News

China pledges USD 130M in grants to Maldives

Published

4 months ago

13/01/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says that China has pledged USD 130 million in grant assistance to the Maldives.

President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed returned to Maldives on Saturday, after concluding a state visit to China.

Their plane landed at the Velana International Airport on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking to reporters at the airport, President Muizzu said China has pledged 130 million dollars in grant assistance to the Maldives.

He said that the bulk of it will be spent on redeveloping the roads of Male’.

“That is approximately USD 130 million in grants. This will be spent on developmental projects. The biggest spending will be on the development of the roads of Male’,” he said.

President Muizzu made the visit to China – his first state visit to a foreign country – at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During the visit, the two leaders met for official talks and presided over the signing of over 20 agreements between the two countries.

This includes a USD 50 million agreement to develop an integrated tourism zone in Hulhumale’, an agreement on the construction of 30,000 social housing units in Rasmale’, and an agreement to provide grant assistance for the development of a 100-bed tertiary hospital in Vilimale’.

The two countries also signed an agreement to allow Maldives’ national airline, Maldivian, to conduct domestic flight operations in China.

The Maldivian first couple had several engagements and visited various establishments, fostering greater cultural, economic, and political relations with China.

In one of his most prominent engagements, President Muizzu attended the Invest Maldives Forum.

While speaking at the forum, he laid out his government’s vision for developing the Maldives, which he said was one of engagement, partnership building, and focused delivery.

He also emphasized the importance of his visit to China, as it is his first state visit to a foreign nation, stating that China remains one of the Maldives’s closest allies and developmental partners.

The first couple also took time off their schedule to meet and engage with the Maldivian community residing in Beijing.

They were accompanied on the visit by a high-level delegation of Maldivian government officials, including Cabinet ministers.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Maldivian FM meets Qatari PM; both commit to stronger ties

Published

4 hours ago

12/05/2024

Maldives and Qatar reaffirm the commitment to strengthening the partnership between the two countries on Sunday, in a meeting between Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar.

Zameer, who is on an official visit to Qatar, met with Al Thani on Sunday morning.

At the meeting, Zameer reflected on the growing Maldives-Qatar partnership, and thanked Qatar for the generous assistance in Maldives’ socio-economic development.

According to a statement released by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry, both Zameer and Al Thani reiterated the commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Zameer also conveyed appreciation for Qatar’s role in the mediation process on the Gaza crisis.

Both reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the partnership in the multilateral fora on matters of global concern.

Zameer was accompanied at the meeting by Secretary, Bilateral, Dr. Hala Hameed, Ambassador-at-Large, Dr. Fazeel Najeeb, and Assistant Director, Lamha Saleem.

This year will mark the 40th anniversary of bilateral relations between the Maldives and Qatar.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Zameer is also scheduled to meet with other senior officials from the Qatari government to explore opportunities to enhance cooperation in various sectors between the two countries.

Zameer’s latest trip comes at the heels of a similar visit to India last week.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

President recognises forefront services of nurses

Published

5 hours ago

12/05/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has praised the dedicated efforts of nurses, stating that they fulfil a national obligation by providing forefront services. He made the remarks on a social media post, commemorating International Nurses Day.

In the post shared on social media, President Dr. Muizzu recognised the unwavering commitment of nurses, characterising their contributions and services as a valuable, significant responsibility for humanity. The president additionally commended the dedication of nurses for ensuring the provision of cutting edge care.

The International Nurses Day is annually celebrated on May 12, aiming to acknowledge the pivotal role nurses play, as they are the backbone of the healthcare system. The theme for International Nurses Day 2024 is “Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care.” The purpose of selecting the theme was to emphasise the significance of reshaping perceptions of the economic and societal advantages of the nursing field, such that nursing can be seen as an investment rather than a cost.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Government launches Hope Island for crime-exposed kids

Published

5 hours ago

12/05/2024

The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced the launch of Hope Island, a rehabilitation initiative aimed at children exposed to crime.

Speaking at a collaborative press briefing involving agencies under the homeland ministry, Minister Ali Ihusaan outlined the planning efforts for Hope Island. He emphasised the provision of fundamental education and religious guidance for the children residing there. He also highlighted the implementation of psychosocial intervention and sports programmes on the island.

Additionally, Minister Ihusaan disclosed that children would reside on Hope Island until they turn 18 years, and serve a designated term in either the Maldives Police Service (MPS) or the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). Subsequently, he said that they would be granted opportunities to pursue their chosen careers.

Furthermore, Minister Ihusaan announced a reduction in the age of criminal responsibility to 15 years, with previous advocacy for lowering it to 12 years. He cited instances of 12-year-olds engaging in criminal activities and revealed ongoing legal initiatives, in collaboration with the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO), to effect the change.

Moreover, Minister Ihusaan revealed plans to direct 12-year-old offenders to Hope Island for rehabilitation, with a dedicated facility established to mitigate exposure to criminal influences. He also disclosed intentions to develop a separate island specifically for this rehabilitation facility.

Source(s): PsmNews