President Muizzu suffered his first internal party defeat at a recent PNC senate meeting, party sources told Adhadhu, after the senate rejected his proposal to hand the party leadership full authority over organising the upcoming PNC congress and instead voted to form a special committee with ordinary member participation. Several committee members are figures Muizzu reportedly did not want included. The 12-member committee includes Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Majority Leader Ibrahim Falah, ministers Ahmed Shiyam, Mohamed Saeed and Heena Waleed, IGMH CEO Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, former Fenaka MD Muaz Mohamed Rasheed, Maldives Gas MD Abdulla Mohamed, and MPs Ibrahim Shujau, Fathimath Saudha, Hassan Mufeed and Ibrahim Hassan. Separately, Speaker Abdul Raheem told a PNC rally in Addu City's Hithadhoo on Saturday night that the Majlis would not allow a no-confidence motion against Muizzu, dismissing the prospect as wishful thinking. His remarks followed former President Nasheed's claim that 23 MPs were preparing to sign a no-confidence motion against the president. PNC separately submitted its own no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim – a previously influential figure – last week, with 73 party signatures. Nasheed has characterised the Nazim removal as an attempt to deter the 23 MPs from crossing the floor. PNC Secretary General Moosa Fathuhee Adam said the Adhadhu account of the senate decision and the committee's formation was deeply misleading and intended to sow discord, while Majority Leader Falah called it "categorically false," saying nothing happens in the PNC senate or leadership against Muizzu's wishes and that the president had not proposed any specific outcome at the meeting but had asked the senate members to decide as they saw fit.
Police released social media activist Shamoon Jaleel 'Lucas' after he completed a 10-day detention order, the heaviest handed down to protesters taken into custody 11 days ago at the junction of Majeedhee Magu and Chaandhanee Magu. The protests, calling for the release of jailed journalists, continued on Sunday night. Lucas is a prominent social media figure. He previously spent 40 days in detention under the Yameen administration, after which he lived in Sri Lanka, returning to the Maldives only after Yameen lost the 2018 election. Mohamed Shamin and Ali Mushaffau remain in police custody, with five days left on their 15-day detention orders.
Police arrested an Indian national for attempting to smuggle drugs into the Maldives concealed inside a pair of tennis shoes, the latest in a series of such cases. Suraj Karuwar, 30, was detained after baggage screening turned up two packets of suspected narcotics hidden inside the shoes. Both tested positive for THC. The Criminal Court extended his detention by five days. The court said the shorter-than-usual order was granted because he had requested a state-appointed lawyer. The court order described the case as a major drug offence but did not specify the quantity seized. The arrest follows a recent rise in Indian nationals caught smuggling drugs through Velana International Airport, which prompted India's Narcotics Control Bureau to issue an advisory last month. Two Indian women were arrested last month at Velana with 2.17kg of drugs, and an Indian couple with 2.4kg; five other Indian nationals were arrested across three separate cases in March. Under amendments to the drug law passed in December, importing more than 350g of cannabis, 250g of diamorphine or 100g of certain other scheduled substances now carries the death penalty.
Visit Maldives Corporation will broadcast five days of live coverage of Eid al-Adha celebrations from Raa Meedhoo across its social media and digital platforms from May 26 to 30, the tourism marketing body said. The campaign will feature several of the island's signature Eid traditions, including Vedhuma Dhiyun (a custom of formally seeking permission from elders to begin festivities), Bodu Mas (a giant fish structure woven from coconut palm leaves and ceremonially paraded through the island), Maali Neshun (a costumed performance accompanied by boduberu drums) and Koadi Kendun (a community event centred on a decorated wooden structure). Long-form content from Meedhoo will follow on YouTube from next month. VMC CEO Ibrahim Shiuree said the campaign was intended to showcase Maldivian culture and community life alongside the country's better-known luxury appeal.
Police arrested two men in possession of 48 bottles of alcohol at Hulhumalé Phase 1 on May 21, the force said. Maisham Mohamed, 20, of F. Feeali, and Zayan Yousuf, 23, of N. Kendhikulhudhoo, were stopped near the jetty by Mary Brown's during a routine patrol; a black bag they were carrying contained two cases of liquor — 48 bottles in total. Both were remanded to seven days in custody by the court. The investigation is ongoing.
A new 140-bed prison unit opened in Hulhumalé Phase 1 with the first 16 inmates transferred to a completed cell block in the building that previously housed a Covid-19 facility. The structure, located next to Hulhumalé's new Criminal Court and across from Tree Top Hospital, will serve as the sixth unit of Hulhumalé Prison and is being built out in five cell blocks with air-conditioned cells, Corrections said. Hulhumalé Prison director Ahmed Jadhulla said remaining works are expected to be completed by September. The unit is intended for sentenced prisoners working in the Malé area, as well as inmates brought to the capital for court appearances or medical treatment. The expansion comes after the closure of Malé Prison on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, part of which was handed over for construction of a multi-purpose hall for Dharumavantha School.
