Author: Minivan News

Health authorities have revealed that none of the 448 pilgrims who returned yesterday tested positive for H1N1, reports Miadhu.

Arrangements had been made to check and screen the pilgrims, while those with flu-like symptoms were tested for swine flu.

The checking will continue as over a 1000 pilgrims return throughout the week.

Three groups of pilgrims have returned to the country after performing the religious duty of Hajj.

Pilgrims under the care of the Sisilifaru, Assafa and al-Hairu groups arrived yesterday. Assafa arranged the pilgrimage for 180 people, while al-Hairu took 85 and Sisilifaru had 154 people.

The last group of pilgrims is set to arrive on 13 December.

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The Maldives drew its first match at the ongoing SAFF Championship tournament in Nepal.

The defending champions were held 1-1 by Nepal on Saturday. Striker Ahmed Thoriq (Tom) gave the Maldives the lead in the 60th minute with an accurate shot in the penalty area after taking the ball past the Nepalese keeper.

But, Nepal equalised eight minutes later with Ju Manu Rai latching on to a pass from Yogesh Shreshtha.

Maldives will next face Afghanistan.

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Police are investigating the case of an 18-year-old Indian girl suspected of being married to two Maldivians.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Inspector Hamdhoon Rasheed said police learned of the girl when she attempted suicide in Addu atoll.

Investigations revealed that the girl married two Maldivians at the age of 15 in 2007. Both marriages took place in India at the request of her father.

Hamdhoon said she arrived in the country with her second husband on 1 October and the couple would have had difficulties legally registering the marriage in the Maldives.

He added the girl had since been sent back to India.

Police are investigating the case in collaboration with the High Commission in India.

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A man was found dead at the lagoon of Addu atoll Maradhoo yesterday, according to police.

Moosa Jinah, 26, Gadhakoalhige, was found around 2.15. Police have learned that he went fishing the night before and are questioning his companions.

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President Mohamed Nasheed launched the Hinnavaru land reclamation project on Friday.

At a ceremony on the island, the president said it was necessary to reclaim land for future generations. He added the government’s policy was to sell the reclaimed land to cover the costs.

He further stressed the importance of having a proper land use plan.

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An Islamic association in the Maldives has accused three European expatriates of allegedly spreading Christianity in the Maldives, reports Miadhu. Missionary activities are illegal under Maldivian law.

Miadhu reported that the group, Jammiyyathu Salaf, had posted pictures of three Europeans on its website and an image of a book shelf it said contained books on Christianity.

The group’s website was closed for updates when Minivan News tried to visit, however the group’s Facebook page said it was formed “to raise religious awareness and promote the values of Islam” in the Maldives, and was “well-known in the country for its religious lectures”.

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The International Monetary Authority (IMF) will decide today whether to grant US$80 million to the Maldives.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Ahmed Shaheed told Miadhu the decision could represent a US$20 million increase on the original US$60 million expected.

Such a grant would represent a show of confidence from the international community that the governance of the Maldives is going in the right direction, Shaheed said, and possibly pave the way for further assistance.

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The government’s decision to issue treasury bonds in US dollars will ease the dollar shortage, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed told radio station Voice of Maldives.

The move would increase the exhange of US dollars between governments, individuals and private banks, he said. Previously the government has borrowed money from the Maldives Monetary Authority, a short-term measure that depreciates the exchange rate.

The new measures would allow the government to control inflation, he said, by linking the supply of money to the sale of government bonds. The ultimate aim was to boost the economy by increasing people’s disposable income.

“Real development comes when people’s disposable income increases, when consumption increases. Consumption can be increased when inflation is controlled, and to control inflation we need to reduce government expenditure,” Nasheed said.

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President Mohamed Nasheed appointed Aslam Shakir to the post of policy
secretary at the president’s office yesterday.

Shakir was formerly the minister of state for housing, transport and
environment.

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