A female German national honeymooning at the Reethi Beach Resort has suffered serious leg injuries after being hit by the propeller of a boat while diving, local media has reported.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11:00 am on Saturday (June 1).
The honeymooning tourist was transported to Male’ to receive medical treatment for her “extensive” leg injuries, according to local media.
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(0)Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has visited the Maldives in the first such visit by a Thai leader since the establishment of diplomatic relations 34 years ago.
Following a meeting on Friday, President of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Waheed announced the two countries had signed seven agreements, mostly relating to trade and economic cooperation.
“Thailand is one of the largest trading partners of the Maldives. Nearly 30 percent of our exports go to Thailand. And we would like to increase that number significantly in the coming years,” said Dr Waheed.
Shinawatra noted that trade between Thailand and the Maldives was worth US$100 million, and expressed an interest in this doubling by 2018.
Dr Waheed expressed interest in a visa waiver, and said he welcomed further Thai investment in the Maldives, including the tourism sector.
“We also discussed the need for expanding investment in other sectors, such as food processing, infrastructure development, construction, and health care,” Waheed said.
“I was pleased to see the agreement signed between the ADK Hospital and the Thonburi Hospital. I would like to encourage more Maldivian companies to enter into similar understanding with foreign partners that would allow sharing of experience and expertise,” he added.
“The Thai Exim-Bank was the major investor in the Hulhumale’ development project. The Bank’s role in the project would come to an end next year. We welcome Thai Exim-Bank’s investment in other large-scale infrastructure projects,” Dr Waheed added.
Thailand’s Minister of Defence, Air Chief Marshal Sukampol Suwannathat, meanwhile visited the Maldives National Defence Force’s hospital, and its training centre on the island of Girifushi.
(0)Dislikes(0)Vice President Mohamed Waheed Deen met with his Nigerian counterpart Namadi Sambo at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) on Thursday (May 30).
During a stopover en route to China, Sambo held discussions with Deen on issues including extending cooperation in addressing concerns over piracy, security and terrorism, according to the President’s Office website.
As part of wider talks on bilateral relations between the two countries, the two vice presidents also spoke on issues of tourism, agriculture and energy. Vice President Sambo departed for China the same day following the meeting.
(1)Dislikes(0)Inspector General of Sri Lankan Police Mr N K Illangakoon has “reassured” President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik that Sri Lanka will continue to provide support and cooperation to strengthen the Maldives Police Service, during a meeting held in the President’s Office.
Waheed highlighted the “political challenges” the Maldives police face and “commended” their professionalism while executing their duties.
Waheed and Illangakoon further discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, “especially in the area of police service”.
Amnesty International have accused police of using disproportionate force against protesters.
(0)Dislikes(0)A majority of magistrates in Addu City have gone on strike claiming they fear for their personal safety, reports local media.
All courts in the Addu City administrative districts of Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo have only one magistrate, and are currently not functioning as a result of the strike. A Hithadhoo Court Magistrate – one of four – also failed to appear yesterday (May 29), resulting in all the cases he was presiding over to be cancelled.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had not received any reports of a magistrates’ strike and told local media “all the courts in Addu are functioning properly”.
The magistrates went on strike due to alleged threats to their personal safety and property and some claim to have been harassed and abused.
The magistrates will continue the strike until “satisfactory actions were taken by the authorities”, some magistrates told Haveeru on condition of anonymity.
“We cannot work in such a tense environment, without any protection. Authorities should ensure our personal safety first. We will officially inform the JSC today,” a magistrate said.
Some court magistrates have sought police assistance on multiple occasions, but thus far they claim it has been ineffective.
“[Police assistance] is not happening in the most effective manner. We met with the police this week and discussed these matters,” a magistrate said.
Police have received reports of threats to Addu City court magistrates and will provide security upon request, Commander of the police’s southern division, Abdulla Riyaz, told local media.
(0)Dislikes(0)Male’ City Council member Ibrahim Sujau has been charged with obstructing police duty, reports local media.
Sujau allegedly refused to comply with a police officer’s request to see his licence while driving a motorcycle on the evening of November 12, 2012, Criminal Court Spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Manik told local media.
At approximately 5:48pm Sujau was allegedly driving his motorcycle on Sosun Magu in Male’, while speaking on his mobile phone, and was then questioned by police after stopping his vehicle, Manik said.
Sujau is accused of disobeying the officer’s request to be taken to the traffic police via police vehicle – claiming he was not required to do so – in addition to not showing his drivers license, Manik added.
(0)Dislikes(0)Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will be part of an official delegation set to visit both Sri Lanka and the Maldives over the next three days to discuss boosting trade relations, according to media reports.
During the trip, which begins tomorrow (May 31) and will end Sunday (June 2), the Thai delegation will look to double trade and investment with the Maldives and Sri Lanka over the next five years, the state-run National News Bureau of Thailand (NNBT) has said.
Whilst in the Maldives, Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is expected to sign agreements to strengthen trade and economic cooperation with the country, while also looking at potential collaborations in areas such as tourism, education and healthcare.
NNBT quoted Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom as saying that the Maldives was presently Thailand’s 104th largest partner in terms of trade, with existing agreements worth an estimated 40.33 million Baht (MVR 20.5 million) to the country.
(1)Dislikes(0)Sri Lankan Police Inspector General N. K. Illangakoon today met with President Dr Mohamed Waheed during a visit to the country.
According to the President’s Office website, Illangakoon discussed methods of strengthening collaborations between the respective police forces of both countries at a meeting in Male’ this morning.
President Waheed also thanked the inspector general for the ongoing support he said Sri Lanka had provided to help strengthen policing in the Maldives.
(0)Dislikes(0)It is very unfortunate that almost all the political parties except the MDP are using religion as a political tool to keep former president Nasheed from winning the presidential elections this September, writes Dr S Chandrasekharan for the Eurasia Review.
Their main thrust in the election campaign is that all the parties are out to save Islam from Nasheed and his MDP!
It may be recalled that in the famous February 7 coup of 2012, the Islamists along with other recalcitrant elements spearheaded the move to oust a lawfully elected government of Nasheed.
Nasheed is pitching for a “liberal Islam.” Last month on the 28th, he said that what is worrying is that “radical Islam” and “Wahabism” is spreading throughout the Middle East and East Asia and that this is not the Islam but more “hijaz or Saudi thinking, and their culture”. He said that it more an idea to impose that (Saudi) culture on all Islamic societies.
Nasheed added that people have not stood up and given an alternative narrative. It is so important now to come up with an alternative narrative, a liberal version of Islam or actual version” of Islam.” I have no doubt that this kind of statements would affect adversely his chances in the coming elections.
Nasheed is thus not only taking on other political parties but also the mighty Saudi Arabia in his electioneering campaign! He has also criticised the Islamic scholars who according to him “were using religion as a tool to attain their individual political aspirations.”
The crucial point that should be of interest is whether Nasheed will be allowed to contest the next presidential elections. His growing popularity may provoke the extremist elements to do away with him. His personal security is of utmost importance now. It is for India and other international players to ensure a free, fair, violence free and an inclusive election.
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