Culture

Government to develop second artificial beach in Malé

The capital’s second artificial beach is to be developed with a recreational area fishing pier, waterfront pavilion, beachfront park, waterfront promenade, underground parking facility, cafés, dive spots, waterfront residential mix, and a fort.

Parliament approves legal changes for registering small plots of land

Damaged pitch forces Maldives to play World Cup qualifying matches in China

The Maldives will have to play both legs of its 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against China away from home after Independence Day celebrations left the national stadium’s pitch damaged beyond use.

Abdulla Hameed’s body brought back for state funeral

Former atolls minister and speaker of parliament, Abdulla Hameed – younger brother of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and half-brother to President Abdulla Yameen – passed away at the age of 76 on August 18 while undergoing treatment in Bangalore, India.

Hulhumalé hospital flooded after heavy rainfall

“The way the hospital is built there is an open area of about 30 feet. The roof spills water on to the area when it rains heavily. If the water cannot drain it seeps inside the hospital. The water had seeped in under the doors,” the hospital’s director Ahmed Shakir explained.

Complaint filed over pepper spray use, obstruction of Find Moyameehaa walk

The mother of missing journalist Ahmed Rilwan filed a complaint with the human rights watchdog today over police obstruction of a peaceful memorial walk held on August 8 to mark one year after her son’s unexplained disappearance.

Government to open second children’s home, mental health hospital

The cabinet’s social council has revealed plans to open a second children’s home in Hulhumalé and a mental health hospital on the island of Guraidhoo in Kaafu atoll.

Island at center of ‘End Surf Exclusivity’ campaign to become heritage site

The government has terminated a contract to develop a boutique surf resort on the island of Thamburudhoo in Kaafu atoll, and pledged to keep the island open to the public as a “surfing heritage site.”

Most of debris from Maldives not from MH370, says Malaysia

Most of the debris found in the Maldives were not from missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, the Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lal has said.

More ‘MH370 debris’ found from uninhabited Maldivian island

The latest piece of debris was found washed ashore on the island of Maamendhoo in Laamu atoll by a man who went to the uninhabited island for fishing. He described the debris as “a metal object with greyish colour and two-feet long.”

Man injured in lightning strike at sea

A man was injured in a lightning strike at sea near the capital Malé at 12:15pm today. He suffered injuries to his head and ears and is receiving treatment at the ADK hospital.

Possible MH370 debris was thrown out as garbage

A piece of debris found washed ashore in the Maldives and thought to be wreckage from Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 was thrown out in as garbage late May. The Maldivian police were only able to recover a fraction of the metal piece.

Maldives army stops tourists out ‘whale-watching’

The Maldives Coastguard on Wednesday stopped, searched and brought back to shore a group of seven tourists at sea on board a fishing vessel in southern Maldives. The tourists are accused of planning “activities that could harm Maldives’ interests and reputation abroad.”

Doubts raised over ‘MH370 debris’ found in Maldives

As Malaysian authorities prepare to send a team of experts to analyse debris found washed ashore on several islands in the Maldives, experts have cast doubt on the possibility that the parts could have come from the missing Malaysian flight MH370.

Anger over school photo exhibition’s ‘exclusion of Nasheed’

The exclusion of former President Mohamed Nasheed from a local school photo exhibition depicting Maldives history has sparked outrage among his supporters.

Sporting community welcomes cash rewards for medals

The sporting community has welcomed President Abdulla Yameen’s decision to award cash prizes for medals in international sporting events. Hassan Saaid, who won a gold and a silver medal in the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG), will receive a prize of MVR350,000 (US$22,698).

Rights NGO condemns police obstruction of memorial walk for missing journalist

“Riot police manhandled family members and friends of Rilwan, used pepper spray at disproportionately close range, directly into the eyes of demonstrators and also arrested a member of Rilwan’s family who was later released,” the Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN) said.

Maldives islanders report ‘MH370 plane debris’

The Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAU) and the police have started collaborating with the Malaysian Aviation Department in the search for the lost Malaysian flight MH370 after four islands reported discovering pieces suspected to be debris from a plane.

Maldives picks up more medals in Indian Ocean Island Games

The Maldives has to date won a total of seven medals at the ongoing Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) in Reunion.

‘Others’ art exhibition lifts curtain on lives of migrant workers

The ‘Others’ exhibition at the national art gallery features photos of migrant workers at their workplaces as well paintings and installation art from 10 locally renowned artists.