News

UN Middle East envoy says no progress made towards two-state solution

Published

3 years ago

20/10/2021

On Tuesday, Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned the Security Council that no progress had been made toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

According to Wennesland, political stalemate is “fueling tensions, volatility, and a deepening sense of pessimism.” “We should have no illusions about the current condition of the Israeli-Palestinian issue,” he said, referring to the deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and the lack of progress toward a two-state solution. He described a picture of a “increasingly desperate” situation characterized by radicals and unilateral moves on all sides, heightening risks for Palestinians, Israelis, and the region as a whole.

“Civilians in Israel and Palestine are suffering and paying a high price for the conflict’s persistence, especially the protracted occupation,” Wennesland added.

Meanwhile, while Israeli citizens are murdered and maimed in Palestinian attacks, settlement activity, evictions, Palestinian property seizures, and travel restrictions are “further feeding the cycle of violence.”

The UN envoy reported “nightly conflicts” between Israelis and Palestinians in his report, emphasizing the importance of holding all perpetrators of violence accountable and bringing them to justice as quickly as possible.

Wennesland cited Israeli plans for construction in E1, which is adjacent to and northeast of East Jerusalem, as “severing the connection between the northern and southern West Bank, significantly undermining the chances for establishing a viable and contiguous Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution.”

“I emphasize that all settlements are unlawful under international law and continue to be a significant impediment to peace,” he stated emphatically.

The special coordinator described the announcement by Israeli and Palestinian officials that 4,000 undocumented Palestinians in the West Bank would be enrolled in the Palestinian demographic registration and get identity certificates as a “positive development.”

Meanwhile, Palestine’s economic collapse continues as spending outstrip income and donor support, with bank credit choices “exhausted.”

He expressed his concern that “these negative trends are emerging concurrently across the West Bank and Gaza Strip” and that they should not be ignored.

“We can no longer lurch from crisis to crisis… incident by incident, day by day as stand-alone issues,” he said, calling for a “broader package of parallel steps” by Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the international community to address the “key political, security, and economic challenges” impeding progress.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

News

Developmental projects of Maldives progressing substantially

Published

7 hours ago

18/05/2024

India’s Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar has affirmed that the developmental projects of the Maldives carried out with the assistance of India have been progressing considerably. The remarks were made by the minister during the Confederation of Indian Industry (CIIs) Annual Business Summit.

Speaking at the summit, Minister Jaishankar stated that some developmental projects were slightly politically influenced, hindering the progress. However, he assured that the progress of the projects have propelled at a notable rate.

Following the Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer’s official visit to India at the invitation of Minister Jaishankar, discussions were held highlighting the spectrum of initiatives across the nation has been kickstarted through loans and grants from the Government of India during the previous administration. He emphasised the current government’s commitment to prioritising the resumption and completion of these projects.

Meanwhile, the Government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to the development and prosperity of the Maldives by extending a budgetary support of USD 50 million to be repaid within a term of one year.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Police officers complete training to prevent maritime terrorism acts

Published

22 hours ago

17/05/2024

A team of 22 police officers has successfully completed a specialised training programme focused on thwarting maritime terrorism activities.

Entitled “Training on Strengthening Capabilities to Disrupt Maritime Crimes as Related to Terrorist Threats,” the program was conducted through a collaborative effort between the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Running from May 13 to 15, the intensive training equipped participants with essential skills and knowledge crucial for combating threats in maritime environments.

The concluding ceremony, graced by the presence of Chief Superintendent of Police Ibrahim Adnan Anees, Head of Marine Police, along with senior officials from the Marine Police Department, UNODC’s Head of Office Enrico Boninsegna, and course instructor Kenneth Alferdo Pennington, highlighted the significance of such initiatives in enhancing national security.

Addressing the gathering, Adnan underscored the importance of ongoing education and skill development, urging participants to actively apply the knowledge garnered from the program in their professional endeavors.

The training, conducted at Dhoonidhoo, Kaafu Atoll, imparted vital insights into the prevention and detection of maritime terrorism activities, emphasizing protocols for safe navigation in high-risk areas. Furthermore, officers received guidance on investigative procedures essential for effectively addressing such crimes, thereby bolstering the nation’s capabilities in combating maritime threats.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

President reverts land act amendment to parliament

Published

22 hours ago

17/05/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has reverted the Ninth Amendment Bill to the Maldives Land Act to Parliament for further consideration.

This bill, which seeks to establish criteria for recipients of residential land and mandates that land be allocated within three months of the publication of the permanent list of recipients in the gazette, was initially passed during the twenty-second sitting of Parliament’s first session this year and sent to the President’s Office for ratification on May 2.

In returning the bill, President Muizzu invoked Article 91(a) of the Constitution, which grants the President the authority to return legislation to Parliament for reconsideration.

The President’s Office has confirmed this, indicating the need for further review and potential revisions to the proposed amendment.

Source(s): PsmNews