President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that Maldives represents a success story in digital transformation emphasising the transformative power of technology and innovation in overcoming developmental barriers. Speaking at a meeting titled “Smart Maldives: Journey Towards a Digitally Inclusive Community,” President Muizzu highlighted the unique challenges faced by small island nations like the Maldives, including limited resources, economic instability, and high vulnerability to climate change.

President Muizzu pointed out that these challenges have historically hindered equitable development and the provision of essential services. However, he asserted that in today’s digital age, technology and innovation offer powerful tools to surmount these obstacles. He cited the Maldives as a successful example of digital transformation, showcasing how digital solutions can mitigate climate change impacts, enhance health and education systems, diversify the economy, and strengthen government services.

Looking ahead, President Muizzu shared ambitious plans for leveraging technology, including the deployment of drones for delivering medical supplies and using artificial intelligence to monitor environmental conditions. He also underscored the importance of robust cybersecurity measures, highlighting the global threat of illegal online activities. To address this, the Maldives plans to expand the role of the National Center for Information Technology, establish a National Cyber Security Agency, and develop comprehensive cybersecurity laws.

Furthermore, President Muizzu called for international collaboration and private sector investment to further drive digital transformation. He emphasized the necessity of integrating technical expertise into lawmaking and engaging all stakeholders in setting regional and international standards.

President Dr. Muizzu further underlined the government’s commitment to introducing new digital services that will benefit all residents of the Maldives. He expressed the government’s intention to demonstrate to the international community, the results of the Maldives’ resilience and strong determination that despite the challenges constantly faced, it is possible to overcome them and bridge the limitations.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), President Dr. Muizzu underscored that the Maldives continuously invests in building digital citizens who are well equipped for the age of Artificial Intelligence and “Big Data.”

Source(s): PsmNews

“China is one of the main countries that voted in favor of Palestine in the UN General Assembly in order to obtain full membership (for Palestine),” said Riyad Mansour, permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations.

RAMALLAH, May 28 (Xinhua) — “We highly appreciate Chinese support for the national rights of the Palestinian people, especially since it always calls for peace in the Middle East,” a senior Palestinian diplomat has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Riyad Mansour, permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, highlighted China’s support for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations.

“China is one of the main countries that voted in favor of Palestine in the UN General Assembly in order to obtain full membership (for Palestine),” he said.

“All the time, China made big efforts to help Palestinians obtain their full diplomatic, political and economic rights,” he added.

Back in 1988, the Palestine National Council meeting in Algiers proclaimed the establishment of the State of Palestine. With Norway, Ireland and Spain announcing on May 22 that they would officially recognize Palestine as a state, some 140 countries have recognized Palestine’s statehood.

However, in 2011 and this year again, the United States vetoed Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations.

“Countries’ recognition of the Palestinian state increases the pressure on the obstructing party in the Security Council, which has a U.S. veto regarding full membership of the State of Palestine, until it responds to this huge number of countries that have recognized Palestine,” Mansour said.

Palestine’s full membership is also “tantamount” to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution, he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward a three-point proposal for the settlement of the Palestinian question during his talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing in June 2023. The two leaders also announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Palestine.

“The most important thing is that China attaches great importance to the Palestinian issue and raises it to the level of important priorities on the Chinese foreign policy agenda,” Mansour said.

As the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict has lasted more than seven months, China is also playing a more active role by calling more than once on both parties to negotiate, and making more efforts for reconciliation between the Palestinian parties of Fatah and Hamas, he added.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and China will host the 10th ministerial meeting of that forum.

Mansour believes that the forum will succeed this year based on the development of Chinese-Arab relations, especially as China relies primarily on mutual benefits, instead of imposing its control by force, or even interfering in other countries’ affairs.

China “does not have agendas of a colonial or blackmailing nature for the countries of the region, and it serves as a close ally for the Arab countries,” he said.

Source(s): Xinhua

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has implored the newly elected MPs who took oath on Tuesday, to ensure the 20th parliamentary assembly was beneficial to the public.

In a post on X, congratulating the MPs who took oath of office on Tuesday, President Muizzu expressed hope that the new assembly will be the most responsible and trustworthy one in the parliamentary history of the Maldives.

He further expressed confidence that the new assembly will be the most beneficial to the public as well.

Earlier on April 21 the new lawmakers were elected at the parliamentary election.

The MPs took oath of office on Tuesday morning at 09:00hrs at the parliament chamber. Chief Justice Mu’uthasim Adnan recited the oath to the members.

The 20th parliamentary assembly will consist of 93 members, out of which 70 members belong to the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) – granting it super-majority status.

Additionally, the parliament on Tuesday elected Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla (Adhurey) as the new Speaker, and Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim as the new Deputy Speaker of the new parliamentary assembly.

Source(s): sun.mv