Maldives News
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
Ridicule and relief after president mistakenly proclaims island uninhabited
A decree issued on Thursday declaring Mundoo as uninhabited was rescinded later that night with the president’s office blaming incorrect information from the department of national registration and apologising to the island’s small population.
25 Sep 2016, 09:00
Government announces austerity measures to rein in deficit
The finance ministry has slashed travel budgets, imposed a freeze on appointments, and ordered government offices to close by 2:30pm as it struggles to meet ambitious revenue targets.
25 Sep 2016, 09:00
Fuvahmulah declared Maldives’ third city
As Fuvahmulah is uniquely both an island and its own atoll, it currently has an atoll council as well as island councils for each of its eight administrative wards, with a total of 30 elected councillors. However, the island will now have a three-member city council.
25 Sep 2016, 09:00
Maldives seeks election to UN Security Council
Citing under-representation of small states in the UN’s main bodies, Foreign Minister Dr Mohamed Asim announced Saturday the Maldives’ candidature to the UN Security Council for the term 2019-2020.
25 Sep 2016, 09:00
Catering firm awarded project to build bridge viewing platform
Strada Pvt Ltd, a food and beverage firm owned by a senior ruling party official, will bear the MVR8 million (US$518,800) cost, according to the housing ministry.
25 Sep 2016, 09:00
Maldives placed on Commonwealth agenda, warned of suspension
The Maldives has been placed on the Commonwealth’s formal agenda and warned of suspension, with officials citing “deep disappointment” at the country’s lack of progress in resolving a protracted political crisis.
24 Sep 2016, 09:00
Gasim Abdul Kareem: the hand that rocked the boat
To prosecute Gasim sends the message that protecting the privacy of individuals who engage in corruption on a grand scale is more important than protecting whistleblowers who expose their corruption, writes Transparency Maldives
24 Sep 2016, 09:00
Immigration revokes passport of MDP chairperson, ex-vice president’s associates
“We have shared this information with other countries. Hence, if they travel using this passport, they will face problems at the point of entry and immigration will not be responsible for any inconvenience or loss they may have to face,” said Hassan Khaleel, the department’s media official.
22 Sep 2016, 09:00
Four years later, Ihavandhoo men face trial over civil unrest
Some 22 men from the northern island of Ihavandhoo were charged with obstruction of police duty over the forced closure of a police station during nationwide civil unrest on February 8, 2012. However, the penal code bars prosecution over a misdemeanour after more than three years.
22 Sep 2016, 09:00
Supreme court approval required for underage marriage
The supreme court has introduced new rules requiring the family court to seek its approval before registering marriages involving minors. In accordance with Islamic sharia, the Maldives’ family law allows children under the age of 18 who have reached puberty to get married with a special permission from the family court.
21 Sep 2016, 09:00
Court orders reinstatement of ex-president’s bodyguard
The civil court ordered the defence ministry on Monday to reinstate a senior military officer who was unfairly dismissed in the wake of President Abdulla Yameen’s inauguration in November 2013. Sergeant Major Naushad Ali was among nine high-ranking officers fired over accusations of sowing discord within the military ahead of the 2013 presidential election.
20 Sep 2016, 09:00
Man fined MVR200 for assaulting wife
The man was charged under the old penal code, which carries a penalty of either six months in prison or house arrest, or a fine of MVR200 for assault. The new penal prescribes jail terms of up to four years but the constitution prohibits imposing a more severe penalty than the one applicable at the time the offence was committed.
20 Sep 2016, 09:00
Ex-defence minister under investigation over Yameen’s detention in 2010
Police are investigating Ameen Faisal on terrorism charges over the president’s military detention in 2010 and have barred the ex minister from leaving the country
20 Sep 2016, 09:00
Pakistani convicted of drug trafficking, sentenced to life imprisonment
Mohamed Asif was found guilty of smuggling 286 grammes of illicit narcotics into the Maldives in February. He reportedly swallowed 35 bullets containing the drugs and arrived on a Sri Lankan airlines flight.
20 Sep 2016, 09:00
Commonwealth urged to suspend Maldives over ‘slide to dictatorship’
A New Delhi-based human rights group has urged the Commonwealth’s democracy watchdog to suspend the Maldives from the organisation over an unresolved and protracted political crisis, warning that “the nation is sliding into a dictatorial system once again.”
19 Sep 2016, 09:00
Witnesses testify about coffee-table conversation in ‘sniper’ plot trial
Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, who is serving a 33-year prison sentence on corruption and terror charges, is accused of hiring an alleged Sri Lankan sniper, Lahiru Madhushanka, to shoot President Abdulla Yameen in October last year.
19 Sep 2016, 09:00
EPA assesses damage to Fuvahmulah reef from grounded ship
The Environment Protection Agency is assessing the damage caused to the Fuvahmulah reef after a Vietnamese cargo ship ran aground on the southern island’s lagoon.
18 Sep 2016, 09:00
Trial resumes for sole Raajje TV arson suspect
The trial of the only suspect charged over the arson attack on the opposition-aligned Raajje TV resumed today after a six-month hiatus. Mohamed Meead is the only suspect to stand trial out of 18 young men arrested after the torching of the studios in October 2013.
18 Sep 2016, 09:00
PPM denies talks between Nasheed and Gayoom
Abdul Aleem Adam, the PPM’s deputy secretary-general, accused the exiled opposition leader of “lying to bring to President Maumoon into disrepute and to create discord among PPM members.”
15 Sep 2016, 09:00
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