The Privatisation and Corporatisation Board ordered state-owned enterprises to cut salary and benefit costs, freeze promotions, stop hiring except for essential positions, eliminate overtime, and cancel non-essential events. The directive, issued Wednesday, escalates austerity measures first introduced on March 30 when SOEs were told to halt overseas travel and switch to online meetings. The board also told companies to manage cash flow with the Middle East war's economic impact in mind. Government ministries and agencies are also implementing similar cost-cutting steps. Maldives Ports Limited cut administrative staff working hours to finish at 2pm instead of 3:30pm and capped shift staff at eight hours daily as part of broader cost-reduction measures. The company also suspended non-essential overseas travel and training, and postponed the Maldives Maritime Conference 2026 from this month to October 5. MPL assured that vessel unloading and cargo clearance at Malé Commercial Harbour will continue uninterrupted.
A fire broke out at Faafu Feali harbour and fuel jetty around 9:30am. Firefighters from the Central Area Command, along with Nilandhoo and Kudahuvadhoo fire stations, extinguished it within an hour. The blaze spread from a fuel vessel to four other boats and the island's ice plant, all of which were destroyed along with a tuna fishing vessel that sustained significant damage. The island's two main reef-fishing boats were among those lost. A Bangladeshi crew member sustained severe burns and was transferred by sea ambulance to IGMH in Malé. A Maldivian was also injured.
A boat travelling from Malé to Gaaf Alif Vilingili struck a reef near Laamu Olhuveli and sank around 1:25am, with 12 of the 13 passengers rescued safely, including one foreigner who swam ashore and 11 others picked up by a resort vessel. A Maldivian elderly passenger, Ismail Afeef, 87, went missing but was later found alive by a passing supply vessel, clinging to a drifting pallet in heavy seas with only his head visible above the waves. He was taken to Laamu Gan Regional Hospital suffering from hypothermia. Afeef, a lifelong Quran teacher and imam from Gaaf Alif Kolamaafushi, had travelled to Malé to collect a foreign domestic worker. Police warned vessels in the area to exercise caution as cargo from the sunken boat was drifting westward.
The Maldives government welcomed the temporary ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States, expressing hope it will ease regional tensions and open the door for diplomatic dialogue. The government credited Pakistan and other parties for their role in facilitating the agreement, and reaffirmed its support for international efforts to restore peace and stability in the region, stressing the importance of protecting civilians and maintaining freedom of navigation.
MTCC Managing Director Ahmed Saudhee acknowledged widespread complaints about the Malé Taxi service's hotline (1655), revealing the call centre receives around 58,000 calls daily since launching last Thursday, a volume he attributed partly to the free trial period, which ends tonight, Mihaaru reported. The app was taken down due to technical issues, forcing users to rely solely on the hotline, with many complaining of waiting over 30 minutes without an answer while incurring call charges. Saudhee said work is underway to expand call centre capacity and launch a web app testing phase before tonight's deadline, with security assessments currently ongoing. Corruption allegations over the MVR 13 million (US$ 843,000) contract awarded to Fixed Maldives have been referred to parliament, though MTCC maintains the cost was MVR 2 million.
The Criminal Court ruled that the requirement for two male witnesses under the Evidence Act does not bar the imposition of the death penalty, interpreting the provision in line with Islamic Sharia rather than as an absolute evidentiary barrier. The court reasoned that the Supreme Court had previously held that male and female testimony carries equal weight in capital cases under Islamic law, and that the Constitution prohibits legislation contrary to Islamic principles. The ruling came in the case of Mohamed Samaah, who was sentenced to death last week for the 2012 murder of a police officer, a case where neither two male witnesses nor a confession were available.
Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim declined to explain publicly why essential medical supplies face lengthy delays through NSPA, saying such information is shared only with relevant parties, despite repeated questioning triggered by the death of a six-year-old child last month whose feeding tube took eight months to obtain. The minister also refused to confirm whether any action had been taken in connection with a child's death over difficulties in getting a PEG tube due to recent changes in how medicines and medical equipment are issued through the Aasandha health insurance scheme, saying it was not appropriate to publicly attribute a death to a specific cause. Separately, Nazim announced the health sector will recruit around 1,900 additional staff this year, following 1,700 hires last year, as the government works toward replacing foreign nurses with Maldivians by December 2028.
The MDP infighting was triggered by former President Nasheed's push to use the party's election victory as a platform to call for President Muizzu to step aside in favour of an all-party transitional government, Adhadhu reported in a detailed account sourced to five senior party figures. Nasheed messaged the party leadership on April 5 proposing the move, citing the government's loss of public trust and the economic impact of the war. Acting chairman Ghafoor and the Solih faction blocked Nasheed from raising the idea at the victory rally, prompting the current crisis. Adhadhu reported that Nasheed has discussed the transitional government proposal with figures outside MDP, including former President Yameen, and that his plan would offer Muizzu a role. Ghafoor's dismissal of deputy chairman Waheed was a pre-emptive move to prevent him from convening the National Council meeting that could remove Ghafoor, and the legal director was sacked beforehand to clear the way for that decision, the report said.
