At a rally in Malé’s Sultan Park, former president Nasheed described his return to the MDP as "coming home" and highlighted foreign debt and the rising cost of living as the most urgent challenges facing the country. The MDP will win 80 percent of seats in the upcoming local council elections, he declared. The opposition party's leadership warmly welcomed the former leader back and celebrated the reconciliation with Nasheed's breakaway faction. Former president Solih could not attend because he was out of the country, according to his brother.
Hassan Mamdhuh was detained for the duration of his trial over the fraudulent sale of apartments from the K-Park Residence in Hulhumalé. The Hanbo Company’s minority shareholder – who is accused of taking more than MVR 100 million (US$ 6.5 million) as payments after forging the signature of managing director Shihu Jin, a Chinese national – was charged with more than 100 counts of theft, fraud, deception and money laundering. After several hearings were canceled since July last year over his failure to appear citing ill health, Mamdhuh was brought to court under police custody and the judge ordered his detention.
Indian customs officials seized five cartons of medicine worth US$ 5,700 from two Maldivians at the Cochin airport. The pair, who lacked a license for bulk export of pharmaceuticals, was allowed to fly back after the medicine was confiscated.
President Muizzu instructed the home ministry to implement recommendations of an inquiry commission that flagged police negligence in investigating the unexplained ninth-storey fall of a young woman in April. The measures include revising police procedures, taking disciplinary action and a comprehensive probe into the aftermath of the fall, including the role of sacked President's Office undersecretary Daudh Ahmed, who was implicated in perjury and failure to report the incident.
The ruling party's majority on parliament’s economic committee decided to bar the public and media from a meeting with economic ministry officials to discuss the Free Trade Agreement with China. The closed-door session came amid concerns over authorising Chinese businesses to operate safari vessels with less than 20 rooms.
A legally-mandated biennial review of the minimum wage will be completed in December, the labour minister told parliament, blaming the previous government for failing to complete it by the deadline of November 8, 2023. Data collection for a labour survey advised by the ILO was underway, he said, which would also inform a decision on introducing a minimum wage for migrant workers.
A fire broke out at a Vinares apartment in Hulhumalé. No one was hurt but a bunk bed mattress burned down and other furniture was damaged. Firefighters put out the flames shortly after it was reported at 7:41am.
The Coast Guard seized two Sri Lankan fishing boats inside Maldivian territorial waters.
A new state-owned company will be formed to import medicine as a lasting solution to a persistent shortage, the health minister told Mihaaru.
An agreement was signed to relocate the Villimalé hospital to the premises of the former children’s home for the development of a Chinese-funded 112-bed new hospital in the capital’s suburban island.
The Maldives was ready to offer support to de-escalate the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, President Muizzu said after receiving credentials from Iran's non-resident Ambassador Dr Alireza Delkhosh, who also made a courtesy call on the speaker of parliament. The president meanwhile welcomed non-resident ambassadors and high commissioners from Paraguay, Cyprus, Spain, Egypt, Guinea, Kenya, Norway, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Algeria and Nepal.