Category: News in Brief

Tiny Hearts raises US$46,437 for CHD efforts, announces audit plans

A month-long fundraising campaign by local NGO Tiny Hearts has raised Rf594,394 (US$46,437) to aid its efforts in working with children suffering from Congenital Heart Defects (CHD).

At a press conference earlier today, the charity said that the money raised from ‘11708’ campaign – which culminated in last weekend’s ultimately unsuccessful attempt to try and gather 11,708 people in the shape of a giant heart – would be divided and allocated to recipients affected by CHD on the basis of the NGO’s advisory committee.

Along with raising the funding, the NGO has also pledged to undertake an audit over the next few months with a full report to be unveiled at Tiny Heart’s next annual general assembly.

Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the NGO said the charity was not presently planning to renew its attempts to break into the record books, but rather focusing on fundraising measures.

“Right now, we are trying to minimise costs in looking for events for funding,” the spokesperson said. “At present one surgery [for a local child] costs US$5,000, this does not include additional charges for transportation abroad. People affected by CHD are increasing all the time in a country. We have more than 200 children registered with the charity and there are likely to be an even larger number unregistered.”

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Policeman arrested for blackmailing woman with nude photograph

A policeman has been arrested for allegedly blackmailing a woman on Kulhudhufushi in Haa Dhaal Atoll by putting her photograph on a pornographic image.

Haveeru reported that the man was in custody.

“We’re investigating the matter now. The man is from the island and the woman also lives in the island. It is of extreme disappointment that such an act was carried out by a policeman and we’re taking the matter very seriously,” a police spokesperson told Haveeru.

Haveeru spoke to the victim’s husband, who said the police officer had been blackmailing her for several days and that it “a lot of hard work” for her to escape by reporting the matter to police.

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Maldives making strides: US State Department

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has praised the strides the Maldives is making, during a visit by Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem.

“The United States is very impressed with the many strides that the Maldives is making, and also the role that you are playing regionally and even globally on important issues like climate change and so much else,” Clinton said.

Naseem thanked the State Department for the guidance and assistance from diplomats in Colombo and Washington towards the country’s transition from dictatorship.

“I think that was the pivoting of the Islamic awakening. And thank you very much for all that,” he said.

“And we are working very closely on the – in the areas of human rights in Geneva, also on the perils and the difficulties that the small island states are facing due to climate change and the climate extreme weather conditions that we are having at the moment. And I wish to thank the United States very much. And we have also cooperation in the areas of coast guard training and military training, and many of our social, health, and other areas.”

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VP lays foundation for half-way house in Hulhumale’

Vice-President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik laid the foundation stone this morning for a half-way house for recovering addicts in Hulhumale’.

The half-way house would be a place of residence for recovering addicts intended to provide care and support to allow former addicts to begin the process of reintegration with society.

Speaking at the ceremony this morning, Dr Waheed highlighted the government’s efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the Maldives, such as detoxification centres opened in Vili-Male’ and Addu City, including a centre specifically designed for female addicts opened on June 27.

The VP thanked the Health Ministry for undertaking the half-way house project, which is being carried out with assistance from Caritas Italiana, an Italian charity organisation.

Expressing hope for improved services for recovering addicts, the VP revealed that a rehabilitation centre would be opened in Fuvahmulah in the near future.

At the ceremony, Dr Waheed also planted a tree at the half-way house construction site.

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HRCM urges MPs to resolve disputes through dialogue

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has expressed concern with the forced cancellations and disruptions to parliament proceedings in past weeks, urging MPs to resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue and discussion.

In a press release issued today the commission notes that the enactment of several crucial pieces of legislation was needed to ensure the rights and freedoms enshrined in the constitution.

“In addition, the commission calls on all parties not to disrupt parliament proceedings or gather outside the parliament building, cause unrest and create difficulties to the security forces as gatherings are prohibited in the area,” it reads.

The HRCM urged all MPs to choose dialogue and discussion over confrontational politics.

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Democracy in Islam lecture tonight at 8:00pm

The Maldivian National University (MNU) is hosting a lecture tonight on Democracy in Islam with Syrian-born scholar Imam Mohamed Bashar Arafat.

After having served as an Imam in Damascus, Syria as well as in the United States, Dr Arafat founded the Civilization Exchange and Cooperation Foundation aimed at promoting better understandings of Islam around the world.

This lecture is the last in a series of small workshops, which have been held across the country in association with schools, government offices, and NGOs, to promote a more moderate understanding of Islamic values and precepts. This lecture is being held in the wake of a popular Maldivian Scholar having given a sermon on how democracy and Islam are completely incompatible.

The lecture will be hosted at the MNU Auditorium in the campus building next to Billabong School at 8:00PM.

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Government to open care residential care home for elderly

Cabinet decided yesterday to establish a residential home for the elderly following the submission of a paper on the subject by the Ministry of Health and Family.

Ministers noted an increasing number of elderly people being transferred to the Guraidhoo Special Care Centre, which had insufficient accommodation available to new charges. The needs of elderly people being committed to such facilities varied considerably, cabinet noted.

The care home would be established under a Public-Private Partnership scheme, cabinet decided.

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President launches high-tech fishing boat for “easier fishing experience”

President Mohamed Nasheed yesterday launched a high-tech fishing boat equipped with a fish finder system, a built-in ice plant and a water plant.

The new fishing vessel “Laamaseelu”, built by Precision Marine and the 14th belonging to Ibrahim Ali Koi from the island of Kan’dholhudhoo in Raa Atoll, would provide “an easier fishing experience”, the President’s office stated.

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Police Deputy Commissioner announces resignation

Mohamed Rishwan, the Deputy Commissioner of police in the Maldives, has announced his decision to resign from his post today.

In responding to news of the resignation, president thanked Rishwan for his work in the role.

Speaking to local media about the decision, Rishwan said his resignation was based solely on wanting to spend more time with his family.

Back in February, Rishwan was reported to have been temporarily suspended from his duties after allegedly failing to follow orders regarding a dispute over taking control of the Thulusdhoo Atoll Council’s office.

The alleged suspension by the government was criticised by a number of political parties at the time.

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