Maldives News
Maldives sportswomen allege discrimination in selection for South Asian Games
Sportswomen have alleged discrimination in a government decision to reduce the number of sports teams competing at the upcoming South Asian games in India. Of the 96 athletes slated to compete in the games, only 27 will be women.
05 Jan 2016, 09:00
Two foreigners arrested on human trafficking charges
The pair are accused of illegally “recruiting” migrant workers to bring to the Maldives. They were apprehended yesterday from Addu City and Vilimalé in joint operations conducted by the immigration department and the police.
05 Jan 2016, 09:00
Ex-defence minister granted medical leave for heart surgery in Singapore
The Maldives Correctional Services this week approved a 15-day medical leave for the retired colonel to undergo a heart surgery in Singapore. A final hearing in the appeal of Nazim’s 11-year jail sentence on a weapons smuggling charge is meanwhile due to take place tomorrow.
04 Jan 2016, 09:00
Former Vice President, top tourism official face fresh corruption charges
The Prosecutor General’s office has meanwhile filed money laundering charges against Hamid Ismail – an influential businessman related to detained former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb – at the criminal court this morning. According to the police, acquisition fees paid to the government’s tourism promotion company for a resort lease were deposited into the accounts of a company linked to Hamid, instead of the state treasury.
04 Jan 2016, 09:00
Maldives heading towards safety and stability, says home minister
Citing a steady decline in the crime rate, Umar Naseer said that the Maldives is heading towards a “safer and more stable” future under the current administration. But critics say the police statistics are misleading as many Maldivians lack confidence in the police institution and do not report crimes.
04 Jan 2016, 09:00
“Miscommunication” delaying release of alleged Sri Lankan sniper
“Local investigators in Malé have repeatedly informed me that they were waiting for the all-clear from the authorities in Colombo on the detained Sri Lankan before moves could be made to release him but there appear to be certain shortcomings,” the suspect’s defence lawyer told Sri Lankan media.
04 Jan 2016, 09:00
To bolster rights at home, Maldives must speak up for human rights abroad
One of the best ways Maldives can support the global human rights movement is by voting to extend the UN mandate for a special rapporteur for Iran, writes Iranian journalist Roozbeh Mirebrahimi.
04 Jan 2016, 09:00
Group of teenage skaters detained in Hulhumalé
Police officers advised the teenagers “not to skate in a manner that is unsafe for themselves and other citizens” and took them to the police station. One of the teenagers has since accused the police of subjecting the group to “physical and verbal abuse.”
03 Jan 2016, 09:00
Elections Commission processing membership forms ahead of mass de-registration
“We are trying to process the forms sent in December by the end of January. We will be deregistering any membership form without fingerprints after that,” commission member Ahmed Akram told The Maldives Independent today.
03 Jan 2016, 09:00
Marital rape victim’s body sent to India for autopsy
The body of a marital rape victim who died of life-threatening injuries last week has been sent to India for a postmortem examination. The 37-year-old woman from the island of Thinadhoo in Gaaf Dhaal atoll was hospitalised in Malé last month. Her husband was arrested on December 11 and remains under police custody.
03 Jan 2016, 09:00
Japan opens resident embassy in Maldives
“The government of the Maldives believes that the new embassy would completely change the dynamics of Maldives-Japan relations as it will help open-up new avenues for cooperation that would propel relations to new heights,” the foreign ministry said.
03 Jan 2016, 09:00
Government denies Sri Lanka blacklisted foreign minister and MP
Newspaper Haveeru reported today that the pair were also held for more than an hour at the airport before being told they were blacklisted “by mistake.” Dunya and Faris – children of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – reportedly traveled to Colombo on an unofficial visit in late December.
03 Jan 2016, 09:00
Watchdog rules out corruption in sale of luxury flats to state officials
“It must be noted that the government provided the opportunity to buy the flats for MVR1.6 million (US$103,761), when the government paid over MVR938,000 (US$60,830),” the ACC explained, stressing that the flats were sold for a profit of MVR600,000 (US$38,910).
03 Jan 2016, 09:00
Five arrested from president’s flight
Five Maldivians were arrested from a Bangkok Airways flight on Thursday after a family of tourists complained to the crew and refused to travel on the plane. All five have since been released after the police determined that they had not endangered the airplane’s security.
02 Jan 2016, 09:00
President orders investigation into missing journalist’s disappearance
More than 500 days after his unexplained disappearance, President Abdulla Yameen has asked the home minister to “do everything the government can” to find missing journalist Ahmed Rilwan. The home ministry said in a tweet last Thursday that the president’s appeal came after Rilwan’s family sent a letter to Yameen urging him to expedite the investigation.
02 Jan 2016, 09:00
Police question witnesses over disputed document on Nasheed’s house arrest
After accompanying a witness to the police headquarters last night, Mahfooz Saeed from Nasheed’s legal team told the press that the police have assured lawyers the investigation will be completed in two weeks. The witnesses were present when an officer from the Maldives Correctional Service presented the document to the former president at his residence, Maafanu Yaagoothuge, in Malé.
31 Dec 2015, 09:00
“China-Maldives Friendship Bridge” project launched
“Today you have made our impossible dream a reality,” President Yameen said at last night’s commencement ceremony, expressing “profound gratitude” to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
31 Dec 2015, 09:00
Regulations introduced for connecting renewable energy to power grids
The new net metering regulation will allow residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity from solar power to feed electricity they do not use back into the grid. The solar panel owner will be credited for the electricity added to the grid and billed for “net” energy use.
30 Dec 2015, 09:00
Holiday Island Resort staff owed overdue allowances
Several employees at the Holiday Island Resort are owed three months worth of service charges, Ramadan bonuses, and last year’s travel allowance.
30 Dec 2015, 09:00
Maldives secures US$373m loan for airport development
Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer signed the “preferential buyer credit loan agreement” with the Chinese EXIM Bank yesterday during his ongoing official visit to China. The funds will be used to build a new 3.2 kilometre runway, reclaim land, and develop a fuel farm and a cargo complex.
29 Dec 2015, 09:00
Showing 215 / 805