President Muizzu directed the cabinet to explore offering a financial incentive for islands to become tobacco-free. The reward "would be deposited directly into the bank accounts of all residents of participating islands."
MMA advisor Idham Hussain was dismissed from the central bank's board of directors, according to media reports. A veteran with 35 years of service, she was previously the assistant governor before her role changed to advisor as part of an overhaul of the bank's administrative structure. Mariyam Rashfa, the new head of the monetary policy department, is expected to replace Idham on the board. The dismissal came as employees were told to sign a confidentiality agreement with the threat of imprisonment for leaking information, Adhadhu reported.
Compensation paid to UMET Construction for the termination of an agreement in March 2013 to build the Lhaviyani Kurendhoo harbour was MVR 23.2 million (US$ 1.5 million) in excess of the MVR 2.7 million that was owed, a special audit of the previous administration's settlement agreement concluded. The President's Office economic council had approved the payout as an out-of-court settlement in April 2023 despite a Supreme Court judgment that disputed the company's claim. The audit office recommended legal action to recover the excess amount and to hold officials accountable. The council's members included then-ministers Ali Shiyam, Ibrahim Ameer, Mohamed Aslam and Fayyaz Ismail.
In a procedural ruling, the High Court reprimanded HDC for making frivolous legal requests to obstruct an appeal filed by lawyer Mariyam Shunana, after the state-owned company sought an order for a security deposit of MVR 15,000 to cover legal costs. The request revealed HDC has "no concern whatsoever about whether there is a legal basis for their submissions," the judge said.
The housing ministry signed an agreement with the Bank of Maldives to provide construction loans at a five percent interest rate under the Hiyaavahi financing scheme.
The monthly allowance for people who memorise the Quran will be doubled to MVR 4,000 with effect in July, President Muizzu announced.
A dinghy collided with a speedboat near the Lhaviyani Madivaru airport. The incident was reported around 8:30pm and three people on the dinghy were undergoing treatment at the Naifaru atoll hospital, police told the media. Photos circulating on social media showed blood inside the speedboat.
Out of 576 audits planned for the year, the Auditor General's Office has so far completed only 62 reports, according to information shared with parliament's public accounts committee.
Applications opened for two seats on the five-member Human Rights Commission.
