Category: News in Brief

President extends Ramadan greetings as Holy month begins

President Mohamed Nasheed has extended Ramadan greetings as the Holy month begins in the Maldives.

In a statement, President Nasheed emphasised that Ramadan was an occasion for good deeds and helping the less fortunate.

Nasheed also sent Ramadan greetings to the leaders of other Islamic countries.

During the month of Ramadan the pace of life in Male’ slows and the capital’s vibrant cafe culture shifts to the evening, after sunset, while the population fasts during the day.

Government offices close at 1:30pm during Ramadan, rather than 4:00pm, and the Islamic Ministry holds special religious sermons every day. Foreigners are requested to respect the custom and refrain from eating or drinking in public before sunset.

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Man found dead in Magoodhoo beach

A 57 year-old man was found dead yesterday on the beach of the island of Magoodhoo in Faafu Atoll.

According to police, Mohamed Hussein, Magoodhoo Leklean, was found at about 7:10am at the western side of the island and was already dead when he was taken to the island’s health centre.

Police are currently investigating the case.

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President sends delegation to Thinadhoo

A high-level delegation from President Mohamed Nasheed departed for Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo yesterday to discuss ongoing and planned development projects with the people of the island.

According to the President’s Office, the delegation will discuss the Thinadhoo Development Corporation due to formed soon as well as land use plans for the island.

The President’s delegation will also discuss the name change proposed by the island council and provide historical information about the issue available from government archive.

The delegation includes Home Minister Hassan Afeef, Housing Minister Mohamed Aslam, Finance Minister Ahmed Inaz, Thinadhoo MP Mohamed Gasam, Madaveli MP Mohamed Nazim, Henveiru South MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor, Human Rights Ambassador Mohamed ‘GoGo’ Latheef, Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair, Secretary of the Executive Services Office Mohamed Ziyad and Adnan Haleem, member of the Public Enterprises Monitoring and Evaluation Board.

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Nasheed named among Zayed Future Energy Prize jury

President Mohamed Nasheed has been named among the jury of the UAE’s Zayed Future Energy Prize, an international award to recognise innovation, leadership and impact in renewable energy and sustainability.

Among the other judges chosen for the panel are Leonardo Dicaprio, Oscar-winning actor; Andre Agassi, Grand Slam tennis champion; Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister; and Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, South African Minister of Energy.

The newly-selected judges join continuing members Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland; Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of Masdar; and Dr Susan Hockfield, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The final judging panel will meet later this year in a four-tiered open process that selects the prize winners and finalists who will be honoured in an awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi on January 17, 2012.

The annual Zayed Future Energy Prize is open to individuals, large companies, entrepreneurs, small- to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and NGOs in the field of renewable energy and sustainability. Award category and prizes are: SMEs/NGOs: $1.5 million (winner), $1m (first runner-up), and $500,000 (second runner-up); Lifetime Achievement — Individual: $500,000; large corporations: Recognition Award.

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Nine year-old child admitted to hospital after apparent suicide attempt

A nine year-old boy has been rescued by his 14 year-old brother from an apparent suicide attempt on Thinadhoo in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll, reports Haveeru.

Police said the boy had was found hanging from a coconut palm and was now in intensive care at Thinadhoo Regional Hospital, where his condition was improving.

Police are now investigating the incident.

The Department of Family and Gender runs a 24 hour toll-free Child Helpline, available on 1412.

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Airport company hires AC Nielsen for market research project

International market research firm AC Nielsen has been appointed by GMR Male International Airport Limited (GMIAL) to survey tourists at the newly-renamed Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

The research will seek the opinions of visitors, locals, sea plane operators, resorts, airline and tour operators on existing airport services.

The information will be used to improve existing services for tourists, improve amenities for employees and provide new services, GMIAL said in a statement.

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Maldives High Commission to Pakistan hosts Independence Day reception

Maldives High Commissioner to Pakistan Aishath Shehenaz Adam has hosted a reception at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad to mark 46 years of independence and 45 years of diplomatic relations with Pakistan, reports Pakistani newspaper The News.

“The Marquee Hall had been nicely decorated and there was a special section in front of the stairs leading to the upper hall, where the cake was cut against a backdrop of a fishing boat and other decorative items like coconuts and the arts and crafts of the Maldives. A video screened images of the beautiful landscape of the country as well as the people going about their daily business, which includes harvesting of coconuts and fishing,” the paper reported.

“The Maldives — highlighted with the catch phrase, ‘the sunny side of life’ — are described as where sands are white as the smiles of the locals, where fish swim happily in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, where the weather is a dream, and the deep rays of the sun wait to engulf you in their arms. It has deep blue seas, turquoise reefs, white sandy beaches and palm trees. It is also a place full of character, where its people have long spent their days languishing in the very essence of idyll living.”

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Maldives lose World Cup qualifying match one nil to Iran

The Maldives national football team lost one nil to Iran in Male’ tonight at the second leg of the World Cup Qualifying group stage.

After losing 4-0 in the first leg in Tehran, the Maldives needed to win by a higher margin to qualify for the second round.

Iranian striker Mohamed Reza scored the only goal of the game in first half added time.

Iran set a World Cup qualifying record when it beat the Maldives 17-0 in 1997. However when the two nations met again in World Cup qualifying in April 2000, the match in Male’ ended 3-0.

The Maldives has now failed to score against Iran in five senior international matches.

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Criminal Court releases MP Adil from house arrest

The Criminal Court released Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Hassan Adil from house arrest on Monday.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam confirmed that Adil was released by the Criminal Court under conditions.

The Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Adil in April, following allegations of child molestation. His detention was subsequently extended, and then later reduced to house arrest.

On June 12, the Criminal Court granted the Prosecutor General (PG) permission to hold MP Hassan Adil in house arrest until his trial reaches conclusion.

The court has said that permission was granted upon a request made by the PG’s office today during the first hearing of the trial.

Police have alleged that Adil sexually abused a 13 year-old girl belonging to a family with whom he was close friends.

The Criminal Court said the court warrant to hold Adil under detention until the trial end was issued according to article 28 of Child Sex Offenders Special Provisions Act.

Article 73[c] of the constitution states that a member of the parliament will be disqualified if found guilty of a criminal offence that involves a prison sentence of more than twelve months.

Formerly an MP of the opposition-aligned Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), Adhil crossed the floor and joined the MDP in September last year.

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