Maldives Independent

During our time in the IPI Local News Accelerator, we built and tested a lean, product-focused membership model. Here’s our case study on what worked, what didn’t, and what we’re taking forward: ipi.media/maldives-indep…

The Chagos deal was supposed to end a colonial injustice. Then Trump got involved. In the first deep dive from @dbosley80's Trouble in Paradise, how war in Iran, Farage's flying visit and Muizzu's maritime gambit have thrown the Indian Ocean's biggest sovereignty dispute into chaos. Read: maldivesindependent.com/politics/chaos…

ދިގުރަށުގައި ރޯވި އަލިފާނަކީ އިސްތިސްނާ ޙާދިސާއެއް ނޫނެވެ. 5 މީހުން މަރުވި އިރު، މަސައްކަތްތެރިންނާ ކުރިމަތިވާ ނުރައްކާތެރި ޙާލަތްތަކާއި، އެކަށީގެން ނުވާ ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ އިންތިޒާމުތަކުގެ އިތުރުން، އަލިފާނުގެ ޙާދިސާއަކުން ރައްކާތެރިކަން ކަށަވަރު ކުރާން ހަދާފައިވާ ޤަވާއިދުތަކާއި އުޞޫލުތައް ތަންފީޒެއް ނުކުރެވެއެވެ. އެކަށީގެންވާ ފަޔަރ ކޯޑެއް ނެތެވެ. ތަފްޞީލު ކިޔުއްވާ ލައްވާށެވެ. maldivesindependent.com/dv/society/tha…

News in Brief Monday, March 23 maldivesindependent.com/news-in-brief/…

"Critics are judging a marathon by the first mile." Former Police Commissioner @M_Hameedh responds to @aekofathih column on botched police reform. His argument: the 2020 Police Act was the most serious modernisation effort since the service's inception – and judging it on one term ignores how institutional change works. Read the op-ed: maldivesindependent.com/opinion/the-po…

News in Brief Sunday, March 22 maldivesindependent.com/news-in-brief/…

Maldives celebrates Eid under the shadow of war. Missiles fly toward Diego Garcia, fishermen can't get subsidised fuel, oil tops $110, tourist arrivals down 21% – and the ruling party stages a motorcycle rally through Malé. maldivesindependent.com/society/maldiv…

News in Brief Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21 maldivesindependent.com/news-in-brief/…

Eid Mubarak. Wishing everyone celebrating a peaceful and joyful day ✨

News in Brief Thursday, March 19 maldivesindependent.com/news-in-brief/…

The only way out was through the kitchen. When a gas cylinder exploded, it sealed the exit. Five men died. The Dhigurah fire is the latest in a pattern of deadly blazes in migrant worker housing – and the same failures keep repeating. maldivesindependent.com/society/trappe…

News in Brief Wednesday, March 18 maldivesindependent.com/news-in-brief/…

"A supermajority is not a blank cheque." Constitutional lawyer Shamsul Falaah argues the anti-defection rules pushed through in November 2024 is an unconstitutional constitutional amendment. We spoke to him about his new book, the limits of parliamentary power, and what the floor-crossing prohibition means for the Maldives' democratic identity. maldivesindependent.com/politics/a-sup…

News in Brief Tuesday, March 17 maldivesindependent.com/news-in-brief/…

Sunday: Finance Minister says prices haven't risen by even 30%. Monday: STO doubles wholesale fuel prices. Tuesday: Queues form at fuel sheds across the country. The government said don't worry. Here's what happened next. maldivesindependent.com/economy/half-a…

News in Brief Monday, March 16 maldivesindependent.com/news-in-brief/…

Solih had the chance to remove Fikury. He didn't. New column from @aekofathih: The Solih administration created a Police Board. It recommended dismissing seven officers. The commissioner acted on two. The courts reversed it. Muizzu promoted the rest. Now Farhad Fikury is Police Commissioner – again. maldivesindependent.com/by-saif-fathih…

News in Brief Sunday, March 15 maldivesindependent.com/news-in-brief/…

Thulusdhoo's house reef has taken a beating from bleaching, dredging and reclamation. Now a community-led restoration project is planting 400 reef stars to bring it back. Op-ed from @MaldivesCoral maldivesindependent.com/opinion/the-re…

News in Brief Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14 maldivesindependent.com/news-in-brief/…

As part of our Ithuru Vaahaka series speaking with candidates in the Malé mayoral race, we host candidate number two, @zariyand. From football to auditing, he discusses corruption, a proposed 90-day clean-up of the capital, the referendum on combining elections, and questions about his ties with former President Yameen. 🎙 Ithuru Vaahaka Episode 17: maldivesindependent.com/ithuru-vaahaka…