Maldives News

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.

Categories revealed for 7,000 social housing flats

Housing Minister Muizz also revealed plans to vacate 256 households from the capital under the ambitious social housing project.

China projects worth more than 40% of Maldives GDP

Gateway House says Chinese investments and aid to the Maldives have surged since 2012, supporting multiple housing projects, a power plant, a bridge, water and sewage treatment plants, hotels and airlines.

Home minister slams opposition councils

Azleen Ahmed criticised opposition-dominated local councils that had urged the authorities to execute a Supreme Court order for the release of jailed politicians.

MNU asked to create special programme for editors

New government rules say editors need to be Maldivian, aged 25 and above, have a degree in journalism or a related field as well as five years experience at a registered media outlet.

Friends mourn surfer’s death

Arson and death threats ahead of UN visit

Ruling party and opposition supporters blamed each other for the fire.

Housing ministry under fire for Malé building work

Malé’s landscape is changing rapidly amid construction projects and infrastructure upgrades.

Media admonished in ‘fake news’ Friday sermon

The Islamic ministry chose the topic after lodging complaints against media outlets that exposed a four-month delay in handing over MVR18 million (US$1 million) raised for Rohingya Muslim refugees last year.

Crowded out by Concrete

The Maldivian population is 338,434, almost 40 percent of which lives in a congested capital that measures 2.2 square miles.

China a ‘long-lost cousin’ of the Maldives

The Maldives’ ambassador to China said the country’s foreign policy was based on working with everyone and that all of its neighbours were “brothers and sisters.”

Maldives rebukes India’s ‘unhelpful’ call to release prisoners

India called on the Maldivian authorities to “to implement the Supreme Court’s Full Bench order of 1 February 2018 and to support a genuine political dialogue with all opposition parties.”

Maldives state of emergency lifted

The 45-day emergency rule was ended effective Thursday noon despite “a diminished threat to national security, because the nation can now continue without further losses incurred, and upon the advice of the security services and in an effort to promote normalcy.”