A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
Journalists and politicians have questioned the independence of a broadcasting commission member after she was pictured organising a campaign event for President Abdulla Yameen. Fathimath Zaina, who worked as an aide to First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim before joining the Maldives Broadcasting Commission, was photographed handing out seating arrangements to people at a rally Monday night. […]
Speaker Abdulla Maseeh addresses the first sitting of 2017’s third term of the parliament from his elevated seat behind a wooden “wall”, while opposition lawmakers protest and call on him to step down. PHOTO/MAJLIS The parliament on Tuesday appointed new deputies to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) and Civil Service Commission (CSC). […]
The finance ministry has been criticised for the delay in issuing political party funds. The Political Parties Act mandates the issue of state funds to parties with members over 10,000 within the first three months of the year. This year approximately MVR27 million (US$1.75 million) of state funds – 0.1 – 0.2 percent of the […]
B-Town superstar Amitabh Bachchan poses with his regal stance with an awestruck local. Bollywood’s most applauded and sought after star, the ‘Shahenshah’ of Hindi cinema, Amitabh Bachchan arrives in Maldives on Tuesday morning to celebrate his 75th birthday. He has arrived in Maldives amid wild talks in B-Town of the actor cancelling his trip to […]
Inside an execution chamber. A government official has revealed that pending incomplete legal procedures is the reason behind the delay in implementing capital punishment in the Maldives. President Abdulla Yameen had announced during a ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) ceremony in August that the Maldives will commence executions before the end of last September. […]
President Abdulla Yameen condemned the opposition’s “anarchist and ruinous ideology” at an event with senior citizens Monday night. While the “main source of guidance” for the Maldives at present are the principles of democracy, Yameen said, “nothing can come before the nation’s stability and peace and love of the country.” “Democracy will not be instilled through […]
Abdullah Rasheed Mohamed with Maldives Correctional Service officers A man who was arrested during the major May Day rally in 2015 passed away on Monday whilst serving his sentence. According to Maldives Correctional Service (MCS)’s spokesperson, Abdullah Rasheed Mohamed, 51, from capital Male was convicted of assaulting a law enforcement officer during the rally on May […]
Former president Gayoom (R) shakes the hand of his half-brother and incumbent president Yameen at a ceremony. FILE PHOTO/PRESIDENT’S OFFICE President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom has honoured Maldives’ first three presidents – including his half-brother and current political rival Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom – claiming that they were instrumental in initiating and preserving the development in […]
Mohamed Shakir, the newly appointed state minister of education President Abdulla Yameen has appointed Mohamed Shakir of Haa Alif atoll Dhidhdhoo island as a new state minister at the Ministry of Education. Shakir had previously served as the director of the education ministry’s Administrative Department. The newly appointed Shakir is a veteran in the field […]