A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
The main opposition MDP is under fire for continuing with a campaign rally after a supporter died while on his way to the event. Ibrahim Nahid was among 40 men from Faafu Bilehdhoo who decided to swim the three miles to Faafu Magoodhoo for the Friday night rally. He told the group he was feeling […]
The education ministry violated public finance rules by illegally spending nearly MVR900,000 (US$58,365) and failing to collect MVR8 million owed as loan repayments, according to the ministry’s audit report for 2015. Auditors found that MVR894,414 was spent as payment for services and items purchased for schools without a public announcement as required by the public […]
The High Court has upheld an Employment Tribunal order for the reinstatement of 22 employees sacked from the Conrad Maldives Rangali Resort in June 2011. The posts of the dismissed workers were made redundant “due to the partial closure of its guest rooms for renovation and lower occupancies,” Conrad Rangali had insisted at the time, […]
Basic questions about an abducted Maldives Independent journalist have not been answered by the state including whether he is still alive, a court heard Thursday. Three suspects have been charged in connection with the kidnapping of Ahmed Rilwan, who went missing three years ago. Two of them, Aalif Rauf and Mohamed Nooradheen, are not in […]
The Maldivian government, political parties and opposition leaders have strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In a statement Wednesday, the government called the move “a flagrant disregard of international law which could have dire consequences not only for the Middle East peace process and to the […]
A former police officer pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a terrorism charge raised over alleged calls to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen. Ibrahim Saleem, from the Dhabuvilaage house on the island of Hoarafushi in Haa Alif atoll, is accused of using two Twitter accounts to encourage and offer money for the assassination. According to local media, […]
South Asian neighbours are “jealous” of the progress the Maldives is making through its partnership with China, MP Riyaz Rasheed said at a ruling party rally Tuesday night. “There are neighbours of ours who are jealous of the progress and development that could come to this nation because we joined China,” the deputy parliamentary group […]
Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim’s Villa Group conglomerate is laying off staff due to financial constraints, Mihaaru has reported. “We’re reducing staff from various places. But we assure that no common employee will be dismissed from any resort operated by Villa. Even if we dismiss some senior staff, we won’t fire any staff like room […]
A well-being poll of Maldivians could give the first indication of how people might vote in presidential elections next year. A thousand people are being surveyed as part of the Gallup World Poll, which includes the Maldives for the first time, and covers a number of topics such as corruption, governance, job quality and citizen […]