Maldives News

Maldives celebrates world yoga day

Unfazed by protests from religious conservative groups, Maldives joined in on world yoga day celebrations on Tuesday.

Yameen appoints third vice president, reshuffles cabinet

President Yameen reshuffled the cabinet today and appointed Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad as his third deputy in less than a year.

DNA tests link Adeeb to weapons seized from Nazim’s home, say police

DNA tests link Adeeb to a pistol seized at Nazim’s home, but the breakthrough is not conclusive proof of a set-up, the police said.

Home minister resigns

“Today I have decided to resign from my position as the Home Minister. I thank HEP Yamin and others for all their support,” Naseer said in a tweet moments ago.

Protesting islanders pay electricity bills

Residents of central Kaafu Atoll who protested a recent hike in electricity prices have resolved to pay their bills, as the government continues to drag its heels on a promise to revise tariff rates.

President ‘halted’ central bank inquiry into money laundering

The opposition has renewed calls for Yameen’s arrest, claiming it has new evidence he instructed the central bank to halt an inquiry into the Maldives’ biggest ever corruption scandal.

Majlis fast-tracks bill to lease islands without bidding

Supreme court concludes hearings into its first murder case

The conclusion of an appeal against death sentence on Ahmed Murrath, convicted of killing a prominent lawyer, brings the Maldives a step closer to the first executions by the state in more than half a century.

Maldives Inc.

Maldives today is a capitalist dream. Mega development projects that aspire to ‘change the very map of the country’ are underway across the length and breadth of the 1200 islands. But the fact is, the very existence of Maldives is at risk, writes Azra Naseem

MPs question government’s sincerity in tackling jihadi recruitment

Opposition leader to be investigated over arrest warrant for president

Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, the leader of the newly launched opposition coalition, is being investigated by the police on suspicion of links to a forged warrant for President Abdulla Yameen’s arrest.

Three more soldiers jailed over boat blast

Three more soldiers have been sentenced to jail on charges of obstructing justice over the September 28 blast on President Abdulla Yameen’s speedboat.

Kenyan chief justice appointed Commonwealth special envoy to Maldives

Dr Willy Mutunga “will consult with all relevant stakeholders to encourage the strengthening of a pluralist, multi-party democracy, steps towards credible and inclusive presidential elections in 2018 and the advancement of reforms to give full effect to the separation of powers,” according to the Commonwealth.

Maldives to execute death row inmates by hanging

Death row prisoners will be executed within thirty days of the Supreme Court upholding or issuing a guilty verdict, Home Minister Umar Naseer said in an interview on Friday..

Home minister stripped of power to seek surveillance orders

A three member committee will vet suspects before Naseer can seek a monitoring and control – or ‘monicon’ orders – on them from the high court.

Government unveils ‘zero tolerance’ counter-terrorism policy

The government has promised “swift measures” against Maldivians involved with terrorist organisations in a new state policy on combating terrorism and violent extremism. A seven-page policy paper made public on Thursday broadly outlined plans to improve security and conduct de-radicalisation and rehabilitation programmes.

PPM divisions reopen over Gayoom’s opposition to grant Yameen party ticket

MPs and members of the PPM have taken to social media calling for Yameen to be awarded the party ticket without a primary after local media claimed that former president and PPM leader Gayoom had refused to endorse his half-brother for the 2018 polls.

Saudis defend Maldives first lady over date controversy

The embassy of Saudi Arabia in Malé has spoken out in defence of the first lady of the Maldives, who has been accused of corruption when it emerged that an NGO she founded was distributing dates gifted by the kingdom in its name.

‘Bomb maker’ granted witness protection, say local media

The Prosecutor General’s Office has granted immunity and witness protection to a soldier who testified to making two bombs for former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, local media report.

Supreme court asked to summon high-profile witnesses for Nazim’s appeal

The Supreme Court has been asked to summon several high-profile witnesses in light of new evidence that could prove former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim was framed by the police.