The President’s Office closed the “Media Fenda,” a bleacher set up across the street in May with electricity and charging ports, citing “repeated non-compliance” with guidelines after journalists protested at the spot over recent weeks. The office blamed individuals “posing as journalists” gaining entry without “official passes” and "breaches of public safety regulations and disruptions to individuals visiting government offices in the Green Zone" where demonstrations are prohibited.
President Muizzu announced that applications will open within two weeks for soft loans for content creators under the creative economy fund launched almost a year ago. The move came amid growing concern over a proposed media regulation bill that could target social media users.
The trade ministry added 23 food items, including 10 fruits and 10 vegetables, to the list of essential commodities designated for bulk imports by the State Trading Organisation.
A 28-year-old man was stabbed in Malé and underwent treatment at IGMH, police said. The extent of the injuries was unclear.
MDP MPs and activists protested outside the housing ministry over the minister's refusal to meet with the opposition lawmakers despite repeated requests for several months. MPs have also sought to summon the minister to parliament over stalled housing projects nationwide.
A police raid at the Maafushi jail uncovered 33 electronic devices, including mobile phones, earbuds, headsets, chargers, and SIM cards. The operation was conducted last Thursday following information about inmates making scam calls, police told the media.
The housing ministry began handing over land plots awarded from Gulhifalhu under the previous administration’s Binveriyaa scheme. Over 3,000 recipients of flats in Hulhumalé under the Gedhoruveriya social housing scheme meanwhile signed agreements and 588 recipients paid security deposits under the rent-to-own model.
A total of 3,200 students started A-Levels, nearly half of the 6,500 O-Level graduates. Entry requirements were relaxed to include those with lower grades and students from alternative pathways who completed vocational training and apprenticeships. The figure marks a significant rise from 2,100 students last year when only 32 percent of O-Level graduates moved up to the 11th grade, according to the education minister, who credited the introduction of A-Level programmes in 13 additional schools this year.
Fayaz Moosa, a 35-year-old Maldivian residing in Germany, passed away more than a month after being hospitalised with third-degree burns sustained in an explosion at the Munich factory where he worked.
The government continued to maintain a budget surplus as of September 4. Total expenditure of MVR 25.4 billion (MVR 1.6 billion) was below revenue of MVR 26.3 billion. Loan repayment of MVR 3.8 billion was more than double the amount spent in the same period last year.
The Food and Drug Authority began conducting health inspections of restaurants and cafés.
President Muizzu departed for Doha to attend an emergency summit between Arab-Islamic nations following the Israeli airstrike in Qatar on September 9.
