Deputy Commissioner of Police Farhad Fikury was appointed Acting Commissioner of Police by Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan following the retirement of CP Ismail Naveen. Farhad held the post briefly during last April’s youth protests but was removed within an hour after allegations resurfaced that he had destroyed evidence in a 2014 rape case involving his son, Mohamed Fauzan Farhad, an alleged gang member.
Police reported a rise in cases of alleged domestic violence offenders breaching court-issued protection orders, with 99 recorded violations last year leading to 38 arrests. Under the 2012 Domestic Violence Prevention Act, courts are empowered to issue protection orders requiring alleged perpetrators to comply with specific conditions, such as refraining from contacting or communicating with victims.
The Housing Ministry relaxed application requirements for those selected under the Hiyaa and Veshifahi housing schemes who have yet to receive their units. Applicants will no longer need to provide official documentation proving their selection and may instead submit evidence from a government-issued list or announcement confirming their eligibility.
Handy Water said it has recalled all batches of its glass-bottled water after the Maldives Food and Drug Authority flagged the product as contaminated and unsafe for consumption. The company said that it has identified the source of the issue and has taken corrective measures.
Tenants of Hiyaa Flats in Hulhumalé received criticism as large piles of household waste and old furniture were left outside the towers, a recurring issue during the annual Ramadan cleaning period.
The price of Kandoodhoo scotch bonnet peppers hovered above MVR 400 (US$26) per kilogram in the local market, leading vendors to begin selling imported Sri Lankan peppers at MVR 240–300 per kilo. Vendors told Adhadhu that the popular Kandoodhoo peppers were both harder to find and significantly more expensive this Ramadan.
President Mohamed Muizzu joined ruling party candidates for the Malé City Council in door-to-door campaigning throughout the capital.
The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) altered traffic flow in Hulhumalé, converting Kuredhimaa Hingun (the stretch between Bridge 2 and Bridge 3 linking Phase Two and Phase One) into a one-way road. HDC said the change aims to address the rising number of accidents in the area.
The Health Protection Agency reported a significant rise in cases of dengue fever, diarrhoea, and vomiting during December and January compared with the same period last year. In January alone 647 dengue cases were recorded, up from 103 cases the previous January. Meanwhile 7,792 cases of diarrhoea and vomiting were reported, compared with 4,183 cases last January.