Maldives News


Customs seize 2kg of cocaine
Customs officers seized 2.153kg of cocaine from the luggage of a Bolivian woman who arrived in the Maldives last Monday. Passenger clearance officers at the airport checked her bag and found the drugs after her behaviour aroused their suspicions.
23 Oct 2016, 09:00


Gayoom appeals for fair ruling from high court
After concluding hearings today, the high court is due to decide whether the civil court was right to hand over control of the ruling party from Gayoom, the PPM’s elected leader, to his half-brother, President Abdulla Yameen.
22 Oct 2016, 09:00


Courts begins hearing appeal into PPM leadership row
The high court has begun hearing a case that will decide whether the civil court was right to hand over control of the ruling party to President Abdulla Yameen
21 Oct 2016, 09:00


New lawyers granted licenses after year-long wait
More than 130 graduates have been granted licenses to practice law following a delay of more than a year after the supreme court took over regulating the legal profession from the Attorney General’s office.
21 Oct 2016, 09:00


Opposition appeals to Gayoom to join alliance against Yameen
The Maldives United Opposition has invited former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to join it after he sought meetings with leaders of the Maldives’ minor parties amid a bitter row within the ruling party.
21 Oct 2016, 09:00


High court to hear appeal over PPM leadership dispute
A civil court ruling that stripped former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of his powers as the elected leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives has been appealed by a loyalist of President Abdulla Yameen
20 Oct 2016, 09:00


After forced shutdown, CNM team returns with new site
Four months after Channel News Maldives shut down citing pressure from the government, the hard-hitting team of journalists behind the popular online paper have made a comeback as the Voice of Free Press.
20 Oct 2016, 09:00


Elections commission recognises Yameen faction as legitimate PPM
The elections commission has decided to recognise a faction led by President Abdulla Yameen as the legitimate Progressive Party of Maldives over a rival faction led by the ruling party’s elected president.
19 Oct 2016, 09:00


Maldives parliament endorses decision to quit Commonwealth
The People’s Majlis endorsed today President Abdulla Yameen’s decision for the Maldives to quit the Commonwealth over alleged unfair treatment, interference in domestic affairs, and threats to sovereignty and independence.
19 Oct 2016, 09:00


Opposition cleric’s licence to preach revoked
Sheikh Ilyas Hussain had his license to preach revoked after he blamed a hike in food prices on government corruption during a sermon on Friday
18 Oct 2016, 09:00


No red flags in death of infant under state care
Mohamed Shakeeb, executive coordinator at the gender ministry, said the authorities have not learned of any suspicious incidents related to the death. The police investigation will determine if negligence by staff at the Fiyavathi children’s home was to blame, he said.
18 Oct 2016, 09:00


Umar Naseer under fire over ‘sexist’ tweet
Naseer insisted today that his tweet suggesting that women are among three negative influences that “makes good people bad” was misinterpreted: “Women was used in the context of womanising. It’s about men who has a thirst for women, not women.”
18 Oct 2016, 09:00


Financial perks for former presidents scaled back
The regulation, which came into effect on Sunday, sets new limits on public funding for housing, health insurance and expenses on the former presidents’ secretariats
18 Oct 2016, 09:00


Maumoon’s monsters
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s own creation—one of the most corrupt judiciaries in the world—has finally turned around and bit the hand of its Master, writes Azra Naseem.
18 Oct 2016, 09:00


MDP chairperson charged with terrorism
A first hearing of the trial scheduled for 10:30am this morning was cancelled after the criminal court failed to deliver a summons chit to Ali Waheed. The former lawmaker has been living in exile in the UK since June last year.
17 Oct 2016, 09:00


Gayoom speaks out on feud with Yameen: “Why did he let things go this far?”
Excerpts of Gayoom’s press conference, in which he defied a civil court order that stripped him of control of the ruling party and ruled out reconciliation with Yameen, his half-brother and incumbent president
17 Oct 2016, 09:00


As local council elections loom, electoral body to decide on ‘real PPM’
The elections commission is due to decide which faction of the PPM has the legal authority to field candidates in the local council elections. Rival factions led by PPM leader Gayoom and President Yameen have invited members to apply for the party’s ticket to contest in the January 14 polls.
17 Oct 2016, 09:00


Court intervention in battle for Maldives ruling party prompts US concern
“US concerned that today’s action against political opponents further imperils Maldivian democracy,” the US assistant secretary of state said after the civil court controversially stripped former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of his powers as the PPM’s elected leader.
17 Oct 2016, 09:00


Yameen sets up rival council as ruling party descends into civil war
“This is the real PPM. I am repeatedly telling you that those behind President Yameen is the real PPM,” MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla has declared
17 Oct 2016, 09:00


Steep decline in Chinese tourist arrivals continues
As of August this year, Chinese arrivals have fallen by -11.5 percent, prompting Mega Maldives Airlines, which pioneered direct flights to China, to downsize and freeze hiring plans.
16 Oct 2016, 09:00

