President Yameen concludes presidential address without stating present crisis in Maldives

• The inaugural sitting of parliament was held on Wednesday night

• There were only 36 members in attendance

• The President highlighted the various projects his administration had completed in the past four years

President Abdulla Yameen concluded the presidential address at the first sitting of the parliament in under 30 minutes, without mentioning the current crisis in the country.

While the ruling coalition is said to have 41 members in its side, there were only 36 in attendance tonight at Dharubaaruge, where the sitting was held.

During his address, the President highlighted the various projects his administration had completed in the past four years.

However, Article 84 of the Constitution states that ‘at the beginning of the first session of each year at the first sitting, the President shall address the People’s Majlis on the state of the country, and may present proposals for improving the state of the country to the People’s Majlis’. It has to be held on the first Monday or Thursday of February.

While the parliament sessions were to start on the 5th February, the inaugural sitting was cancelled due to ‘security reasons’. The same day, a state of emergency was announced. An extraordinary session of the Parliament was held on Monday and Tuesday, where the government proposed and approved to extend the state of emergency by 30 days. Opposition parliamentarians had boycotted the session. The vote was passed without the constitutionally required quorum.

All 12 parliamentarians retain their seats - Supreme Court rules

• The apex court ruled that none of the parliamentarians have been penalized

• The ruling follows days of the opposition's leadership pursuing it

• The court had also ruled for the release of a number of politicians

The Supreme Court has on Thursday night ruled on the opposition's case over the state of 12 parliamentarians who the Elections Commission deemed had lost their seats.

The apex court ruled that none of the parliamentarians have been penalized and that they still retain their position and seats in parliament. 

The ruling follows days of the opposition's leadership pursuing it at both the Elections Commission and the Supreme Court. 

The court had also ruled for the release of a number of politicians currently serving criminal sentences.

Former Maldives president vows to run for office after prisoners freed

     Maldivian opposition protesters demand the release of political prisoners in Male.

The exiled former president of the Maldives has said he will run again for office, hours after a surprise supreme court decision to free a group of political prisoners led to unrest in the capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago.

President Yameen Abdul Gayoom had been set to run for re-election virtually unopposed, with all of his opponents either jailed or exiled, but the former president Mohammed Nasheed, who was among those freed, said he would be a candidate. Yameen has rolled back many democratic reforms since coming to power five years ago.

Nasheed was jailed in 2016, but received asylum in Britain later the same year after travelling there on medical leave from prison. He has lived in exile ever since.

“I can contest and I will contest and hopefully we will win it again,” he said from Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The court ruling on Thursday night ordered the release of nine political dissidents, saying their guilty verdicts had been politically influenced. It ordered fresh trials for all nine, but it was not immediately clear how this might affect the elections. The opposition alliance welcomed the ruling in a statement, saying it “effectively ends President Yameen’s authoritarian rule”.

Hundreds of flag-waving Nasheed supporters poured into the streets of Malé after the verdict. Clashes broke out quickly after Yameen fired the country’s police chief, whose department had announced it would uphold the supreme court verdict.

The clashes lasted about three hours, and police dispersed stone-throwing crowds using pepper spray and batons. At least one injured police officer was taken to hospital. It was not immediately clear if there were any arrests, but some protesters were taken away by police.

Malé was quiet on Friday afternoon, but an opposition leader said further protests were planned.

Atul Keshap, the US ambassador to the Maldives, welcomed the supreme court order. “I urge the government and security services to respect this ruling, which bolsters democracy and rule of law for all Maldivians,” he wrote on Twitter.

An archipelago known for its luxury tourist resorts, the Maldives became a multiparty democracy 10 years ago after decades of autocratic rule by the president’s half-brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Yameen has maintained a tight grip on power, controlling institutions such as the judiciary, police and the bureaucracy. The half-brothers have since fallen out, and Maumoon has joined the opposition.

President Yameen Inaugurates Passport Card

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has, this morning, inaugurated the “Passport Card”, with multifunctional features. The launching ceremony was held at the President’s Office.

Apart from being an identity travel document, the Passport Card launched today can be linked to the holders’ account at the Bank of Maldives, and insurance plan at Allied Insurance. The Passport Card also allows other additional e-services like e-transport to be incorporated.

This unique polycarbonate passport card is manufactured with exceptional levels of technology and with the highest levels of security, by German company Dermalog. The Maldives is the first country to introduce a multifunctional polycarbonate passport card.

At the ceremony, the Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Anwar presented to the President, his Passport Card.

Muslim-majority Indonesia cracks down on alcohol sales

JAKARTA, April 16, 2015 (AFP) - Indonesia on Thursday introduced a ban on small retailers selling most alcoholic drinks, the latest move to curb drinking in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, despite opposition from the industry and in tourism hotspots.

The ban restricts the sale of beer and pre-mixed drinks -- such as spirits with soft drinks -- to large supermarkets only, outlawing sales in the country's 16,000 mini marts and 55,000 other small shops. Hotels, restaurants and bars are unaffected.

Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash: Malaysia sharpens response in latest air disaster

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia's deal with pro-Russian rebels on MH17 caps an official response to the disaster that is being hailed at home as a swift and clear counterpoint to the government's widely mocked reaction to the disappearance of MH370.

The leadership of Prime Minister Najib Razak has been put to the test again by yet another tragic and complex air disaster just four months after the still-unexplained disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 rocked his country.

Important Photo's of Worldcup 2014 hosted in Brazil

 

For update please visit FIFA official website

Neymar leads Brazil to win in World Cup opener

SAO PAULO, Brazil, June 13, 2014 (AFP) — Neymar gave Brazil a winning start to its home World Cup, scoring twice to lead the host nation to an unconvincing 3-1 victory over Croatia in the opening game on Thursday.

Brazil had a disastrous start when defender Marcelo found his own net while trying to clear a low cross by Ivica Olic in the 11th minute, but Neymar then showed why the nation’s high hopes are all pinned on him.

The first democratically elected president of the Maldives, who was ousted last year in what he called a

coup, will face a runoff against the brother of the country’s former dictator after falling short of a clear majority in the Indian Ocean archipelago’s presidential election.  Mohamed Nasheed, who received 45 percent of Saturday’s vote, could still see a challenge in securing a second-round majority if his three election opponents form an alliance for the September 28 runoff. ...more...click below link..
http://www.timesofisrael.com/ousted-israel-friendly-maldives-leader-faces-election-runoff/

Maldives Election Cadidates Debate - 2013

All four candidates contesting the presidential elections slated for this Saturday have highlighted the

significance of enhancing industries and boosting state revenue in order to revive Maldives' flailing economy.
During Sunday's presidential debate organised by the state run Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Maldives National University, all candidates agreed on strengthening the tourism and fishing industry.

Incumbent President Mohamed Waheed Hassan who is seeking re-election as an independent candidate stressed that in addition to developing tourism, the capacity to process fish is vital to boosting the fishing industry.

The election candidates of 2013 – Maldives

This election seems or going to be the first and most competing election ever held in Maldives. The contenders are shown in the above picture.  Election Commission (EC) is an independent body, but some parties are having doubt about their independencies and made complaint about the EC activities. The EC committed to the media that this election would be free and fair election.

Seaplane operators to be merged: Blackstone takes majority stake in Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways

Maldives Promotion House – Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX), the big U.S.-based asset manager today announced that a private equity fund managed by Blackstone on behalf of its private equity investors has acquired a controlling interest in two Maldives-based seaplane operators – Maldivian Air Taxi “MAT” and Trans Maldivian Airways “TMA”. Following the transaction, Mr. Lars Erik Nielsen (Founder, MAT), Mr. Lars Petré and Mr. Hussain Afeef (majority shareholders, TMA) will retain a substantial shareholding and continue to play a significant role in the companies, including serving as directors on the board. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Muslims will not be against the death penalty: Sheik Imran

Sheik Imran Abdulla is the President of Adaalath Party said that Muslims will not be against the death penalty upon murderers that is prescribed in the Islamic Shariah. He Further stated that Islamic Shariah is a divine in origin and it is pertinent for every places and times (ages). If any person discussed about to be modified or modernized its’ contents is not a believer in Islam, so s/he is a non-muslims or hypocrite

Imran made the above comments towards the recent claims of MDP Spokesperson Hamid Abdul Gafoor who said that MDP is not believe in the death penalty, as most of the countries in the world and statistics do not show that death penalty is effective. Sheikh Imran said that the punishments and the principle of qisas (Arabic terms) – retribution are prescribed in the Islamic Shariah as a manifestation of divine justice.

President Dr Waheed take oath of office

On 7th February 2012, the newly-sworn-in President of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that today Maldivians have obtained the true assurance of their rights guaranteed the constitution.

He was addressing the public after the ceremony held for him to take the oath of office as President of Maldives.

“Today, we have established rule of law in our beloved country. It is the day that Maldivians feel protected by the constitution,” President Dr Waheed said.

President Mohamed Nasheed Resigns

On 07^th February 2012 around noon time President of Maldives, Mr. Mohamed Nasheed announced his resignation in a statement made to the public. He made the announcement after signing a letter of resignation addressed to the Speaker of the People’s Majlis as per the Constitution. With Reference to his statement,

President Nasheed said:

“I believe if I continue as the President of the Maldives, the people of the country would suffer more. I therefore have resigned as the President of Maldives”.

Protestors demand government to stick on court orders and free Judge Abdullah at once

The arrest of Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, Abdullah Mohamed by the military without a warrant has sparked protests and civic unrest in the capital Male’ City.

Protestors first gathered at the MMA area calling for the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed. The protestors demanded the government to adhere to court orders and release Judge Abdullah Mohamed right away.

Last evening, the protestors gathered in front of the residences of Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair, Chief of Police Faseeh and Home Minister Hassan Afeef. The angry protestors called for their immediate resignation for their violation of the constitution.

Unemployment Youths in Society

Unemployment is widely regarded as a major social and economic global problem. President Mohamed Nasheed has said that he knew the reason why youths being expelled from society are unemployment and have no sufficient skill to works on a job.

Skill training programs called “Hunaru” was conducted at Haa Alif Atoll Hoarafushi, At this gathering President speaking to the participants was noted that the main aim of the course is to make easy way of participating the programs, acquiring knowledge and skills of work on job. These job opportunities for locals in future will help to recoup and reduce the expatriates working in the country.

Adhaalath Party Split from Government

Male’, Adhaalath party pass a resolution on 27^th September 2011 to break its tie from government ruling party Maldives Democratic Party (MDP), the resolution was formally endorsed with the concurrence of 32/34 members vote. The last knot in the coalition was dismantled and pointing finger to each other.

Adhaalath party take this decision based on many reasons some these points are