Parliament accepted a motion without notice from an opposition lawmaker about challenges facing yellowfin tuna fishers. Despite rejecting most other emergency motions proposed by the opposition minority, the ruling party supermajority agreed to open the floor for a debate. Fishermen are waiting in line to weigh and sell more than 120 tons of tuna, MDP MP Ziyad said, criticising President Muizzu's failure to float the purchasing price between MVR 80 to MVR 100 (US$ 6.5) as pledged. Ruling party lawmakers blamed the previous MDP government for failing to resolve the situation.
The speaker ended Wednesday's sitting of parliament early before a committee report about the MMPRC's deteriorating finances on the agenda could be presented. With losses over the past four years, including MVR 27.7 million in 2024, the debt-ridden state-owned tourism promotion company is unable to operate without significant budget support from the finance ministry. The SOE committee report also noted concerns over the effectiveness of a MVR 23 million campaign with Liverpool over the lack of visible advertising on the football club's social media accounts.
Only three political parties meet the public funding threshold of 10,000 members, according to a membership update from the Elections Commission. The ruling PNC was the largest party with 68,665 members, followed by the opposition MDP with 43,765 members and the Jumhooree Party with 14,456 members.
HPA reminded retailers to obtain tobacco selling licences before the grace period for registration expires on July 17. A MVR 5,000 fee must be paid for the license, which must be renewed every five years.
IGMH is preparing to launch new services including cardio-thoracic surgeries and interventional radiology, officials from the main public hospital told parliament’s social affairs committee. Trials are also underway to provide telemedicine services through IGMH in Kulhudhuffushi City and Faafu Nilandhoo, they said.
The president and first lady concluded an inaugural state visit to Singapore.
Debt is the biggest barrier to achieving sustainable development, the vice president said in his address at the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.