Maldives News
Yameen handed control of ruling party
The civil court has stripped former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of control of the Progressive Party of the Maldives, and installed his half-brother and incumbent president, Abdulla Yameen, as leader of the ruling party
16 Oct 2016, 09:00
Yameen loyalists take court action to remove Gayoom from PPM leadership
PPM descends into open warfare as Yameen loyalists seek court action to remove Gayoom from the party’s leadership, after successfully petitioning the elections commission to strike off his son’s name from its registry
15 Oct 2016, 09:00
UK “disappointed” by Maldives withdrawal from Commonwealth
Adding to the chorus of concern, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Thursday that the UK “regrets that the Maldives has chosen to leave.”
15 Oct 2016, 09:00
Maldives quits the Commonwealth: a round up of reactions
The decision to quit the Commonwealth has prompted a storm of criticism and calls to reverse the Maldives’ isolationist course
14 Oct 2016, 09:00
Political parties unite in condemning elections commission
Five of the six registered political parties in the Maldives have united in condemning the elections commission’s refusal to disburse public funding
14 Oct 2016, 09:00
Maldives quits Commonwealth citing ‘unfair and unjust’ treatment
The move comes after the Commonwealth’s democracy watchdog placed the Maldives on its formal agenda and warned of suspension if progress is not made by March 2017 to resolve an intractable political crisis.
13 Oct 2016, 09:00
Gayoom’s son cannot represent PPM, insists majority leader
After a meeting between the PPM parliamentary group and President Abdulla Yameen, Majority Leader Nihan criticised PPM leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s decision to appoint his son to represent the ruling party in the upcoming all-party talks, insisting that Faris Maumoon is no longer a PPM member.
13 Oct 2016, 09:00
Funding for political parties withheld
Citing leadership vacuums and complaints over reckless spending and mismanagement, the elections commission has withheld public funding for all political parties
13 Oct 2016, 09:00
Fenaka chairman resigns amid corruption scandal
Nadheem cited mismanagement by Fenaka’s staff as well as their refusal to consult the board and follow instructions on procurement of fuel by the president’s office
12 Oct 2016, 09:00
Ruling party MP threatens to sue state ports company
Maldives Ports Limited CEO Mohamed Junaidh told the press this morning that Meridiam Services has been billing for 160,000 litres a month despite MPL’s vehicles needing only 60,000 litres, resulting in a loss of MVR1.2 million (US$78,000) every month.
12 Oct 2016, 09:00
Light earthquake strikes 300km east of Maldives
Three people from the northern island of Naifaru in Lhaviyani atoll reported feeling tremors after the quake struck around 3:30am. The magnitude 4.9 earthquake was not powerful enough to cause a tsunami.
12 Oct 2016, 09:00
Government accused of undermining all-party talks with preconditions
The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has accused the government of attempting to obstruct the upcoming all-party talks by demanding council-endorsed representatives and ruling out negotiating with jailed opposition leaders.
11 Oct 2016, 09:00
Ports company ordered to buy diesel exclusively from MPs’ company
The civil court granted the temporary order pending a judgment in a lawsuit filed by Meridiam Services, which claims the Maldives Ports Limited is buying diesel from other suppliers in breach of an agreement signed last April.
11 Oct 2016, 09:00
President apologises for Maldives’ biggest ever corruption scandal
The president asked for forgiveness that the historic graft scandal took place during his tenure, and said: “But no matter how vigilant we are, criminals will continue to commit crimes.”
11 Oct 2016, 09:00
Let them eat basmati
“I share the suspicion of many that the subsidies had to go first so they can make a grand comeback,” writes Dr Azra Naseem. “In their next incarnation they will return as a powerful symbol of President Yameen’s Largesse.”
11 Oct 2016, 09:00
Anti-graft watchdog launches probe into Fenaka scandal
The Anti Corruption Comission is looking into abuse of power by Fenaka officials in the apparent embezzlement of some US$1million from the state-owned utility.
10 Oct 2016, 09:00
PPM MPs seek reconciliation between Gayoom brothers
MPs of the Progressive Party of Maldives are seeking to mediate between the party’s leader and the incumbent president to resolve a bitter power struggle that has split the ruling party.
10 Oct 2016, 09:00
Passport revoked for suspect in stabbing of Nasheed’s lawyer
The immigration department has revoked the passport of Hussain Shafraz, a suspect wanted in connection with the near-fatal stabbing of Mahfooz Saeed on September 4 last year. The lawyer narrowly after undergoing surgery to remove a knife lodged three inches deep above his left ear.
10 Oct 2016, 09:00
State wholesaler appeals to recover US$1.2m from PPM MPs’ company
The State Trading Organisation has appealed a civil court ruling in favour of a company owned by ruling party MP Riyaz Rasheed to recover MVR19.3 million (US$1.2 million) released as a credit facility.
10 Oct 2016, 09:00
The Maldives must maintain its proud history of not executing people
“At present, the lack of confidence in due process means that the risk of the execution of an innocent man or woman is greater than ever,” writes Paul Godfrey, Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
10 Oct 2016, 09:00
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