A young man is missing after a cargo boat named “Hodhudhoo Boat” from L. Maavah caught fire while en route to Male’, according to the island council. The boat was carrying 18 passengers when it caught fire, and military personnel from Kadhdhoo are currently responding. Maavah Council President Ahmed Moosa said the boat caught fire after departing from Hirilandhoo on its way to Male’.

“All the responsible people on the boat are from Maavah. They were traveling between Th. atoll and Male’. According to information from Th. Hirilandhoo, the fire started tonight after they departed. No one is answering their phones when called. The latest information is that everyone except one person has been found. The missing person is reportedly a young man from Maavah,” said Ahmed Moosa. He added that the entire boat is now engulfed in flames. All passengers were from Maavah.

Everyone reportedly jumped into the sea when the fire broke out. However, one young man is still missing with no news of his whereabouts, according to Ahmed Moosa. The missing person is identified as 25-year-old Ali Mushfig Mohamed from L. Maavah. The MNDF confirmed all. The MNDF confirmed all others have been found. Ahmed Moosa said the fire initially started where the life jackets were stored, so passengers were unable to access life jackets.

“There’s an uninhabited island called Th. Kafidho, and we’re hearing the fire started around there. The whole boat has now burned down completely. It was a large boat that could accommodate people on three levels. We’re hearing the fire started where the life jackets were, so if they couldn’t get life jackets from that area, everyone who jumped into the sea would be in a very difficult situation. The missing young man is not very experienced in the water,” said Ahmed Moosa.

BG Sports Club has secured a spot in the Round of 16 of the Eid Baibala Challenge 1446. The knockout tournament features 29 participating teams. BG Sports Club, which has won the Baibala championship 10 times, earned their place in the Round of 16 by defeating Odi Sports Club in straight two games in last night’s match at the Hulhumale Central Park area. Odi Sports Club had prepared strongly for this year’s tournament.

In other matches played last night, SDZ secured a spot in the Round of 16 by winning in straight two games against Odi Titans. Kudahenveyru Lions defeated Eagles EC in straight two games. TC Sports Club advanced to the Round of TC Sports Club advanced to the Round of 16 by beating Teenage Veterans in straight two games.

Additionally, Lorenzo Sports Club secured a spot in the Round of 16 by defeating VK Sports Club in a close match. Teenage Club, which has won the Baibala championship four times, beat Lorenzo Henas in straight two games. TC Fraternity secured the final spot in the Round of 16 by defeating Haa Vaikaramaathi in straight two games.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has begun a trip to Hungary despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November last year on suspicion of war crimes in Gaza. This is Netanyahu’s second trip abroad since the warrant was issued. In February, he traveled to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump, Israel’s biggest supporter. Neither Israel nor the United States are members of the ICC.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban invited Netanyahu to visit Hungary one day after the ICC issued its warrant. Hungary, a founding member of the ICC, is required to arrest and hand over to the ICC anyone who travels to the country with an outstanding arrest warrant. However, the Hungarian Prime Minister has stated that he will not respect or comply with the ICC’s order. Netanyahu’s four-day trip to Hungary includes a meeting with Orban. Prime Minister Orban has said that the ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu is unacceptable. Like Israel, Hungary believes that the ICC has no legal authority to take such action.

In a statement, the ICC said that enforcing its decisions is mandatory for member states. The statement also noted that it is not up to member states to determine the legal validity of ICC decisions.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has stated that it is a great honor and joy for the Maldives to be selected as the official tourist destination partner of the English club Liverpool. In a tweet on X, President Maumoon said he thanks the President of the Maldives for launching Visit Maldives tonight at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium. President Maumoon has been a supporter of the English club Liverpool since 1970. He has also previously actively participated in some activities organized by the supporters’ group in Male’.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has traveled to Liverpool, UK to participate in the launch of a co-brand campaign to promote Maldives tourism, conducted in collaboration between Liverpool and the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). To further strengthen this effort, Visit Maldives has launched an outdoor campaign in the UK on March 27th under the LFC partnership. This campaign will run for three months, utilizing high-impact outdoor and digital advertisements in key locations across the UK.

The campaign will feature over 100 specially branded taxis, buses, the London Underground, major airports, and business class lounges to promote Maldives tourism.

Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States has banned the bodyguard of Lionel Messi, one of the world’s best players who plays for Inter Miami in the USA, from entering the field. This decision was made and communicated after the league decided to handle security matters on its own. Previously, Messi’s bodyguard was allowed to operate on the sideline opposite to where the linesman stands. If someone were to enter the field, he would be on the sideline like a man-marker to stop them in Messi’s defense during the match. He would always be wherever Messi was on the field, and with permission to enter the field, he has stopped many supporters from reaching Messi before they could get to him.

However, now that this has been banned, Messi’s bodyguard Yassine Chueko can only operate outside the changing room and in the mixed zone, and outside of match protocols.

The bodyguard has expressed concern about this. He wants the opportunity to protect the captain of Argentina, who won the most recent World Cup. “I worked in security for seven years in the French league and Champions League matches in Europe. Only seven people entered the field. But in the 20 months I’ve been in America, 16 people have already entered the field. But now they’ve decided not to give me the opportunity to operate on the field. I just want the chance to help ensure Messi’s safety,” said Yassine.

Yassine, 40, is a former U.S. military serviceman. He served in Afghanistan and Iraq during the wars under George W. Bush’s presidency. Yassine was appointed as Messi’s bodyguard on the advice of the club’s owner, former England captain David Beckham, when Messi agreed to play for Inter Miami. Messi’s bodyguard receives a salary of 250,000 euros per week.

In addition to the field, the bodyguard operates as a personal security guard for Messi and his family in every place Messi usually goes. This includes shopping complexes, parks, and other places Messi visits. Messi, who has won the world’s best player award a record eight times, is one of the world’s most popular players. It’s also common for supporters to try to enter the field hoping to meet him.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the project to add 75 beds to IGMH will be completed and opened next month. The President added that this would provide a significant solution to the space constraints faced by IGMH.

The current bed capacity of IGMH is 350 beds. While difficulties arise in situations requiring inpatient care, no significant efforts have been made to increase the hospital’s bed capacity over the past 30 years. The practical work to find a solution to this issue was initiated last year.

Speaking on the “With the People” podcast, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that the 75-bed ward being established in the former administrative block of IGMH will be opened next month. “This ward will have 40 general beds, 15 high dependency unit beds, and 14 private units,” the President said.

The President stated that as part of the efforts to strengthen the health system, the government is working to add a total of 117 beds to hospitals in the Male’ area this year. This includes 75 beds being added to IGMH, 14 beds to the ER of Hulhumale’ Hospital, and establishing 28 beds by converting the third floor of the 6-story building at Hulhumale’ Hospital into a ward. With this, the bed capacity of government hospitals in the Male’ area will increase to 433.

The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, has stated that it is important for mosque imams to be knowledgeable in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) when leading congregational prayers. The Minister made this statement in a Facebook post about imams being well-versed in fiqh. Minister Dr. Shaheem explained that being knowledgeable in fiqh means understanding how to apply Islamic rulings according to the current situation. Highlighting the importance of imams being knowledgeable in fiqh, the Minister shared some examples.

These include starting prayers that have specific times, such as Eid prayers, by standing up and organizing the rows in advance, rather than waiting until the exact time to begin. Additionally, the Minister shared in his post things that imams should be mindful of when leading obligatory prayers. This includes reciting shorter verses as the congregation grows larger and speeding up the prayer if children can be heard crying. He also noted that if there are mosques and houses nearby, using loudspeakers during prayer times can be disruptive to those in nearby mosques and homes. However, the Minister stated that the call to prayer (adhan) should still be amplified to inform many people that the prayer time has begun. The Minister also pointed out that raising one’s voice while reciting the Quran, causing disturbance to others, is prohibited according to hadith.

Similarly, Minister Shaheem requested imams to consider that there may be sick and excused individuals in the congregation who cannot remain in the bowing (ruku) and prostration (sujood) positions for extended periods during night prayers and congregational prayers. Furthermore, shortening the congregation during strong winds or rain, maintaining a moderate and comfortable pace for everyone in normal circumstances, and being focused and humble during prayers are all part of being knowledgeable in fiqh.

While the Minister has called for mosque imams to be knowledgeable in fiqh, there are always public concerns about how some imams conduct prayers in certain mosques.