The Maldives Media Council urged President Muizzu to veto the media regulation bill passed on Tuesday. If ratified, the law could "restrict press freedom and provide tools to silence dissenting opinions," the regulator warned. The Committee to Protect Journalists echoed calls for the president to reject the bill as it would "undermine the work of independent journalists and place the media under government control." The Maldives Journalist Association declared that the union's stand would be non-compliance if the bill becomes law, vowing to escalate street protests into civil disobedience.
On a new episode of his podcast, President Muizzu announced plans to hold a public referendum in Addu City next month to decide whether each island would elect its own council. The existing city currently administers all the islands in the southernmost atoll. The October referendum, which would also decide whether to add the suffix Addu to the name of each island, would be the first vote called under the new law on conducting referendums.
Some 343 young people selected for the national service programme departed for three months of basic training in Lhaviyani Maafilaafushi, including 64 girls and 279 boys between the ages of 16 and 29 from 107 islands across the country. The participants were chosen from 1,242 applicants after interviews, medical checks, aptitude assessments and fitness tests. The programme aims to instil patriotism and love of Islam, prepare them to respond to national crises, and provide a pathway into the armed forces and security services, President Muizzu said.
Majority Leader Ibrahim Falah purchased a 3,250 square feet beachfront plot from Hulhumalé for MVR 28.8 million (US$ 1.8 million), a civil court registration judgment revealed.
Channel 13 interrupted its primetime broadcast between 8pm and 10pm to comply with an order by the Broadcasting Commission as a penalty for violating the code of ethics.
The opposition MDP submitted complaints to the National Integrity Commission against alleged police brutality and the use of excessive force against protesters who gathered outside parliament on Tuesday.
Regulations gazetted under the new gang crimes law detailed protocols for controlled delivery operations, undercover operations, withholding access to a defence lawyer for up to 48 hours, asset seizure and management, declaring an organised criminal group or gang, and designating classified intelligence.
The Union of Yellowfin Tuna Fishermen warned that businesses were on the brink of bankruptcy as boat owners struggled to cover costs with inadequate income. The union called on the government to fulfil campaign promises for MIFCO to start buying yellowfin tuna after setting a minimum purchasing price of MVR 80 or MVR 100 and providing diesel and ice at subsidised rates.
Masharu Tour Group owner Ali Farish was convicted of theft by deception over the failure to reimburse return tickets of 48 clients who made payments to perform the Umrah pilgrimage last year. He was sentenced to three years and two months in prison.
Rafeequl Islam, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national, was arrested over alleged illegal money exchange operations near the airport resort counters. Police said they seized over MVR 68,000, US$ 1,700 and additional amounts in other currencies.
