Maldives News

‘MoniCon’ orders implemented against five

The court granted the first MoniCon orders in March 2016, under former home minister Umar Naseer’s administration.

MP Faris seeks temporary suspension of bribery trial

The MP for Dhiggaru constituency will lose his seat if he is found guilty.

Abu Dhabi Fund approves loan for Maldives airport expansion

A loan agreement to finance the airport expansion was signed with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development during President Abdulla Yameen’s ongoing official visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Probes begin into Abdulla Rasheed custodial death

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives and the National Integrity Commission are probing the custodial death on October 10 of Abdulla Rasheed, who was serving a five-year sentence on assault charges.

The stigma and struggle of mental health in the Maldives

The Maldives has an acute shortage of qualified mental health professionals despite growing mental health problems among the population.

High Court hears appeal from Muleeage bomb convict

Government scraps domestic airports deal with Malaysian company

The government has terminated contracts signed with Malaysia’s Gryphon Energy Corporation in March to build five domestic airports in four atolls at a cost of US$57.5 million.

Maldivian model committed suicide, conclude Bangladesh police

In a report submitted Tuesday to the Rajshahi metropolitan court, the criminal investigation department dismissed allegations of murder from Raudha Athif’s father as based on “factual errors.”

Raajje TV negligence lawsuit thrown out

The RaajjeTV lawsuit was filed citing police incompetence in protecting the broadcaster’s assets, despite information being given to law enforcement authorities about the possibility of an attack.

Prisons authority threatens action against slander

The Maldives Correctional Service denied attempting to coerce Ahmed Adeeb’s family to give consent for administering an injection to the jailed former vice president.

Government creating ‘youth slums’ in Maldives, says ex-minister

The government is “creating youth slums” with new flats in Hulhumalé aimed at married couples, a former housing minister tells the Maldives Independent.

Dhonis and hashtags for Maldives UN Security Council bid

While the Maldives foreign ministry announced the country’s candidacy back in 2016, a new website, animated video and three hashtags have been launched to support its Security Council campaign.

Ex-PPM councillor facing prison sentence declares support for Yameen

“I have withdrawn the support I gave for President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in the political arena since 2008,” declared Zaidul Ameen, who has been in and out of jail since January.

Police downplay scale of ‘party drug’ abuse

Police say cases involving party drugs are not commonly reported

Ex-defence minister gets extra time for terror trial closing argument

Ameen Faisal is charged with abduction under the now-defunct 1990 Anti-Terrorism Act and faces up to 15 years in jail if found guilty.

No Chinese, no business: The Peking Pound and the Maldives

China remains the single highest supplier of tourists to the Maldives, but dwindling figures have heightened fears that the market has peaked.

RaajjeGate: Fines, fundraising and lawsuits

The fines, and efforts to pay them off, have had a visible impact on Raajje TV’s ability to continue with its news reporting.

Central bank governor troubled by Maldives vulnerability to external shocks

“Although the growth rate is likely to exceed expectations in the short term, substantial downside risks continue to cloud the medium-term and long-term growth prospects of the Maldivian economy,” Naseer at the annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank in Washington DC.

Anti-graft NGO resumes campaign for MP asset declaration

The constitution requires them to annually submit to the parliament’s secretary-general “a statement of all property and monies owned by him, business interests and liabilities” but the documents are not released to the public.

Anas murder suspects given 10 days to appoint lawyers

Mohamed Anas, a speedboat captain from the northern island of Meedhoo in Raa atoll, was stabbed 37 times in July by a group of masked men inside the Litus Service Centre in the Galolhu ward of the capital.