A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
Tourist arrivals to the Maldives increased by 5.9 percent as traditional European markets offset a decline in Chinese holidaymakers. According to the tourism ministry, 892,025 tourists visited the Maldives between January and August this year, up from 842,635 for the same period in 2016. The European market made up 45.9 percent of all tourists who […]
Almost 100 expatriates suspected of being undocumented have been taken for screening to the expat detention centre in Hulhumalé Thursday. The Immigration and Emigration Department’s media official Hassan Khaleel told the Maldives Independent it was a routine inspection and not based on a complaint. The 87 people were standing near Zikra mosque in the capital. […]
Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muiz departed on a five-day visit to China Wednesday night to observe the construction of steel box girder beams for the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Muiz told reporters at the airport that he would “watch the fabrication work at the factory, seek detailed information, meet with engineers, and see how the work […]
The fatal stabbing of Nadheem Abdul Rahman was a revenge killing arising from a feud between two groups, police said Wednesday. Nadheem was stabbed to death by masked assailants in late July, with his murder and that of Mohamed Anas coming amid a spike in violent crimes in Malé that led to a manhunt for […]
The housing minister on Wednesday defended a decision to publish an anonymous list of flat winners as a corruption probe continued into the social housing scheme and despite thousands of people complaining about its lack of transparency. The 661 winners of the flats built in Hulhumalé, a reclaimed island under development near Malé, are the […]
Hundreds of police and soldiers descended on the island of Villingili in Gaafu Alif atoll ahead of a visit from President Abdulla Yameen, cracking down on opposition protesters by removing banners and placards. Around 300 security officers, some armed, were sent to Villingili two days prior to Yameen’s arrival according to atoll council president Ahmed […]
Maldivian-made films on mental health, gender equality and plastic pollution will debut on social media Wednesday following a joint project between a United Nations body and telecoms firm Dhiraagu. The three films, which will also have a one-off screening ahead of movies shown at Shwack Cinema, were made by participants in the United Nations Development […]
The Maldives Wednesday played down the United Kingdom’s updated travel advice to the country which said terrorists were “very likely” to carry out an attack, stressing the tropical paradise “remains one of the safest destinations in the world”. More than 100,000 Britons visited the Maldives last year, the third biggest market, up from 90,000 in […]
MP Faris Maumoon’s bribery trial began Monday with the presiding judge refusing to release the former ruling party lawmaker after more than two months in custody. Dismissing the defence counsel’s arguments, Judge Ali Adam said Faris will remain behind bars because the court believes he may tamper with evidence or attempt to influence witnesses if […]