Category: News in Brief

Maldives bows out of Twenty20 elite cup tournament after successive defeats

The Maldives has suffered successive defeats by Hong Kong and Malaysia in its final two group matches of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC’s) Twenty20 elite cup tournament presently being held in Nepal.

The Maldives squad was defeated by top of the table Hong Kong by 153 runs on Friday (March 29) , before recording an eight wicket loss to Malaysia with 52 balls remaining on March 31, according to ESPN.

With the group matches now over, the Maldives has found itself in second to last place in the Group A table with just two points after defeating last place Singapore on Wednesday (March 27) – its only victory of the current campaign.

After finishing in the top two places in the Group A and Group B tables, Hong Kong will today face Afghanistan, while host nation Nepal will play the United Arab Emirates in the tournament’s semi-finals.

The two finalists – who both secure one of two spots available at the World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament to be held in the UAE in November – will then meet tomorrow at Tribhuvan in the championship decider.

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Guraidhoo MP Ibrahim Riza signs to PPM

Guraidhoo Constituency MP Ibrahim Riza has today joined the government-aligned Progressive Party of Maldives, according to local media.

MP Riza, who has previously stood as an independent, told the Sun Online news service today that he had opted to join the PPM as the majority of his constituency supported the party.

Riza will become the PPM’s 20th elected representative in parliament, according to Sun Online. It is presently the second largest party in terms of MPs behind the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

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President Waheed proposes ambassadorial appointments for EU, United Arab Emirates

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has forwarded two ambassadorial appointments to the People’s Majlis for approval.

According to the President’s Office, Dr Mohamed Asim as been put forward as Ambassador of Maldives to European Union, while Dr Aishath Shehenaz Adam was proposed as the Maldives Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Dr Asim had previously held positions as the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, as well as to the United Kingdom.

Dr Shehenaz is presently the Maldives High Commissioner to Pakistan, the President’s Office website has stated.

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President Waheed praises police, urges public cooperation

President Waheed Hassan Manik praised the virtues of the police service and urged public cooperation and support to ensure national stability, during the police force’s 80th anniversary celebrations held March 29.

Waheed called for public cooperation with police to ensure presidential “polls can be made fair and peaceful”, according to local media.

Waheed also urged Maldivians to give the police the “necessary respect and honour” and allow them to do their duties.

“It is therefore extremely regrettable that a few in the society have been trying to defame the Police, making baseless allegations, and call them traitors to the nation,” Waheed stated.

He congratulated the current police leadership, saying the police service was “very honourable” and a “necessary service” directly connected to the people that “works independently and with professionalism”.

“The previous year has not been an easy year either. However the police had bravely dealt with such situations,” Waheed said.

Waheed also stated he would not give “unlawful orders” to the police and said the government would “work to find more opportunities for the police”.

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Universal Enterprises Chairman appointed head of MIAL

Universal Enterprises Chairman Mohamed Umar Maniku has been appointed as head of Male’ International Airport Limited (MIAL).

Along with Maniku, Island Aviation Chairman Bandhu Ibrahim Saleem was appointed as the Managing Director of the company by President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik on Thursday (March 28).

According to local media, Maniku also filled the position of chairman of the ‘Airport Advisory Committee’, a committee that was constituted by Waheed to advise the government on airport management.

The President’s Office confirmed that Ahmed Munawwar, Thoriq Ibrahim, Abdulla Yazeed and Ibrahim Iyas were appointed to the board of directors by Waheed.

Local media reported that once MIAL is fully established, all matters regarding to the management and development of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport will be carried out by the company.

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President Waheed departs to Kuwait on official visit

President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik departed to Kuwait on Saturday (March 30) as part of an official trip to the country.

According to the President’s Office, Waheed will be accompanied by First Lady Illham Hussain during the visit.

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Off-duty soldier stabbed in Male’

A 22-year old solider stabbed in Male’ on Saturday night (March 30) is said to be in a good condition after receiving injuries to his head, back and arm.

A Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) official told local media that the injured soldier, identified as Private Ibrahim Areef, was a bodyguard assigned to protect MP Hamdhoon Hameed.

Areef is currently being treated at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’, who have confirmed that the soldier is “doing alright”, according to local media.

An official from the MNDF claimed that Areef had been attacked while he was off duty in Lonuziyaari Magu.

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Foundations in place for new 10-storey police building

The foundations for a new ten-storey police building have been laid down as part of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Maldives Police Service.

Home Minister Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed laid part of the foundation for the new building, which will be used by police for administrative purposes, local media reported.

Speaking at the ceremony, Jameel said that police will be able to begin operating within the building in 18 month’s time.

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Police arrest two men and a Maldivian woman engaged in sexual activity

Police have arrested a Maldivian woman and two men engaged in sexual activity in a guest house raid on Thursday night (March 28).

A further two intoxicated individuals were arrested during the raid at Dulcet Stay Guesthouse in H. Lhareethige, local media reported.

According to police, three out of the five people had been arrested while “engaged” in sexual activity, and that the men involved had told police that the woman “did it for money”.

Local media reported that two Maldivians, a woman and a man were also arrested for using drugs in another room in the guesthouse.

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