Statistics from the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) show that 14.4 million rufiyaa has been paid to fishermen for their catch last week. According to MIFCO’s statistics, the amount of fish purchased by MIFCO has increased over the past week. As such, while 14.4 million rufiyaa has been paid to fishermen for their catch, this is a 50% increase compared to the previous week. In the previous week, MIFCO had paid 9.6 million rufiyaa to 186 vessels.
Last week, MIFCO paid out the highest amount on Wednesday. On that day, 4.3 million rufiyaa was paid to 45 vessels. In line with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge, payments for fish purchases are being made within 48 hours. The implementation of this pledge began on the past Fishermen’s Day. According to information provided by MIFCO, the number of fishing vessels going out to sea has increased with this new system.
It is the government’s goal to further expand the fishing industry and make it one of the largest revenue-generating industries for the Maldives. As such, work is underway to develop fishing facilities to solve the problems faced by the fishing industry within the first 3 years of the government.
Photo Credits: Mifco
Furthermore, with the assistance of the Islamic Development Bank, the company is working on establishing a fish canning factory in Hulhumalé. In addition to establishing cold storage facilities, it is noteworthy that many efforts are being made to improve processing capacity. Moreover, as pledged to provide fuel to fishermen at STO rates, work is progressing to establish fuel supply stations on one island in each atoll, with the government stating that these stations will be completed before March of next coming year.
“Reflecting on your journey from the early days at MSS to becoming the Documentation Head, how has the company’s nurturing environment and visionary support contributed to your personal and professional growth?”
I brought lots of documentation process experience to MSS when I joined. But I soon realized that MSS’s documentation strategy—its procedures, submission guidelines, and quality standards—was very different from what I had encountered before. This posed an initial obstacle, but it also provided a worthwhile chance for development. My adjustment to these new approaches was greatly aided by the company’s encouraging atmosphere and progressive leadership. I successfully managed these discrepancies with the help of thorough training, mentorship, and an environment that values lifelong learning. In the end, this experience helped me grow and succeed as the Documentation Head by expanding my perspective and improving my technical abilities.
“In the spirit of International Day for Women in Maritime, which specific initiatives or values at MSS have you found most inspiring in empowering female talent within our corporate office?”
As a woman working in the maritime sector and a member of MSS, I have seen tremendous advancements in the development of female talent at our corporate office. Despite the initial lack of women in this industry, MSS has done a great job of providing opportunities and fostering an inclusive work environment for women workers. I’m delighted to report that 60% of the workers in this industry are women. This outstanding expansion is an indication to MSS’s dedication to equal opportunity, gender diversity, and the ongoing support of women in an industry that has historically been dominated by men.
“Could you share an example where MSS’s commitment to innovation and excellence helped you implement creative solutions that enhanced our documentation processes and overall corporate efficiency?”
Since I was in charge of all documentation procedures when I initially started working at MSS, I faced number of challenges. I was determined to uphold the highest standards of efficiency and organization in spite of these challenges. I eventually got just a few employees from the corporation as they realized how much support was needed in this area. Taking into account MSS’s innovative and high-quality culture, I took the initiative to ensure that the new team members received comprehensive training that included both corporate standards and efficient documentation methods significantly enhanced the general handling and accuracy of documentattion by efficient processes and embracing collaborative tools. This improved the overall efficiency of the company in addition to increasing the productivity of our workforce.
“How does MSS’s vibrant corporate culture foster collaboration and continuous improvement, and what role has this environment played in elevating your team to new heights?”
A pleasant and environmentally friendly workplace is fostered by MSS’s vibrant company culture, which is encouraging and cooperative. One of the most striking aspects of this culture is the readiness of every employee to assist one another, which promotes a strong sense of unity and cooperation across all departments. By holding frequent training sessions and team-building activities, the organization actively encourages ongoing improvement. These programs improve teamwork and communication both inside and across teams in addition to improving individual talents. My team’s performance has significantly improved as a result of this atmosphere, which has allowed us to continuously accomplish our objectives and increase our productivity via teamwork and support.
“What aspects of MSS’s leadership have most effectively encouraged a diverse and inclusive atmosphere, supporting you and other women as you rise to leadership roles in a traditionally male-dominated industry?”
MSS has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion by providing equal opportunities for women in all areas of operations in the field. Women have been strongly encouraged by MSS leadership to participate in activities that have historically been dominated by men, such as vessel and port visits and the area of vessel operations administration. Offering these chances free from gender bias, MSS has established a setting where women feel encouraged, strong, and comfortable assuming leadership roles. In addition to helping me grow personally, this inclusive approach has motivated many others to follow and succeed in their career paths within this sector.
“Looking back, can you highlight a key milestone or project that not only advanced your career but also showcased MSS’s positive impact on nurturing talent and driving success in the corporate realm?”
Growing within MSS has been one of the most important turning points in my career, and it amply demonstrates the organization’s dedication to developing talent and promoting from within. I was promoted to Senior Officer after starting off as an Officer in the Documentation Department at MSS and after five years of dedicated service, it is a pleasure to be promoted to the position of Documentation Manager.
“As we celebrate International Day for Women in Maritime, what future trends or opportunities within MSS excite you the most, and how do you see the company continuing to set positive examples for corporate excellence and innovative leadership?”
MSS’s continuing efforts to empower and engage women in these changing fields and to encourage us to assume more dynamic and leadership-oriented roles are what most excite me. A great example of corporate excellence is provided by the company’s inclusive culture, dedication to professional growth, and acknowledgment of talent, regardless of gender. I am in confidence that MSS will continue to set an example by adopting change and supporting a diverse and innovative staff that will influence maritime leadership in the future.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that he will introduce amendments to allow for the removal of elected officials if more than half of the eligible voting population votes for their removal in cases where the public has lost confidence in them. Currently, there is no way to remove elected officials. The President said this while speaking on a podcast with the public. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced that he will propose amendments to the law this year to give citizens the power to remove members of councils and the People’s Majlis after they are elected, during a press conference he held.
The government has decided to submit 30 bills to the parliament this year. Speaking on the podcast with the public, the President said that the current laws and regulations do not truly empower the people. He said he wants to fully empower the people and give them those rights.
Photo Credits: PSM News
The President said that the positions of council members, parliament members, and the President are not currently positions that the people can touch after electing them through voting. However, he said this should not be the case and that it hinders the empowerment of the people. The President said that when the bill proposed by the government is passed, it will fully give the power to remove people in elected positions through a vote in situations where the public has lost confidence in them. “We will propose amendments to allow for removal if more than half of those eligible to vote want it. This applies to council members, parliament members, and even the President – anyone in an elected position. This is how we will truly empower the people. Currently, there are no checks and balances,” said the President.
The President said that the current situation where officials cannot be removed from their positions due to misconduct after being elected needs to be changed. He said that allowing such individuals to remain in their positions until the end of their 5-year term in cases of misconduct is a way of diminishing the power of the people. Therefore, the President has said that he will give the full power to remove such individuals from their positions to the hands of the people in order to arrange work fairly.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said that as Maldivian families become closer, more prosperous, and their living conditions improve, the nation’s progress will accelerate and the future will brighten. He said this in a post shared on social media, sending greetings on the International Day of Families being celebrated today.
In the post shared on social media, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu wished prosperity and well-being for every Maldivian family on the International Day of Families. The President said that Islam places the highest importance on strengthening family ties. He also noted that as Maldivian families become closer, more prosperous, and their living conditions improve, the nation’s progress will accelerate and the future will brighten. The President prayed to Allah to grant success and victory in bringing prosperous days to every Maldivian family.
May 15th of every year is celebrated as the International Day of Families. The current government has announced that it gives special importance to strengthening and empowering family relationships and has initiated important work in this regard. As such, the government has decided to provide assistance to transfer elderly people under state care to the care of their families.
In addition, the government has also started work to assess the situation of families. In this regard, the Ministry of Social and Family Development has launched a program called “How are you?” to assess the situation of all families in the Maldives. This program has been carried out in all atolls except for 5, and based on the information obtained from this program, assistance is being provided to various families.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the generational ban to discourage tobacco use is a bold and important step taken by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government. WHO made this statement following the parliament’s approval of the government’s amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, which prohibits tobacco use for all children born on and after January 1, 2007.
In connection with the amendment to the law establishing a generational ban to discourage tobacco use, WHO shared a message on social media congratulating President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government. WHO also noted that this is the first time a country in South-East Asia has taken such a measure. According to WHO, the step taken by the Maldives is a boost to regional efforts towards a tobacco-free, healthier future.
While the Maldives has completed the legal procedures related to establishing a generational ban to discourage tobacco use, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government has been working on many initiatives to build a healthy society since taking office. The generational ban to keep the young generation away from tobacco was decided after the President conducted a poll on social media to gather public opinion on the matter.
This historic poll was the first of its kind where a President of the Maldives sought public opinion on an important decision during their term through a social media platform. More than 5000 people participated in this poll, submitting their opinions to the President.
While the law has been amended to establish a generational ban to keep the young generation away from tobacco, once this law is implemented in the Maldives, it will become the first country in the world to pass and enforce such a law. Although some other countries have worked on establishing generational bans against tobacco, no country has implemented a gener no country has implemented a generational ban against tobacco to date. Therefore, if the Maldives becomes the first country to establish and implement a generational ban, it will not only be a great achievement internationally for the Maldives but also something that every Maldivian will undoubtedly be happy about and proud of.
On May 7, an agreement was established between the United States and the Houthi armed group in Yemen to cease exchanging attacks. The US says that shortly before this sudden announcement of the agreement, signs began to appear that Houthi fighters were looking for a way to stop exchanging attacks. This was due to the relentless US air strikes targeting the Houthis for seven consecutive weeks.
Since November 2023, the Houthis had been attacking Jewish and US-linked ships traveling in the Red Sea to show that the Yemeni people stand with the Palestinian people in connection with Israel’s aggressive attacks to ethnically cleanse the people of Gaza in Palestine. In response, the US intensified its attacks on Yemen targeting the Houthis after Donald Trump took office as US President earlier this year. Although the US attacks on Yemen were previously expected to continue throughout the year, after just 52 days, the US suddenly announced that both sides had agreed to cease exchanging attacks. This paved the way for Trump to declare victory over the Houthis before departing on his current Middle East trip.
Some US government sources said the Houthis were communicating with US-allied Middle Eastern countries during the first week of May. From that point, it became clear that the Houthis no longer wanted to continue exchanging attacks, he said. When signs began to appear in early May that the Houthis wanted to stop exchanging attacks, US Defense Secretary Pete Heggseth initiated meetings at the White House. Those meetings revealed an opportunity to stop exchanging attacks. Two other sources said Iran, which supports the Houthis, was strongly urging the group to discuss stopping the exchange of attacks. Iran gave such instructions to the Houthis at a time when the US and Iran are also in talks mediated by Oman regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
The sudden establishment of an agreement between the Houthis and the US demonstrates the speed of the US government’s work. When an opportunity arose, they took advantage of it and successfully achieved something that was thought to be difficult to accomplish otherwise. Among the tactics Trump used to achieve this was not including in the agreement with the Houthis that attacks on Israel, a country with close ties to the US, must stop. It is understood that the US reached an agreement with the Houthis without discussing it with Israel.
Photo Credits: Reuters
The exchange of attacks was not only damaging to the Houthi group. The US was also suffering major losses. The US also had to incur large expenses to attack the Houthis. US losses included the use of a large number of weapons, the downing of two aircraft, and the shooting down of many drones.
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Whitcoff, held indirect consultations with the Houthis through Oman. He is also a leading US envoy in conducting US-Iran talks. Whitcoff held indirect consultations with Mohammed Abdulsalam, the Houthi group’s spokesman who leads the consultations on behalf of the Houthis. Abdulsalam was communicating in real-time with Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the top Houthi leader. An agreement was reached between the two sides in consultations held on May 5. The next day, Trump announced the agreement and said the US had achieved victory over the Houthis. Trump said the Houthis had asked not to be bombed and in return said they would not attack US ships.
Abdulsalam said all consultations were conducted through Oman. He said the Houthi attacks were defensive responses to US attacks. Therefore, he said if the US does not launch aggressive attacks against Yemen, the Houthis will not need to launch retaliatory attacks against the US.
Benefits of the agreement for both sides
Both the US and the Houthis had benefits from reaching an agreement. By stopping the exchange of attacks, the Houthis will have the opportunity to strengthen the group at a time when it has been weakened. If US attacks had continued for a long time, the risks to the group would have been very high.
On March 15, when the US intensified its attacks against the Houthis, the group said that no matter how many attacks the US launched, as long as the US was attacking Yemen, the group would not stop attacking US ships traveling in the Red Sea. The US also said that if Houthi attacks did not stop, US attacks on Yemen would not stop either.
It was then believed that attacks by the US against the relentless Houthis, who work tirelessly without backing down, would be a costly endeavor for the US if prolonged. The US has used a large number of weapons in over 1,100 attacks against the Houthis. Even after Trump took office, the Houthis have shot down seven US MQ-9 drones. Each of those drones costs several million dollars. In addition, two US fighter jets have also been lost due to the Houthis. Trump’s efforts to reduce Houthi power in March came after efforts by Joe Biden’s previous administration to weaken and devalue the Houthis had failed. Even then, the Houthis were facing attacks from the Saudi-led military coalition that had been ongoing for about 10 years, while also launching attacks against the US and Israel. The US military’s Central Command had proposed spreading out attacks against the Houthis over eight months.
The US has so far spent over $1 billion on bombing Yemen. Those attacks have killed many mid-level Houthi fighters. And Houthi command centers, air defense systems, and weapons manufacturing and storage facilities have been destroyed. In addition, Houthi ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones have also suffered major damage. However, these attacks have not caused much damage to Houthi leaders. Weapons and fighters have not been reduced either. After each attack, the Houthis would rise again and launch retaliatory attacks. This demonstrates the group’s strength and level of resources.
Some experts believe that the Houthis agreed to stop exchanging attacks after the US attacked the important Yemeni port of Ras Issa on April 17. 74 people were killed in that attack. It is believed that the attack on that port greatly weakened the Houthis and closed avenues for the group to carry out projects and raise funds.
Although the Houthis have stopped their attacks against the US, the group’s attacks against Israel are still ongoing. This also shows that while US attacks have weakened the group to some extent, Houthi power is still strong. Israel also continues to launch attacks targeting the Houthis. In this situation, questions arise about how long the US and Houthis will maintain the cessation of exchanging attacks. As Israeli crimes are committed with US support, from that perspective, experts analyzing the scene believe it is possible the Houthis may again start launching attacks against the US at some point.
An Italian cruise liner has arrived in the Maldives with over two thousand tourists. This is the second cruise liner to arrive in the Maldives this month. The cruise liner named ‘AIDA’, which operates specifically for tourists from Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, arrived in the Maldives on the 14th of this month. The Maldives Customs Services has cleared 2,650 tourists who traveled on this cruise liner that arrived in Male from the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka. This includes 2,022 passengers and 628 crew members.
The Maldives has always been a popular destination among cruise lines. Many cruise liners visit the Maldives every year. As such, this is the 10th cruise liner to arrive in the Maldives this year. On the 4th of this month, another cruise liner had also arrived in the Maldives. The Indian cruise liner named ‘MS Nautica’ brought 610 tourists and 397 crew members to the Maldives. Additionally, last March, Oceania Cruises company’s ‘MS Insignia Luxury’ cruise liner had also arrived in the Maldives. About a thousand tourists were cleared from this cruise liner.
Photo Credits: Customs
As the popularity of the Maldives among cruise lines increases, the government is working to develop special jetties for cruise liners in three regions of the Maldives. The government has also revealed that they are carrying out many works in this sector. While the popularity of the Maldives among cruise lines is increasing, there has also been a significant increase in the number of tourists visiting the Maldives. So far this year, more than 897,000 tourists have visited the Maldives. The government aims to bring 2.3 million tourists to the Maldives this year.
The number of people martyred in the aggressive attacks carried out by the Jewish forces in the past 24 hours as part of the genocide of Muslims in Gaza, Palestine has risen to 51. Many of the attacks carried out by Jewish forces in the past 24 hours have targeted hospitals in Gaza. These include Al-Nasr Hospital in Khan Yunis and Gaza European Hospital. In the attack on Nasr Hospital, three people were martyred and many were injured, including a famous Palestinian journalist. That is Hassan Al-Salih. He was admitted to the hospital when the Jewish forces carried out terrorist attacks on the hospital. This was to receive treatment for injuries sustained in another aggressive attack by Jewish forces.
The Jewish forces said that Salih was a person who participated in the jihadi attacks carried out by the mujahideen of the Hamas group fighting for the freedom of Gaza on October 7, 2023, targeting the Zionists. And that he recorded the attacks of that day and published them on his social media accounts. In addition to Al-Nasr Hospital in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, the Jewish forces have also carried out terrorist attacks on the Gaza European Hospital in the area. Ahmad Siyam, a senior official of Gaza’s Civil Defense Authority, said that the Jewish forces had targeted the hospital with nine air strikes. The number of people martyred in the attacks on that hospital has risen to 16. And more than 70 people have been injured.
The terrorist attacks on Al-Nasr Hospital have caused extensive damage to the building. This includes important medical equipment used for treatment. “I don’t know what situation I will face when I go there [to the hospital]; whether it is to mourn those who have been martyred, or to treat patients and injured people, or to help staff who have lost their sense of security,” said Atif Al-Hout, the hospital’s director. Many journalists have been martyred in the inhumane crimes committed by Jewish forces to genocide Muslims in Gaza. The International Federation of Journalists said that more than 160 journalists and media workers have been martyred so far.
However, Gaza authorities said that number has risen to 215. All of them were martyred in deliberate attacks by Jewish forces. Their crime was revealing to the world information and images of the abuse that Jewish forces’ terrorist soldiers are inflicting on Palestinian women, children and the elderly.
Iran has expressed displeasure at U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement describing Iran as the most destructive force in the Middle East. Trump made this statement shortly after the fourth round of talks between the U.S. and Iran, mediated by Oman, regarding Iran’s nuclear program. During a speech on his tour to wealthy Middle Eastern countries, while speaking about his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump praised Saudi Arabia and described it as a country with a constructive vision for the Middle East. He contrasted this with Iran, stating that Iran is a country that brings harm, destruction, and hardship to the region.
In response to Trump’s remarks, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the U.S. President has portrayed Iran from a perspective completely contrary to reality. Araghchi emphasized that Iran, like other countries in the region, is working towards development, progress, and prosperity. He stated that Iran’s progress is hindered by the sanctions and threats imposed by the U.S. against Iran. Araghchi added that Trump fails to see the major crimes committed by Israel in the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, and instead, the U.S. wants to portray Iran as the threat to the region.
The U.S. has always accused Iran of destabilizing the Middle East and creating unrest. The U.S. is particularly displeased with Iran for supporting the Houthi armed group in Yemen, which poses the greatest threat to Israel’s and America’s regional influence. Araghchi further stated that a meeting is scheduled for May 16 in Istanbul, Turkey, with senior officials from the UK, France, and Germany to discuss reaching an agreement with the U.S. on Iran’s nuclear program. He said that the talks with the U.S. on May 11 were very difficult and mainly focused on Iran’s uranium enrichment. He expressed hope that in future talks, the U.S. would speak from a more acceptable perspective after understanding Iran’s fundamental positions. Oman will soon announce the fifth round of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran.
Araghchi said that his recent visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar were related to the ongoing talks with the U.S. He stated that Iran is a country that shares developments with its neighboring countries and wants to understand the regional countries’ perspectives on a possible agreement with the U.S.
During his current Middle East tour, US President Donald Trump met with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the president of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which rules Syria, and urged him to end hostilities and establish closer ties with Zionist Israel. Trump met Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, the first stop on his tour, after announcing that the US would ease sanctions on Syria.
According to a post by the White House Press Secretary on X, Trump urged Syria to establish relations with Zionist Israel, similar to the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Bahrain. Although Trump also pushed Saudi Arabia to strengthen ties with Israel during this trip, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly made it clear that it will not do so until the Jewish terrorist state stops its genocidal attacks in Gaza and a free Palestinian state is established.
Western powers and the Arab world, in addition to the US, have imposed sanctions on Syria in connection with its civil war. The war ended after 14 years with the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in a coup. Assad’s government was overthrown by HTS, a terrorist organization. Syria is currently ruled by an HTS government. The presidency is held by Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the group. With the overthrow of the government, Assad fled to Russia and sought protection in Moscow.
Trump said that although there were concerns about previous terrorist activities carried out by HTS, he had decided to ease sanctions. He also said that this meeting with Sharaa was a beginning and that they were looking into establishing relations with the HTS government.
