Maldives News
81 people survive unharmed after ferry sinks en route to Maamigili
A ferry en route to Alif Dhaal Maamigili from Malé sank around 5:30am this morning with 81 people onboard, including tourists, women, and children. All 81 people are safe and unharmed. They were rescued at sea by the coastguard and resort vessels.
15 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government reverses decision on shortened Eid holiday
The government has reversed its decision to shorten the Eid Al Adha holiday break following a public outcry. The president’s office declared this morning that September 20 to 27 will be public holidays.
15 Sep 2015, 09:00
Ex-MP Nazim lodges complaint over mistreatment
Former ruling party MP Ahmed Nazim has lodged a complaint with the human rights watchdog over alleged mistreatment in state custody.
15 Sep 2015, 09:00
Father of deaf child loses medical malpractice suit
The High Court has upheld a ruling against the father of a deaf child who is seeking MVR7.1 million (US$460,440) as compensation for causing permanent loss of hearing in his daughter.
14 Sep 2015, 09:00
Court rejects ex-defence minister’s request for medical treatment
The civil court has rejected a request by jailed ex Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim for medical treatment abroad and a transfer to house arrest. It claims it has no jurisdiction over the matter.
14 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government criticises UN rights chief over ‘inappropriate’ calls for Nasheed’s release
“To seek the release of an individual purely on the basis of his political standing and having [no] regard to the allegations against him is inappropriate, and clearly seeks to circumvent the rule of law,” the foreign ministry said after Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussain urged the government to release the former president “given the deeply tainted nature of [his] case.”
14 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government to reclaim Malé southwest harbour
The government has announced plans to reclaim the southwestern harbour of Malé to build a waste management center and to relocate warehouses.
14 Sep 2015, 09:00
Shortened Eid holiday sparks anger
September 20 and 21, previously designated as public holidays in connection with Eid Al Adha, will now be working days, the government has announced. The reversal has sparked anger.
14 Sep 2015, 09:00
Saudi Arabia grants US$80m loan for Hulhumalé development
Speaking at a ceremony held this morning for signing the loan agreement, finance minister Abdulla Jihad said the loan was arranged within two to three months, which was “a record” in the ministry’s history and demonstrated the close ties between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia.
14 Sep 2015, 09:00
Victim of Addu City link road accident passes away
A 61-year-old man died of injuries sustained in an accident on Addu City’s link road last night – the third fatality in a motorcycle accident in the southernmost atoll this year.
13 Sep 2015, 09:00
Ninth century relics discovered in Hanyaameedhoo
A coral box dating back to the ninth century has been discovered buried underground on the island of Hanyaameedhoo in Alif Dhaal atoll. The box contained about a kilo of cowrie shells and an idol resembling a cow. Cowrie shells were used as currency in antiquity and the cow idol is believed to have been an object of worship.
13 Sep 2015, 09:00
Maldivian pilgrims ‘safe and accounted for’ after crane crash at Grand Mosque
All 2,000 Maldivian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia are safe and accounted for after a crane collapse at the Grand Mosque in Mecca last night left at least 107 people dead and 238 injured.
12 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government assures investigation of alleged bugging of ex-president’s meeting with lawyers
Following international media coverage of the alleged secret surveillance, the prisons authority said in a statement – posted in English on Twitter by the foreign ministry yesterday – that the “suggestion that the Maldives Correctional Services or the government is responsible for this infringement is wholeheartedly rejected.”
12 Sep 2015, 09:00
MDP resumes anti-government campaign with protest march
A moratorium on street protests was part of a deal made with the government in exchange for the release of political prisoners. The MDP withdrew from the talks after Nasheed was taken back to Maafushi jail on August 23, citing the government’s refusal to honour its commitment to release the former president and other jailed opposition politicians.
11 Sep 2015, 09:00
Government ‘spied’ on Nasheed’s meeting with lawyers Amal Clooney, Jared Genser
Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s high-profile international lawyers Amal Clooney and Jared Genser have alleged that the government spied on their meeting with the opposition leader at the high-security Maafushi prison this morning.
10 Sep 2015, 09:00
High Court rejects state’s appeal of Nasheed’s conviction
Following a preliminary hearing held yesterday to decide whether to proceed with the appeal, the three-judge panel ruled unanimously that it could not accept the case because it was not filed by Nasheed.
10 Sep 2015, 09:00
Head of PPM branch facing disciplinary action after backing removal of Gayoom from leadership
The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives’ disciplinary committee has been asked to investigate a statement issued by the head of the party’s Machchangoalhi south branch, Ahmed Shamoon, backing the removal of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom from the party’s leadership.
09 Sep 2015, 09:00
Court hears state’s appeal of Nasheed’s terrorism conviction
At a preliminary hearing to determine if the high court should accept the state’s appeal of terrorism conviction against Nasheed, prosecutors said the state is seeking a review of the proceedings at the lower court to ensure that his constitutional rights were not violated and that the trial was free and fair.
09 Sep 2015, 09:00
Nasheed’s lawyer Jared Genser arrives in Maldives
Speaking to reporters upon arriving at the international airport this afternoon, Genser expressed confidence that the UN working group will issue a ruling in October declaring Nasheed’s 13-year jail sentence arbitrary and unlawful. Genser traveled from the airport to the Maafushi prison to visit Nasheed along with his colleague Amal Clooney.
09 Sep 2015, 09:00
Amal Clooney meets former President Nasheed in prison
“[Nasheed] is pleased that I’ll be attending meetings on his behalf with the government this week,” Clooney told press after the two-hour meeting. The government has said Attorney General Mohamed Anil will meet the former president’s foreign lawyers on behalf of the government.
08 Sep 2015, 09:00
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