The Transport Ministry and Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) entered an agreement on Monday, to launch Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry services in N. Atoll, R. Atoll and B. Atoll.

The agreement was signed by Transport Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Mariyam Shahana and MTCC’s CEO Abdulla Ziyadh. The signing was observed by Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ameen noted that RTL services are already available in certain regions.

“The president [Dr. Mohamed Muizzu] has repeatedly said after assuming office that no ongoing projects linked to public welfare will be stopped. That we will improve upon the projects. This is one such example you are witnessing today,” he said.

Ameen said the service is set to be rolled out in six zones, three of which are already operational.

Currently, RTL ferry services are operational in Zone 1 (HA., HDh and Sh. Atoll), Zone 2 (Lh. Atoll), Zone 5 (GA. and GDh. Atoll), and Zone 6 (Fuvahmulah City and Addu City).

MTCC is now expanding RTL ferry services to the remaining atolls, aiming to connect the entire Maldives through a reliable ferry network. According to the company, the project aims to introduce reliable, efficient, convenient, and sustainable passenger ferry services to all administrative islands of the nation.

During Monday’s ceremony, Ameen said that the former administration didn’t make the best arrangements in launching the services.

‘We found there are challenges facing MTCC in providing the services in a sustainable manner,” he said.

Ameen said that some of the current routes aren’t satisfactory to the people, and that major changes will be made over the next one-and-a-half months.

Source(s): MTCC

Civil Court has ordered Public Service Media (PSM) to pay EUR 39,750 for the software used to broadcast the 2018 presidential election.

PSM rented Wisdom Television – Informaticos Para Televiso LDA’s “Augmented Reality” software for 24 hours to broadcast the election results in 2018.

The parties entered to the contract on August 27th, 2018 with PSM agreeing to pay a sum total of EUR 72,500.

On February 23rd, 2023, Wisdom Television filed a lawsuit with the Civil Court since PSM failed to pay 50% of the software’s price (EUR 36,250).

Additionally, Wisdom Television agreed with PSM to extend the staff duration in Maldives, for which it sought another EUR 3,500. In total, Wisdom sought EUR 39,750 for the outstanding amount it was owed.

In response, PSM argued the amount claimed by Wisdom Television was not owed to the company, and that the local broadcaster had rented the ‘augmented reality’ software.

Furthermore, PSM accused Wisdom Television had fraudulently rented out the software significantly higher than the market price. The broadcaster further argued it never agreed for the extra charge of 3,500 to retain Wisdom’s staff in Maldives for technical assistance.

However, PSM had failed prove Wisdom Television’s alleged misrepresentation while the court had found the broadcaster’s argument against paying the amount insufficient.

Civil Court in its verdict held that it was a legal duty for the parties to a contract to adhere to it without ill intent in fulfilling the terms agreed by each party.

The court ordered PSM to pay the claimed amount of EUR 39,750 to Wisdom Television before May 14th, 2024.

Source(s): sun.mv

Tehran on Monday called on Western nations to “appreciate Iran’s restraint” towards Israel after it attacked its regional foe in response to a deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

“Instead of making accusations against Iran, (Western) countries should blame themselves and answer to public opinion for the measures they have taken against the… war crimes committed by Israel” in its war against Hamas in Gaza, said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani.

The spokesman added that Western countries “should appreciate Iran’s restraint in recent months.”

Several Western countries, including France and Britain, condemned Iran over its attack on Israel, which Tehran insists was an act of “self-defense.”

Iran’s first direct attack on Israel, which began on Saturday, was in response to a April 1 strike on Tehran’s consulate in Damascus which has been widely attributed to Israel.

The Damascus strike leveled the five-story consular annex of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals.

Kanani said Iran’s action was meant to “create a deterrent in the aim to prevent the repetition of the actions of the Zionist regime and to defend (Iranian) interests.”

Iran said it informed the United States and gave a 72-hour warning to neighboring countries ahead of its attack on Israel, which was denied by the U.S. side, according to Reuters.

Israel says 99 percent of Iran’s launches intercepted

The Israeli military said on Sunday that it intercepted about 99 percent of the more than 300 missiles and drones Iran launched late Saturday in its first direct attack against Israel.

“Together with our partners, the Americans and others, we managed to block the attack with very little damage caused,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, describing the outcome as “an impressive achievement.”

Gallant noted that the incident is not over, and the Israeli Air Force remains on high alert.

In a press briefing, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari said that Iran had launched about 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles, and over 120 ballistic missiles.

Hagari said the IDF’s Arrow anti-missile system successfully intercepted most of the ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere.

U.S. says it won’t support Israeli counterattack

Israel might not have U.S. support for a counterattack. Overnight, Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden talked over the phone, according to Netanyahu’s office.

Israel’s Walla news site reported that Biden told Netanyahu that the U.S. would not support an Israeli counterattack against Iran.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday warned members not to further escalate tensions with reprisals against Iran, while the U.S. warned the Security Council it would work to hold Tehran accountable at the UN.

Source(s): CGTN