Politics


Police orders Gayoom to cancel meeting with PPM members
Gayoom was planning to launch a series of meetings with PPM members when two police officers visited the former president’s office this afternoon and informed his son Faris Maumoon that the gathering cannot take place.
18 Jan 2017, 09:00


PPM primaries for local councils to take place on January 27
Primaries are being held for ten Malé City council seats, 16 atoll and 38 island council seats, the MP said. Candidates have been selected for some 212 constituencies without a primary contest.
16 Jan 2017, 09:00


Verdict in Raajje TV cameraman trial delayed
Adam Zareer was told the judge overseeing his case had called in sick and postponed the verdict to February 27 when he turned up at the criminal court at 2pm.
16 Jan 2017, 09:00


First lady launches Yameen’s 2018 re-election campaign
The event marks the start of a series of nationwide campaign activities organised and carried out by the first lady’s office and not the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives, officials said.
15 Jan 2017, 09:00


Gayoom questioned over missing hard drive
In a Twitter post, the former president said police officers “visited me in my office today and asked me if I knew anything about the missing PPM hard disk… I told them I know nothing”.
13 Jan 2017, 09:00


Police seek to charge Nasheed for Yameen’s 2010 arrest
A spokesman said the police have sent files on the investigation to the prosecutor general’s office, but declined to comment on the charges against the opposition leader.
10 Jan 2017, 09:00


Adhaalath to boycott local council elections
Participating in the vote would legitimise an election that has been “unlawfully stolen” from the people, the religious conservative party said.
10 Jan 2017, 09:00


Local council elections date set for April 8
Local council elections will be held on April 8, the elections commission has announced. It also set a new deadline for candidacy papers allowing President Abdulla Yameen’s party to field candidates.
09 Jan 2017, 09:00


Dunya rejoins Yameen’s government
Gayoom has denounced his daughter’s shock return, saying he does not support her decision
05 Jan 2017, 09:00


Local council elections rescheduled for April
The elections commission has assured political parties that the postponed local council elections will be rescheduled for early April with a new date to be announced next week.
04 Jan 2017, 09:00


Audit uncovers illegal expenses by housing ministry in 2014
A compliance audit for 2014 found that the ministry made an illegal advance payment of MVR120 million (US$7.8 million) to the state-owned Maldives Roads Development Corporation for a project to build roads in seven islands.
03 Jan 2017, 09:00


Minister blames MDP government for housing project controversy
With a majority of flat winners struggling to raise an MVR400,000 down payment to secure a home loan, the housing ministry has threatened to take legal action against those who fail to hand over their plots of land in Malé within three months.
02 Jan 2017, 09:00


Elections commission withdraws appeal against poll delay
The elections commission has withdrawn its appeal of a civil court judgment that postponed next year’s local council elections by two months, drawing fierce criticism from political parties over the independence of the electoral body.
24 Dec 2016, 09:00


Media council elects new leadership amid press freedom concerns
Concerns have been raised about the independence and the lack of professional experience of the new members elected to the print and online media regulator at a time when press freedom is under threat.
20 Dec 2016, 09:00


Sentencing postponed for convicted Raajje TV journalists
The criminal court found two journalists from the opposition-aligned Raajje TV guilty today on controversial charges of obstructing police duty. However, in an unusual move, the sentencing has been postponed to January 24.
19 Dec 2016, 09:00


MDP accuses electoral body of ‘curtailing election observation’
The commission gave three working days to register representatives for nearly 500 candidates and refused to accredit several observers, the MDP said.
18 Dec 2016, 09:00


Radical cleric appointed to top Islamic council
Shameem is known for preaching against multi-party democracy, liberalism and for being a jihadist-sympathizer in the on going Syrian conflict.
14 Dec 2016, 09:00


Anti-graft watchdog prompts criticism for ruling out corruption in biggest ever property deal
The anti-graft watchdog has come under fire for declaring legal the government’s choice of a contractor to build a new wing for Malé’s public hospital, a project worth MVR2.1billion (US$140million)
13 Dec 2016, 09:00


Uproar after watchdog head ‘lauds’ Maldives human rights situation
Media reports that the president of the human rights watchdog dismissed concerns over abuses in the Maldives have provoked widespread condemnation on Twitter.
12 Dec 2016, 09:00


Media regulator throws out libel complaint against state TV
MBC said it would not investigate TVM for defaming Nasheed and Gayoom in a decision that stands in start contrast to action it has previously taken against opposition aligned station, Raajje TV.
10 Dec 2016, 09:00

