Maldives News
PPM wins legal bid to extend voter registration deadline
The civil court has ordered the elections commission to indefinitely extend the re-registration period for January’s local council elections pending a judgment on the ruling party’s request to delay the polls by two months.
21 Nov 2016, 09:00
Speaker accused of subverting parliamentary rules
Speaker Abdulla Maseeh was once again accused of subverting parliamentary rules to favour the ruling party after he called off votes on key government-sponsored bills on Sunday.
21 Nov 2016, 09:00
Ruling party holds tea party to celebrate reef blasting
Government supporters on the southern island of Meedhoo gathered last Friday to celebrate the controlled destruction of the island’s reef to clear an oceanside channel in spite of environmental concerns.
21 Nov 2016, 09:00
Yameen faction seeks court order to delay council elections
As the party’s database, membership registry, and other important documents are missing, the PPM will face “irreparable damage” if the polls take place as scheduled on January 14, reads the case summary.
20 Nov 2016, 09:00
PPM wants to bar candidates who lose primaries from contesting elections
The amendment to the Political Parties Act states that candidates who fail to secure a political party ticket cannot contest elections independently or on the ticket of another party.
20 Nov 2016, 09:00
Q&A: Faris shares his take on where it all went wrong
Faris Maumoon discusses plans to weaken his uncle, President Abdulla Yameen’s stranglehold on power, and shares his take on where it all went wrong, his father’s legacy and how he came to be involved in politics
20 Nov 2016, 09:00
Central bank takes over dollar sales amid shortage
The move comes after hundreds of Maldivians planning to travel during the school holiday season queued for hours outside the only Bank of Maldives branch in Malé that sold dollars. Eyewitnesses told the Maldives Independent that queue token numbers were sold for up to MVR500 last week.
19 Nov 2016, 09:00
MPs recommend introducing income tax
Amid fierce criticism during the 2017 budget debate of plans to hike import duties and impose new taxes and fees next year, several PPM MPs called on the government to introduce a personal income tax in the Maldives for the first time.
19 Nov 2016, 09:00
SOF leaks whistleblower freed
“Take risks for the sake of this nation. I have done my part,” Gasim said on being freed from jail
18 Nov 2016, 09:00
Gayoom and Yameen continue war of words
Gayoom continued to denounce Yameen’s authoritarianism as the president urged supporters to choose a young deer instead of a sick and old bear.
17 Nov 2016, 09:00
Maldives pays US$271m in damages to India’s GMR
The government of the Maldives has paid US$271million in damages to Indian infrastructure firm, GMR, for the abrupt termination of a lucrative contract to develop and manage the country’s main airport.
17 Nov 2016, 09:00
Government wants to delay the enforcement of Criminal Procedures Act
The government has proposed a bill delaying the enforcement of a landmark law on criminal procedures, prompting criticism that the government is not committed to reforming the criminal justice system.
17 Nov 2016, 09:00
Defamation penalties for the press detailed in new regulation
The government has published a regulation detailing fine bands for media offices and journalists found guilty of flouting a controversial defamation law
16 Nov 2016, 09:00
SOF leaks whistleblower given eight months in jail
Gasim Abdul Kareem’s counsel have called for his immediate release, noting that he has already spent a period longer than his eight month prison sentence in state custody.
16 Nov 2016, 09:00
Maldives’ coral reefs: Latest victims of political power play
The government’s green lighting of a reef blasting project shows the hypocrisy of the current government in dealing with environment and climate change, writes Ibrahim Mohamed, a former deputy director general at the EPA
16 Nov 2016, 09:00
‘I will not support Yameen for re-election,’ insists Gayoom
Gayoom spoke to newspaper Mihaaru about the acrimonious split within the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and his decision to withdraw support for his half-brother President Abdulla Yameen’s embattled administration.
15 Nov 2016, 09:00
Ex-defence minister charged with terrorism
Former Defence Minister Ameen Faisal has been charged with terrorism over the military’s detention of then-MP Abdulla Yameen in July 2010. The trial was scheduled to begin at 1:00pm Tuesday afternoon but the first hearing was cancelled by the criminal court.
15 Nov 2016, 09:00
Lily International accused of ‘targeting and trapping’ migrant worker
An Indian migrant worker was arrested in the Maldives on charges of assualt hours after he formally accused his employer, Lily International, of withholding his passport in order to prevent him from leaving the country.
15 Nov 2016, 09:00
Contract signed to convert Addu convention centre to hospital
The government awarded today a project worth MVR161.8 million (US$10.4 million) to Alia Construction to convert the Equatorial Convention Centre in Addu City to a 100-bed hospital.
14 Nov 2016, 09:00
China donates MVR7 million for Malé redevelopment
The Chinese embassy has donated MVR7 million (US$454,000) to develop seven pedestrianised roads in Malé and a children’s park in the capital’s suburb Vilimalé.
14 Nov 2016, 09:00
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