Journalists protested in the parliament gallery as MPs debated a widely-condemned bill to create a new media regulator with powers to revoke registration and impose fines of up to MVR 100,000 (US$ 6,486). The opposition MDP as well as the Media Council and Journalists Association called on Independent MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru to withdraw the legislation, which proposes merging the Media Council and Broadcasting Commission into a new body with three members appointed by the president and four elected by the media. The bill was not put to a vote as parliament broke for recess until October.
The constitution will be amended to abolish atoll councils ahead of next year's municipal elections, President Muizzu announced, calling it a "useless" layer of bureaucracy.
A media grant policy to provide financial assistance to registered private media outlets was gazetted. As pledged by the president, MVR 29.7 million or 0.1 percent of the state budget was allocated to disburse lump sum payments.
The Maldives Airports Company Ltd was contracted to build fitness and recreation centres on 63 islands. The state-owned operator of the Velana International Airport also signed an MoU to reclaim 26.5 hectares of land and develop an airport in Alif Alif Mathiveri at a ceremony during President Muizzu's visit to the island. The "commercially viable and fully feasible" project will be completed within two and a half years, the president pledged. The abandoned 50-bed Casa Mia guesthouse previously operated by former MP Abdulla Jabir – who allegedly owes MVR 4 million in unpaid rent – was meanwhile transferred to the Mathiveri council.
Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Azaan Marzooq, who was ousted from key parliamentary committees in March for breaking the ruling party's whip line on downsizing the Supreme Court, was reinstated to both the public accounts and security services oversight committees.
Police uncovered a "new and sophisticated" cryptocurrency scam targeting Chinese foreign workers that has caused losses of more than MVR 2.9 million. The scammers pose as intermediaries who arrange fake currency exchanges where a local crypto seller transfers USDT to the scammer's wallet while the foreign worker hands over cash.
The infrastructure minister appealed for public cooperation as a section of Malé's ring road between the official jetty and fish market was closed to traffic and boats were removed from the northern harbour for a project to expand the waterfront road to four lanes.
President Muizzu pledged to designate the Maafaru lagoon as part of Feridhoo with a picnic area and boat docking facility. During his ongoing two-day tour of Alif Alif atoll, the president also pledged additional classrooms for Himandhoo and a new health centre for Maalhos.
An increase in groups of boys under 18 years old gathering in crime hotspots has been observed, police said, warning that such minors could become victims of grooming or be exposed to drugs and other illegal activities.
