Ahmed Saruvash Adam resigned from the Pension Office board in protest against investing in a government bond with MVR 2.4 billion (US$ 155.5 million) from the central bank. The board's majority decision "raises serious legal, fiduciary, and economic concerns," he tweeted. The sale of T-bills held by the Pension Office to the central bank to finance the purchase of the T-bond would necessarily increase money supply, stoking inflation and further depreciating the value of the Rufiyaa, the former chief budget executive warned in his resignation letter.
Following their arrest in a counter-terrorism operation in March, three suspects – Abdulla Huwairis, Sausan Rasheed, and Ibrahim Wisam – were charged with planning a terrorist attack in Malé and nearby islands and supporting the militant group Islamic State. Huwairis was charged with conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism, an offence that carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years. A separate charge over alleged recruitment of jihadi fighters could lead to a prison term of up to 15 years. The other two suspects face charges related to possessing documents supporting terrorist organisations.
In a combative appearance in parliament, Islamic Minister Dr Shaheem's remarks about MVR 50 million in unpaid debts inherited from the previous administration triggered heated exchanges between MDP and PNC MPs. Deputy Speaker Nazim ordered Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir to leave the chamber after he refused to sit down and Hithadhoo South MP Ibrahim Nazil was restrained after attempting to approach the minister.
Reversing his previous stance, the Islamic minister told parliament he now supports the Hajj Corporation's plans to invest in halal tourism. Hajj funds must be invested according to Islamic principles, he stressed, urging MPs to enact a new law to provide a legal framework for its operations.
The opposition MDP announced plans for a mass demonstration on October 31 against the government's social housing policies.
The criminal court remanded Hassan Abdul Rahman, 52, the fifth suspect arrested over the theft of over 13 million cigarettes from Hulhumalé port. The judge ordered his detention for trial. Parts of the stolen container were recovered during a search operation in Thilafushi.
A 46-year-old Maldivian man was arrested in Hulhumalé on Tuesday night over the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, police revealed. According to media reports, the suspect is a male teacher at a Malé school and the alleged abuse occurred during private tutoring at the victim's home. In a separate case, a 54-year-old male Indian teacher was arrested on a northern island on suspicion of touching and threatening a student, police said.
A husband and wife were found dead inside a house in Hithadhoo. Family members found Ibrahim Abdulla, 60, and Farahanaz Saeed, 52, inside a toilet when they went to check on them on Wednesday morning after not hearing from the couple since the previous night. Preliminary investigations do not indicate cause for suspicion, police told the media. The family suspected electrocution as the couple had only recently moved to the house, which did not have electricity and relied on a generator for power.
Before returning to Malé after concluding a tour of Laamu atoll, President Muizzu pledged the commencement of a 30-bed hospital project in Isdhoo and Kalaidhoo this year. Speaking at a rally in Gan, he announced compensation of MVR 50,000 for each family from Mundoo and Kalhaidhoo that relocated after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. He also pledged to increase the monthly allowance for single parents from MVR 2,000 to MVR 3,000 and to introduce an allowance for thalassemia patients in January 2026.
The Maldives Journalists Association invited public feedback on the creation of a self-regulatory media complaints body. The MJA shared a draft charter, membership rules and complaints review guidelines for the incipient Maldives Free Press Council.
Mujthaba Latheef, deputy managing director of the Maldives Airports Company Ltd, was appointed to the MACL's board of directors. It followed the removal of board member Mohamed Riyaz who reportedly objected to the airport operator taking on government projects to reclaim land and build fitness centres on 63 islands.
A section of Malé’s ring road on the northern waterfront will be closed to traffic from Saturday. The closure from the police headquarters to Husnuheenaa Goalhi will affect several connecting alleys and parking spaces. It is part of a project launched in August to widen the busy outer road to four lanes and involves asphalting 830 metres from the Hulhumalé ferry terminal to the local market.
