Maldives News
Maldives calls for ‘environment conducive to holding SAARC summit’
The Maldives has urged member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to create an environment conducive for holding the regional body’s 19th summit after it was postponed amid rising India-Pakistan tensions.
02 Oct 2016, 09:00
Police seize turtle shells, red corals
Catching or killing of sea turtle species, as well as the importation and sale of turtles and turtle products, have been banned in the Maldives since 1995. The removal and sale of corals were also prohibited by the 1995 fisheries law.
02 Oct 2016, 09:00
Has the Maldives United Opposition failed to ‘restore democracy’?
As rumours of Yameen’s imminent ouster fizzle out and detainees languish in jail, Omkar Khandekar asks if the opposition coalition has failed in its bid to remove the embattled president and “restore democracy.”
02 Oct 2016, 09:00
State fisheries and trading companies merged
President Abdulla Yameen has decided to bring the debt-ridden and loss-making state-owned Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company under the umbrella of the behemoth State Trading Organisation.
01 Oct 2016, 09:00
Two tourists test positive for Zika after visiting Maldives
“The cases were linked to travels to Maldivian in February and June this year. Therefore, [the World Health Organisation] has classified Maldives as category 2, indicating possible endemic transmission in the country,” the Health Protection Agency said.
01 Oct 2016, 09:00
Indian university to counter terrorism in the Maldives
The agreement with the Punjab- based Lovely International Trust aims to “build individuals who can counter terrorism” and improve the skills of defence ministry officials, the defence minister said.
01 Oct 2016, 09:00
Government hikes food and electricity prices
Shops across the Maldives reported running out of food staples on Friday as customers rushed to buy rice, flour and sugar following an abrupt announcement by the government that it plans to cut food subsidies starting on Saturday
30 Sep 2016, 09:00
Government hopes to begin direct talks with opposition by mid October
The government is open to discussing the release of opposition leaders and has agreed to an opposition demand for mediation by the United Nations, the fisheries minister said.
29 Sep 2016, 09:00
Government resigned to missing target of 1.5m tourist arrivals
Tourism Minister Zameer blamed the opposition’s alleged scaremongering about religious extremism in the Maldives for lower than anticipated arrivals growth. Bad press in international media about Maldivian jihadis in Syria was more damaging that an Al Jazeera corruption expose aired earlier this month, he said.
28 Sep 2016, 09:00
Witnesses testify in trial of Raajje TV journalists
The criminal court heard both prosecution and defence witnesses Tuesday night in the trial of opposition-aligned Raajje TV journalists Mohamed Wisam and Leevan Ali Naseer on charges of obstructing police officers.
28 Sep 2016, 09:00
Commonwealth envoy warned of ‘severe democracy deficit’ in Maldives
“The long-term detention of political leaders has eroded the government and the judiciary’s legitimacy. The inability of political leaders to participate in political life could prevent a credible presidential election in 2018,” reads Dr Willy Mutunga’s briefing note to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.
28 Sep 2016, 09:00
Head of state utility corporation replaced with former MP
The dismissal of Fenaka Corporation’s Managing Director Mohamed Nimal comes weeks after a US$1 million corruption scandal surfaced in local media. The state utility company has reportedly been unable to recover MVR17 million released to a local company to purchase dollars.
27 Sep 2016, 09:00
Raajje TV admits allegations of fraud against tax commissioner was a mistake
Raajje TV said it made a mistake by publishing allegations of fraud against the tax commissioner, Mohamed Yazeed, who has sued the station for defamation over the report
27 Sep 2016, 09:00
MDP decides to join all-party talks
The MDP’s national council decided to heed the Commonwealth’s call for time-bound dialogue without preconditions “to achieve national agreement on institutional reform, and to ensure a conducive environment for credible and inclusive presidential elections in 2018.”
27 Sep 2016, 09:00
EC promises to release political party funds ahead of January’s polls
“We are trying to distribute the funds as soon as possible. It will be given before the preparations for local council elections begin for sure,” EC member Ahmed Akram told The Maldives Independent today. “All that’s remaining now is the administrative procedures to distribute the money.”
27 Sep 2016, 09:00
Minister departs for final round of China-Maldives free trade deal
Economic Development Minister Saeed said the Maldives is hoping to secure duty-free status for fish and processed seafood exports. The Maldives’ first bilateral free trade deal is expected to be signed in early 2017.
26 Sep 2016, 09:00
After Commonwealth warning, government renews call for dialogue
On Sunday, the government asked the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party and the Adhaalath Party to send details of its representatives for all-party talks “as they were the only parties who have not yet done so despite several previous requests.”
26 Sep 2016, 09:00
Saudi Fund lends Maldives US$100m for new airport terminal
“This is a concessional loan from the Saudi Fund to be repaid within 25 years, with a grace period of five years, at an interest rate of two percent,” the finance ministry said. It will be used to finance the development of a new passenger terminal by the Saudi Binladin group.
26 Sep 2016, 09:00
Man sentenced to death over murder of student
Mohamed Visam was found guilty of stabbing 16-year-old Mohamed Arham with a knife in May 2012. The verdict was based on eyewitness testimony
26 Sep 2016, 09:00
Murder suspect hands himself in to Colombo embassy
A 20-year-old man wanted over a fatal stabbing in Malé gave himself up to the authorities by walking into the Maldivian embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Saturday.
26 Sep 2016, 09:00
Showing 168 / 800