Underwater cabinet meetings

In a PR masterstroke, the government of the Maldives has held a cabinet meeting underwater to highlight the threat of global warming to the low-lying Indian Ocean nation – “they were watched by a group of snorkeling journalists” (I never thought I would write that phrase).

President Mohamed Nasheed and his cabinet signed a document calling for global cuts in carbon emissions, and spent half an hour on the sea bed, communicating with white boards and hand signals. Every cabinet member by accompanied by a diving instructor and a military minder, with only three missing the stunt.

The Maldives stand only an average of 2.1 metres (7ft) above sea level and face being wiped out if sea levels do rise.