. But in the meantime the torrential rain protocol needs to be optimised for the preservation of lives. At least those using the underpass of death everyday. Because of how the climate and the concrete invasion is different every few kilometres on our island.

All this should happen while we experience one of our national treasures: our legendary solidarity. And we should definitely be grateful that the torrents of water weren't radioactive.

It's OK to Have More Than One Best Friend

Comparing Travel Clips: Bharat and Chota

And one by our leading hotel groups.

Women Contribute 33% More Than Mao Estimate

Ramgoolam Right To Tread Carefully With Electoral Reform

By soon publishing a consultative paper and therefore essentially asking the whole nation for input. That's a very commendable move because as the Prime Minister has reminded us yesterday changes to our constitution shouldn't be made on a whim. Or, if I may add, because one or two hysterical marxists like hearing the sound of their voice on radio as often as possible.

And given that we are about to broaden the debate it would be necessary to ask the Electoral Commission to put as much disaggregated data as possible on its website so that we don't shut out any thoughtful solutions.

Sik Yuen Exercises Ministerial Prerogative

And sacks Robert Desvaux as Chairman of the MTPA. Xavier Duval is not happy about this and wants Sik Yuen to either reinstate his buddy or quit as Minister. In essence the PMSD believes it is the owner of the Ministry of Tourism.

This reminds me of Obeegadoo's recent comments about how electors literally aren't allowed to vote as they please. And of Sithanen's week-long whining-cum-crying back in February 2007 when he wanted to usurp the Prime Minister's prerogative of picking the Governor of our Central Bank. There was also that circus about him insisting to stay on as Finance Minister beyond April 2010. Could this explain why his report on electoral reform contains perverse recommendations to institutionalise the ownership of ridings and ministries? Aka double candidacy.

Returning to the current situation remember that Ramgoolam's government has a majority of 38-31 and that the PMSD has 4 MPs in Parliament. If 3 Coqs leave Ramgoolam will still have a majority of one. Of two if Guimbeau supports Government. More if a few unhappy MMM MPs cross the floor.

Duval who said he was a reasonable man should do a reasonable thing: resign from Parliament and face his voters immediately as many of them don't remember empowering him to attack our rupee with our own money.

Will Jordan Put His Shorts Back On?

He turned 50 last Sunday and if you remember he didn't rule out making another comeback. He's apparently in great shape which is why calls for him to stay in retirement might not be so disinterested. 

Mauritius To Get Own Fukushima

That's an intriguing possibility when you have a look at the Integrated Electricity Plan for the next 10 years published by the CEB. Stop at the second paragraph of page seven to read that "as implausible as it may appear, nuclear technology is a generation option".

I'm sorry but it's not an option for us because there are way too many idiots walking around in Mauritius. Besides we won't even need a tsunami to trigger our own nuclear disaster: we can count on a few centimetres of rain, can't we?

Not a bad idea to get inspired by Germany which less than ninety days after Fukushima had announced that they would be phasing out nuclear power within ten years.

Pistorius Shoots Model Girlfriend By Accident

Reeva Steenkamp was apparently shot four times by the double amputee paralympic champion after he mistook her for an intruder. She just wanted to surprise him for Valentine's Day. That's one version of the story.

South African police is being very cautious and professional at this stage. Just watch how this brigadier handles the press.