Maldives News
Thousands gather for opposition coalition’s first rally – as it happened
The first rally by the Maldives United Opposition is underway. A podium has been set up at the MDP’s meeting hall, located on the outer ring road of the capital. Hundreds of opposition supporters have gathered on the opposite side of the road, filling up the artificial beach and allowing traffic to pass through.
21 Jul 2016, 09:00
PPM split worsens as ‘Yameen faction’ walks out of council meeting
Gayoom, the leader of the PPM, said the members who walked out objected to the presence of his son Faris Maumoon and Aminath Nadira, who they insist have been expelled by the party’s disciplinary committee.
20 Jul 2016, 09:00
Majlis grants ministers authority over top civil servant
Warning that the changes would compromise the civil service’s impartiality and meritocracy, PPM MP Faris Maumoon breached the ruling party’s whip line again and voted against the bill.
19 Jul 2016, 09:00
Opposition MPs protest in parliament over jailing of Mahloof
MDP MPs clamoured for the immediate release of their jailed colleague and called for President Yameen’s resignation. Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed adjourned proceedings shortly after the protest began in the People’s Majlis chamber.
19 Jul 2016, 09:00
UK training terrorists to attack Maldives, says ruling party MP
“There’s no room now to believe that what Britain is doing now isn’t keeping a few Maldivians there and training them for a terrorist attack here,” PPM MP Riyaz Rasheed said during Monday’s sitting of parliament.
19 Jul 2016, 09:00
MP Mahloof sentenced to four months in jail
The opposition coalition’s spokesman was accused of trying to “flee” from the police after a remand hearing in April last year. Despite the conviction, Mahloof remains a lawmaker as a sitting MP can only be stripped of his seat if he is sentenced to more than one year in prison.
18 Jul 2016, 09:00
PPM MPs proceed with lawsuit against Gayoom
The ruling party MPs told local media that the lawsuit had been withdrawn. “But we’ve realised Maumoon is still not allowing for council or committee meetings, that’s why we decided to carry on with the case,” MP Shahid told The Maldives Independent.
18 Jul 2016, 09:00
UN envoy arrives in Maldives for proximity talks
Tamrat Samuel is due to begin talks with the government and opposition parties Tuesday, but the imprisonment of opposition leaders, including former President Nasheed and Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran, remains a major stumbling block.
18 Jul 2016, 09:00
Failed coup in Turkey reignites debate about Feb 7
A failed coup attempt by a faction within the Turkish military Friday night has reignited fierce debates among Maldivians on social media about the controversial transfer of power on February 7, 2012.
17 Jul 2016, 09:00
MP Mahloof arrested while promoting opposition rally
MP Ahmed Mahloof and three others were briefly detained Saturday evening. Standing atop a pickup, Mahloof was using a megaphone to invite the public to the rescheduled rally when riot police stopped the vehicle near the local market in Malé.
17 Jul 2016, 09:00
Language Academy introduces hefty fines to protect Dhivehi
Despite introducing fines up to MVR5,000 (US$324), Ashraf Ali, president of the academy, said that the rules are intended to offer incentives for the use of Dhivehi over other languages rather than penalising offenders.
17 Jul 2016, 09:00
Managers suspended after violence at baibalaa tournament
Two managers of rival teams in the annual baibalaa tournament have been suspended after violence broke out at the end of a match last Monday. Footage shows players and supporters of teams BG and Club Teenage running onto the pit and throwing punches at each other.
17 Jul 2016, 09:00
Mother and uncle arrested over rape of minor
According to local media, the girl’s mother repeatedly facilitated the abuse. The alleged rapist was her uncle who lived in Malé and visited the island regularly. Both suspects have been remanded in custody for 15 days.
17 Jul 2016, 09:00
Drugs worth MVR7.5m seized at sea
A large drug haul with an estimated street value of MVR7.5 million (US$486,000) was seized on July 9 from a boat en route to Malé from the Indian port of Tuticorin.
17 Jul 2016, 09:00
Opposition coalition reschedules first rally for July 21
The Maldives United Opposition, launched in London last month by opposition leaders in exile, had planned to hold the rally Thursday night despite the last-minute withdrawal of a permit granted by the housing ministry, but was forced to cancel due to bad weather.
16 Jul 2016, 09:00
An eye for an eye, or save the lives of mankind?
As the state prepares for its first execution in more than half a century, Shahindha Ismail ruminates on the value of forgiveness and mercy in Islam.
16 Jul 2016, 09:00
Maldives enlists top US lobbying firm for US$55,000 a month
Amid mounting foreign pressure and the threat of targeted sanctions, Akin Gump has been employed for six months to assist the government with “outreach and communications with US government officials and media regarding ongoing priorities of the Republic of Maldives.”
15 Jul 2016, 09:00
UK considering ‘exclusion orders’ against Maldives officials
“It is crucial that concrete progress is delivered by CMAG’s September meeting. We are also considering bilateral action, including exclusion orders against senior members of the Government and the judiciary,” Hugo Swire told the House of Commons last week.
15 Jul 2016, 09:00
Government in u-turn cancels permit for opposition rally
Despite the withdrawal of the permit, the MDP has said the first rally of the new opposition coalition will go ahead as planned tonight. Maldives United Opposition Spokesman Ahmed Mahloof told said the rally will take place if the weather improves.
14 Jul 2016, 09:00
New foreign minister downplays UN request to halt execution
Contrary to reports in local media, the UN Human Rights Committee has not “ordered” the government to halt the imminent execution of a 22-year-old convict, newly-appointed Foreign Minister Dr Mohamed Asim said today.
13 Jul 2016, 09:00
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