Citing an anonymous complaint, social workers from the family protection ministry visited the home of singer Mariyam Maeesha to take a two-year-old child into state care. The former Maldivian Idol contestant says she has no children and called the incident "a bad mess up." Officials contacted her sister rather than her directly, and proceeded with a home investigation despite her attempts to clarify the error, Maeesha said.
Based on a comprehensive analysis of the new media regulation law, the Centre for Law and Democracy identified "numerous problems" including restrictive content rules, the new regulator's lack of independence, and overly broad definitions that could encompass social media users. The international legal organisation called for the law's repeal and stakeholder consultations.
In an official visit to the Maldives, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Pakistan's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, held talks with Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon in Malé. The Pakistani delegation included High Commissioner Faisal Rasul Lodhi and senior officials from the military. "The discussions were focused on strengthening the defence cooperation between both nations," according to the defence ministry.
Project Thimaaveshi staged a paddle protest with 30 people in Addu City's Hithadhoo on Wednesday against plans to reclaim 2.5 hectares for road construction. The reclamation would destroy mangrove plants and damage critical wetlands, the NGO warned.
A Comoros-flagged crude oil tanker that was previously linked to the sanctioned transport of Iranian exports anchored near Malé.
Parliament’s independent institutions committee decided to appoint former Media Council secretary general Mohamed Farsath as the chairman of the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission.
The criminal court remanded a 46-year-old Maldivian man for 30 days in custody over the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. The teacher had been arrested in Hulhumalé on Tuesday night.
Police record rules were amended to allow destruction of criminal investigation documents within one year if the Prosecutor General's Office declines to press charges.
Sunday, November 2, was declared a public holiday, allowing a four-day weekend for the Victory Day holiday on November 3.
Police arrested Adam Waheed, 54, captain of the vessel used to transport two containers of smuggled cigarettes stolen from the Hulhumalé port. The criminal court remanded him for seven days. He was the sixth suspect arrested over the elaborate heist.
The Baa Thuladhoo island council refuted and condemned Islamic Minister Dr Shaheem's remarks in parliament that blamed the council for the delayed reopening of a mosque. The council accused the ministry of failing to provide promised financial assistance. The mosque was temporarily closed in January after human remains were discovered in eight out of 10 examined locations. The council claimed to have covered the cost of a three-person delegation that visited the island.
The Met office forecast strong winds and rough seas to continue over the weekend before gradually easing from Sunday. A yellow alert was issued on Thursday as wind speeds reached 60 miles per hour in Hulhulé and the intensified southwest monsoon caused flooding across the country.
The Civil Service Commission sought to hire a secretary general for the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission with a take-home pay of MVR 35,500 (US$ 2,302) a month. Applicants require a relevant first degree or five years of media experience.
Fenaka announced the delivery of a 1.6-megawatt generator to Addu City as intermittent power cuts persist in the southernmost atolls.
