President Muizzu scrapped plans to reclaim 13 hectares of land in Dhonfanu, an island near the protected Hanifaru bay in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, citing requests from islanders. But the announcement sparked protests as the island council disputed the claim, accusing the president of lying about the community no longer wishing to create new land. The environment minister lauded the president's decision as a "testament to this government’s commitment to people-centred governance." The infrastructure minister assured that harbour repair and beach conservation will go ahead.
The independent institutions committee approved the public referendum bill with eight amendments, including provisions for expediting polls and holding regional referendums if deemed necessary by the president.
The national football team won the South Asian Super Cup, a two-legged contest featuring the Maldives against Sri Lanka. The Red Snappers clinched its first international trophy in seven years with a 4-1 aggregate victory.
A police raid for contraband at the Himmafushi rehabilitation centre was part of a series of coordinated operations, the National Drug Agency said, as advocate Ahmed Naweez raised the alarm about reports of a Hepatitis C outbreak with more than 25 cases, mainly among people with substance use disorder.
The foreign ministry advised against non-essential travel to Nepal until normalcy is restored, assuring efforts to ensure the safety of Maldivian students in Kathmandu.
Former president Yameen called for investigations into ruling party MPs' financial disclosures, suggesting that inconsistencies between reported income and declared assets indicated bribery and money laundering. He specifically questioned how Majority Leader Ibrahim Falah secured an MVR 15.7 million (US$ 1 million) loan with minimal bank deposits.
In a bid to address the persisting medicine shortage, President Muizzu established the State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation to handle bulk procurement and distribution of medicines, supplies and equipment. The new state-owned company will take over pharmaceutical responsibilities from the State Trading Organisation.
Several PNC lawmakers expressed concern over President Muizzu's proposal to reduce allowances and benefits for former MPs and presidents, warning of potential political damage and loss of support. Critics including MP Ibrahim Mohamed called it "falling for MDP traps." Most MPs rely solely on parliamentary income, other ruling party lawmakers said. However, some argued the move would boost public approval.
Four PNC MPs and MNP's Mohamed Nazim submitted their mandatory asset declarations after receiving 15-day notices for missing the August 31 deadline. The statements were published on parliament's website. The five lawmakers faced potential suspension for non-compliance.
Maldivian medical students in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the Philippines were defrauded by agencies operating as Zeed International/Consultancy, which allegedly charged inflated tuition fees three or four times higher than the actual amount. The H & Associates law firm provided free legal support to victims and called for investigations. A Sri Lankan national was arrested in connection with the suspected scam.
The Statistics Bureau launched its latest quarterly Labour Force Survey. About three quarters of a working age population of 140,255 people were employed. But the employment ratio was substantially lower for women at 51.6 percent.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency provided a grant of US$ 10.5 million for the Malé Island Disaster Resilience Enhancement Project.
Three motorcycles and a bus collided on the Sinamalé bridge. One of the vehicles was a police motorcycle. A speeding motorcycle tried to overtake another motorcycle and the bus, hit a third motorcycle and crashed under the bus. A few individuals injured in the accident required treatment. The extent of the injuries was unclear.
Local Government Minister Adam Shareef dismissed "irresponsible" social media claims about the government's plans to abolish atolls. The administration intends to reform atoll councils by integrating island-elected councillors and appointing civil service professionals to enhance the effectiveness of decentralised governance, he said.
The President's Office invited applications for membership on the Human Rights Commission with HRCM President Mariyam Muna's term due to end in November.
