President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has appealed to set a resolution to stay away from the bad habit of tobacco use, stating that one of the main causes of cancer is tobacco consumption. Today is World Cancer Day.

While the President made such a post on X in connection with this day, the current government has taken steps against tobacco. As such, the government has decided to ban the import and use of vapes in the Maldives. Additionally, President Dr. Muizzu has passed a law to increase the specific rate of import duty on cigarettes and beedis from three rufiyaa to eight rufiyaa an from three rufiyaa to eight rufiyaa and to increase the ad valorem rate on tobacco by 50%.

Along with these measures, President Dr. Muizzu has decided to develop a realistic master plan to achieve significant positive results within the next four years, divided into phases, to find a permanent solution to the issue of tobacco consumption.

Aasandha Company’s expenses decreased to 817 million in the fourth quarter of last year. According to the latest statistics released by Aasandha Company, from October 1 to December 31 of the past year, 817 million rufiyaa was spent on medical treatment through Aasandha. This is a 4.3% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the total blocked expense under the Aasandha scheme was 854 million rufiyaa.

Looking at the number of people who received services, the number of people who used the Aasandha scheme in the fourth quarter of last year has also decreased compared to the same period in 2023. While the total number of people who received services in 2023 was 279,851, this number decreased to 278,330 in the past year. Regarding emergency cases, in the fourth quarter of last year, patients were transferred from one island to another 1,393 times under the Aasandha scheme. Additionally, a total of 2,327 patients received treatment abroad under this scheme.

These statistics show that although Aasandha’s expenses and the number of people receiving services have slightly decreased, it is still noted that a large number of citizens continue to use this service. Especially in emergency situations and for seeking treatment abroad, Aasandha’s service plays a crucial role, as evident from these figures. The decrease in Aasandha’s expenses is believed to be a result of measures taken to streamline healthcare costs. However, it is important to examine whether this decrease has affected the quality of services.

Fenaka Corporation, which was the most loss-making among state-owned companies, has started to make profits. The Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) has noted that this is the result of changes and measures implemented by the current government. When President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu came to power, Fenaka was on the verge of bankruptcy with a debt of four billion rufiyaa. However, with the changes brought by the current government, the company has made significant progress in the first two quarters of last year.

According to statistics revealed by PCB, Fenaka made a total profit of 11 million rufiyaa in the first two quarters of last year. This includes four million rufiyaa in the first quarter and seven million rufiyaa in the second quarter. Additionally, Fenaka generated revenue of 1.3 billion rufiyaa in the first two quarters. The company’s operating expenses have also been managed appropriately. This is evidence that the company’s financial situation is improving.

This progress of Fenaka Corporation is a hopeful example for other state-owned companies as well. It demonstrates that with good management and sound policies, even loss-making companies can be put on the path to profitability. However, Fenaka’s future is not yet free from challenges. While the company still needs to pay off its large debt, sustainable profit-making should remain a priority in the future. Nevertheless, the progress seen so far brings a hopeful outlook for the future of Fenaka and other state-owned companies.

Ibrahim Falah, the Parliamentary Group Leader of PNC and Member of Parliament for Inguraidhoo constituency, stated today that former President Abdulla Yameen is the biggest deceiver and traitor this country has ever seen. Falah made this statement in response to Yameen’s comments criticizing President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Speaking at a gathering held at the PNF office last night, Yameen said that President Muizzu is a leader who does things that other presidents didn’t dare to do. He claimed that Muizzu is the only president who dared to launder money through political parties. Responding to these comments, Falah posted on “X” saying that President Muizzu is the most trustworthy president this country has ever seen. Falah also stated that Yameen is the most deceitful and treacherous person in recent history.

“Don’t try to cover up what you did. Justice will be served,” Falah said. As Falah made this statement, various charges have been filed against Yameen in connection with the massive MMPRC corruption scandal.

The President’s Office today stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s official visit to Estonia last month cost 1.4 million rufiyaa. The President’s Office has released details of the expenses for the trip, which took place from the 13th to the 17th of last month. According to the President’s Office, the total cost of the trip was 1,371,069.18 rufiyaa. The President’s Office regularly publishes details of expenses and achievements for trips made by senior government officials after each journey.

President Muizzu visited Estonia at the invitation of Estonian President Dr. Alar Karis. During his trip, the President held consultative meetings with the Estonian President, Speaker of the Parliament, Ministers, Mayor of Tartu, representatives from the education sector, and other notable institutional leaders. These meetings primarily focused on exploring ways to strengthen relations between the two countries. The Estonian government and its institutions have assured their readiness to cooperate and work together with the Maldives.

During the President’s trip, three MoUs were signed with the Estonian government. One agreement was between the Maldivian government and the Estonian government on exchanging information and cooperation in areas related to climate change, environment, and energy. The second agreement was to initiate political consultations between the two countries. Additionally, an agreement was signed between the Maldives’ Home Ministry and Estonia’s Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs.

According to the President’s Office, this trip has significantly contributed to realizing President Muizzu’s vision of digitalizing the Maldives.

Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim, the Managing Director of Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), has been dismissed from his position. In a post on “X”, the Privatization and Corporatization Board announced that Wajeeh has been removed today from his positions as Managing Director and Board Director of MPL. No details regarding the matter were disclosed. Wajeeh was appointed to the position of Managing Director of MPL on November 28, 2023.

Wajeeh’s relative, Minister of Legal Affairs at the President’s Office Ahmed Hisham, is married to a daughter of the Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Abdulla Abdurraheem. Abdurraheem’s son and former Tourism Minister, Ibrahim Faisal, was dismissed from his position last week. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has merged the Tourism Ministry and Environment Ministry, appointing Thoriq Ibrahim as the minister. Thoriq was previously the Environment Minister.

Wajeeh had spent nine years at MPL. During those years, he held the positions of Assistant General Manager, General Manager, and Assistant CEO. At the time of Wajeeh’s dismissal as Managing Director of MPL, Muaz Mohamed Rasheed, the Managing Director of Fenaka Corporation, has resigned from his position.

First Lady Sajida Mohamed, wife of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, said today that a people’s mother tongue, culture, heritage and arts play a very important role in establishing happiness in a country.

Speaking at a special ceremony held at Sultan Park to inaugurate the “Happiness Index” to determine the measure of happiness in the Maldives, Sajida said that from time immemorial, deriving joy from excellent poems, jokes, wise sayings, TV and radio dramas, madahas (religious songs) and other literary creations in one’s mother tongue is something that is being done on a wide scale in countries around the world.

Sajida said that it is a great pleasure that work is beginning to determine the level of happiness in the Maldivian nation. She also said that this is something that is observed and evaluated in many countries around the world. Sajida said that when making decisions on various national matters, the level of happiness of a country’s citizens needs to be considered.

“Especially governments that encourage democratic principles observe and ensure this,” Sajida said. While happiness is a word that is heard very often, the meaning of that word is the comfort and ease it brings to the heart and mind. Sajida said that if one thinks about understanding what happiness is from an academic perspective, we are talking about a concept, or when we say happiness, we are talking about a “phenomenon” that encompasses many things.

“According to scholars, happiness can be separately defined as individual happiness, family happiness, happiness derived from mutual friendships, community happiness, and national happiness,” Sajida said.

Sajida said that the level of happiness of a community or people needs to be determined through academic work. She said that this includes evaluating financial well-being, psychological stability, spiritual richness, physical health, social connections, and the comfort provided by heritage and culture.

“From a financial perspective, there needs to be the means to meet basic living needs, such as food, drink, and housing. From a psychological perspective, it needs to be a peaceful environment without oppression, where the safety of life and property is always ensured. From a spiritual richness perspective, there needs to be a sublime connection between humans and their Creator, with obedience ingrained in human morals,” Sajida said.

“From a health perspective, there need to be preventive measures for well-being, and if one falls ill, appropriate treatment should be easily available. From a social perspective, there needs to be a good relationship with everyone, respecting each other, using good and beautiful language when speaking, protecting others’ dignity and honor, maintaining the trust of one’s word – many such qualities need to be instilled.”

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has merged the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy and the Ministry of Tourism, and appointed Tariq Ibrahim as the Minister of Tourism and Environment. This ceremony took place this afternoon at the President’s Office.

During this ceremony, before being appointed as the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Tariq Ibrahim took the oath of office before Honorable Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir of the Supreme Court. The President then presented the ministerial appointment letter.

After appointing Tariq Ibrahim as the Minister of Tourism and Environment, the President met with him. In this meeting, the President emphasized the importance of promoting the Maldives by linking the environment and tourism.

Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar, has stated that a generation that prioritizes national interest over personal desires needs to be raised. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, Adam Shareef extended his greetings and well wishes to the people. “We need to raise a generation that will prioritize national interest over personal desires for the sake of potential harm to the nation,” the Minister said.

Minister Adam Shareef said that to build such a generation, the participation and contribution of every individual is greatly needed. Martyrs’ Day is commemorated to remember the services of national heroes who have been martyred for the country and to revive their memory. This day is attributed to the day when Ali Rasgefaanu was martyred while fighting against the Portuguese in defense of Islam and the nation. That was the first day of Sha’ban in the year 965 Hijri.

Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Adam Shareef Umar has stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has instructed to conduct a survey to assess public opinion on relocating to islands other than their current place of residence. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the ministry’s 5-year action plan, the minister said that the President has instructed to carry out a survey to understand the thoughts of residents of current islands regarding relocating to other places.

The minister also mentioned that another task assigned by the President is for the ministry to take the initiative in relocating the residents of HDh. Hirimaradhoo to another island.

“Knowing these are things we need to do, we need to move forward with our work with increased courage,” the minister said. The minister stated that the government’s main desire is for this ministry to play an important role in the development of the entire country and in strengthening the decentralized system.

He also mentioned that this ministry is a very large ministry that is spread across the entire country even today.

“Even now, a team from the ministry is active in the atolls, and even now, whatever work needs to be done from our public works sites, whether it’s at this moment, is being done without hesitation. So our ministry is truly a very large ministry,” he said. The minister stated that with the work done so far, every council in every island in the Maldives today works as a team with the ministry. He also said that this is a great success for the ministry.

“The reason is that when a new ministry is formed, with the way the councils in the atolls are organized, when work is done very well, in reality, such a good relationship has been established between the councils and us,” the minister said.