Author: Minivan News

University opens admission for over 200 courses

The Maldives National University (MNU) has on Thursday started accepting admissions for over 200 courses which are due to commence in the second semester of this year.

According to MNU Deputy Chancellor Ali Shareef, the university will be accepting 6,220 new students into the said courses. Of these, 2,630 slots are reserved for students studying in capital city Malé.

“The courses we are starting in the second semester includes courses at certificate level to masters level. A brand new course that we are introducing this year is secondary level teacher training in Dhivehi language at the Fuvahmulah and Villin’gili University outlet research centres,” he stated at a press conference held on Thursday.

Shareef revealed that over 50 percent of the courses will be conducted in campuses other than the main one located in the capital. The deadline for application is the end of May.

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Former council president sentenced to 11 years’ exile

The Criminal Court has sentence former Ungoofaaru Council President to 11 years, local media has reported.

Abdulla Nasir confessed to using the income from local power station for personal purposes, with Sun Online reporting the defrauded amount to total MVR114, 325 (US$7,414).

Nasir has been ordered to repay the figure within one month.

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Ports workers’ familes to receive monetary compensation from MPL

The Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) board last Thursday decided to pay MVR10,000 to the families of the workers killed in an accident on April 7, local media has reported.

In addition to the payment, the youngest child in both families will receive a monthly payment of MVR15,000 till they are eighteen years old.

Mohamed Nashid, 32, from Kudafary in Noonu atoll and Ibrahim Shareef, 36, from Malé were both killed when the crane’s wire snapped while loading a container onto the boat. The crane’s operator, Imran, fainted on seeing the incident and suffered minor injuries as a result.

Following the fatal incident the Ministry of Transport has announced an infrastructure and operations audit for of all commercial harbours in the the country.

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Government plans US$40 million stadium for Hulhumalé

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced plans to construct a US$40 million stadium in Hulhumalé, local media has reported.

“Several components of Hulhumale’ Youth City will be promoted at the forum in Singapore. The stadium being planned for Hulhumale’ will stand out in the region,” Minister for Youth and Sports Maleeh Jamal told Sun Online.

The minister revealed that the investment opportunity would be included in the Maldives Investment Forum, scheduled to be held in Singapore on April 25.

Haveeru has today learned that over 300 investors from 15 countries are set to attend the forum at the prestigious Marina Bay Sands hotel.

President Yameen’s plans for Hulhumalé include the development of ‘youth village’ with a population of 50,000 people, as well a bridge linking the reclaimed island with the capital, Malé.

The vision for the youth city meanwhile includes a “technopolis park” as well as entertainment and sports facilities, he said at the launch of a new housing project this month.

Hulhumalé will become “a paradise on earth” for migrants from across the country, said Yameen.

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MNDF searching for lost fishing boat

Maldives National Defence Force’s coast guard is searching for a yellow fin tuna fishing boat named “Man’haa” from Miladhoo in Noonu atoll.

The boat carrying around thirteen people on board, was last seen on April 9, fishing near the Kudahuvadhoo area in Dhaalu atoll.

The boat is reported to be 99 feet long, painted navy blue, and with three white decks towards the front of the boat.

The coast guard has requested any information regarding the boat be given through their toll-free number 191, or 3395981.

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MCSA calls off strike, to submit a petition instead

Maldives Civil Servants’ Association (MCSA) has called off the nationwide civil servants’ strike planned for April 20, deciding instead to submit a petition with its concerns, Vnews has reported today.

Quoting MCSA President, the report said the decision was made to prevent any difficulties it may cause to the public after consulting with senior members of the association and relevant government offices.

The petition which is being signed through social media website Facebook, is reported to have already received the signatures of fifty percent government employees.

It is expected to be submitted to the relevant offices on April 20 – the date previously set for the strike.

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Pakistan donates 47 computer systems to police service

The Government of Pakistan has donated 47 computer systems to the Maldives Police Service (MPS).

Home Minister Umar Naseer accepted the gift from Pakistan High Commissioner Mohamed Saeed Khan during a special function held yesterday.

Naseer expressed his gratitude for the gift, noting that it would be sure to improve the police’s service.

Speaking at the 81st anniversary celebrations of the MPS last month, Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed noted that the service faced a severe lack of resources, stating that basic equipment such as computers was lacking on many islands.

Earlier this month it was announced that 20 MPS officers would travel to Beijing in order to take part in a seminar with their Chinese counterparts.

Waheed expressed hope that the seminar would bring the standards of the Maldivian participants up to those of Chinese officers.

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City council pass resolution opposing development of a resort on Kuda Bandos

Malé City Council has today passed a resolution against a decision made by the government to develop Kuda Bandos as a resort and to request that the government leave it is as a picnic island.

Today after passing the resolution Malé City Council Mayor Mohamed Shihab held a meeting with the press and said that it was very important that Kuda Bandos was left as it is as a picnic island for locals as there was no other picnic island near the capital.

Despite long term plans to distribute resorts across the atolls, the majority of tourist resorts remain concentrated in the central atolls – in close proximity to the one third of Maldivians who reside in the crowded capital.

Shihab said that the council believes that Kuda Bandos should be left as an island where people living in Malé could go on picnics.

He noted that everyone living in Malé cannot afford to go to tourist resort during their holidays and that there were many uninhabited islands in different parts of the country where tourist resorts could be developed.

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119 cases of Hand, foot, and mouth disease reported since January

A total 119 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease has been reported across the country since January this year, the Health Protection Agency has said today.

According to the HPA, cases have been reported in the Malé area as well as Gaafu Dhaalu, Gaafu Alif, Baa, Haa Alif, and Haa Dhaalu atolls

An official from the HPA said that the disease has been seen more frequently in the Malé area lately in comparison with January, at which time it was concentrated more in the atolls.

The official also said exact figures on cases reported in Malé were unavailable due to some difficulties in acquiring the information from Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

In a statement alerting the public to the situation, which requested greater caution, the agency said children between 1 – 5 years are most vulnerable to this disease, warning that is is likely to spread among students in preschool and primary grades 1- 2.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease – while not always serious – is contagious. According to the HPA, it can easily spread through close contact by means of saliva, nasal mucus, feces, and blister fluid.

Early signs of the disease include fever, reduced appetite, feeling tired, body aches, and sores in the mouth.

The HPA has requested all members of the public to take the following precautionary matters to control the disease:

  • Do not send children infected children to school
  • Keep infected children separate from others and do not taking them to public gatherings
  • Thoroughly clean objects such as plates, towels, and toys used by children with the disease before allowing other children to use them
  • Pay extra attention to hygiene of children and their surroundings, particularly toilets
  • Wash hands with soap before eating and after changing diapers, cleaning or going to toilet
  • If the disease is discovered at a school, suspend all activities involving the use of sand
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