Politics


Parliament approves pay cuts for city councillors
Since President Abdulla Yameen assumed power in November 2013, the government had gradually stripped the Malé City Council of its authority and staff. Nine of the 11 Malé City councilors and all six members of the Addu City Council belong to the MDP. The pay cuts were recommended by the parliament’s public accounts committee after the council’s functions were transferred to the housing ministry.
12 Oct 2015, 09:00


Court to review restrictions on family visits for Nasheed
The civil court will deliberate today a complaint lodged by jailed former President Mohamed Nasheed’s siblings over restrictions on prison visits. Nasheed’s lawyers are also complaining of infrequent access.
12 Oct 2015, 09:00


MP reveals details of meeting with President Yameen
President Yameen urged MPs to respect the outcome of an investigation into an alleged assassination attempt in September, and warned them MDP may move to exploit the government’s vulnerability, an MP present at the closed-door meeting said. Yameen also expressed confidence in his vice president.
12 Oct 2015, 09:00


Two Youth ministry coordinators sacked
Executive Consultant for the National Center for the Arts (NCA) Mohamed ‘Thema’ Shiyam and Executive Coordinator Abdulla Muaz were fired last week.
11 Oct 2015, 09:00


Home minister ‘offers shoulder’ in President Yameen’s defence
Condemning a spate of fake text messages in Home Minister Umar Naseer’s name, the home ministry said today: “Naseer’s shoulder will be the first offered in defence of President Abdulla Yameen’s administration.”
11 Oct 2015, 09:00


Maldives, India discuss defence and Indian Ocean security
The Maldives and India reviewed bilateral ties today and committed to boost cooperation in the defence, human resource, trade and health sectors in talks co-chaired by two nations’ foreign ministers.
11 Oct 2015, 09:00


Indian external affairs minister calls on President Yameen
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on President Abdulla Yameen this morning ahead of crucial bilateral talks.
11 Oct 2015, 09:00


Head of police intelligence directorate replaced
Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Jamsheed was replaced by Ahmed Areef, the assistant commissioner who had headed the intelligence directorate prior to June.
11 Oct 2015, 09:00


President Yameen meets Commissioner of Police
President Abdulla Yameen met with the Commissioner of Police Hussein Waheed and high-ranking officers at the police headquarters in Malé today following an apparent assassination attempt on his speedboat in September.
11 Oct 2015, 09:00


MDP hits back at EC’s condemnation of resolution backing targeted sanctions
The Elections Commission said that a political party that receives state funding should not be allowed to call for sanctions against government officials. The MDP’s national council had passed a resolution calling for targeted sanctions if the government continues to detain President Mohamed Nasheed in defiance of a UN rights panel judgment declaring his imprisonment arbitrary and illegal.
10 Oct 2015, 09:00


MDP stage nationwide protests calling for Nasheed’s release
Protest marches and vehicle rallies took place simultaneously around 4:00pom in the capital Malé, Addu City, Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo, and several islands across the country, calling on the government to abide by a UN rights panel ruling and release former President Mohamed Nasheed.
10 Oct 2015, 09:00


PPM MP proposes criminalising calls for sanctions, tourism boycott
MP Ahmed Nihan, PPM parliamentary group leader, meanwhile called Nasheed’s high-profile lawyers Jared Genser and Amal Clooney “enemies of the state” after the pair launched a campaign lobbying for targeted sanctions against state officials in the wake of a UN rights panel declaring the opposition leader’s imprisonment arbitrary and politically motivated.
10 Oct 2015, 09:00


Maldives, India top diplomats to meet on Saturday
Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon will meet her Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj in Malé on Saturday to review and plan the future course for bilateral relations.
08 Oct 2015, 09:00


“We shouldn’t rest until Mohamed Nasheed is a free man”: Richard Branson
Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon suggested that the celebrity status of Nasheed’s lawyers has a “very big impact” on international media coverage and shapes international opinion on the opposition leader’s case.
08 Oct 2015, 09:00


Contraband found in ex-defence ministers’ prison cell
Commissioner of Prisons Mohamed Husham said the “contraband was found during a routine check” at the ‘Asseryi’ jail in Himmafushi, but did not reveal what the item was. Husham downplayed the discovery and suggested that the prohibited item was not necessarily a mobile phone as reported by local media.
08 Oct 2015, 09:00


Home minister denies text message appeal to “save the country from vice president”
Several journalists received text messages from Umar Naseer that read: “During this critical juncture, I hope the media will properly fulfil its responsibility.” A second message read: “Consider this a national matter and work to save the country from the vice president. This is my final appeal. Thank you!”
07 Oct 2015, 09:00


MDP backs targeted sanctions to secure Nasheed’s release
The MDP’s national council adopted a resolution last night backing targeted sanctions on senior officials of the state if the government continues to detain former President Mohamed Nasheed in defiance of a UN recommendation. The government is accusing the MDP of inciting fear.
07 Oct 2015, 09:00


Vice President declares unwavering loyalty to president
Vice President Ahmed Adeeb declared unwavering loyalty to President Abdulla Yameen today, dismissing speculation of his involvement in a blast on the president’s speedboat last week.
07 Oct 2015, 09:00


Criminal court chief judge sues army for MVR5m
The Chief Judge of the criminal court, Abdulla Mohamed, is suing the Maldives army for his detention is January 2012. He is seeking MVR5million (US$324,254) in compensation.
06 Oct 2015, 09:00


PPM to reject bill stripping Gayoom of PPM leadership
PPM’s parliamentary group has issued a three-line-whip against the a bill that if passed would strip former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of the party’s presidency.
06 Oct 2015, 09:00

