Maldives News


Historic law paves way for equitable distribution of marital property
President Abdulla Yameen ratified last week changes brought to the Family Act to pave the way for equitable distribution of marital property after divorce, despite opposition from religious scholars and ruling party lawmakers.
01 May 2016, 09:00


Suspects in Rilwan’s abduction moved back to police custody
Two suspects in the abduction of journalist Ahmed Rilwan were transferred to a remand facility days after the criminal court moved the pair to house imprisonment.
01 May 2016, 09:00


Police disperse weekly prayer for political prisoners
Dozens of riot policemen dispersed the opposition’s weekly prayer for political prisoners at Malé’s main mosque on Friday.
30 Apr 2016, 09:00


Little sign of progress in UN bid to resuscitate Maldives talks
Tamrat Samuel, the United Nation’s special envoy to the Maldives, left Malé on Friday with little apparent sign of progress in resuscitating all-party talks.
30 Apr 2016, 09:00


UK awaits CMAG’s September review of Maldives
A British decision on imposing targeted sanctions against members of the Maldivian government will rest on the outcome of a Commonwealth-led push for reform in the Indian Ocean archipelago, a top diplomat from the UK has said.
30 Apr 2016, 09:00


Haveeru office hit by arson attack
The offices of the Maldives’ oldest newspaper, Haveeru, was hit by an arson attack in the early hours of Friday morning, local media report.
29 Apr 2016, 09:00


Raajje TV ordered to stop live broadcast of popular talk show
Raajje TV has been ordered to stop live broadcast of its popular talk show Fala Surukhee for airing an interview with an opposition member who leveled allegations of corruption at President Abdulla Yameen.
28 Apr 2016, 09:00


Tourist arrivals grow in March despite dip in Chinese visitors
Tourist arrivals to the Maldives grew by 2.4 percent in March despite a continuing decline in the number of Chinese visitors. After falling 20 percent in February despite the Chinese New Year falling during the month, Chinese arrivals registered a 13.3 percent decline in March.
28 Apr 2016, 09:00


Victims of Coastline fire provided MVR2.6m for rebuilding
“The government decided to provide [compensation for] 40 percent of the damages…In addition to this, MVR1 million (US$64,800) from Coastline will be distributed proportionately,” Defence Minister Adam Shareef Umar said at a press conference Wednesday at the coastguard building.
28 Apr 2016, 09:00


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

