Category: News in Brief

WHO’s No Tobacco Day targets women who smoke

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched No Tobacco Day on May 31 by focusing on the harm to women’s health caused by tobacco.

“Tobacco kills over five million people each year including approximately 1.5 million women,” the WHO said. “Approximately three-quarters of these female deaths would occur in low-income and middle-income countries.”

Women comprise 64 percent of the 600,000 deaths a year caused by second-hand smoking, the WHO said.

Potential health risks to women who smoking include infertility and delays in conceiving, as well as risks of premature delivery, stillbirth and newborn death, the WHO said.

“Women who smoke are at increased risk of developing potentially fatal chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.”

Smoking also “increases the risk of cancer in women, including cancers of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, larynx, bladder, pancreas, kidneys and cervix, as well as for acute myeloid leukaemia. There is a possible link between active smoking and premenopausal breast cancer.”

The WHO condemned tobacco advertisements that associated smoking with female beauty, empowerment and health, noting that such advertisements “lure women with such misleading identifiers as ‘light’ or ‘low-tar’, implying that such produces are less deadly. More women than men smoke ‘light’ cigarettes.”

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President appoints state ministers for tourism and immigration

President Mohamed Nasheed has appointed Ahmed Naseer as State Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.

The president also appointed Adam Naseer as the Deputy State Minister, Controller of Immigration and Emigration.

Ahmed Naseer previously served as the President of the Maldives Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research, while Adam Naseer was the Deputy State Minister for the Upper North Province.

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Maldives receives US$7.3 million from China

The Maldives will receive a US$7.3 million (Rf 93 million) grant from China following a signing agreement on Sunday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Additional Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Dr Hussein Niyaz said the relationship between the two countries was a longstanding one.

He noted that both the Foreign Ministry building and the national museum, currently under development, were gifts from China.

Under the new agreement both governments will decide on a project to fund with the grant, “such as a housing project or a harbour development project,” Niyaz said.

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Maldives receives Italian Ambassador

The new Italian Ambassador to the Maldives has presented his credentials to President Mohamed Nasheed.

Mr Rubens Anna Fedele and the President discussed the relationship  between the two countries ways to strengthen it, with the ambassador raising an invitation to a climate conference by Italy’s Centre for Sustainable Future.

The conference will seek to ensure a climate deal is sealed in Mexico, and also allow the President to meet Italian authorities including President Giorgio Napolitano.

Nasheed thanked Italy for its assistance and support during the Maldives’ democratic reform process.

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Sonee Hardware announces winner of 40th Anniversary logo design competition

Sonee Hardware has announced Ahmed Infas Shafeeu of M.Lumboamaage as the winner of its 40th anniversary logo design competition.

Shafeeu was presented with a Rf 20,000 cash prize and a certificate, following a nationwide competition that attracted 1,500 entries from all over the Maldives.

“We are extremely happy to highlight the excellent participation of our customers and the public in general,” Assistant General Manager Hassan Hameez said,.

“The logos submitted had creative tastes from all across the nation, making the contest really competitive at the selection stage. Thank you very much for all those who participated and played a key role in making this event a success.”
this achievement.” Said Ahmed Infas, winner of the competition.

The competition was open to general public, individuals, creative agencies, private companies, schools and educational institutions.

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Taxi driver threatens, robs teenage girl on way to hospital

Yesterday a taxi driver threatened a 19 year-old girl with a knife inside his car, reported Haveeru.

Haveeru reported that the girl was forced to give money to the driver while she was traveling to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

The driver put the knife on the girl’s neck and threatened the girl when she refused to pay the money, reported Haveeru.

The girl was not injured during the incident.

Haveeru reported that the police have started investigating the case.

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