By Minivan News | February 5th, 2011 | Category: Politics | 13 comments The Maldives votes today in its first local council elections. Minivan News will provide rolling coverage throughout the day (scroll down). Local Council Election Guide (English) 10:00 - The countrys ballot boxes opened from eight this morning without any major disruptions across the country and are expected to remain in use until 4:00pm this afternoon, according to Elections Commission (EC) President, Fuwad Thaufeeq.Thaufeeq told Minivan News that there were no reports of delays or closures at any of the countrys polling stations, with an additional two ballot boxes opened in Trivandrum, India and Colombo, Sri Lanka, for Maldivian nationals overseas.All the [polling] stations were opened on time and many were staffed from about 45 minutes before operating to ensure they were fully ready, he said. We also have the two boxes in Sri Lanka and India that will also open between 8:...

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axaje has added a photo to the pool: Creation of Maldivian Skinny "Hulk"

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Mohamed Malik has added a photo to the pool: Holidays are over studies have resumed again so im back in male..this picture was taken sometime in Dec last year. Special thanks for Abdullah Shathir, Easa Moosa & Abdullah Ali...For Posing for this picture.....

By Minivan News | February 3rd, 2011 | Category: News in Brief | 5 comments Maldivian staff at the proposed Lithuanian Blondes only resort will wear wigs, Olialia Brand Manager Lauryna Anuseviciut has confirmed in an interview with Associated Press.Anuseviciute told AP that staff who are not blond will wear a blond wig to make everyone look similar.Companies in the Maldives are required to employ at least 50 percent local staff, few of whom have blonde hair.Plans for the resort are still at an infant stage, but early designs show the island will be shaped as a gigantic high-heeled shoe.Anuseviciute insisted to AP that Olialia had already secured financing for the plan, however the Maldivian government says it has yet to issue a permit or even see a proposal.

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Mohamed Malik has added a photo to the pool: Sunsets In Ungoofaaru Capital Of Raa Atoll

By Ahmed Nazeer | February 3rd, 2011 | Category: Politics | 1 Comment The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has condemned the Elections Commission in strongest possible terms for canceling the Addu City council election.The Elections Commission announced that the Addu City Council election was canceled after the Civil Court invalidated the criteria established by the Local Government Authority to determine cities.The Local Government Authority was established when the Civil Court recently ruled that president does not have the authority to declare Addu as a city before a Local Government Authority was established, and before the Authority determines whether Addu meets the requirements to be a city.In the public referendum held, Addu citizens in Maradhu area have already decided that they want to hold the Addu City Council elections, said MDPs Maradhoo branch in a statement. The citizens of this area were extremely concerned when Elections Com...

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By Minivan News | February 2nd, 2011 | Category: News in Brief | No Comments Indias state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is examining the potential for solar projects in the Maldives.The company is currently conducting a feasibility study within the islands, which it expects to complete within 3-4 months.NTPC chairman and managing director Arup Roy Choudhury declined to offer specifics about the investment that Indias biggest power generator would potentially make in the island nation, until the completion of the study.

By Ahmed Nazeer | February 2nd, 2011 | Category: Society | 1 Comment The Peoples Alliance Party (PA) led by Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has today issued a statement condemning attempts to influence and threaten the judiciary, following protests in Male and Addu Atoll over the Civil Courts decision to stop Addu from becoming a city.The party said there were reasonable grounds to believe that there were political links in the attempts to block entrance to court, based on reports in the media of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Alhan Fahmys comment Alhan stating that Adduans would not let courts in Addu open.The PA, which is in coalition with the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), accused the MDP of trying to influence the judiciary and judges.The party added that it had sent a letter to the police and Prosecutor Generals Office requesting they investigate the attempts to influence the judiciary the attempts to threaten judges.In the rece...

Mohamed aTk has added a photo to the pool: Have been trying to get a shot like this for sumtime, n here v have the best dragonfly shot i have eva had ;)

By Ahmed Nazeer | February 2nd, 2011 | Category: Politics | No Comments Protesters temporarily barred entry to the Justice Building of the Maldives last night, in response to the Civil Courts ruling that the Addu city criteria were invalid, forcing the Elections Commission (EC) to cancel the local council election in Addu this Saturday.Today the Department of Judicial Administration said that the court of Hulhudhoo in Addu Atoll was also locked this morning, and had to be opened with the assistance of police.Local radio station SunFM reported Alhan Fahmy, aMaldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP in Addu Atoll, as saying that he would not let courts in Addu to be opened.Fahmy was present at protests in Addu, SunFM reported, as Adduans expressed fury overthe Civil Court ruling.The Judicial Administration Department meanwhile said that it had requested additional security from police following media reports of further protests.The department said it had i...

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By JJ Robinson | February 1st, 2011 | Category: Politics | 1 Comment The Civil Court has ruled that the governments criteria to declare Addu a city are invalid, days before the local council elections are due to take place.Local newspaper Haveeru reported that Civil Court Judges Aisha Shujoon Mohamed, Hathif Hilmy and Ali Naseer had examined the case, before ruling that the criteria established by the Local Government Authority consisting solely of Home Minister Hassan Afeef were invalid. According to court documents cited by Haveeru, this ruling came from a case filed by Hassan Nasir of Annaaru Villa/Addu Atoll Hulhudhoo.Establishing the criteria required unanimity of the board, the Court said, as if a law requires a certain decision to be taken by a particular council or a committee, the decision should be taken by the unanimity of the council or the committee unless interpreted otherwise.Afeef said he was unable to comment as he had not yet se...

Mohamed aTk has added a photo to the pool: captured @ A.dh dhigaa

By Minivan News | February 1st, 2011 | Category: News in Brief | 1 Comment The Islamic Foundation of the Maldives (IFM) will host a two-day Islamic workshop (Nadwa Islamiyya) on Tawheed and Shirk conducted by Islamic scholars including Sheikh Aboobakr Ibrahim (Hinnavar), Sheikh Ibrahim Fareed Ahmed, Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim (Naifaru) and Sheikh Mohamed Moosa (Naifaru).A statement from the IFM noted that the session would examine the division of Tawheed into its components, which are Unity of Lordship, Unity of Worship, Unity of His Names and His Attributes, and Unity in following the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).Scholars will also teach the the basis of Shirk creeping into Islamic doctrine or forms of polytheism, which include invoking or supplicating to a false deity besides Allah, with the purpose and intention of worshipping a deity other then Allah. Obeying any created being against the command of Allah, and loving a created being or an object more tha...