News

Peng Liyuan urges more support for girls’ education

Published

3 years ago

17/10/2021

MNN

Peng Liyuan, the wife of President Xi Jinping, has called on the international community to pay more attention and offer more support for the advancement of girls’ and women’s education so as to help achieve the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Peng, who is also the special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for the promotion of girls’ and women’s education, made the remark on Friday while attending via video link an award ceremony for the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education.

During a speech, Peng said that while the COVID-19 pandemic is having a particularly negative impact on girls and women, it is necessary to pool resources and take targeted and effective measures to help provide them with fair and quality education.

She suggested making good use of digital technologies to promote the sharing of quality online education resources in an effort to step up educational support for girls and women in poverty-stricken areas and those from underprivileged households.

To help them enjoy happy lives in the digital era, efforts should be made to improve their ability to utilize new technologies for employment and entrepreneurship, Peng said.

She also called for beefing up health education for girls and women in order to help them and their family members become more health-conscious and able to prevent various kinds of diseases.

Peng expressed congratulations to prizewinners from Brazil and Mozambique, saying that the award has inspired more and more people devote their lives to the education of girls and women since it was established in 2015 by China and UNESCO.

As a result, countless girls and women have mastered knowledge and skills, and obtained the ability and confidence to change their destiny and pursue their dreams, she said.

The growing care and support helps promote global gender equality in education, Peng added.

She said she hoped that the second term of cooperation between China and UNESCO on the award will serve as a new starting point to provide new impetus for girls’ and women’s education.

Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, said in her speech that the award has played a unique role in helping women and children fulfill their dreams, especially in dealing with challenges from the pandemic.

Azoulay thanked the Chinese government for making continuous investment and launching the second term of cooperation. She also appreciated the strong and firm support from Peng.

The UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education honors outstanding and innovative contributions made by individuals, institutions and organizations to advance girls’ and women’s learning.

It is the first UNESCO prize of this type and is unique in showcasing successful projects that improve and promote the educational prospects of girls and women and in turn, the quality of their lives.

News

Developmental projects of Maldives progressing substantially

Published

19 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

1 day 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

1 day 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