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A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.

Mihaaru

Tourism contribution to GDP nosedives despite revenue spike

2 min read

Two tourists being served at Sun Island Resort & Spa. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI/MIHAARU The tourism sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Maldives has dropped over the past four years despite increasing by 53.7 percent in revenue. According to the official statistics published by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday, tourism […]

Japan Aid

Japan gifts disaster reduction equipment to Maldives

1 min read

Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Iwao Horii (R), presents disaster reduction equipment on behalf of the Japanese government to the Maldives, received by state defence minister Mohamed Zuhair. PHOTO/FOREIGN MINISTRY The government of Japan has gifted equipment worth USD 9.9 million (MVR 152 million) for protection against natural disasters to the Maldives. According to the […]

president yameen-4

“No plans to construct jails for youth”, says Maldives pres

2 min read

President Abdulla Yameen shakes hands with attendees at the National Youth Awards 2017. PHOTO: HUSSAIN WAHEED/MIHAARU President Abdulla Yameen has declared that he has no plans to construct more jails for the youth, but rather he wants to engage the youth in activities that will strengthen and build the economy. Speaking at the National Youth […]

president yameen

Development impossible without debts: Maldives pres

2 min read

President Abdulla Yameen speaks at the National Youth Awards 2017. PHOTO: HUSSAIN WAHEED/MIHAARU Loans are a vital necessity to develop and improve the state of the nation, declared President Abdulla Yameen on Sunday. Speaking at the Youth Awards ceremony held at Dharubaaruge convention centre, the president responded to the opposition’s criticism of the government’s policy […]

Old Friday Mosque

Govt hits pause on developing café in Old Friday Mosque grounds

2 min read

The Old Friday Mosque in capital Male. The government on Monday annulled its earlier notice seeking contractors to develop a cafeteria in the grounds of the Old Friday Mosque in capital Male. The housing ministry on Sunday had revealed plans to develop a garden and café in the grounds of Old Friday Mosque, one of […]

Lesser Noddy, a protected bird species in the Maldives. PHOTO/MALDIVES BIODIVERSITY

EPA warns action against capturing migratory birds

1 min read

Lesser Noddy, a protected bird species in the Maldives. PHOTO/MALDIVES BIODIVERSITY The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday warned action against individuals who catch the migratory birds that travel through the Maldives. Many migrant bird species travel from the northern hemisphere during autumn to their winter destinations. As such, birds that are not normally seen […]

Qasim Ibrahim

Corrections refuse to renew Qasim’s travel document

2 min read

Jumhoory Party leader Qasim Ibrahim. PHOTO/MIHAARU Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) refused to renew opposition Jumhoory Party (JP)’s leader Qasim Ibrahim’s travel document, his lawyer Hisaan Hussain revealed on Monday. According to Hisaan, Qasim’s legal team had appealed to renew his travel document in November as it was close to expiring. However, on November 30, MCS […]

MVR currency notes

Court orders two locals to pay back EUR26K to German national

2 min read

Stacks of the new Ran Dhiha Faheh currency notes pictured at a MMA counter. MIHAARU PHOTO/MOHAMED SHARUHAAN The High Court upheld a verdict ordering two Maldivians to pay back EUR 26,000 they received from a German citizen, as they failed to establish that the money received was presented as a gift. Mario Arendt, a German […]

Health Minister Nazim

“Leaders of different ideologies cannot unite to derive formula for development”

2 min read

Health minister Abdulla Nazim poses for picture at PPM rally in G.Dh. Thinadhoo. PHOTO/MIHAARU The Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim declared that two leaders who follow different ideologies cannot unite to derive a successful formula for development. Speaking at a political rally held by the ruling coalition in the island of Gaafu Dhaalu atoll Thinadhoo […]