Raymond Group chairman Gautam Singhania was injured and two Indian nationals including rally driver Hari Singh remain missing after a high-speed Cigarette racing boat from Singhania's yacht TT Ashena capsized two nautical miles southwest of Vaavu Keyodhoo late Thursday night. Seven people were on board – five Indian men, a British woman, and a Russian woman. Five fell into the sea, of whom three were rescued. Sources told Dhauru those on board were intoxicated and Singhania was driving the vessel. One of the rescued Indian men lost a hand in the accident. Singhania, the British woman, and the injured Indian were flown to India for treatment. A Raymond spokesperson said Singhania suffered minor injuries and is recovering in Mumbai. An Indian man and British woman departed for treatment on Friday whilst the Indian man who lost his hand was flown out on Saturday, police confirmed. The Coast Guard and Air Corps are continuing the search for the two missing men. Police said the investigation is ongoing.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for development of 1,224 housing units in Hulhumalé by the China Machinery Engineering Corporation. Construction began under the first phase of a 3,260-unit project funded by Bank of Maldives across Villimalé, Hulhumalé Phase 1, and Hulhumalé Phase 3. The three-bedroom flats will be allocated to people earning under MVR 60,000 (US$ 3,890) on a rent-to-own basis. Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib said the government has also invited proposals for a separate 1,000-unit affordable home ownership scheme for applicants who qualify for the social housing programme but do not currently own property. BML – which set up a subsidiary, BML Affordable Home Leasing Company for the project – said the units are due for completion by mid-2028. CMEC was chosen for the company's track record in the country, BML's spokesman said. President Muizzu, First Lady Sajidha and cabinet ministers attended the ceremony along with the Chinese ambassador and CMEC officials.
A two-year-old boy from Haa Alif Uligan drowned after falling into a resort pool in Kaafu atoll on Friday night. The child was dead on arrival at ADK Hospital. Police said the investigation is ongoing.
A car flipped at high speed on reclaimed land in Addu City's Hithadhoo, seriously injuring the 30-year-old driver and three passengers. All four were taken to Addu Equatorial Hospital. The vehicle, believed to be a taxi, was severely damaged.
CCTV footage shared on social media shows a man entering the vacant house near the Galolhu mortuary roughly six minutes before a fire broke on Wednesday morning. The footage shows him arriving on a motorcycle at 10:33am, leaving at 10:39am, and smoke visible by 10:43am. Police have not commented on the footage or made any arrests. The warehouse was destroyed in the blaze.
A Maldivian man arrested for causing a disturbance on a Batik Air flight from Malaysia was released the next day on medical grounds without being brought before a court, police said. The incident on Thursday night disrupted flight operations and caused difficulties for cabin crew and passengers. Police declined to identify the man or confirm social media claims that he is a diplomat and had been intoxicated. The foreign ministry did not comment. The investigation is ongoing.
The captain of an atoll ferry launch was hospitalised after the vessel collided with an MPL tugboat near the Malé commercial harbour on Saturday morning. The Mahuma Express from Dhaalu Meedhoo had just dropped off passengers and was heading to refuel when it struck the tug. The launch sustained significant damage. Police said the captain's injuries were not serious.
Addu City Council accused MNDF's commercial arm SIFCO of cancelling an Eid fireworks display at the last minute under political pressure, despite having been paid two months in advance and having set up equipment on site. The council said SIFCO cited a "technical issue" by email shortly before the event at the opening of Hithadhoo Central Park and removed its equipment without further communication. The council called it an act of political interference aimed at undermining the opposition-controlled council. MNDF has not commented.
The Union of Yellowfin Tuna Fishermen said fishing boats in the Malé area have not received fuel at the subsidised prices STO promised two days earlier, warning the industry could grind to a halt if prices remain at current levels. STO and MIFCO had assured fishermen that subsidised diesel prices of MVR 16 to MVR 17 per litre would be maintained under the government's Fahi Hakatha programme, but the association said the commitment has not materialised. "Fishermen cannot go out to sea unless fuel prices come down," the association said, calling on the government to provide immediate guarantees.
Police are investigating the death of a nine-day-old baby in Haa Alif Utheemu. The infant was dead when brought to the island health centre on Wednesday morning. Police did not provide further details.
President Muizzu announced that the handover of land plots will begin in June after the reclamation of the Giraavaru lagoon south of Malé is completed in April.
After collecting a record MVR 15 million in Fitr Zakat this Ramadan, up 10.6 percent from last year, and distributing MVR 6,000 to each person on the national registry of the poor, the Zakat House donated MVR 500,000 to the Isra Association for food aid in Gaza and MVR 424,000 to the social ministry's trust fund for Maldivians in hardship.
The stretch from Izuddeen jetty to the Henveiru ferry terminal will be closed tonight, police announced, advising the removal of parked vehicles with work on widening the remaining 700 metres of Malé's ring road due to commence on Monday. MTCC will also widen 610 metres of seawall to expand road capacity.
