Proposed talks between the government and opposition have collapsed with both sides blaming the other for the failure to resolve a protracted political crisis through dialogue. Citing the opposition coalition’s aim of pursuing reforms, the government asked opposition parties and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on August 30 to submit proposed reforms for discussion within a […]
September 11 10:06 2017 The trial of six suspects charged with the murder of liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed began at the criminal court Sunday afternoon. The preliminary hearings were closed to the public and the press at the request of the Prosecutor General’s office. Responding to criticism of the move, the PG spokesman told the […]
The Department of Judicial Administration has suspended 54 lawyers who tried to submit a petition outlining serious concerns with the judiciary to the Supreme Court, barring them from appearing in any court in the Maldives. In an announcement late Sunday night, the DJA, which functions under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court, contended that the […]
The World Health Organisation has conferred an ‘Excellence in Public Health’ award to the health ministry of the Maldives in recognition of successes in disease elimination and eradication. The Maldives became the first member state of the WHO Southeast Asia region to be verified malaria-free in 2015 and went on to eliminate lymphatic filariasis and […]
The United States has “real concerns about the status of rule of law and democracy” in the Maldives, Acting Assistant Secretary Alice Wells told a congressional subcommittee hearing Thursday on ‘Maintaining US influence in South Asia.’ “Lack of higher educational opportunities, high youth unemployment, rise of social media, and weak institutions all contribute to an environment […]
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has canceled a visit to the Maldives to speak at the annual session of the World Health Organisation’s regional committee for Southeast Asia. A senior manager at the Paradise Island Resort, which is hosting the WHO meeting, confirmed to the Maldives Independent that Bachchan’s booking at the resort was cancelled Thursday upon […]
Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim departed for Singapore late Wednesday night after the Maldives Correctional Service authorised a 10-day medical leave for the convicted opposition lawmaker. The 67-year-old business tycoon was allowed to leave with a travel document nearly two weeks after he was found guilty of attempted bribery and sentenced to more than three […]
Two Maldivian men are among 19 suspected terrorists with links to the Islamic State arrested by the Malaysian police in major raids last month. The two Maldivians were arrested in Johor Bahu along with a Malaysian on August 7 and 9, Malaysian media reported Tuesday. “The two Maldives men, who worked as air-conditioner technicians, were […]
The state-owned wholesaler has hiked oil prices by 30 laari per litre of petrol and 20 laari per litre of diesel with effect from Wednesday. The changes were prompted by price increases in the global market, the State Trading Organisation said. The prices of crude oil presently stand at US$48.6 per barrel, up from US$46 at […]