Author: Minivan News

Doctors licensing examination cancelled after no show

The first licensing examination for doctors to be held in the Maldives has been cancelled after no doctors participated.

Speaking to local media, Maldives Medical Council President Dr Abdulla Afeef said that doctors chose not to participate in the examination after raising questions as to why only certain doctors were required to sit the test.

Haveeru reported that the examination was required for doctors who were given temporary licenses after 2013, saying that there were 15 Maldivian doctors fitting the criteria.

“The doctors in question were aware of the fact they were being given a temporary license to practice,” Haveeru reported Dr Afeef as saying. “The doctors will have two more chances to take the exam in June and December. If they do not participate their licenses will be cancelled.”

The Medical Council has previously said that the examination will consist of 150 multiple choice questions.

Source: Haveeru

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Umar Naseer appointed acting Housing Minister

Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer has been appointed as acting housing minister while Dr Mohamed Muizzu is out of the country, reports local media.

Naseer’s appointment means that four of the thirteen cabinet positions are currently being held by temporary appointees.

The move follows the appointment of Minister at the President’s Office Ibrahim ‘Mundu’ Shareef as acting youth minister earlier this week – a decision some have alleged to be unconstitutional.

Additionally, Islamic minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has been made acting health minister, and tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb acting minister of defence. Both positions are vacant while Colonel (retired) Mohamed Nazim is away on unspecified business.

The President’s Office has denied rumours of a rift within the cabinet, saying that the temporary appointments are routine.

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Adeeb confirms appearance of Priyanka Chopra at Akon concert

Tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb has confirmed that Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra will appear alongside US R&B singer Akon in the show scheduled for tomorrow night.

Akon’s performance was announced during the ‘Tourist Arrival Countdown Show’ on December 31, which eventually featured a host of Indian artists after the cancellation of Sean Paul’s performance.

Local dancer and renowned Priyanka superfan Suneetha Ali will also be performing with the former Miss World in Galolhu National Stadium.

In 2010, a show featuring Akon was organised – and tickets sold – before organisers cancelled, citing a lack of technical support and security. As with the Sean Paul concert, both the Islamic ministry and local religious NGO Jamiyyathul Salaf had spoken out against the show.

Adhaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla has stated on Vnews this week that the party will not differentiate between governments with regards to “anti-islamic activities”, saying that the party is working non-stop to block the Akon show.

Meanwhile Adeeb has expressed his joy over the show of support by a team of youth leaders – including opposition MP Yamin Rasheed – in promoting Thursday night’s show.

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President appoints ambassadors to India and UAE

President Abdulla Yameen has presented letters of appointment to Ahmed Mohamed and Abdulla Hameed as the high commissioner of Maldives to India and the non-resident ambassador of Maldives to the United Arab Emirates, respectively.

Parliament approved Ahmed Mohamed for the post in October with a majority of 58 votes. He had previously served as the commissioner general of customs under President Yameen’s government and as minister of economic development under President Dr Mohamed Waheed.

Hameed was appointed ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by President Yameen on January 8 last year.

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Muraidhoo Island Council President resigns

Haa Alif Muraidhoo Island Council President Mohamed Arif Abdul Hakeem has resigned, reports local media.

Adhaalath Party member Hakeem resigned as both president and as a member of the island council to pursue higher studies along with another job offer, according to Haveeru.

He had been elected as the new island council president at the 17th attempt after 16 rounds of voting had failed to produce a clear winner.

Muraidhoo Island Council comprises of two members from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and one from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party.

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Chinese travellers less interested in Maldives according to Travelzoo survey

The popularity of the Maldives as a tourist destination among Chinese travellers has dropped according a survey conducted by Travelzoo Asia Pacific, the Wall Street Journal reports.

According to survey results 21.3 percent of the respondents chose the Maldives as their most favoured holiday destination, a drop of 2.4 percent from the previous year, while Japan and the United States of America were ranked first and second respectively.

The survey’s respondents, which included 4,300 people, were asked to choose their most favoured holiday destinations from a list of 44.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the possible reasons for the change in Chinese travel trends may be attributed to the recent airplane accidents that have occurred in the Eastern regions of Asia as well as growing “interest in exploring new lifestyles and destinations less fixated on shopping”.

The Chinese tourism market is the fastest growing in the world, with Chinese tourists now representing over 30 percent of all visitors to the Maldives.

Travelzoo is a travel and entertainment company with over 27 million members, specialising in hospitality and travel deals.

Source: Wall Street Journal

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Two arrested for attempting to smuggle 8 bottles of alcohol into Malé

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has arrested two individuals who were attempting to smuggle eight bottles of alcohol into Malé from Hulhumalé.

A police statement said that both were Bangladeshi nationals who were trying to smuggle the bottles by hiding them under the seat of a motorcycle which was to be transported to Malé via ferry.

Hulhumalé police officers searched their vehicle after they had been observed behaving suspiciously near the ferry terminal. The case is being investigated by the Hulhumalé police station and the MPS drug enforcement department.

The run up to New Year’s eve saw a large amount of alcohol confiscated in the Malé area, with police reporting seven individuals taken into custody in a period of two days at the end of December in Hulhumalé.

Police also confiscated 70 bottles of liquor and 70 cans of beer with a street value of MVR200,000 (US12,970) from Faamudheyrige in Maafannu ward in Malé.

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MP Mahloof presents David Beckham with Maldives football shirt

Galolhu South MP Ahmed Mahloof has presented former footballer David Beckham with Maldivian national football shirt.

The Progressive Party of Maldives MP tweeted a picture of his meeting with the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and LA Galaxy star.

Beckham has been holidaying in the Maldives with his family over the New Year period.

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President ratifies extradition and legal assistance acts

President Abdulla Yameen has today ratified four bill passed by the Majlis during the final term of 2014.

The Extradition Act was passed on December 25, allowing for the transfer of accused and convicted persons between the Maldives and other extradition countries.

Also ratified today was the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, the passage of which will enable greater financial cooperation between stakeholders during criminal trials.

Amendments to the Land Act and the Banking Act of Maldives were also ratified and published in the government gazette.

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