Police have said there were no security concerns regarding visiting Bollywood star Shahrukhan, whose concert was cancelled last weekend.
The show’s organisers claimed Shahrukhan was concerned about security, and offered to refund tickets.
Haveeru reported police as saying there were no complaints so far received regarding the concert.
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(0)A private jet has slid off the runway of Male International Airport runway this morning, according to a report in Haveeru.
Airport staff told the newspaper that four passengers were inside in the aircraft along with the crew when it slid off the runway while taxiing. No one was reported injured in the incident.
(0)Dislikes(0)Firefighters from the MNDF Fire and Rescue Service extinguished a fire that began in the DN Central Mart Shop in Male’ at 4:16am, reports Miadhu.
Firefighters arrived at the burning store four minutes later and had completely extinguished the blaze by 4:25am.
No casualties were reported but the store’s cash counter was destroyed.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Sri Lankan government is threatening to execute Sarath Fonseka, the army commander who delivered victory over the Tamil Tigers, if he continues to suggest top officials may have ordered war crimes during the final hours of the civil war reports The Guardian.
The threat, issued by Sri Lanka’s defence secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is the latest sign of a bitter feud within the Sri Lankan political establishment, little more than a year after the end of the Tamil war.
Rajapaksa, who worked closely with Fonseka on the aggressive military strategy that crushed the Tigers and who is the brother of the president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, told the BBC’s Hardtalk programme that the general had proved himself to be a liar and a traitor.
Fonseka resigned from the military soon after the defeat of the Tigers. He is an MP and was the main opposition candidate in January’s presidential election – winning 40% of the vote – but within days of his defeat he was arrested. The former war hero is in detention facing a court martial on charges of corruption and politicking while in uniform.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has requested information on alleged mistreatment of opposition MPs by police during protests this year, according to Voice of Maldives.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim said the organisation requested an official account of the incidents from parliament.
The IPU informed parliament that it has received credible information and video footage, Nazim said, adding that the letter will be presented to the Privileges Committee in the next session of parliament.
The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) lodged a complaint with the IPU following police use of water canons and tear gas to disperse an opposition protest on May 13 over hiked electricity tariffs.
(0)Dislikes(0)Regulations on environment protection will be put in force within the year, Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam pledged in a televised statement on World Environment Day, observed worldwide on June 5 every year.
The regulations will allow the authorities to impose penalties on individuals and companies as well as seek compensation for actions that are harmful to the environment, he explained.
Calling on the public to take greater responsibility for protecting the environment, Aslam said efforts were underway to create an environmental council composed of civil society representatives to offer public input in the implementation of environment policy.
Speaking at a ceremony to conclude an environmental walk in Male’ on Saturday, Aslam urged the public to make walking a habit again.
The Environment Minister said the government decided to discontinue the ban on motor vehicles from 4pm to 12pm on World Environment Day this year to see how many people would abstain voluntarily, reports Voice of Maldives.
A number of government ministers, NGOs and school children participated in the walk, after which a children’s afternoon was organised at the artificial beach area.
Meanwhile, a hundred students chosen from primary schools in the capital left for Baa Atoll for field work in their environmental studies subject.
The ‘Eco-Care Nature Trip’ for the primary school students was jointly organised by Eco-Care Maldives and Soneva Fushi Resort.
An official ceremony to mark the World Environment Day also took place in Raa Atoll Dhuvafaru with Home Minister Mohamed Shihab attending as chief guest.
Over two thousand trees were planted in Dhuvafaru followed by a march across the resettled island to raise awareness on climate change.
According to the Environment Ministry, tree planting programmes are taking place in all islands with police stations, while similar activities were held throughout the country by civil society organisations.
The Youth Association of Dhaal Atoll Ribidhoo placed ten dustbins in public areas to discourage littering and keep the island clean.
Meanwhile, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) launched a pilot project to produce renewable energy from wind turbines in Kaafu Atoll Girifinolhu, a sandbank in front of military training island Girifushi that was expanded into a small island for use by the army as a picnic island.
According to MNDF engineers, two ‘Whisper 2000’ wind turbines, which come with attached solar panels and storing capacity, could generate 2000 watts of electricity with winds of up to 11 miles per hour.
A team comprising of five trained officers and 12 support staff has been formed to oversee the project.
The pilot project began after strategic level discussions prompted by the announcement by President Mohamed Nasheed that the Maldives will become the first carbon neutral country in the world, reads the statement on the MNDF website.
It adds that the army plans to undertake similar projects in other areas with high winds based on the success of the pilot project.
(0)Dislikes(0)Friday prayers could not go ahead in Addu atoll Gan last week after the Imam was not picked up from neighbouring island Feydhoo, reports Haveeru.
A number of people were unable to pray, but some reportedly went to Feydhoo when it became clear the Imam was not coming.
Although an uninhabited island, as a large number of staff at the Gan International Airport, police officers and others work at Gan, Friday prayers are routinely observed at the island’s “Masjid-al-Barakat’ mosque.
Feydhoo Councillor Hawwa Zeenath said the island office stopped sending for the Imam after the Airports Company took over the responsibility.
Zeenath said the Imam eventually went to the mosque in Feydhoo after waiting for a company vehicle to pick him up.
She added that it was unacceptable behaviour from the Imam as he receives a travel allowance.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Department of Immigration is receiving complaints from the public of foreigners selling local produce brought to Male’ from the atolls.
Controller of Immigration Ilyas Hussein told Voice of Maldives that owners of stalls at the local market had requested the deportation of illegal migrant workers in the market area.
Ilyas said local businesses have been informed not to employ foreigners without valid work visas.
Meanwhile, the Human Resources Ministry has launched a joint operation with police to identify illegal immigrants in the atolls, reports Haveeru.
Deputy Minister Hussein said the ministry was collecting information from island offices and confiscating passports, which will be sent to the Department of Immigration.
The deportation process will be handled by the department using deposit funds, he said, adding that the ministry received a list of about 30 people last week from Laamu and Seenu atolls.
The Human Resource Ministry estimates that there are 16,000 illegal immigrants in the country.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Ministry of Transport will be seeking interested parties this week to provide a trial bus service in the capital to evaluate the workability of public transport for Male’, Voice of Maldives reports.
State Minister ‘Maizan’ Adam Manik said interested parties will be invited to submit bids, while the service could be continued if the preliminary project is a success.
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