Category: News in Brief

Cathay Pacific Airways to commence Maldives to Hong Kong service from October

Cathay Pacific Airways has announced it will begin operating services between the Maldives and Hong Kong from October this year.

In a statement issued today, the airline said flight services to and from the Maldives on its Airbus A330-300 aircraft were expected to begin from October 27, 2013 – pending government approval.

The company claimed that the launch would extent its services within the Indian subcontinent, while boosting leisure travel between the Maldives and the Far East – a growing tourism market in recent years.

From the service’s launch, Cathay Pacific Airways has said flights will be operating between Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) in Male’ and Hong Kong every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

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Abdulla Yameen would consider second round election alliance with MP Gasim

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen has said he would consider siding with Jumhoree Party (JP) rival MP Gasim Ibrahim if unable to secure a first round victory in September’s election.

Yameen told state media yesterday (July 23) that he held no animosity towards JP presidential candidate MP Gasim, and would align with his rival if no candidate could secure 51 percent of the first round vote – resulting in a run-off election.

The JP is a coalition partner of the PPM in the current government of President Dr Mohamed Waheed.

Yameen also used his appearance on state media to discuss his party’s other key pledges for the upcoming election; focusing on issues of civic education and creating young entrepreneurs and fishermen, according to local newspaper Haveeru.

The PPM presidential candidate said he had also changed his mind on the death penalty, believing it should be given to prevent the “slaying of Maldivians”, local media reported.

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JSC votes not to accept resignations of sex tape probe members

The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) has reportedly refused to accept the recommendations of two members of the subcommittee investigating the leaked sex tapes of Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed.

According to local media, the JSC refused to accept the resignation of the watchdog body’s deputy president Abdulla Didi and presidential representative Latheefa Gasim.

Their resignations followed the JSC voting to disregard the subcommittee’s recommendation to suspend the judge pending investigation.

According to local media, the commission voted not to accept the resignations. Media officer Hassan Zaheen told Haveeru the two members would resume their duties following the vote.

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Kaadedhoo airport suspends operations during repairs to firetruck

Flights to Kaadedhoo airport in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll have been temporarily suspended during repairs to the airport’s fire truck, local media has reported.

The Transport Ministry told Haveeru that the Maldives Airport Company Limited (MACL) and airport technicians were working to repair the truck and bring in a temporary replacement.

Airports cannot be operated without a functioning firetruck, the ministry stated.

Flights have meanwhile been diverted to Kooddoo airport.

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Elections Commission approves all four presidential candidates

The Elections Commission has approved applications for candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections submitted by incumbent President Mohamed Waheed, Jumhoree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim, Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) candidate Abdulla Yameen.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s candidacy was accepted last week.

All four major candidates expected to contest the election have now had their candidacy confirmed.

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British parliamentarians visit Maldives, “disappointed” over not meeting president

Six British Parliamentarians visited Maldives on Sunday 21 July as part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) delegation, according to a statement from the British High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

“The cross-party group, made up of four MPs and two Members of the House of Lords, had meetings with the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice and the Minister for Human Rights, Gender Equality and Family. They discussed the importance of the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections, the need for on-going judicial reform and also raised concerns over recent cases of flogging,” the statement read.

The delegation also heard about the challenges faced by Maldives in making its transition to a multi-party democracy and offered British CPA support for helping to develop key democratic institutions,” it added.

According to the statement, the parliamentarians were “disappointed” not to have the chance to meet with President Mohamed Waheed during their visit.

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Chinese woman dies in resort swimming pool

A 50 year-old Chinese woman has died in a resort swimming pool, according to local media.

The women died on Saturday afternoon while in the deep end of the guest pool at the Robinson Club Maldives resort on Funamadua in Gaafu Alif Atoll, reported Sun Online.

Other guests in the area failed to notice the woman was in trouble until it was too late, according to Sun.

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Maldives to ban import of goods containing ozone depleting substances

The Maldives will ban the import of goods containing ozone depleting substances, including environmentally harmful hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), reports local media.

Environment Minister Mariyam Shakeela signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maldives Customs Service Commissioner General Mohamed Aswan today (July 18) to facilitate the implementation of the “Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer”.

Shakeela noted that imports of air conditioning, freezers, minibars and water coolers containing HCFC would soon be banned.

“We are now getting ready for that. But such moves aren’t possible without the assistance of institutions such as customs,” she said.

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Former Attorney General Aishath Bisam appointed as Special Advisor to the President

Former Attorney General Aishath Bisam was appointed as Special Advisor to the President by President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik  (July 18), reports local media.

Bisam is filling the Special Advisor post formerly held by Dr Hassan Saeed, who announced he would resign from the position after deciding to become running mate of Jumhoree Party (JP) Presidential Candidate and resort tycoon Gasim Ibrahim.

Waheed’s earlier appointment of Bisam as Attorney General and Azima Shukoor as Gender Minister were recently narrowly rejected by parliament, which is required to give a majority vote of confidence in each minister appointed to the executive.

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