The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission made an announcement prohibiting media outlets from sharing a political cartoon that the regulator had ordered Adhadhu to remove last week. The order had been revised after a previous announcement sought to ban the circulation of the cartoon on social media, contrary to the government's claims that the new "media control law" would only apply to media workers. The cartoon depicted a man who resembles President Muizzu with a Pinocchio nose stealing money from the pocket of another man prostrating in prayer. The satirical cartoon breached constitutional limits on freedom of expression, which restricts speech contrary to a tenet of Islam, the commission contended.
A teacher was charged with sexually abusing students at a school in Meemu atoll. The Prosecutor General's Office filed five charges including sexual assault of minors in a position of trust and possession of pornographic material. If convicted, the accused faces over 60 years imprisonment.
Addu City has the highest number of cancer patients outside Malé, followed by Shaviyani and Raa atolls, with cancer remaining the leading long-term illness requiring overseas treatment according to Aasandha records, the health ministry revealed. Chemotherapy services, first introduced in the Maldives in 2014, have since expanded to regional hospitals, including most recently at Raa Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital, where two patients are currently receiving treatment.
Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, and several family members were trapped in a lift at Velana International Airport's CIP terminal for over 35 minutes before departing the Maldives, Adhadhu reported. The incident occurred as the minister was preparing to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul, which departed 39 minutes behind schedule at 10:34pm, though it's unclear if the delay was related to the lift malfunction.
MP Mohamed Ibrahim submitted a case to the National Pay Commission over salary reductions for legal officers in civil service institutions and local councils following pay framework changes implemented after November 1. Legal officers report their take-home pay dropped from MVR 18,465 (US$ 1,200) monthly to lower amounts, while 84 legal officers have petitioned parliament claiming the rank downgrade is unjust given their educational qualifications and responsibilities.
HDC completed installing additional elevators in eight Hiyaa Flat towers (H1-H8) in Hulhumalé Phase 2, with work ongoing at eight more towers as part of a US$ 18 million project to add 32 new elevators. The larger elevators, capable of carrying 21 people and stretchers, address longstanding complaints from residents about insufficient lift capacity in the 16 towers.
The Elections Commission accepted the candidacies of 750 people for the April 4 local council elections, including 617 candidates from political parties and 133 independent candidates.
