Through a resolution unanimously passed by 1,119 delegates who attended the PNC congress, it was decided to award the 2028 presidential ticket to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu without a primary, and party chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla has handed over the ticket to him. While Dhonbileh Ahmed spoke regarding the MDP presidential primary, the Elections Commission faced criticism concerning PNF's membership campaign. Rasheeda Yoosuf called for an end to state funding for political parties. Although the opposition alleged attempts to sell 500 hectares of land from Rasmale' to the UAE's Eagle Hills company, President Muizzu and Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib denied the allegations, stating it was a lease. The newspaper "Adhadhu" filed a lawsuit in the Civil Court seeking to invalidate the decision barring its journalists from attending President's Office press conferences.
Read More →19 September 2026
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu was formally handed the ruling PNC’s 2028 presidential ticket without a primary following a unanimous congress vote, as he also issued a decree postponing the single-use plastic straw ban to 2031. Meanwhile, the Criminal Court remanded six Bangladeshi nationals arrested at Velana International Airport for attempting to smuggle over MVR 3.86 million in foreign currency hidden in cereal packets, alongside a joint enforcement operation in AA. Thoddoo that detained 107 undocumented foreigners.
MTCC commenced practical asphalt laying works on Segment 1 of Ameenee Magu, stretching from Izzudheen Magu to Dharumavantha Park, on 19 September 2026. With the target of relocating 80 percent of Male' Commercial Port's services to Thilafushi by November 2027, the completion of the 100-meter quay wall capable of accommodating container barges is being carried out jointly by China Harbour Engineering Company and MTCC. Furthermore, following delays in dollar transactions after 653 million dollars left the country by the end of August, the Bank of Maldives announced on 19 September 2026 that foreign currency remittance transactions would return to normal by next week.
Read More →During the "Racing Championship – Laamu Edition" organized by the Racing Association of Maldives (RAM) and held in L. Gan, a 20-year-old Maldivian male racer sustained serious injuries in a dangerous accident on the morning of Saturday, September 19, 2026, when a speeding motorcycle went out of control and fell into the sea; after receiving treatment in the ICU of Gan Regional Hospital, he was transferred to IGMH in Malé for further treatment where he is currently on a ventilator, and the police are investigating the case.
Read More →In accordance with the Cabinet's decision to transfer the Home for People with Special Needs in K. Guraidhoo under the Ministry of Health's National Mental Health Department, Minister Jeela Ali disclosed details on 19 September 2026 regarding how the center's operations are proceeding. In addition, concerns regarding youth mental health and social media addiction were also highlighted today.
Read More →At the graduation ceremony of the 3rd batch of the National Service Initial Training held on Saturday, 19 September 2026, at the MNDF Composite Training Centre in Lh. Maafilaafushi, a total of 341 participants completed the training and graduated, including 279 men and 62 women. In connection with the secondary examinations scheduled to begin on 20 September, former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid sent best wishes on 19 September 2026, wishing success to all students participating in the examinations, as well as to parents and teachers.
Read More →Taking into account the quality of paper straws and the resulting health and usability difficulties, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu decided through Presidential Decree No. 15/2026 issued on 19 September 2026 to postpone the ban on the import of single-use plastic straws to 1 June 2031, and the ban on manufacturing and selling them in the Maldives to 19 December 2031. Under this decree, the ban on the import and manufacturing of water packaged in plastic bottles between 500 milliliters and 1 liter was also postponed until 1 December 2029.
Read More →Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has denied reports by The Washington Post stating that 22 U.S. soldiers have died so far in the ongoing war in the Middle East. The Maldives officially joined the multinational maritime defense coalition initiated by Saudi Arabia on September 16 to ensure the security of merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Additionally, the Maldives participated for the first time as a full member in the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held in Vienna, with the delegation led by Dr. Salma Rasheed, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Read More →Six Bangladeshi nationals were arrested at Velana International Airport attempting to smuggle out of the country foreign currency worth more than 3.86 million Maldivian Rufiyaa hidden inside "Ye-Ye" cereal packets on a Maldivian flight bound for Dhaka. Additionally, a 38-year-old Egyptian man, Peter Saman Marzouk Saman, was taken into police custody and detained at the same airport after joking that there was a bomb in his aunt's bag during security screening. Furthermore, in a 10-hour special joint operation conducted on September 19, 2026, in AA. Thoddoo by Immigration, Police, and the Homeland Security Ministry to identify undocumented expatriates, 507 foreigners were screened and 107 undocumented foreigners were taken into Immigration custody. Meanwhile, relevant authorities also disclosed important information regarding the land reclamation project in K. Thulusdhoo.
Read More →Cybersecurity experts have warned travelers against sharing photos of their boarding passes on social media. Experts urge people to be cautious of such practices, as hackers and scammers can exploit the barcodes and personal details on boarding passes to steal people's personal information.
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