Amid opposition outcry over the agreement to lease 500 hectares of land from the area reclaimed under the Rasmale project to a foreign company for 99 years, Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib defended the agreement at the "Ahaa" forum. Former President's Office employee Aishath Eesha Ashraf has been charged with criminal slander (qadhf) in connection with the "Aadhadhu" newspaper's documentary "Aisha," alleging that she defamed and insulted President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. As President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu departed for Singapore on an unofficial visit with his wife, opinions were expressed within the ruling party regarding PNC Congress matters and granting him a second term. In addition, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, taking the lead, launched political activities and tours, sharply criticizing the government's policies.
Read More →27 September 2026
Addressing the 81st UN General Assembly, Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef condemned the genocide in Gaza after leading a walkout during Benjamin Netanyahu’s address. Domestically, the Bank of Maldives expects dollar telegraphic transfer backlogs to normalize following recent two-week delays, while Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib clarified that a 99-year Ras Malé lease with UAE developer Eagle Hills excludes land ownership or automatic residency. Meanwhile, Health Minister Geela Ali pledged full availability of essential medicines by late November via State Pharma.
Among the key economic highlights noted on 27 September 2026, the Bank of Maldives (BML) announced that due to high foreign currency demand, processing dollar telegraphic transfers (TTs) through the bank is facing a delay of two to three weeks. Under the government's state-owned enterprise restructuring policy, a framework agreement to transfer water and sewerage services in Addu City and Fuvahmulah City to MWSC was signed by the company's Managing Director Hussain Fahumy and Fenaka's Managing Director Mohamed Afif Hassan. While more than 76 percent of the overall Thilamalé Bridge project has been completed, deck installation between Malé and Villimalé has concluded, and finishing works are progressing rapidly. In the fisheries sector, 80 percent of the work on the new 4,000-tonne cold storage facility being established in Felivaru has been completed, and Minister Ahmed Shiyam stated at the "Ahaa" forum that MIFCO will no longer export any fish that could be rejected by foreign markets. Additionally, relevant authorities are strengthening efforts to monitor vessels engaging in illegal fishing within the …
Read More →Health Minister Jeela Ali announced on September 27, 2026, that efforts are underway to import all medicines on the National Essential Medicines List into the Maldives and make them available to the public before the end of November 2026, through the newly formed State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation (State Pharma) established to import high-quality medicines into the country. To strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain and provide medicines to atoll pharmacies on a sustainable basis, the operation of 193 pharmacies and 706 employees previously managed by STO was transferred to State Pharma on July 1 of this year.
Read More →With the commencement of Higher Secondary (A-Level) examinations in the Maldives, various parties have been extending best wishes to the students. To grant university status to private colleges that have been operating continuously for the past 15 years, the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development has gazetted the "Regulations on Registration and Operation of Universities in the Maldives," including conditions such as having 1,000 students at MNQF Level 7 or above and having 10% of staff holding PhDs. To train Maldivian pilots, the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority granted Approved Training Organisation (ATO 017) approval to the Aviation Career Center (ACC) in Maribor, Slovenia, on September 20. Furthermore, regarding the issue where 1,181,763 Rufiyaa was paid to a private company to develop a "Virtual Office Application" for the Ministry of Higher Education but no work was completed and the application remained unusable, the Auditor General's report directed that action be taken against negligent parties and that the funds be recovered.
Read More →Addressing the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, Vice President of the Maldives Hussain Mohamed Latheef called for an end to the genocide being carried out by Israel in Gaza and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders. On the sidelines of this trip, Maldivian Foreign Minister Irukisham Adam signed key political consultation agreements with Angola, Croatia, and Kenya. In addition, the Vice President held high-level discussions with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Furthermore, in protest, the Maldivian delegation walked out of the Assembly hall before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address to the UN General Assembly.
Read More →The Criminal Court on September 27 remanded two Nepalese nationals, Nikka Tamang and Itrani Galey, into custody for 30 days for smuggling over 1.5 kilograms of drugs ingested into their stomachs. Police have begun investigating an issue concerning the arrest and detention of a person who defiled a mosque in Malé. Police are investigating a case in which 150,000 Rufiyaa was stolen from beneath a motorcycle seat. Police are also looking into an accident involving an MNDF car near the Fish Market. Police have begun efforts to take special measures to prevent gang crimes. Police have announced that they have begun taking legal action against pedestrians walking on the Hulhulé-Hulhumalé Link Road. Police revealed that the fire in the building housing three government ministries was caused by electrical issues previously noted in the Geomatics Department of the Housing Ministry. Former President Mohamed Nasheed launched a short story book he authored titled "Kuru Vaahaka - 80ge Fahukolhu" on September 27 and opened it for pre-orders.
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