Bangladeshi police have concluded that Raudha Athif, a 21-year-old Maldivian medical student who was found hanged in her college dorm room, committed suicide after a breakup with her boyfriend. In a report submitted Tuesday to the Rajshahi metropolitan court, the criminal investigation department dismissed allegations of murder from her father, Dr Mohamed Athif, Bangladesh’s The Daily Star reported. […]
The legal team for MP Faris Maumoon is seeking to reject evidence, cancel charges and halt proceedings ahead of a bribery trial hearing. Lawyer Maumoon Hameed submitted 23 different pre-trial motions on Tuesday that will be presented in the Criminal Court next week, along with case documents from the Prosecutor General’s office. Seven of the […]
The civil court has thrown out RaajjeTV’s lawsuit against the state for failure to protect the station during the 2013 arson attack that destroyed its studios and master control room. The lawsuit was filed citing police incompetence in protecting the broadcaster’s assets, despite information being given to law enforcement authorities about the possibility of an […]
A loan agreement to finance the expansion of the Maldives’ main airport was signed with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development during President Abdulla Yameen’s official visit to the United Arab Emirates. Economic Development Minister Mohamed Saeed signed the agreement on behalf of the Maldives at a ceremony Tuesday at the Ruler’s Court in Dubai. Details […]
The government has terminated contracts signed with Malaysia’s Gryphon Energy Corporation in March to build five domestic airports at a cost of US$57.5 million. Sami Ageel, director of the Regional Airports agency, confirmed to state media Tuesday that the deals were scrapped on September 18 because the Malaysian company – which describes itself as “incorporated with a vision to be […]
Maldivian diplomats have embarked on an international charm offensive as the country lobbies for a seat on the United Nations Security Council — to little fanfare at home. While the foreign ministry announced the country’s candidacy back in 2016, a new website, animated video and three hashtags have been launched to support the campaign. The […]
Former defence minister Ameen Faisal, charged over the military’s “protective custody” of then-MP Abdulla Yameen, has been given a week to prepare the closing arguments in his terrorism trial. Ameen, who served under former president Mohamed Nasheed, was charged with abduction under the now-defunct 1990 Anti-Terrorism Act. He faces up to 15 years in jail […]
The government is “creating youth slums” with new flats in Hulhumalé aimed at married couples, a former housing minister told the Maldives Independent on Tuesday. The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) earlier this month invited bidders to submit proposals for the construction of a 14-storey residential block comprising 322 one-bedroom apartments with 23 apartments on each […]
Police have downplayed the scale of ‘party drug’ abuse in the Maldives, dismissing rumours it is being distributed in schools and appealing against sensationalist reporting. Following the death of two young people late last month, messages about “Strawberry Quick meth” being distributed in schools started circulating through Viber groups, the common medium of messaging in […]