A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom at the presidential jetty before his departure to India. PHOTO: HUSSAIN WAHEED/MIHAARU Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom on Monday night gave an opaque response when asked for his opinion on electing an interim president in 2018. Late in October, former president Mohamed Nasheed had urged the opposition coalition to collectively […]
NGOs have slammed the decision to destroy mangroves to make way for an airport in Kulhudhuffushi, ahead of next week’s official project launch by President Abdulla Yameen. The white clay mangroves, said to be the largest of their kind in the Maldives, are home to endangered species and serve as a natural defence system against […]
Bike Maldives, a local cycling association, has taken the initiative to organize the ‘National Bike Championship’. Asma Hassan, Bike Maldives’ secretary-general, said that the contest will be held from the 24th to 25th of this month. Members of the association will take part in 200, 1000, 4000, meter and 30 and 60-kilometer rides. Individuals who […]
Several exhibitors including resorts, hotels, guesthouses, travel agencies, associations and airline operators are representing Maldives at the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2017. According to Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), 195 representatives from 70 companies are present at this year’s WTM which will be held from Monday to Wednesday. WTM London 2017 was […]
A tropical bar in the Maldives designed to make guests feel like they’re in the mouth of a giant whale emerged the big winner at international design awards held in London. The Whale Bar, St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, dreamed up by the Singapore and London-based design group WOW Architects l Warner Wong Design, beating out luxury hotels, residences, and restaurants around […]
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has sent a message of solidarity to His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, King of Saudi Arabia and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, condemning the attempted ballistic missile attack on Riyadh by the Houthi militia. The President’s message reads as follows: “It was with great shock and […]
The Maldives is tightening its grip on the media and freedom of speech by using the broadcasting regulator to silence and intimidate journalists, a leading NGO has warned, as the government pushes a draft law that could see newspapers and TV stations temporarily shut down or fined. Transparency Maldives, in a statement Monday, condemned the […]
Jailed former defence minister Mohamed Nazim arrives for a court hearing. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI/MIHAARU The family of jailed former defence minister Mohamed Nazim released a statement to mark his 1,000th day of imprisonment on Monday, declaring that each passing day is another blow of judicial injustice to Nazim. Nazim is currently serving 11 years in jail […]
Parliament on Monday approved the ratification of the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement to reduce the global production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The Maldives’ accession was endorsed with 28 votes in favour from the 85-member house. After boycotting debate and voting on a supplementary budget last month, opposition lawmakers resumed […]