Category: News in Brief

State minister appointed to acting Defence Chief post

State Minister Mohamed Muizzu Adhnan has been appointed the acting chief of the Ministry of Defence and National Security following the resignation of Defence Minister Ameen Faisal.

Seven members of cabinet resigned over the weekend after the Supreme Court ruled that they could not hold their posts without parliamentary endorsement. The ruling MDP had boycotted the vote earlier.

Muizzu will serve as the acting head until a minister is appointed, said a statement from the President’s Office.

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Sri Lankan man detained for selling forged air tickets

A Sri Lankan man has been detained by shop staff after he was founded to be allegedly selling fraudulent Sri Lankan Airlines tickets outside offices of the airline’s local sales agent Galaxy Enterprises, reports Haveeru.

An official from Galaxy, Mohamed Latheef, told Haveeru that the man was caught outside the office and detained after selling 28 fraudulent tickets for US$216 each. The company sells tickets for US$268.

“We found out about it when some passengers who weren’t listed in the passengers list arrived with e-tickets. We discovered the suspect while he was attempting to buy a ticket at the airline. We detained the suspect and handed over to the police,” Latheef told Haveeru, adding that “some money” was confiscated from the man.

The tickets were computer printed, he said, noting that the company had warned other sales agents in the capital.

Police told Haveeru that they were conducting an investigation into forged airline tickets, but that no one had been arrested.

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President reappoints Sawad as Attorney General

President Mohamed Nasheed has reappointed Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad as Attorney General (AG), following Sawad’s resignation on Friday.

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that cabinet members rejected by parliament could not remain in their posts. Sawad was among the members of cabinet not endorsed by the opposition majority parliament.

The president has appointed Advisor on Political Affairs Hassan Afeef as Minister of Home Affairs, and promoted Deputy Minister of Education Shifa Mohamed to the top post.

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Israeli eye surgeons begin treating patients

Visiting Israeli doctors from the ‘Eye from Zion’ NGO have begun treating patients at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) after producing attested documentation, Haveeru has reported.

Maldives Medical Council Media Coordinator Mohamed Iyas told Haveeru that the four doctors had produced certificates meeting the council’s standards.

“They were allowed to treat patients commencing from yesterday. They are specialists. But we had to confirm that they meet the requirements, according to the policies of the council,” he told the newspaper.

State Housing Minister Abdulla Shahid, in charge of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), said there was “high demand” for the team’s services, despite protests in Male’ on Thursday.

Religiously conservative protesters burned several Israeli flags in Republican Square on Thursday and urged the government to deport the doctors.

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Much Maldivian tourism development neither economically or environmentally sustainable: Tourism Concern

Much of the current tourism development in the Maldives does not seem sustainable in terms of its impact on the environment or on the economy, writes Friends of Maldives (FoM) NGO founder David Hardingham for Tourism Concern, a UK-based charity ‘fighting exploitation in tourism’.

“Tourism has already played a pivotal role in bringing democracy to the country. It will also be the means by which the country achieves economic recovery. Now the ethical tourist’s attention must turn to sustainable tourism.

“Preference must be given to resorts making efforts at recycling, alternative energy and environmental protection (with particular reference to the coral reef ecosystem). The government must be called to task on these issues.

“A new and exciting development is that of the family-owned guesthouse. This sector of the industry deserves whatever help it can get – especially since benefits will flow directly to those most in need. The finest beaches in the world await the intrepid traveller who wants to see the real Maldives.”

Read more

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Maldives takes regional cricket title

The Maldives national cricket side defeated Saudi Arabia by a single wicket yesterday in Bangkok to win the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) 2010 Trophy Challenge.

Maldivian Ismail Nihad was awarded the Man of the Match title by officials for his role in helping put Saudi Arabia all out for 139 runs off 43.3 overs. The Maldives took the match 140 for nine off 41.4 overs.

The victory will now see both finalists promoted to the ACC Trophy Elite tournament in 2012, where they will face teams such as Afghanistan, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

This year’s Trophy Challenge tournament, which began December 4, 2010, saw eight teams including China, Brunei, Iran and Myanmar compete against the Maldives.

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Government to allow canning of imported fish

The government says it will allow imported fish to be processed at the country’s canning factories to help try and alleviate concerns over shortages in local supplies.

President Mohamed Nasheed claimed that a “dwindling” local fish catch had meant Maldivian canneries were currently running below capacity. To alleviate the potentially detrimental impacts of this situation on the country’s fishing industry, the government hopes allowing the processing of fresh imported fish will help businesses to diversify their products lines and re-export a more diverse array of canned products.

The government insisted that despite records of improved catches in the country’s northerly atolls, fish numbers have fallen over the last decade. In looking to further diversify the country’s fisheries income, Nasheed said that the government has pledged to step up sea cucumber exports.

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Maldives cricket team progresses to ACC trophy final in Thailand

The national cricket team of the Maldives will contest the final of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Trophy Challenge against Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

The team has received congratulations from President Mohamed Nasheed after yesterday’s 122 run victory against Qatar during the semi-final match played at the Thai Cricket Ground.

The tournament, which began December 4, 2010, saw eight teams including China, Brunei, Iran and Myanmar compete against the Maldives.

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2000-plus candidates apply for council elections: Haveeru

An initial figure of 2,406 candidates are thought to have applied to stand in February’s local council elections after Wednesday’s deadline for submissions passed, Haveeru has reported.

Speaking to the paper, Secretary General Ahmed Ali Didi conceded that the final number was subject to change following a final count including incoming forms from some of the country’s islands.
The elections will see 947 members being assigned positions within specially established Island Councils and another 130 candidates assigned to Atoll Councils.

The paper added that voters will decide during the election on the candidates to fill six positions on the nation’s city councils and another 11 members to serve on a Male’ City council. These councils will be set up to oversee a number of administrative regions.

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