A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
Britain’s ambassador to the Maldives has said he is worried about the erosion of freedoms in the Indian Ocean archipelago. James Dauris, in a carefully worded New Year message, said he had become fond of the country since taking up his appointment. He highlighted the successful collaboration between the two nations on education, women’s issues […]
India has scotched rumours of a rift with the Maldives, saying the two countries enjoyed a close relationship with shared development and security interests. External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar made the remarks Thursday after a scathing anti-India editorial appeared on a Maldivian pro-government website. The main opposition MDP, which condemned the editorial, described Vaguthu as […]
The Maldivian people want to restore democracy with a national unity government at the helm, Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim tweeted from exile Wednesday. After meeting with former MDP chairman Ali Waheed, former vice president Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, and JP deputy leader Ameen Ibrahim in Germany, the business tycoon and disqualified lawmaker tweeted: “The […]
An editorial attacking India and branding its prime minister a “Hindu extremist” has been pulled from a pro-government website. The Vaguthu article blasted India, saying it was not a best friend but an enemy and that it viewed the Maldives with “envy, self-interest and hostility.” It provoked condemnation from two former presidents, Mohamed Nasheed and […]
The US$200 million China-Maldives Friendship bridge will be completed in the first week of July, a government minister has said. The bridge will span from the capital Malé’s eastern edge to the western corner of the island of Hulhulé. Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muiz said the project was on schedule. Just completed a comprehensive progress […]
Five ministries have broken the law by not responding to right to information requests from the Maldives Independent, which wanted to fact check claims made by President Abdulla Yameen. Yameen challenged “political leaders who say they do not see development” at a November 17 rally marking the four-year anniversary of his government. He said his […]
The joint-opposition coalition has condemned a pro-government news website for attacking India’s prime minister and promoting anti-India sentiments. The editorial, published in Vaguthu, was titled “India is not a best friend, but an enemy!” and said the way India treated the Maldives had changed despite the “heart-to-heart” relationship the two countries had traditionally enjoyed. India […]
There those who are “jealous” of the Maldives’ for being a 100 percent Muslim country, the president said Wednesday in an address to mark the anniversary of the country’s embrace of Islam. President Abdulla Yameen said that staying steadfast in the path of Islam was a “religious and national duty” for all Maldivians and that […]
Four bilateral agreements between the Maldives and Malaysia were inked Wednesday morning during Prime Minister Najib Razak’s official two-day visit. Four Memoranda of Understanding were signed at the president’s office in Malé following a one-to-one meeting between the prime minister and President Abdulla Yameen and official talks between government officials. The MoUs involve plans to […]