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A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.

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Negotiations launching of China - Maldives FTA

Benefits from China – Maldives FTA

3 min read

The original Dhivehi article was published on Avas.mv website on 30th March 2017. The following is a loose translation: The decision to make a Maldives – China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was taken in December 2014, in China. And to see if this was feasible, experts from both sides met on 4 February 2015. And […]

Made in “China – Maldives” free trade agreement

Made in “China – Maldives” free trade agreement

4 min read

On 29 November, Abdulla Maseeh Speaker of Parliament called for an emergency sitting, to pass the FTA with China. 1000 page Agreement was sent to the Parliamentary oversight committee on national security affairs within 3 minutes of submission to the floor. The Committee reviews the Agreement took less than 10 minutes behind the close door […]

Entrance to the High Court of the Maldives. PHOTO/MIHAARU

High Court upholds jail sentence for Ahmed Nizar’s killer

2 min read

Entrance to the High Court of the Maldives. PHOTO/MIHAARU The High Court on Wednesday upheld the 16-year jail sentence issued by the Juvenile Court on one of the perpetrators behind Ahmed Nizar’s murder in July 2013. Nizar was riding a motorcycle when he was attacked by a gang wielding wooden and metal sticks in Laamu […]

elderly sexual predator

Court frees elderly man accused of sexually abusing four sisters

2 min read

The elderly man who has been accused of sexually assaulting four sisters on the back of a motorbike in the capital Male. Reportedly he fled from his island when the allegations surfaced and moved to Male — The Criminal Court on Tuesday freed an elderly man who was accused of sexually assaulting four sisters in […]

China-Maldives free trade deal rushed through parliament

China-Maldives free trade deal rushed through parliament

5 min read

A landmark free trade deal between the Maldives and China was rushed through parliament Wednesday, hours after President Abdulla Yameen sought approval for ratification. The free trade agreement – which commits both nations to reduce tariffs on most imported goods to zero – was passed with 30 votes from ruling party lawmakers in the 85-member […]

Gulhi Falhu project

The roadmap to elevate Maldives for businesses

4 min read

Gulhi Falhu where a mega project was started previously by a foreign investor: Changes to government affects such projects. Now this project is nationalised The original Dhivehi article was published on Avas.mv website on 30th November 2017. The following is a loose translation: Every year the World Bank selects countries which are easy to do […]

Maldives Parliament Approves FTA With China Amidst Opposition Boycott

Maldives Parliament Approves FTA With China Amidst Opposition Boycott

6 min read

Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Credit: Reuters New Delhi: The Maldives will soon become the second country in South Asia, after Pakistan, to enter into a free trade agreement (FTA) with China after it was passed on Wednesday evening by parliament in a session boycotted by the opposition. The text of the FTA […]

President Declares Passport card to be recognized as a valid identity document – Press Releases

President Declares Passport card to be recognized as a valid identity document – Press Releases

1 min read

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has declared the passport card issued by the Maldives Immigration to be recognized as a valid identity document. The passport card is currently the safest, most secure; identity document used in Maldives and cannot be duplicated. Therefore, the passport card will be recognized in government institutions, hospitals, banks, and by […]

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed

Maldives pushes for free trade pact with China in parliament

3 min read

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed (C) pictured at a free trade discussion. The Maldives’ government on Wednesday decided to enter the long-discussed free trade pact with China, and submitted the proposal to the parliament for review. The president’s Cabinet ministers made the decision to sign the free trade agreement with China at a meeting held earlier […]