Maldives News
One year on, 13 May Day protesters in custody await verdicts
Twelve men and one woman on trial over the assault of a police officer during a mass anti-government protest on May Day remain in custody nearly a year later, awaiting a verdict from the criminal court five months after hearings concluded.
28 Apr 2016, 09:00
Yameen receives governance award from Indian NGO
President Abdulla Yameen was given Wednesday a governance award by an Indian civil society group, recognising his “long term and sustainable plans for the development of Maldives.”
27 Apr 2016, 09:00
Adeeb questioned over kidnapping of Swiss millionaire
The former vice president’s lawyer Moosa Siraj said his client was accused of masterminding the kidnapping of Christopher Peter Nikola on September 3, 2015 from a private residence in Switzerland and demanding a US$3 million ransom.
27 Apr 2016, 09:00
Court blocks Haveeru staff from registering new paper
Judge Haleem ordered Haveeru’s founder, management and staff not to “commit any act that could impair Haveeru’s archive, property, news, information, photo, video, money, all its resources, and any other item under Haveeru’s ownership”.
26 Apr 2016, 09:00
Judge enters not guilty plea on Adeeb’s behalf in graft trial
The criminal court today entered guilty pleas on behalf of the defendants after they refused to respond to charges due to the court’s alleged refusal to provide them with case documents.
26 Apr 2016, 09:00
AdduLive was blocked because it was not registered, says home ministry
Home Minister Umar Naseer ordered the telecoms regulator to block access to regional news website, AdduLive, because it was unregistered, a spokeswoman has said. Critics have condemned the move as an attack on free speech, noting it has implications for bloggers and other content posted online.
26 Apr 2016, 09:00
Chinese admiral in Malé for defence talks
Vice Admiral Tiang Zhong met with Defence Minister Adam Shareef Umar, Chief of Defence Forces Major General Ahmed Shiyam and senior military officers to discuss boosting cooperation and developing the Maldivian military’s human resources, according to the Maldives National Defence Force.
26 Apr 2016, 09:00
A tale of two Maldives
The simple fact is that for many months the international media and political leaders in the US, UK and Europe have heard only one side of the story about the Maldives: that promoted by Nasheed and his high-profile media lawyers, writes Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon.
26 Apr 2016, 09:00
Telecoms regulator won’t reveal reason for unprecedented block on news site
The telecoms regulator blocked Thursday a regional news website on unspecified grounds, but the paper says the ban was prompted by an article linking the first lady to corruption.
25 Apr 2016, 09:00
MP Mahloof pleads not guilty to obstructing police officers
Independent MP Ahmed Mahloof pleaded not guilty today to a charge of obstructing police officers during a protest in March last year, denouncing the trial as “politically motivated.”
25 Apr 2016, 09:00
Defiant Yameen lashes out as concerns persist over jailing of opponents
The Maldives’ embattled president, Abdulla Yameen, has lashed out at persisting international scrutiny over the jailing of his opponents, days after cabinet ministers promised to follow recommendations for reform by the Commonwealth.
25 Apr 2016, 09:00
Maldives signs historic climate change agreement
The Maldives signed the historic Paris climate change agreement on Friday, urging big polluters to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
25 Apr 2016, 09:00
Suspects in Rilwan’s abduction transferred to house arrest
Two suspects arrested earlier this month in connection with the abduction of The Maldives Independent journalist Ahmed Rilwan was transferred to house arrest on Friday.
25 Apr 2016, 09:00
Politics of radicalisation: how the Maldives is failing to stem violent extremism
Azim Zahir explores the array of factors that fuel radicalisation in the Maldives; “block thinking” that does not bother to understand complexities; government’s trivialising of the issue; instrumentalisation of religion by all political parties; and the “Islamisation” of gangs.
25 Apr 2016, 09:00
PPM accuses Indian newspaper of defaming Gayoom
Reacting angrily to an article on the Mumbai Mirror about a radicalised Maldivian family of 12 joining Islamic State, the PPM said it contained “factual inaccuracies and fabrications,” and called it “an attack on the country of Maldives, its peace-loving citizens, and its authorities.”
24 Apr 2016, 09:00
Two Maldivians arrested in Sri Lanka with 1kg of heroin
According to Sri Lankan media, the pair, aged-28 and 30, respectively, were arrested from a hotel in Colombo’s Bambalapitiya district in the late night hours of April 22.
24 Apr 2016, 09:00
Leaked audio implicates acting prisons chief in bribery
A private TV channel has leaked an audio clip of a phone conversation between Deputy Commissioner of Prisons and an unidentified man, discussing the unlawful release of an inmate and the solicitation of a bribe.
24 Apr 2016, 09:00
“No sympathy for people like us:” Milestones in the life of a Maldivian death row prisoner
Hussain Humam Ahmed, 22 years, is on death row for the murder of MP Afrasheem Ali. His family fears he was framed and judged guilty because of his background of poverty and violence.
24 Apr 2016, 09:00
Maldives and the Commonwealth’s formal agenda: both sides claim victory
Ministers here have said the CMAG had not placed the Maldives on its formal agenda, while critics argued that continued scrutiny means the Maldives is effectively on the 53-member inter-governmental body’s watch.
23 Apr 2016, 09:00
Crew of sinking cargo boat rescued at sea
The coastguard rescued four crew members Friday afternoon from a cargo boat that sank en route from Malé to the southern island of Feeali in Faafu atoll.
23 Apr 2016, 09:00
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