Parliament security personnel forcibly removed journalists from a committee meeting – the first incident of its kind – when they demanded an explanation for holding closed-door sessions to review the "media control bill." The purported need to protect the privacy of individuals who submitted comments on the bill is not a legitimate justification under parliament's standing orders, journalists contended as they protested outside parliament and the President's Office. When the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the expulsion, the parliament secretariat claimed in a post on X that the journalists had "forcibly entered" the committee room despite notification of the closed-door meeting, tagging the CPJ as well as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Commonwealth Parliament Association. The Maldives Journalists Association said it was "extremely shocked by the blatant lies in the statement" and posted video showing journalists being escorted into the fifth-floor committee room after security checks.
The Attorney General's Office revealed amendments proposed by the government to the media and broadcasting regulation bill, including the removal of punitive measures against individual journalists. Scrapping a provision that allows the new regulator to temporarily revoke the registration of media outlets during investigation of complaints was also proposed, AG Usham tweeted later. Other changes include clearly defining public order, national security, and electronic media, and requiring the new commission to determine the qualifications of editors.
Legal changes will be proposed to reduce allowances for former presidents and lawmakers, President Muizzu announced, as public outrage mounted over revelations about MVR 35 million (US$ 2.2 million) spent on benefits for ex-MPs. Ex-presidents receive up to MVR 75,000 monthly to cover living expenses in addition to MVR 175,000 a month to manage an office. Ex-MPs collect 30 to 45 percent of their previous salaries in addition to other benefits such as health insurance. Wider retirement benefits and pensions will also be reformed, the president said, pledging to harmonise entitlements for all beneficiaries and to suspend pension payments when former officials return to public service.
MDP MPs Mohamed Ibrahim and Dr Ahmed Shamheed as well Chairman Fayyaz Ismail and PNC MP Ahmed Azaan declared support for abolishing special privileges and allowances for former lawmakers as campaigners planned to gather at the Usfasgandu in Malé to organise protests.
The cabinet approved the "bulk import of 10 types of fruits, 10 types of vegetables, and other essential food items through the State Trading Organisation for sale in the Maldivian market." In addition to its current import of rice, flour and sugar to control the price of staples, STO will also sell lentils, eggs and potatoes at subsidised rates. The policy is intended to ensure food security, President Muizzu announced amid growing concern over food inflation as the price of apples and oranges more than tripled. Fruit prices were up 10 percent in August compared to the same period last year.
Hussein Hassan, a former journalist and an MDP national council member, was arrested after taking a photograph of a police drug raid. Adhadhu CEO Hussein Fiyaz Moosa posted a screenshot of a message from a witness who said Hussein had been manhandled and thrown into a police vehicle. Fiyaz received a death threat as a reply to his post.
Maldivian entrepreneurs will be able to create seller accounts on Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, the economic minister announced. A one-day workshop will take place on Tuesday "aimed at supporting online and e-commerce businesses". The collaboration with Alibaba is supported by the Chinese government under the China-Maldives free trade agreement that came into force in January.
The Scout Association announced the temporary closure of its office after the education ministry ordered the premises to be vacated without providing an alternative space.
The tax authority collected MVR 2.12 billion in August, up 6.9 percent from August 2024 as an 11.5 percent rise in tourist arrivals boosted tourism taxes and airport fees.
STELCO Deputy Managing Director Aishath Muzna replaced Mohamed Amir on the state utility's board of directors. The Privatisation and Corporatisation Board announced the change without disclosing any reasons.
The Cricket Board took action against a staff member after an individual with no affiliation with the board gained access to the premises, which had reportedly been used by an agency accused of defrauding Maldivian medical students in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Philippines.
A Maldivian airlines flight to China was diverted to Bangladesh for an emergency landing after an engine failure. All passengers were checked into Dhaka hotels.
The Pension Administration Office held its annual Finance Forum, focusing on strengthening capital markets.
The fisheries ministry launched this year’s sixth study on assessing the health of reef fish populations and the broader reef fisheries sector in partnership with the Maldives Marine Research Institute.
The Bank of Maldives announced a "strategic partnership" with the Maldives Ocean Plastics Alliance under its ENV POS initiative, financing an annex at MOPA's Hulhumalé facility to be "equipped with heavy-duty PET grinders to efficiently convert plastic bottles into granules to export to established recycling facilities in India and Malaysia."
The Addu City Council opened applications to develop housing units on private properties.
The National Counter Terrorism Centre and the US Embassy conducted a workshop on informational outreach focused on youth and key government stakeholders.
