Category: News in Brief

NTPC examines Maldives’ solar power potential

India’s state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is examining the potential for solar projects in the Maldives.

The company is currently conducting a feasibility study within the islands, which it expects to complete within 3-4 months.

NTPC chairman and managing director Arup Roy Choudhury declined to offer specifics about the investment that India’s biggest power generator would potentially make in the island nation, until the completion of the study.

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Island chiefs, magistrates and secretaries on alms list: NSPA

A number of island chiefs, magistrates and secretaries have signed up for alms under the government’s social welfare programme, the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has claimed.

Speaking to Haveeru, NSPA Chairman Ibrahim Waheed observed that “some of the government employees that collect the highest salaries are also registered on the list.”

“According to my knowledge, alms are paid to the poor,” he said.

The recipients were discovered during a review of the alms list, after the government granted those on the list free participation in the Madhana health insurance service.

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Local involvement key to sustainable development, says President

President Mohamed Nasheed has claimed that the involvement of local people in development was key to ensuring sustainable development in the country.

During a campaign visit to Vilufushi in Thaa Atoll yesterday, Nasheed said developing islands required people to make their opinions heard, which could only be achieved through having an island council “backed by the people.”

As one of the islands most impacted by the 2004 tsunami, Nasheed said promised the government would build houses on the island under both the tsunami housing project and the government’s housing programme.

He also noted the introduction of telemedicine services on the island.

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Municipality head resigns to focus on election campaign

President of Male Municipality, Adam ‘Sarangu’ Manik, has resigned from his post ahead of the local council elections on Saturday, reports Haveeru.

Manik is competing for Male City Council in the election, and said he had resigned to focus on his campaign.

Haveeru noted that Manik had also faced criticism for campaigning whilst incumbent in the position.

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Islamic Foundation to host two-day workshop on Tawheed and Shirk

The Islamic Foundation of the Maldives (IFM) will host a two-day Islamic workshop (Nadwa Islamiyya) on Tawheed and Shirk conducted by Islamic scholars including Sheikh Aboobakr Ibrahim (Hinnavar), Sheikh Ibrahim Fareed Ahmed, Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim (Naifaru) and Sheikh Mohamed Moosa (Naifaru).

A statement from the IFM noted that the session would examine the division of Tawheed into its components, which are Unity of Lordship, Unity of Worship, Unity of His Names and His Attributes, and Unity in following the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Scholars will also teach the the basis of Shirk creeping into Islamic doctrine or forms of polytheism, which include” invoking or supplicating to a false deity besides Allah, with the purpose and intention of worshipping a deity other then Allah. Obeying any created being against the command of Allah, and loving a created being or an object more than Allah involves Shirk.”

The workshop will be held at Nasandhura Palace Hotel from February 25 to 26, 2011, and both male and female participants are invited. A membership fee of US$20 (Mrf 250) will to be charged from each participant. IFM will provide course materials and serve all meals during the study sessions.

Application forms are available on the IFM’s website www.islamicfoundationofthemaldives.org.

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PA leader joins Gayoom on campaign trail

Leader of the opposition coalition partner People’s Alliance (PA), MP Abdulla Yameen, has joined former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on the campaign trail, reports Haveeru.

Yameen, who is the former President’s half-brother, travelled to his own constituency of Mulaku and a rally in Laamu Atoll to help build support for DRP candidates ahead of the local council election on Saturday, Haveeru reported.

DRP Deputy Leader Ilham Ahmed told Haveeru that Yameen joined the Gayoom’s campaign team on its request, because “as our coalition partner, PA has helped us in passing several matters and bills through the Parliament. We get the assistance of PA very much and we believe that it should be the case in the campaign.”

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Police arrest gang members in guest house sweep

Police have arrested several suspected gang members during a sweep of 14 guest houses.

Haveeru reported Chief Inspector Hamdoon Rasheed as saying that police had gathered evidence in gang violence cases during the operation over the last 2-3 weeks.

“After gang violence activities, members of the gangs do not stay at the same place. Even though they are registered in Male they are moving to rented rooms,” he told the press.

He also appealed to local landlords and guest house owners to be aware of the problem when renting rooms.

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Egyptian government shuts Al Jazeera bureau

The Egyptian government yesterday revoked the license of Al-Jazeera in the country, shutting its office in Cairo and withdrawing the accreditation of its staff.

“Al Jazeera sees this as an act designed to stifle and repress the freedom of reporting by the network and its journalists,” the Qatar-based network said in a statement.

“In this time of deep turmoil and unrest in Egyptian society it is imperative that voices from all sides be heard; the closing of our bureau by the Egyptian government is aimed at censoring and silencing the voices of the Egyptian people,” Al Jazeera said.

“Al Jazeera journalists have brought unparallelled reporting from the ground from across Egypt in the face of great danger and extraordinary circumstances. Al Jazeera Network is appalled at this latest attack by the Egyptian regime to strike at its freedom to report independently on the unprecedented events in Egypt.

The network said it would “continue its in-depth and comprehensive reporting on the events unfolding in Egypt” despite the government crackdown.

Egypt has also disconnected internet and phones across the country in a bid to contain skyrocketing dissent over the rule of Hosni Mubarak. Yesterday media in the country reported that elements of the army appeared to be supporting the demonstrators.

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Egyptian army shows signs of supporting protesters against Mubarak

Journalist Robert Fisk writes from Cairo in the UK’s Independent newspaper that tank crews deployed to contain riots had begun to show solidarity with the demonstrators.

“Their crews, in battledress and smiling and in some cases clapping their hands, made no attempt to wipe off the graffiti that the crowds had spray-painted on their tanks. “Mubarak Out – Get Out”, and “Your regime is over, Mubarak” have now been plastered on almost every Egyptian tank on the streets of Cairo. On one of the tanks circling Freedom Square was a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Beltagi.

“Earlier, I had walked beside a convoy of tanks near the suburb of Garden City as crowds scrambled on to the machines to hand oranges to the crews, applauding them as Egyptian patriots.

“However crazed Mubarak’s choice of vice-president and his gradual appointment of a powerless new government of cronies, the streets of Cairo proved what the United States and EU leaders have simply failed to grasp. It is over.”

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