Maldives News
Explicit presidential power to pardon former state officials proposed
Independent MP Mahloof proposed amendments to the Clemency Act to grant legal authority for President Yameen to pardon or commute sentences of convicted former presidents, vice presidents, cabinet ministers, MPs, and Supreme Court Justices.
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
Tidal swells not as bad as predicted
Tidal swells caused minor flooding in five islands in southern Gaafu Alif and Gaafu Dhaal atolls and Kolhufushi Island in Meemu atoll.
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
High hopes for UN opinion on Nasheed’s imprisonment
After months of street protests, hundreds of arrests, and failed talks, the opposition and civil society groups hope a UN opinion on Nasheed’s imprisonment will provide a way forward. But will the government abide by a ruling favorable to Nasheed?
30 Sep 2015, 09:00
FBI agent, Saudi Arabian forensic experts arrive in Malé for boat blast probe
A US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent and a team of Saudi Arabian forensic experts arrived in the Maldives last night to assist an investigation into an explosion on the presidential speedboat that injured the first lady.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
Ex-president’s brother sues prisons authority over visitation rights
Nazim Sattar filed the case at the civil court today contending that the Maldives Correctional Services had arbitrarily reversed its previous decision to allow the former president’s siblings to visit him once a week at the Maafushi prison.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
Australian company to build wave farm in Hanimadhoo
An Australian mining company Stonehenge Metals has announced plans to install a 2MW wave energy farm off the coast of Hanimaadhoo Island.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
Maldives pledges 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030
The Maldives has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent before 2030 in a new action plan. The target falls far short of ambitious plans announced by President Mohamed Nasheed in early 2009 to become carbon neutral by 2020, which has since been scrapped by successive administrations.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
President forms advisory committee after speedboat blast
“This is not a presidential commission or an investigative committee. It is only an advisory one to make sure yesterday’s incident will not have room to repeat,” said Ibrahim Muaz Ali, spokesperson at the president’s office. The committee includes the police and military heads of intelligence, but not the police commissioner or chief of defence forces.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
Assistant Attorney General arrested in late night alcohol raid
Ismail Wisham, the assistant attorney general, and his wife were arrested in a late night raid on Monday, sources have said. Alcohol and hash oil were reportedly discovered on the premises.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
Man arrested for sextortion
A 31-year-old Maldivian man was arrested on Monday for attempting to extort sexual favours by blackmailing a woman. He had claimed to possess nude photographs of her.
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
Fears raised of “targeted arrest” against Assistant Attorney General
A lawyer who works at the Attorney General’s office described Ismail Wisham as “a pro-government, technical lawyer” and said: “The general feeling at the office is a sense of sadness and shock. I personally feel the arrest was targeted as there seems to be no explicit public policy reason for police to carry out such a raid.”
29 Sep 2015, 09:00
Podesta Group hired to “whitewash” government’s crimes
“Government officials are clearly rattled at the prospect of facing targeted sanctions. But rather than doing the right thing and freeing the political prisoners, they are spending amounts of public money on foreign lobbyists, who will try to whitewash their crimes,” said Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, the MDP’s international spokesman.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
Explosion on president’s speedboat, President Yameen unharmed
A loud blast was heard just as the ‘Finifenmaa’ speedboat docked at the pier, followed by glass shattering, and the door on the speedboat fell off its hinges. Yameen was not injured, but First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim, a presidential aide, and a bodyguard are undergoing treatment for injuries.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
First lady sustained minor bone fractures in speedboat blast
“The injuries are not serious and by the grace of God, she does not require any surgery. She will make a full recovery with plenty of bed rest and care,” said Mohamed Hussain Shareef, the presidential affairs minister.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
Vice president extols friendship with India and China
Vice President Ahmed Adeeb lauded and reaffirmed the Maldives’ friendship with rivals India and China at separate functions this week. The current administration has been accused of threatening Indian Ocean regional security by deciding to participate in the Chinese ’21st Century Maritime Silk Road’ initiative.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
Nasheed brought to Malé for MRI scan
Former President Mohamed Nasheed underwent an MRI scan for an old spinal injury at the ADK hospital at 9am on Saturday.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
Police seeking FBI assistance to investigate explosion on president’s speedboat
“We would like to assure the Maldivian people that we will investigate this incident as a serious case and that the Maldivian police and MNDF will work together to find out the truth of how this happened,” the police have said.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
CMAG to work with member states on judicial independence, political freedoms
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) met in New York on Friday discussed the undermining of judicial independence and the systematic denial of political space including the detention of political leaders in member states.
28 Sep 2015, 09:00
Maldives denies hiring US lobbyist Podesta Group
The Attorney General’s Office has denied reports that the government of Madives has hired Washington’s most prominent lobbyist firm, Podesta Group, to advocate on its behalf amidst calls for sanctions for human rights violations.
27 Sep 2015, 09:00
Authorities on alert for tidal swells
The police and military are in a state of readiness to assist islands at risk of flooding. The authorities have advised laying sandbags to protect powerhouses, health centres, and garbage dumps, and to take foodstuffs, valuables, and electronic equipment at beachfront homes and offices further inshore.
27 Sep 2015, 09:00
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