Maldives News

Pizza Hut opens in the Maldives

Long queues were seen outside the Pizza Hut outlet on Thursday morning when it opened to the public at 11:00 am.

IPU ‘praised’ Maldives, reports state media, despite calls to reinstate 12 MPs

No mention was made of the IPU’s calls to immediately reinstate 12 MPs and withdraw obstruction charges raised against 12 opposition lawmakers for entering parliament.

Senior state lawyer resigns over state of emergency

Mariyam Shunana had been critical about a state of emergency that was declared on February 5, with local media reporting she was under scrutiny for her tweets.

MPL to invest MVR100 million in bridge bus service

The bridge project was launched in December 2015 with a concessional loan and grant aid from the Chinese government.

‘Record low’ turnout for national team match

Although a thin turnout is normal at league games, the National Stadium in Malé is usually packed for national team matches.

Sangu TV slapped with MVR100,000 defamation fine

MP Musthafa defamed President Yameen when he said the present administration has “introduced nothing but theft to the country”, the Maldives Broadcasting Commission concluded following an inquiry.

Veteran port workers challenge abrupt dismissal

The Maldives Ports Limited claimed the workers were let go after some departments were merged as part of a restructuring effort.

More than 30 people still in police detention

‘Criminal intent’ no reason to nullify Supreme Court order

The state attorney asked the court to rescind its February 1 order to reinstate 12 MPs on the grounds that it was issued with the criminal intent of toppling the government.

Tourists should protest in the Maldives, says Nasheed

Mohamed Nasheed said holidaymakers should call for the protection of human rights, the resignation of President Abdulla Yameen and the release of political prisoners.

Cheers and jeers as lawmaker freed

There are concerns about the drain on police resources since a state of emergency was declared.

Exiled former lawmaker ordered to repay MVR2m bank loan

Nazim, formerly a close associate of President Abdulla Yameen, was stripped of his Dhiggaru constituency seat in April 2015 after he was sentenced to 25 years in prison on corruption charges.

Former home ministry spokesman released

Thazmeel Abdul Samad was arrested under emergency powers on February 23 and accused of conspiring to topple the government, unlawful assembly and encouraging violence against the security forces.

Violence against children on the rise

The monthly figures show the total number of reported cases fell from 224 in January to 210 in February.

Pilot ‘tourist village’ project launched in Kaashidhoo

The Kaashidhoo tourist village is the first project of its kind by the Maldives Integrated Tourism Development Corporation, a state-owned enterprise formed in August 2016 to develop “guesthouse islands” and boost the nascent mid-market sector.

Maldives foreign currency reserve grows

Usable reserves – “the amount of funds that are readily available for use by the MMA in the foreign exchange market” – stood at US$205.6 million, enough to pay for about a month of imports

Watchdog asked to probe 36 ‘unlawful’ arrests

More than 300 people were arrested during demonstrations against the “unlawful” state of emergency, many of whom were subject to police brutality, said MDP chairman Hassan Latheef.

Raajje TV journalists released

Mohamed Wisam and Amir Saleem were accused of making a video showing masked men in police uniforms threatening to join an anti-government demonstration.

Ibthihaal relative rejects blood money

There was shock and also public outrage amid reports that authorities had been aware of the repeated abuse Ibthihaal had suffered.

EPA slaps MVR100m fine for reef damage

The Environment Protection Agency has ordered two vessels that ran aground on a reef to pay MVR100 million (US$6.5 million) as compensation for damages.