Author: Minivan News

Minivan News returns to Facebook after counterfeiting attempt

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Joining the Minivan News Facebook page ensures you receive speedy updates to your Facebook news feed the moment we publish stories.

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-The Minivan News team

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Bangladeshi man found tied up and injured in a bakery

A Bangladeshi man was found tied up and injured at the Bake teashop and bakery in Maafala area of Malé on Sunday.

Police have confirmed the man was found with some injuries on his head and back, “as if he was beaten up,” said Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam.

Although his injuries were not very serious, Shiyam said he has been taken to IGMH for treatment.

Police have also arrested another Bangladeshi man in relation to the case, and are currently investigating why the incident occurred.

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President Nasheed presents ‘State Dignitary’ award to two public servants

President Mohamed Nasheed presented a ‘State Dignitary’ title for Mohamed Zahir Naseer and Hassan Didi in recognition of their services to the nation at a special function held today at the President’s Office.

Naseer worked as a public servant for 48 years, serving as foreign secretary, special secretary for the Minister of Health and advisor on youth welfare and recreation.He received an award for outstanding service to the public in 1979 and a recognition award in sports in 1991.

Didi worked as a public servant for 42 years, working as a special secretary, president’s secretary, director at the Department of Information and Broadcasting, secretary and senior undersecretary at the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, and was a member of the Anti Corruption Board. He received a national service award on the 25th anniversary of independence.

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President Nasheed celebrates Majeediyya’s 83rd anniversary

President Mohamed Nasheed spoke at a function to celebrate the 83rd anniversary of Majeediyya School yesterday morning.

President Nasheed said the school has never resisted change and noted it was the first school to incorporate digital technology in their teaching methods.

The president launched the “Majeediyya Goes Digital” programme at the ceremony yesterday, for which the school has installed digital technologies in all its classrooms. It includes a digital notice board, digital count-down board and a short message system for the school, parents and students to communicate.

President Nasheed commended the principal, teachers and staff for the success of the school, noting the school’s management has strengthened since the school board was installed.

The president added the government would work to accommodate students from grades 1 to 10 in Majeediyya School.

After the ceremony, President Nasheed taught math to a grade 10 class using the newly installed digital blackboard.

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Parliament accepts Political Parties Act and amendments to Tourism Act

Parliament has accepted Political Parties Act and Bill on amending Tourism Act in yesterday’s session, reports Miadhu.

The amendments on the Tourism Act will be deliberated in a committee, while the Political Parties Act has been accepted.

MPs called on the government to increase public funding for political parties, and asked for an increase to the 3000 signatures needed to create a political party.

However, the bill banning the import of alcohol and pork into the country has been rejected, reports Haveeru.

It was rejected by 53 votes, and several MPs argued that both alcohol and pork were essential for the sustainability of the tourism industry.

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President Nasheed meets with Consul of Seychelles

President Mohamed Nasheed met yesterday with Honorary Consul to the Maldives in Seychelles, Lambert Bonne.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations between the countries, especially in the areas of tourism and fisheries.

President Nasheed said forging a stronger link between small island states would give a louder voice to those states in the international arena.

Bonne assured his full cooperation towards strengthening ties between the two nations and briefed President Nasheed on the economic situation in Seychelles.

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Australia and the Maldives strengthening diplomatic relations

Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed met with Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Kathy Klugman, where they discussed the challenges faced by the Maldives and ways in which Australia could assist the government.

Dr Waheed said some of the biggest challenges are employing well trained staff at drug rehabilitation centres, building safer prisons and the lack of job opportunities for Maldivian youth.

Klugman said there are different works being carried out by the Australian government in the Maldives, especially volunteer training programmes in different atolls.

She also mentioned several Australian scholarships for Maldivian students, and said these scholarships present a good opportunity for training in the area of drug rehabilitation.

The meeting took place a day after the first-ever Australian diplomatic event in the Maldives at the Holiday Inn on Sunday, where President Mohamed Nasheed thanked the Australian people and government for their assistance to the Maldives.

He also commended Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for his help in making the Copenhagen Accord a reality and for his honesty and good work as a politician.

Klugman also spoke at the function. She congratulated the government on the transition to democracy and assured further assistance from Australia to the Maldives, especially in the education sector.

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Reports of a baby at Artificial Beach have police laughing

Reports of a bundle that looked like a baby sent police to the Artificial Beach yesterday.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said police took the reports very seriously and went to the Artificial Beach, near the Tsunami Memorial to look at the bundle.

They unwrapped it to find it was a frozen fish.

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Nasheed ‘Best International Politician’ in Independent’s Green Awards

President Mohamed Nasheed has been described as ‘Best International Politician‘ in a series of Green Awards published by the Independent, a left-leaning UK newspaper.

“In a catastrophic year for the climate crisis, were there any heroes?” the newspaper says, in reference to the Copenhagen talks.

“A handful of politicians will be remembered for trying to do the right thing… The most inspiring leader was Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives. ‘We are on the world’s front line,’ he says. And, in a sense, its only hope.'”

The newspaper praised Nasheed’s pledge to make the Maldives carbon-neutral by 2020, and his warnings “that we all have to make this transition – and fast.”

In receiving the Independent’s green award for politics, Nasheed joins the ranks of best supermarket (Marks&Spencer), best product (LED light bulb), and best UK village (Coleshill).

The President’s Spokesman Mohamed Zuhair said the award “is very welcome. The President is delighted.”

He said the award was a reflection on the whole country and came at a time when the President had been accused “of running a one man show.”

Zuhair disagreed that the President’s massive international popularity was not mirrored locally.

“There is huge respect [in the Maldives] for his efforts in combating beach erosion, building embankments and visiting vulnerable islands,”

Moreover, Zuhair said, the award promoted “positive public perception” of the Maldives that would “translate to more visitors.”

“It helps that the Indpendent is published in our largest tourism market, the UK,” Zuhair said.

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