Author: Minivan News

Police bust major drug trafficking network

The Maldives Police Services have busted a major drug trafficking network, arresting two Maldivian men with large amounts of illicit drugs and cash, local media has reported.

Under a court warrant, the police’s Drug Enforcement Department raided Henveiru Fahaage in Malé City and apprehended a network of drug-traffickers.

The police told local media it is raiding additional places reported to have links with the network and have arrested several expatriates.

Further information on the amount of drugs confiscated and the number of arrests will be revealed at a later date, the police said.

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Alliance Francais De Malé launches French film festival

The Alliance Francais De Malé (AFM) will begin a week of French film tomorrow, with a screening of the 2010 film ‘The Tree’ at the CHSE on Lily Magu in Malé.

Monday’s screening begins a week of modern French cinema, with screenings of ‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro’ – at the National Art Gallery, ‘The Minister’ – CHSE,  and ‘The Painting’ – the National Library.

Entrance is free for AFM member, and MVR50 for non-members.

The AFM is also seeking further applicants in its international photography contest. Participants are required to submit two photographs on the theme “On joue sur la Terre!” (“Playing onEarth!”).

Participants will get the opportunity to win a trip to Paris and potentially see their work exhibited in a Parisian art gallery. Entrance is free to Maldivians aged over 18 years.
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Government to introduce chemotherapy, unlimited Aasandha and a doctor for every family in 100 days

Acting Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen has said President Abdulla Yameen’s administration will provide chemotherapy services, a doctor for every family, and will upgrade government’s health insurance scheme ‘Aasandha’ to provide unlimited services within the first 100 days of government.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the President’s Office late last week, Ameen pledged to improve the health sector. He said unlimited Aasandha services will bring an end to prescription drugs shortages and ease the process of obtaining medical care for chronic diseases.

“Unlimited Aasandha” was a key pledge of the Progressive Party of the Maldives.

Ameen said providing unlimited health care will not be a “burden” on the state budget or the client. Further details will be revealed at a later date, he added.

President Yameen has said the government’s economy is in a “deep pit” and vowed to cut state expenditure.

Ameen noted several Maldivians had moved abroad to obtain chemotherapy, as the service is currently not available in the Maldives and pledged to provide chemotherapy through the government’s health scheme Aasandha.

The government has also promised to provide cervical cancer screening services within 100 days.

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Yameen offers condolences on the passing of Nelson Mandela

“The Maldives stands shoulder to shoulder with South Africa in the true and comprehensive realization of Madiba’s dream,” said President Abdulla Yameen after the passing away of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

President Mandela passed away on December 5th, aged 95, following a long illness.

In a message of condolence to current South African President Jacob Zuma, Yameen described the anti-apartheid leader as a source of unrivalled inspiration for recent generations.

“President Mandela’s long walk to freedom does not end with his passing away. His vision of a South Africa of prosperity, peace and harmony is shared by all who loved, respected and admired him,” read a press release from the President’s Office.

Yameen offered the condolences on behalf of the people and the government of the Maldives.

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Police raids beauty salon, arresting three women and five men

Police last night raided ‘Herbal Beauty Salon’ in Male’,  arresting three Thai women and five Maldivian men for allegedly conducting sexual activities.

A joint special operation with the police’s intelligence department and serious and organized crime department was conducted after police received reports of the offences.

According to the police, when offices raided the premises of the beauty salon some individuals inside the rooms were naked.

A large amount of Maldivian rufiyaa and tools used for sexual activities were found inside the place, the police said.

In August this year, the Criminal Court sentenced the owner of Sondo Born Beauty Care Salon – 64 year-old Abdul Latheef Ali of Henveiru Philadelphi in Male’ – to four years in prison after finding him guilty of running a brothel and forcing three Thai women into prostitution.

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President Yameen appoints four state ministers and three deputy ministers

President Abdulla Yameen has appointed four state ministers and three deputy ministers.

The three state ministers appointed are: Zahaa Waheed as minister of state for fisheries and agriculture, Aminath Athifa as minister of state for housing and infrastructure, and Ahmed Musthafa Mohamed as minister of state for tourism, arts, and culture.

Mohamed Zuhair was also appointed as the head of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) – a position equivalent to minister of state.

Of the new four state ministers, Zahaa Waheed is a relative of President Yameen and Aminath Athifa is the current registrar of President Yameen’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). Meanwhile, Ahmed Musthafa Mohamed was the former deputy minister at the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

Three deputy ministers appointed are, Adam Thaufeeq as the deputy minister for economic development, Abdulla Fayaz as the deputy minister housing and infrastructure, and Ali Waheed as the deputy minister for Islamic affairs.

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Education Ministry pledges to introduce Arabic to more schools

The Ministry of Education has pledged to introduce Arabic to more schools in the next academic year.

Speaking to the press today, Minister of Education Dr Aishath Shiham said Arabic will be available at “many” schools throughout the Maldives next year.

In addition to Arabic, the Education Ministry intends to expand civic education in the curriculum and introduce Like Skills Education as a separate subject to educate students on life skills such as conflict resolution and responsible citizenship.

The government intends to equip five schools in Malé with facilities to educate children with special needs and establish two centers in the atolls to train children with special needs, Shiham said.

The Education Ministry is still seeking 74 Quran teachers in order to ensure that all schools are able to offer Quran as a subject, Shiham also said.

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President Yameen to depart on “private visit” to Singapore tonight

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom will depart to Singapore on a private visit tonight, local media has reported.

Officials from the President’s Office said the visit will be short, but declined to reveal when Yameen is expected to return.

Yameen will depart to India on December 22 on the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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Condition of five Maldivians injured in India improving

The condition of five Maldivians injured in an accident while en route to Trivandrum from Agra, India is now improving reports local media.

According to local newspapers, the five Maldivians were traveling in a bus after visiting the Taj Mahal when it crashed into a gas tractor.

The Indian tour agent of the Maldivian family died in the accident.

The newspapers reported that they were all severely injured in the accident and required financial assistance to transfer them to a Trivandrum hospital in order to provide treatment under the ‘Asandha’ health insurance scheme.

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