Maldives News

Elections commission scraps plan to introduce e-voting

Gayoom’s lawyer summoned for criticising the high court

Husnu Suood described his summons to the high court over his criticism of proceedings in the legal battle for the control of the ruling party an “act of intimidation.”

Nearly half of MDP’s members removed from its registry

The elections commission has struck off nearly half of the MDP’s members from its registry after the parliament approved a law requiring all political party members to submit their fingerprint records

High court rules in favour of Yameen in ruling party leadership row

The civil court was right to seize control from Gayoom due to “extraordinary circumstances” arising from the 78-year-old’s refusal to convene the party’s governing council and sacking of his deputy, the appellate court found.

Gayoom loyalists air grievances against Yameen on Raajje TV

Gayoom’s deputies accused Yameen of authoritarianism and hypocrisy in an unprecedented appearance on Raajje TV, and took a swipe at what they described as his unwillingness to contest presidential primaries for the 2018 polls.

Life under for the life above

Shoko Noda, the UN resident coordinator to the Maldives, calls for the protection of marine life to be made the main focus of the country’s development plan

“It is very easy to come and talk to me”: President Yameen on PPM split

Read on for excerpts from President Abdulla Yameen’s October 20 speech on the civil war within the ruling party

Council posts down to 653

The number of city, atoll, and island councillors to be elected in the upcoming local council elections is 653, the elections commission announced Saturday, significantly fewer than the present count of 1,095 councillors.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.”