Maldives News

Parliament restroom catches fire again

The military’s firemen put out flames inside the parliament building in the early hours of Sunday after a dustbin and tissue box at a restroom caught fire.

Fire destroys Bileyfahi powerhouse

The powerhouse on the northern island of Bileyfahi in Shaviyani atoll has been completely destroyed by a fire that broke out late Saturday night.

Three Maldivians arrested en route to Syria

According to the police, the three men were arrested in a joint operation with the Turkish law enforcement authorities. They were alleged to have been planning to cross the border into Syria to join a militant group.

19-year-old stabbed to death in Malé

The victim has been identified as Moosa Ahmed from the island of Keyodhoo in Vaavu atoll. He was stabbed along with a 24-year-old man and a minor in the Maafanu ward of the capital.

Fenaka audit exposes rampant corruption at utility corporation

A special audit flagged several suspicious transactions that unduly benefited private parties, including the purchase of dollars from businesses without money exchange licenses, the purchase of diesel at inflated prices, and the awarding of lucrative projects without a fair bidding process.

Concrete structure completed for 25-storey hospital tower

Yameen launches ‘Y18 Sports Fiesta’ for re-election campaign

The ‘Y18 Sports Fiesta’ organised by the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives as part of his 2018 re-election campaign.

Abused six-year-old girl re-victimised

A 45-year-old man was arrested on a southern island Monday night on suspicion of sexually abusing a six-year-old girl who previously victimised by a different perpetrator.

Trial begins for Rilwan abduction suspects

The family of the third suspect, Mohamed Suaid, informed the court in response to a summons that he was dead, Judge Adam Arif said.

Suspension lifted for 13 lawyers

Court dismisses police negligence lawsuit from murdered blogger’s family

The civil court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the family of slain blogger Yameen Rasheed over the failure of the police to protect him despite numerous death threats reported to the authorities since 2014.

Ambassador to Sri Lanka stands by threat to detain Nasheed

The ambassador-designate’s remarks prompted the opposition leader’s high-profile counsel Amal Clooney to warn that “any attempt by a Maldivian diplomat to detain President Nasheed in Sri Lanka would constitute a violation of international law as well as Sri Lankan criminal law.”

Maldives absence from UN vote on mass atrocities draws fierce criticism

“As powerful nations are allowed to intervene in domestic affairs of nations in the name of the Responsibility to Protect or R2P principle, the Maldives decided a very long time ago not to participate in votes at the UN general assembly aimed at taking action under R2P,” the foreign ministry said.

Housing minister defends anonymised flat winners list

Muiz denied allegations that applicants of the government’s social housing programme were phoned by the first lady’s campaign office to check their political allegiance.

Three suspects charged with terrorism over Rilwan’s abduction

The Prosecutor General’s office pressed charges against Aalif Rauf, Mohamed Nooradeen, and Mohamed Suaid on August 15, a spokesman said. They were charged under the 1990 anti-terrorism act with “the act or the intention of kidnapping or abduction of a person or of taking a hostage.”

New tobacco rules to introduce graphic warnings, ban sale of single sticks

The sale of single sticks of cigarettes needs to be banned because “it is a tactic mainly used to lure children and young adolescents into smoking,” said Dr Aishath Aroona, vice chair of the Tobacco Control Board.

Port worker burned after accidental explosion

A port worker was severely burned and two others injured when an oil barrel exploded Tuesday morning near the welding workshop at the Maldives Ports Limited’s commercial harbour in Malé.

State revises charges against MP Faris

The Prosecutor General’s office has revised charges raised against MP Faris Maumoon from accepting bribes to offering to bribe fellow lawmakers to back the impeachment of the speaker.

Anonymised flat winners list prompts anti-corruption probe

The anti-corruption watchdog launched a probe after an anonymised list of 661 flat winners caused an uproar from unsuccessful applicants of the government housing programme.

Supreme Court urged to lift mass suspension of lawyers

“None of the 56 lawyers has been allowed to exercise their right to defend themselves or be heard before a disciplinary action,” noted the International Commission of Jurists, Transparency International, Forum Asia, and Frontline Defenders together with local NGO Maldivian Democracy Network.