Author: Minivan News

Minivan News rejects absurd Adhaalath allegations following DhiTV broadcast

Minivan News rejects absurd claims published on the Adhaalath Party website on May 30 that we are running “a campaign” against corporate support of a cultural event organised by Islamic NGO Jammiyyathu Salaf, ‘The Call’ 2010.

The Adhaalath Party fails to distinguish between ‘coverage’ and ‘support’ of an event, in this instance a letter-writing campaign by feminist group Rehendhi. Minivan News has no links to Rehendhi and this represents a leap in logic akin to suggesting that by covering a tsunami disaster, we are promoting tsunamis.

The Adhaalath Party further claims that Minivan News is conspiring with Rehendhi to promote “national sissyness” and “lesbian relations among women”.

Minivan News has translated and published these allegations in their entirety, allowing our readers to make up their own minds about these ridiculous and bizarre claims.

We also understand that as homosexuality is a criminal offence in the Maldives, such false allegations are strong grounds for a defamation suit.

We were disappointed to learn today that DhiTV has aired this Adhaalath Party statement without contacting Minivan News for comment. ‘Both sides of the story’ is a central tenet of journalism and Maldivians have a right to demand a higher standard from their news media.

Furthermore, Minivan News also rejects DhiTV’s echoing of the Adhaalath Party’s claims that we are connected to the current government.

This is due to frequent confusion with the now defunct Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) newspaper ‘Minivan Daily’, a confusion DhiTV is aware of but has seen no need to clarify.

Unlike most media outlets in the Maldives, Minivan News has no active links with the current government, former government or big business interests, and is entirely self-funded through banner advertising. This allows us to report fairly and impartially on all issues affecting the Maldives, without fear or favour.

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Nasheed to depart on first state visit to Australia

President Mohamed Nasheed will depart this evening on his first state visit to Australia, at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The President is to be given a full guard of honour when he is received in the Australian capital of Canberra, where he will meet Rudd and the Governor General Quentin Bryce.

Nasheed will also meet with Maldivian students studying in Canberra.

Press Secretary for the President Mohamed Zuhair noted that the Australian government will fund most of the costs associated with the trip, aside from airfares.

“Our country is becoming increasingly important on the world stage. People now listen to what the Maldives has to say on issues of international importance,” Zuhair said.

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Israeli navy attacks aid flotilla off Gaza coast

Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid ships carrying humanitarian aid en route from Cyprus to Gaza.

News agency Al Jazeera reported that 19 people were killed in the incident and dozens injured when Israeli soldiers intercepted and boarded the convoy, called the ‘Freedom Flotilla’, 65 kilometres from the coastline of Gaza.

The Israeli military confirmed that the attack took place in international waters. It claimed four soldiers were injured when demonstrators fought back with firearms and light weaponry.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent said the ship surrendered and that there was no fire from passengers or crew on the vessel.

Organisers of the flotilla carrying said it was carrying 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including medical supplies.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared a three-day state of mourning, amid rising international condemnation of Israel from countries including Turkey, Spain, Greece, Denmark and Sweden have protested against the attacks.

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WHO’s No Tobacco Day targets women who smoke

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched No Tobacco Day on May 31 by focusing on the harm to women’s health caused by tobacco.

“Tobacco kills over five million people each year including approximately 1.5 million women,” the WHO said. “Approximately three-quarters of these female deaths would occur in low-income and middle-income countries.”

Women comprise 64 percent of the 600,000 deaths a year caused by second-hand smoking, the WHO said.

Potential health risks to women who smoking include infertility and delays in conceiving, as well as risks of premature delivery, stillbirth and newborn death, the WHO said.

“Women who smoke are at increased risk of developing potentially fatal chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.”

Smoking also “increases the risk of cancer in women, including cancers of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, larynx, bladder, pancreas, kidneys and cervix, as well as for acute myeloid leukaemia. There is a possible link between active smoking and premenopausal breast cancer.”

The WHO condemned tobacco advertisements that associated smoking with female beauty, empowerment and health, noting that such advertisements “lure women with such misleading identifiers as ‘light’ or ‘low-tar’, implying that such produces are less deadly. More women than men smoke ‘light’ cigarettes.”

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President appoints state ministers for tourism and immigration

President Mohamed Nasheed has appointed Ahmed Naseer as State Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.

The president also appointed Adam Naseer as the Deputy State Minister, Controller of Immigration and Emigration.

Ahmed Naseer previously served as the President of the Maldives Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research, while Adam Naseer was the Deputy State Minister for the Upper North Province.

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Maldives receives US$7.3 million from China

The Maldives will receive a US$7.3 million (Rf 93 million) grant from China following a signing agreement on Sunday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Additional Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Dr Hussein Niyaz said the relationship between the two countries was a longstanding one.

He noted that both the Foreign Ministry building and the national museum, currently under development, were gifts from China.

Under the new agreement both governments will decide on a project to fund with the grant, “such as a housing project or a harbour development project,” Niyaz said.

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Maldives receives Italian Ambassador

The new Italian Ambassador to the Maldives has presented his credentials to President Mohamed Nasheed.

Mr Rubens Anna Fedele and the President discussed the relationship  between the two countries ways to strengthen it, with the ambassador raising an invitation to a climate conference by Italy’s Centre for Sustainable Future.

The conference will seek to ensure a climate deal is sealed in Mexico, and also allow the President to meet Italian authorities including President Giorgio Napolitano.

Nasheed thanked Italy for its assistance and support during the Maldives’ democratic reform process.

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Sonee Hardware announces winner of 40th Anniversary logo design competition

Sonee Hardware has announced Ahmed Infas Shafeeu of M.Lumboamaage as the winner of its 40th anniversary logo design competition.

Shafeeu was presented with a Rf 20,000 cash prize and a certificate, following a nationwide competition that attracted 1,500 entries from all over the Maldives.

“We are extremely happy to highlight the excellent participation of our customers and the public in general,” Assistant General Manager Hassan Hameez said,.

“The logos submitted had creative tastes from all across the nation, making the contest really competitive at the selection stage. Thank you very much for all those who participated and played a key role in making this event a success.”
this achievement.” Said Ahmed Infas, winner of the competition.

The competition was open to general public, individuals, creative agencies, private companies, schools and educational institutions.

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