Maldives News

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.”

MDP leaders released from detention under emergency powers

Leadership figures were arrested in the buildup to the March 16 mass protest after police alleged there were plans to overthrow the government by inciting unrest and violence in the capital.

Police dismantles Ihavandhoo opposition hut

Ihavandhoo island council president Mohamed Rasheed, who live-streamed the police team in action, suggested the authorities were vexed because people were gathering there to watch the opposition-aligned Raajje TV.

Chief prosecutor hits back at anti-graft watchdog

The Prosecutor General’s office has hit back at the anti-corruption watchdog for blaming it for the low conviction rate for graft cases.

‘No change’ in India’s visa policy for Maldives

Relations between the two countries have waned over the Maldives’ closeness with China and the state of emergency, which India has condemned.

Courtroom chaos ahead of state of emergency expiry

The criminal court was busy Wednesday as the authorities scrambled to keep “coup plotters” in custody after a 45-day state of emergency expires this week.

Complaint filed over Indian doctor at Dhoonidhoo

The opposition coalition has accused the doctor of neglect for refusing to provide care when sick detainees were brought to see him late at night. He is also alleged to have been careless when dispensing medicine.