Maldives News

Majlis reconvenes with debate on food subsidy cut

The People’s Majlis reconvened after a one-month recess today with a heated debate about the doubling of prices for staple foods after the government’s abrupt decision to target subsidies for the needy.

Court ruling threatens to halve MDP’s membership and state funding

The civil court has ruled against an MDP petition that sought to overturn the retroactive application of a requirement for fingerprinted forms for political party membership, threatening to reduce the party’s membership and state funding by half

FAM dismisses claim of ‘government interference’ in top footballer’s exclusion

The Football Association of Maldives has dismissed claims of politicization as controversy grows around its exclusion of a top footballer, who is also a leading opposition activist, from the Maldives campaign for the 2019 Asian Cup

Yameen meets top Saudi officials to discuss development assistance

During official talks, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz accepted an invitation to visit the Maldives at a mutually convenient date. Yameen also met with the Saudi foreign minister, education minister, Islamic affairs minister, and the chairman of the Saudi Fund for Development.

Gayoom rebuffs government’s demand of council-endorsed representatives for talks

The government demanded that representatives for all-party talks must be endorsed by executive councils after Gayoom appointed his son to represent the PPM. A majority of the divided ruling party’s council is seen as loyal to President Abdulla Yameen in the ongoing fued between the Gayoom brothers.

President arrives in Saudi Arabia on second official visit

Yameen will discuss boosting ties in trade and infrastructure development in a meeting with King Salman, the president’s office said.

STO reassures shareholders after merger with debt-ridden fisheries company

The State Trading Organisation, the largest state-owned enterprise and the country’s primary wholesaler, has assured its shareholders that a merger with the debt-ridden state fisheries company will not result in losses.

Bid to prevent relocation of Malé’s ancient mosque rejected

The civil court has rejected a bid by heritage campaigners to prevent the relocation of a 200-year-old mosque from the capital city Malé to a southern island

Court throws out one of two challenges filed against work ban on Haveeru staff

The dismissal came after the lawyer representing Haveeru’s former staff failed to turn up to a hearing. Husnu Suood, a former attorney general, had failed to inform the court that he would be out of town.

Malé’s badly damaged roads getting a makeover

More than 20kg of hashish oil and heroin, smuggled from India, seized

The police and customs seized some 28.76kg of hashish oil and heroin, some of which were smuggled from India, over the weekend and arrested five men, two women and a minor on drugs smuggling charges

Does the Maldives practice what it preaches globally on human rights?

Jeffrey Salim Waheed takes questions on why the Maldives has sponsored several UN resolutions on freedom of expression and assembly, and judicial independence, despite practising the opposite at home

Government promises to reduce food prices amid protests

The government has promised to reduce the cost of food staples after a backlash from within the ruling party and protests by the opposition over an abrupt hike in food and electricity prices

Police recover MVR6million stolen from Western Union

A group of masked men carrying knives had tied up security guards at the Western Union branch in Malé on Sunday in the biggest burglary reported in recent years

Zika testing begins at government hospital

The government-run tertiary hospital in Malé has started testing fever patients for the Zika virus as part of a surveillance programme to determine if the mosquito-borne disease is spreading in the Maldives.

Adeeb shown Al Jazeera’s corruption exposé in jail

According to Adeeb’s lawyer, the ACC investigators asked “general questions” about secretly filmed confessions by three of Adeeb’s associates featured in the Stealing Paradise documentary about delivering stolen cash to the president.

President faces cross-party backlash over hike in food prices

Yameen said he had no choice but to hike food prices following a backlash from within his own party. The opposition has meanwhile accused him of mismanaging the economy

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.

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.

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.”