Police cracked down on yellowfin tuna fishermen protesting on boats outside Malé’s harbour for the second day. Immigration officers detained four migrant workers as police officers took control of two boats and steered them towards the nearby police detention island of Dhoonidhoo. MDP MP Mauroof Zakir and protest organisers from the Union of Yellowfin Tuna Fishermen were taken into custody. The opposition lawmaker, former national football team goalkeeper Imran Abdulla and one other man were arrested for obstructing officers and disobeying orders, police told the media. The protest began on Wednesday morning with 49 fishing vessels heading from Hulhumalé to the Malé harbour, where a Coast Guard ship and police vessel blocked the entrance.
An Addu High School Grade 12 student involved in a physical altercation with a teacher was suspended pending completion of an ethics program. The student reportedly had a history of disciplinary issues since Grade 9 and had allegedly been bullying and harassing the Indian teacher for about two weeks prior to the incident. The education ministry suspended the teacher following the confrontation and reported the incident to the police. Videos circulating on social media show the teacher attempting to forcibly take a phone from the student, leading to the altercation where both struck each other multiple times. Following the incident, some social media users condemned the teacher's conduct as unacceptable, but others pointed out the student’s violent behaviour.
Economic Development Minister Saeed officially handed over the first permit for a sustainable township under the special economic zones law to Crystal Holdings. The US$ 790 million 'Project Ayla' in Noonu atoll will feature "luxury real estate, world-class tourism offerings, a leading hospitality school, and high-quality medical and wellness facilities – powered largely by renewable energy and designed to strengthen food security," according to the ministry.
Police sought charges against suspects in the theft of over 13 million cigarettes from the Hulhumalé port. Three alleged masterminds, including prominent businessmen Mohamed Waheed (Apollo Company shareholder) and Ahmed Arif (Lotus Company owner), along with Hassan Abdul Rahman, were released on bail. They face charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, but investigators found no evidence linking them directly to the theft. Seven others remain detained over alleged direct involvement, including MIFCO General Manager Muaz Ali and Customs Department Head Ziwar Ismail, some of whom are accused of abusing official authority.
Ahmed Azmeel, 43, a STELCO supervisor who suffered severe burns in an electrical fire at the Hulhumalé power station on November 26, died while undergoing treatment abroad. Azmeel had sustained serious injuries while addressing a switchgear malfunction and received treatment abroad after initial treatment in local hospitals. STELCO said it would investigate the incident and take necessary measures.
The Bar Council urged the media to refrain from making baseless allegations against the legal profession after a criminal court judge accused defence lawyers of witness intimidation. The allegation made in a verdict was not supported by evidence or linked to a specific lawyer's conduct, and subsequent media coverage has created negative perceptions that undermine public confidence in the justice system, the council said, adding that it has conveyed concerns to the court and stressed that ethical complaints against lawyers can be submitted for review.
The economic ministry closed four massage parlours in Malé after inspections by an Immigration Taskforce, which detained three undocumented workers. It followed the closure of four massage parlours earlier in the week as part of an ongoing operation to identify businesses illegally operated by foreign nationals.
China donated office equipment and furniture worth US$ 2.8 million to replace items damaged in the December 12, 2024 fire that disrupted operations at the housing, construction, and environment ministries. Finance Minister Moosa Zameer accepted the donation at a handover ceremony, expressing gratitude to the Chinese government for the assistance.
Environmental activists Humaida Abdul Ghafoor and Mohamed Seenin filed a constitutional case at the High Court challenging the government's decision to permit gulper shark fishing. The move faced opposition from environmental groups, divers, and scientists, with 60 organisations and 50 scientists urging President Muizzu to maintain the ban that has been in place since 2010.
