A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
Less than half of the Maldives parliament was present for a vote that saw a record-breaking budget get the green light with no debate or scrutiny. Opposition lawmakers have been boycotting parliamentary proceedings since the contentious disqualification of defectors from the ruling party was used to quash a majority-backed no-confidence motion against parliament speaker Abdulla […]
New Delhi’s outdated strategic mentality cannot “dampen the strong enthusiasm” in the region for deepening cooperation with Beijing, Chinese state media has claimed. The Global Times, an excitable tabloid that often reflects party thinking, said the formal handover of Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port to China on a 99-year lease had stirred alarm in New Delhi. […]
Last Sunday the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives celebrated the “great successes in the areas of protecting, promoting and sustaining human rights” in the country. The statement, marking Human Rights Day, lamented how “harassment, mockery, defamation and hateful acts have increased and acts that are harmful to a person’s life have also increased.” Such […]
Local councils have been banned from meeting foreign diplomats without written permission from authorities including the home affairs ministry. The Local Government Authority, in a circular sent out Monday evening, said it had seen an increase in councillors meeting foreign diplomats and officials from international organizations. The circular noted all powers relating to foreign policy […]
Exiled MP Ahmed Mahloof’s father was freed by the criminal court after he was arrested while leading the opposition’s weekly prayer. According to local media, Mohamed Hassaan was released Saturday with conditions, which remain unclear. Ahead of his detention after the Friday prayer, Hassaan was summoned to the police headquarters on Thursday for questioning on […]
Sports Commissioner Ahmed Nasheed has announced his resignation from the post with effect on Monday. Nasheed, known as TC Dave, made the announcement on Facebook without stating a reason. “If I have acted wrongly towards anyone in sports during my time as commissioner, I urge you not to consider that as intentional,” he wrote. The […]
The government broke its own spending rules by lavishing millions of dollars marking 50 years of Maldivian independence, an audit report has said. Auditors found that MVR66 million (US$4 million) was spent on the 2015 festivities without putting the projects out for tender, as required by law before awarding projects worth more than MVR1.5 million. […]
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 […]