Maldives News
Supreme Court to validate some lower court rulings
The Supreme Court has granted itself the final word on rulings that strike down laws and regulations by announcing that such verdicts would be up for review regardless of whether the parties involved desired an appeal.
26 Jan 2016, 09:00
Government plans for an ice-rink in Malé draws criticism
President Abdulla Yameen’s plans for a “winter corner” in Malé’s main park complete with an ice skating rink has sparked an outcry online, with critics claiming the move is meant to distract the Maldivian public from the government’s failure to address serious social ills.
26 Jan 2016, 09:00
New Maldives banknotes introduced into circulation
Following a launching ceremony at the president’s office, Dr Azeema Adam, the central bank’s governor, became the first to use the new banknotes for a purchase when she bought a papaya at the local market.
26 Jan 2016, 09:00
Prominent religious scholars call for judicial reform
Citing verses of the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s hadith, a group of 31 prominent religious scholars have urged Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and the judicial watchdog to stem the tide of eroding public trust and confidence in the Maldivian judiciary.
26 Jan 2016, 09:00
Maldives cuts electricity subsidies
Households across the country are facing higher electricity bills in March after the government revised tariff rates and decided to discontinue electricity subsidies next month.
26 Jan 2016, 09:00
A trial by media: misinterpretations, contradictions and half-truths in the case of Mohamed Nasheed
The international ‘popular’ trial of former President Mohamed Nasheed has fallen into a spiral of oversimplifications and selective narratives that leads to contradictions, writes PPM MP Dr Abdulla Khaleel. “The real motivation behind their call for sanctions is not the liberation of the former President, but a governmental change, which would turn the sanctions illegal and contrary to the principle of sovereignty.”
26 Jan 2016, 09:00
Former MDP vice president seeks annulment of internal election
Alhan Fahmy, former MP and vice president of the Maldivian Democratic Party, has sued the main opposition party at the civil court seeking the annulment of internal elections held in 2014.
25 Jan 2016, 09:00
“I will go back to the Maldives”: Nasheed calls for escalating pressure with sanctions
Flanked by his heavyweight lawyers Jared Genser, Amal Clooney, and Ben Emmerson, the opposition leader stressed that his temporary release does not signal an end to the “repression” of President Abdulla Yameen’s administration. Nasheed said Yameen only felt “compelled to act” when faced with the threat of sanctions.
25 Jan 2016, 09:00
CNM journalist barred from Imran’s terrorism trial
Misbah Abbas, senior desk editor at CNM, told The Maldives Independent that he was barred days after he reported Judge Bari threatening journalists over allegedly unfair coverage of the Adhaalath Party leader’s terrorism trial. Despite registering for yesterday’s hearing, Misbah was told that “the judge has decided not to let the CNM journalists inside.”
25 Jan 2016, 09:00
Resort worker sacked after staging a hunger strike over unpaid service charge
Abdul Hameed Moosa first went on strike on January 18 claiming Zitahli – owned by AAA Hotels and Resorts – had failed to pay service charge allowances for 12 months.
25 Jan 2016, 09:00
Maldives unveils new e-passports
President Abdulla Yameen launched last night the new biometric Maldivian e-passport and automated e-gate service at the international airport.
25 Jan 2016, 09:00
Yameen hits back at corruption allegations
The president’s office has hit back at allegations of President Abdulla Yameen’s involvement in misappropriating funds from tourism leases, insisting that rumors of state funds being deposited in the president’s personal bank accounts were baseless.
25 Jan 2016, 09:00
Police claim teenage boat blast suspect ‘may kill’ if released from remand
A lawyer representing Ahmed ‘Shumba Gong’ Ashraf said: “The police have previously said he is influencing witnesses and my client is being investigated for allegedly sending threat messages, but it is absurd that they now claim he might kill someone.”
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
Staff at state-owned companies sign for ruling party
A number of staff from the state-owned Maldives Transport and Construction Company have signed for the ruling party amid reports that state employees were forced to attend the Progressive Party of Maldives rally Thursday night.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
New artificial beach is a ‘health hazard,’ says youth group
The Dhi Youth Movement has warned that sewage outflow and medical waste from the nearby Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital disposed near the new west coast artificial beach pose serious dangers to swimmers. A snorkelling team from its cleanup project Damage Control had found an increase in sedimentation and dead corals as well as tubes and medical waste.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
Jumhooree Party MP switches to ruling party
Of the 15 JP MPs elected to the parliament in March 2014, seven have now switched to the PPM. With its latest recruit, the ruling party now has 47 MPs in the 85-member house.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
Court hears anonymised testimony in Imran’s terrorism trial
The criminal court heard today anonymised witness testimony that claimed Sheikh Imran Abdulla’s absence from a historic anti-government rally on May Day had led to violent clashes between protesters and police officers.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
Democracy Week rescheduled for February
The Elections Commission is preparing to celebrate ‘Democracy Week’ in February with a door-to-door campaign, debate, poster and essay competitions, quizzes, beach sports, and a family evening. The event was first scheduled to take place on October 10 last year, but was delayed after the September 28 blast on President Abdulla Yameen’s speedboat, which the government insists was an assassination attempt.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
Ex-tourism official pleads not guilty to graft charges
Ziyath is accused of embezzling of acquisition fees paid by a foreign company for the 50-year lease of a lagoon in Malé atoll. He reportedly admitted to receiving a cheque for US$1 million from a company called Ebony Pvt Ltd, but denied embezzling the funds.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
False hopes: the great bridge of Malé
Without political stability and the will to address pervasive social issues, including unemployment, gang violence and environmental degradation, the Malé bridge and the youth city will only be monuments to the government’s failure to address the real problems, writes Fathimath Isha.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
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