Maldives News
Financial perks for former presidents scaled back
The regulation, which came into effect on Sunday, sets new limits on public funding for housing, health insurance and expenses on the former presidents’ secretariats
18 Oct 2016, 09:00
Maumoon’s monsters
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s own creation—one of the most corrupt judiciaries in the world—has finally turned around and bit the hand of its Master, writes Azra Naseem.
18 Oct 2016, 09:00
MDP chairperson charged with terrorism
A first hearing of the trial scheduled for 10:30am this morning was cancelled after the criminal court failed to deliver a summons chit to Ali Waheed. The former lawmaker has been living in exile in the UK since June last year.
17 Oct 2016, 09:00
Gayoom speaks out on feud with Yameen: “Why did he let things go this far?”
Excerpts of Gayoom’s press conference, in which he defied a civil court order that stripped him of control of the ruling party and ruled out reconciliation with Yameen, his half-brother and incumbent president
17 Oct 2016, 09:00
As local council elections loom, electoral body to decide on ‘real PPM’
The elections commission is due to decide which faction of the PPM has the legal authority to field candidates in the local council elections. Rival factions led by PPM leader Gayoom and President Yameen have invited members to apply for the party’s ticket to contest in the January 14 polls.
17 Oct 2016, 09:00
Court intervention in battle for Maldives ruling party prompts US concern
“US concerned that today’s action against political opponents further imperils Maldivian democracy,” the US assistant secretary of state said after the civil court controversially stripped former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of his powers as the PPM’s elected leader.
17 Oct 2016, 09:00
Yameen sets up rival council as ruling party descends into civil war
“This is the real PPM. I am repeatedly telling you that those behind President Yameen is the real PPM,” MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla has declared
17 Oct 2016, 09:00
Steep decline in Chinese tourist arrivals continues
As of August this year, Chinese arrivals have fallen by -11.5 percent, prompting Mega Maldives Airlines, which pioneered direct flights to China, to downsize and freeze hiring plans.
16 Oct 2016, 09:00
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
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