The foundation for the police station in R. Innamaadhoo has been laid.
The foundation stone for the Innamaadhoo Police Station was laid this morning in a special ceremony held on the island by the Minister of Home Affairs and Professions, Ali Ihsan.
Photo Credits: Vaguthu
The ceremony, attended by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, was also participated by ministers from various state ministries, Member of Parliament for Inguraidhoo constituency Ibrahim Falah, members of the Innamaadhoo Council, members of the Women’s Development Committee, heads of Innamaadhoo institutions, and a large number of general public from the island.
When President Muizzu took oath on November 17, 2023, there were 72 islands in the Maldives without any police services. Since then, police services have been established in more than 25 of these islands. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government continues to work on establishing police services in additional islands.
Furthermore, renovation work on police posts in 115 islands is also being carried out in a systematic manner.
The foundation stone for the Innamaadhoo Council office was laid this morning in a special ceremony held on the island by the Minister of State for Cities and Administrative Areas and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar.
The ceremony, attended by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, was also participated by ministers from various state ministries, Member of Parliament for Inguraidhoo constituency Ibrahim Falah, members of the Innamaadhoo Council, members of the Women’s Development Committee, heads of Innamaadhoo institutions, and a large number of general public from the island.
The new council building in Innamaadhoo is part of the 55 council buildings being constructed under the contractor finance method by the Malaysian company “Heksta Global”.
This project, initiated with special emphasis by President Muizzu to empower councils under the decentralization system, will facilitate easier council operations and enhance services provided to the island’s residents.
FDC has announced in separate notices that eight commercial units from Amaan Udaras Towers 13, 14, and 16 are available for rent.
The units available for rent by FDC are:
Amaan Udaras 14 – One CF1 unit of 6,788.43 square feet Amaan Udaras 14 – One CG1 unit of 1,896.51 square feet Amaan Udaras 14 – One CGX unit of 161.29 square feet Amaan Udaras 16 – One CG1 unit of 1,896.51 square feet Amaan Udaras 16 – One CGX unit of 161.29 square feet Amaan Udaras 13 – Two CG1 units of 610.34 square feet each Amaan Udaras 13 – One CG2 unit of 598.84 square feet
According to FDC’s announcement, price proposals for the 6,788.43 square feet unit in Amaan Udaras 14 should be submitted before 3:00 PM on February 18. For the other two units in the same tower, proposals should be submitted before 1:30 PM on the same day.
FDC also stated that the deadline for submitting price proposals for the two units in Amaan Udaras 16 is 4:30 PM on Saturday, February 18.
For the three units in Udaras 13, the submission deadline is between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 18.
FDC mentioned that the required documents for applying for these units will be available on the corporation’s website.
Maldivian Airlines, the national airline of the Maldives, has successfully completed its first flight from Chengdu city in China to Male. This historic journey on the airline’s newly added Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft carried 191 passengers.
The A330 aircraft, with a capacity of 264 passengers, is scheduled to fly to Beijing tonight and to Shanghai later this week. This marks an important phase in increasing Maldivian Airlines’ international capacity and strengthening ties between the Maldives and China. This new route, expected to operate three flights per week between the Maldives and China, is anticipated to bring significant growth to the Maldives’ tourism industry. Highlighting the importance of this expansion, the airline’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Ilyas, stated, “With the introduction of our first wide-body aircraft, we are now prepared to increase our international capacity, open new routes, and connect the Maldives to distant destinations.”
The successful completion of this first flight is a good omen as Maldivian Airlines continues to progress and expand its services to more international destinations.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that work is underway to air-condition classrooms in all schools across the Maldives using renewable energy before the coming September. Speaking at a meeting with the people of R. Hulhudhuffaaru during his ongoing visit to 11 islands in R. Atoll, President Dr. Muizzu said that rather than just constructing buildings, a country’s development comes through providing quality education to the younger generation.
The President said that providing schools with necessary resources is the most important aspect of genuine and comprehensive development.
“Facilitating teaching in a good quality, comfortable environment is what will yield the best results and bring happiness from it.” President Dr. Muizzu noted that special priority is being given to advancing and developing the education system in the Maldives. A project to cool all classrooms in the Maldives was initiated very early in this government’s term. The government first prioritizes classrooms. Installing air conditioners and providing the necessary electricity through renewable energy is also a goal of the government.
President Dr. Muizzu said that since the project has started, the necessary items have been arranged and it has progressed to a good stage. “In the remaining days of this year, God willing, we will air-condition and cool all classrooms in all schools on this island and all islands of the Maldives using renewable energy. I assure you that this will be arranged, God willing,” the President said.
“We are aiming to complete this as soon as possible, even by September. It will take six to eight months to complete the entire country. So I want to inform you that we are proceeding with it in that manner.”
Speaking to the people of R. Ungoofaaru during his current trip to some islands of R. Atoll, President Dr. Muizzu said that the decision to ban vaping in the Maldives was made to save a young generation. He also said that this step was taken because if vaping was not banned in the Maldives, things could get out of control in the country.
Similarly, the President said that although some people talked about taking steps to discourage tobacco use as benefiting certain individuals, it was not true. The President also said that he did not want to increase revenue by increasing taxes in that sector. “The Ministry of Finance will not calculate now, the increased tax from importing and buying tobacco products, they will not calculate state revenue based on that now,” President Dr. Muizzu said.
Photo Credits: Vaguthu
Similarly, the President said that although some people talked about taking steps to discourage tobacco use as benefiting certain individuals, it was not true. The President also said that he did not want to increase revenue by increasing taxes in that sector. “The Ministry of Finance will not calculate now, the increased tax from importing and buying tobacco products, they will not calculate state revenue based on that now,” President Dr. Muizzu said.
President Dr. Muizzu said that the government wants to make people stay away from the harm caused by using tobacco products. He also said that the government took steps with the intention of encouraging people to stay away from tobacco products.
The President said that tobacco products were not completely banned because he believes that steps need to be taken one after another. The President also noted in his speech that vaping has not become as common as tobacco use.
“I know that many of our citizens are very much addicted to tobacco use. Our government has given high priority to establishing ways to quit at the island level, with tobacco cessation clinics established in health centers to provide services. And we will increase it further in the future,” the President said. The President said tonight that he wants Maldivians to be people who stay away from tobacco use. President Dr. Muizzu also said that he does not want to see Maldivians leaving this world due to incurable diseases caused by tobacco use.
Saving Maldivians from things that cause diseases is one of the policies of President Dr. Muizzu’s government. “The biggest problems occur due to tobacco use. So to encourage moving away from that behavior, I increased the price of those products. I want, with the full cooperation of the citizens, to take steps one by one, and if it reaches a point where more steps can be taken, for the people to be saved from this, to establish a healthy society,” the President said.
In his speech, the President asked to consider moving away from tobacco use as progress for the island. The President also requested to work towards achieving the title of an island that does not use tobacco in any way.
With the amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, vaping and its trade have been banned in the Maldives from December 15. With this amendment, selling, distributing for free, and using electronic cigarettes along with vaping devices and equipment will also be banned.
If vaping devices and products prepared for it are imported into the Maldives, there will be a fine of MVR 50,000. And for each electronic cigarette or vaping device imported, there will be a fine of MVR 10,000. If such a device or product is sold for tobacco use, there will be a fine of MVR 20,000. In addition to a fine of MVR 10,000 for each item sold, if distributed for free, the law stipulates a fine of MVR 10,000. If such an item is sold to a minor, the fine for that person will increase to MVR 50,000.
In addition, the specific rate of import duty on cigarettes and beedis has been increased from three rufiyaa to eight rufiyaa, and the ad valorem rate on tobacco has been increased by 50%. Raising the age for selling cigarettes to 21 is also a recent step taken by the government.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has congratulated Donald Trump, who was sworn in tonight as the President of the United States. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) congratulating President Trump on his inauguration, President Dr. Muizzu said that as the world faces turmoil and unrest, he hopes President Trump will have the determination and wisdom to address these issues as he assumes office.
Furthermore, President Muizzu stated that the Maldives hopes to work with the new administration to further strengthen the goals established between the two countries for international peace and to advance the long-standing relationship between the two nations during Trump’s term. Additionally, in his congratulatory message to US President Trump, President Dr. Muizzu expressed satisfaction with the work being done through the political relations between the two countries to with the work being done through the political relations between the two countries to achieve the goal of promoting regional peace and prosperity, as a small island nation in the Indian Ocean.
He also stated that he looks forward to working with President Trump and his administration in the international arena for global peace and security. In his message, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Maldives, highlighting it as a milestone symbolizing the close and strong relationship between the two countries. He acknowledged the Maldives’ appreciation for the work done by both countries in strengthening trade and economic ties, advancing defense and security relations, maintaining democratic principles and the rule of law in the international arena, and addressing challenges in protecting human rights.
Concluding the congratulatory message, President Muizzu wished President Trump success in fulfilling his official duties during his presidential term and extended wishes for his good health and well-being. This is the second time Trump has taken the presidential oath. Previously, Trump served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump ran in the presidential election held at the end of his term. However, he faced defeat against Joe Biden, who had been the President of the United States until recently.
Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States in a special ceremony held at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the capital of the country. In the recent presidential election, 78-year-old Trump won against the Democratic candidate and former Vice President Kamala Harris with 277 electoral votes. Kamala received 224 electoral votes. As Trump assumes the presidency, the Republicans have gained the majority in the Senate, the upper house of the legislature, from the Democrats. If Trump completes his presidential term, he will become the oldest president in U.S. history. Trump will be 82 years old when he finishes his term.
The title of the oldest U.S. President is currently held by Biden, who is 81 years old. Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, has been sworn in as Vice President.
Donald Trump has been sworn in today as the 47th President of the United States. This is the second time Trump has taken the presidential oath. Previously, Trump served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump ran in the presidential election held at the end of his term. However, he faced defeat against Joe Biden, who had been the President of the United States until recently.
The swearing-in ceremony for Trump was held at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the capital of the United States. In the recent presidential election, 78-year-old Trump won against the Democratic candidate and former Vice President Kamala Harris with 277 electoral votes. Kamala received 224 electoral votes. As Trump assumes the presidency, the Republicans have gained the majority in the Senate, the upper house of the legislature, from the Democrats. If Trump completes his presidential term, he will become the oldest president in U.S. history. Trump will be 82 years old when he finishes his term.
The title of the oldest U.S. President is currently held by Biden, who is 81 years old. Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, has been sworn in as Vice President.
Customs has revealed that goods worth 1.9 million rufiyaa have been imported so far this year under the Free Trade Agreement between China and the Maldives. According to statistics disclosed by Customs, in the first 18 days of this year, clearance has been completed for 1.9 million rufiyaa worth of goods imported from China under the Free Trade Agreement. This includes nine shipments brought by air and three shipments brought by sea.
The CIF value of the nine shipments brought by air is 882,381 rufiyaa. The CIF value of the three shipments brought by sea is 1,040,875 rufiyaa or 1.04 million rufiyaa. The Maldives and China signed the Free Trade Agreement during former President Abdulla Yameen’s visit to China on December 18, 2014. Despite opposition from then-opposition parties, the agreement was approved and passed by the parliament, which had a PPM/MDA coalition majority, on November 29, 2017.
The then-opposition figures in the previous government mainly criticized that the FTA would not benefit the Maldives. Therefore, the previous government did not implement the agreement. To bring ease to the business sector, President Dr. Muizzu’s government prioritizes making such currency settlement arrangements with major markets that conduct a large number of trade transactions with the Maldives. As such, this agreement has been implemented from January 1 of this year under his government.
The People’s Majlis has approved four ministers appointed by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu under the changes made to the Cabinet last December.
The ministers approved by the Majlis are:
Minister of Finance and Planning: Moosa Zameer (Th. Buruni, Nivaidhozhuge) Minister of Higher Education, Labor and Skills Development: Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed (M. Veenilaage) Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare: Dr. Mariyam Mariya (M. Maaraadhaage) Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure: Dr. Abdullah Muttalib (GDh. Fiyoari, Gulbakage)
69 members voted in favor of appointing Zameer, with no votes against. 63 members voted in favor of appointing Haidar, with six votes against. 70 members voted in favor of appointing both Mariya and Muttalib, with no votes against. The matter of approving these ministers was submitted to the People’s Majlis during an extraordinary session held last Thursday. In today’s committee meeting, all members present unanimously passed the approval of these ministers.
With these changes, the former Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development has been dissolved. Its mandates have been transferred to other ministries. Planning work has now been assigned to the Finance Ministry, while housing work has been assigned to the newly established Construction Ministry. The government has stated that these changes are intended to further strengthen government operations and expand services. According to the law, even if the President makes changes to the Cabinet or appoints someone to the Cabinet, approval must be sought from the People’s Majlis.
