Maldives this week: 11-17 April 2022
Last week's key headlines.
On 17 April, the Prosecutor General's Office appealed at the High Court the charges against two acquitted by the Criminal Court in the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed.
On 16 April, the Government of Maldives issued a statement condemning the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli forces on 15 April. It said that the actions of Israel are a clear violation of international law and the relevant UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and undermined all efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.
On 16 April, opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People's National Congress (PNC) coalition raised concerns over the government not condemning the inhumane actions against Muslims in India's Madhya Pradesh state.
On 14 April, the World Bank in a 'Maldives Development Update' it issued with its 'South Asia Economic Focus Reshaping Norms: a New Day Forward' said that the Maldives' economy will grow by 7.6 percent in 2022 but raised concerns over increasing debt.
On 14 April, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed departed for Singapore on an unofficial visit.
On 14 April, the Human Rights Watch said in a report it issued on the rights situation in the Maldives that Maldivian authorities have not credibly addressed threats to free expression and other rights by religious extremists.
On 13 April, the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Parley Maldives to implement the AIR strategy at the Velana International Airport (VIA), to end the threat of marine plastic pollution.
On 13 April, Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem said that the government has initiated discussions on reviewing the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha.
On 13 April, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna launched the government's Competency Standard for Waste to Wealth, which seeks to manage waste as a profitable resource and to develop skilled locals in communities across the country to safely manage waste.
On 13 April, the Maldivian government issued a statement announcing its decision to purchase all fish caught by vessels and currently in queue at the Kooddoo fish processing plant.
On 12 April, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih met with members of the Musicians Union of Maldives, where he gave his assurance that the government will extend its cooperation to resolve the difficulties faced by musicians in the Maldives.
On 11 April, the Maldivian parliament approved a bill on electronic transactions, with 44 votes in favour.
On 11 April, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reported 665 new Covid-19 cases in the country from 3 April to 9 April, increasing the total number of cases reported in the country to 178,813.
On 11 April, the Maldivian parliament voted against accepting an emergency resolution proposed on concerns raised by fishermen over the state fisheries company limiting purchases of fish, proposed by Member of Parliament for Fares Maathoda Hussein Mohamed Latheef.
On 11 April, former President Abdulla Yameen, at a hearing held on charges against him for accepting bribes and money laundering in relation to the lease of V. Aarah for tourism development said that he had not accepted bribes and that the USD1 million he had received was part of a business transaction for the exchange of dollars.
