A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
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 […]
Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim’s family has informed the prisons authority that he cannot return to the Maldives on Tuesday despite the refusal to extend a 20-day medical leave. “He actually cannot leave. As doctors have not authorised for him to fly, the airlines are refusing to sell tickets for him. We also requested that […]
Security has been heightened at the Velana International Airport as a precautionary measure, the defence minister has said after soldiers began carrying weapons and explosives detectors at the airport island on Saturday. Contrary to rumours, Adam Shareef Umar told the press that the Maldives is not at risk of an imminent terrorist attack. “There is no […]
The military’s firemen put out flames inside the parliament building in the early hours of Sunday after a dustbin and tissue box at a restroom caught fire. The fire was reported around 3:53 am, according to the Maldives National Defence Force, which is also responsible for maintaining security at the People’s Majlis. The fire incident […]
The powerhouse on the northern island of Bileyfahi in Shaviyani atoll has been completely destroyed by a fire that broke out late Saturday night. All three generators were damaged beyond use, according to Fenaka, the state utility company that operates the powerhouse. The police and the military’s fire department are investigating the incident. “We’re hoping […]
The Maldives will enter a new era of healthcare service delivery with the opening of the 25-storey Dharumavantha hospital next year, Health Minister Abdulla Nazim said at a topping off ceremony held Wednesday to mark the completion of the concrete structure. In his remarks after pouring the last batch of concrete, Nazim said the government hopes […]
Three Maldivians en route to join the fighting in Syria were arrested in Turkey and brought back to the country on Saturday. According to the police, the three men were arrested in a joint operation with the Turkish law enforcement authorities. They were alleged to have been planning to cross the border into Syria to join […]