Maldives News


Witnesses testify in Raajje TV journalist’s assault trial
Hussain Fiyaz Moosa, chief operating officer of the opposition-aligned station, is accused of hitting Corporal Mohamed Shaheen while he was being arrested for refusing to leave the sports complex area of Malé where the military’s bomb disposal experts were defusing an improvised explosive device.
04 Feb 2017, 09:00


Court throws out lawsuit challenging new call for candidates for local councils
The appellate court threw out the petition by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party after its lawyer Anas Abdul Sattar failed to turn up to a hearing on Monday.
02 Feb 2017, 09:00


Maldives local council elections postponed a second time
The elections commission has once again set back the vote to elect local councils stating that voting stations could not be set up in public schools on April 8.
02 Feb 2017, 09:00


Police officers await January’s wages amid dispute over hike in allowances
Police officers have yet to receive January’s wages after the finance ministry refused to pay higher allowances, prompting more than 200 officers to seek interest-free loans offered by the police welfare company.
02 Feb 2017, 09:00


High profile murder suspect to remain under house arrest, not jail, rules court
The high court said new rules on remand do not allow it to review the criminal court’s decisions on remand.
01 Feb 2017, 09:00


Teachers sacked, suspended for wearing niqab
The ministry of education has sacked a Qura’n teacher because she refused to take off her niqab, or full-face veil, for work.
31 Jan 2017, 09:00


Maldives rejects UN decision on detained ex defence minister
The foreign ministry said it “does not agree” with the UN’s finding that Mohamed Nazim was detained illegally.
30 Jan 2017, 09:00


Trial of journalist charged with assault resumes
Raajje TV journalist Hussain Fiyaz Moosa said the long gap had led him to believe that the charges were dropped.
30 Jan 2017, 09:00


President’s announcement revives rumours about the sale of Maldives atoll to Saudi Arabia
The president described the project as a township or an integrated development project involving various industries and open to travellers from all over the world.
29 Jan 2017, 09:00


Nasheed arrives in Colombo as stalemate drags on in Maldives
The former president “will discuss the difficulties and concerns of party members and supporters and will also meet with different branches of the party,” an MDP official said.
29 Jan 2017, 09:00


UN panel finds Maldives ex defence minister’s detention illegal
“[T]the Working Group considers that an adequate remedy would be to release Col. Nazim immediately and accord him an enforceable right to reparations”, the ruling said.
28 Jan 2017, 09:00


Maldives holds landmark conference on tourism and terrorism
The Maldives police and British counter-terrorism experts sat down this week with more than a 100 tourism sector security personnel to work out measures to protect visitors from potential acts of terror.
26 Jan 2017, 09:00


Top opposition figure’s passport seized
Shidhatha Shareef’s passport was confiscated upon her arrival in Malé on Thursday. The police and immigration refused to comment.
26 Jan 2017, 09:00


Maldives clerics roll out wide-ranging religious agenda
Policies were set on a myriad of issues including Jihad, tourism, trade, education, media and atheism
25 Jan 2017, 09:00


Opposition candidates offered jobs if they withdraw from local elections
“If they contest for the council independently or with the MDP because they need a job, I am ready to find them jobs,” Ahmed Shareef said.
25 Jan 2017, 09:00


‘No change in plans’ despite fourth lawmaker’s defection, says Gayoom faction
Saudhullah Hilmy’s defection was prompted by the cancellation of lucrative government contracts and deals a blow to Gayoom’s plans to check Yameen’s hold on power through the parliament
24 Jan 2017, 09:00


Raajje TV journalists fined for police obstruction
Mohamed Wisam and Leevaan Ali Nasir were fined MVR28,800 (US$1,868) each on charges of obstructing police officers
24 Jan 2017, 09:00


Detained US citizen to be deported from Maldives
John Seyfert, an American arrested a week ago on charges of not possessing a passport or valid visa, will be deported from the Maldives. His case however does not appear to be simple matter of a visa violation.
24 Jan 2017, 09:00


Yameen dismisses concern over debt as Maldives turns to global bond markets
The president’s remarks come after the World Bank warned in its Global Economic Prospects report released last week that “rising debt levels” and “persistent political tensions” are among the risks facing the Maldivian economy.
23 Jan 2017, 09:00


Nasheed calls for opposition to field single candidate in 2018
“I don’t think we will have a free and fair election as things stand now. So we will have to have the whole opposition together and come out with a single candidate,” the opposition leader told AFP.
22 Jan 2017, 09:00

