Page 7 - Maldives

1st group of Indian troops to be sent before March 10: Maldives Prez Muizzu

The Maldives said that both sides reviewed the existing bilateral cooperation to improve and enhance the partnership in the fields of defence and security cooperation, etc.

India will withdraw its troops from island nation by May 10: Maldives

India will replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms by the date, with the first phase of the withdrawal concluding by March 10

Maldives seeks info over Indian coast guard activities within its territory

The Maldives' government has formally requested the Indian government to provide "comprehensive details" of an incident in which its coast guard personnel allegedly boarded three Maldivian fishing vessels operating within its economic zone. The development is the latest in the diplomatic row between the two nations that led to the strain in bilateral ties after President Mohamed Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, came to power in November last year in the Maldives. There was no immediate response from the Indian government to the Maldivian allegations. On January 31, the Indian Army intercepted a Maldivian fishing boat engaged in fishing activities within the Maldives' Special Economic Zone (EEZ), located 72 nautical miles northeast of Dhidhdhoo, Haa Alifu Atoll, the Maldives' defence ministry claimed in a statement on Friday. It said that the Indian troops boarded three fishing boats within the Maldives EEZ without prior consultation with relevant authorities, thereby ...

India-Maldives core group meeting today over presence of Indian military

India and Maldives will hold the second core group meeting in the national capital over the presence of Indian military personnel in the island nation, sources said

Reached mutual visa cooperation deal with Maldives to boost tourism: China

China on Wednesday said it has worked out a comprehensive mutual visa cooperation agreement with 23 countries, including the Maldives amid Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's efforts to woo more Chinese tourists to the Indian Ocean island nation. Beijing is currently trying to work out either visa-free or liberalising visa procedures with various countries to boost the declining number of international tourists to China and to enable its citizens to travel abroad more freely. China's visa-free 'circle of friends' continues to expand, and more and more countries have officially entered the 'visa-free era'," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told the media here. He said that so far China has concluded mutual visa exemption agreements covering different passports with 157 countries. So far, China has concluded mutual visa exemption agreements covering different passports with 157 countries, reached agreements or arrangements on simplified visa procedures with 44 countries, and .

Maldives' top lawyer, appointed by Oppn, attacked amid political turmoil

Hussain Shameem, appointed by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), was rushed to the Maldives's ADK Hospital and is currently receiving treatment

Amid diplomatic spat, India slips to 5th spot on Maldives' tourism chart

In 2023, India was the biggest tourism market for Maldives, with a market share of 11.1%

Maldives President Muizzu's impeachment looms day after Parliament clashes

The development followed a day after clashes broke out in the Maldives Parliament over the approval of four members of the pro-China President's cabinet on Sunday

Oppn party of Maldives to move impeachment motion against President Muizzu

The Maldives' Parliament on Monday approved only one of the four members of pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet against whom the main opposition MDP has issued a three-line red whip. While Parliament voted to deny approval to Housing Minister Ali Haidar Ahmed, Islamic Minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed narrowly survived the same fate, according to local media reports. President Muizzu, 45, had made a formal request for the approval of his cabinet on November 20, two days after the new administration took office. The Parliament was scheduled to vote on the Cabinet on December 18, but the original report by the Government Oversight Committee was rejected. The Parliament held an extraordinary sitting on Sunday to take the vote on the committee's new report, which was passed on December 30, news website sun.com.mv reported. But just ahead of the voting on Sunday, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party ..

Amid diplomatic row, Maldives Prez Muizzu conveys greetings on 75th R-Day

President Muizzu also expressed hope for continued peace, progress, and prosperity for the Indian government and the people for the coming years

Chinese Communist delegation promises to implement deals signed by Muizzu

A Chinese Communist delegation held talks with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to promptly implement 20 agreements signed between the two countries during his recent visit to China, including increasing flights from China to boost tourist numbers to the archipelago nation. The delegation, led by Sun Haiyan, the deputy head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), concluded the three-day visit to Male after meeting Muizzu and several other officials. The visit coincides with the permission granted by the Maldives government for the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 to berth at Male. China was looking for new avenues to berth its controversial research ships frequenting the Indian Ocean on surveillance missions after Sri Lanka banned them for a year following concerns expressed by India. During the visit of the CPC delegation, the two sides agreed to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Su

Chinese vessel equipped to carry research permitted to dock, says Maldives

A Chinese ship, equipped to carry research and surveys, will be docking at a Maldivian port after being permitted by the Male government to make a port call for replenishment. The permission to allow the Chinese ship comes amid strains in ties between India and Maldives after its new President Mohamed Muizzu came to power and made Beijing as his first port of call early this month after assuming office. Traditionally, New Delhi has been the first port of call for a Maldivian President. In a statement on Tuesday, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said a diplomatic request was made by the Chinese government for the necessary clearances to make a port call, for rotation of personnel and replenishment. The statement, however, said the Chinese Research Vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3, will "not be conducting any research while in the Maldivian waters". Further, the statement said Maldives has always been a welcoming destination for "vessels of friendly countries," and continues to host both civil

Jaishankar meets Maldivian counterpart, discusses withdrawal of military

Both ministers held discussions on the margins of the 19th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

Committed to take forward development partnership with Maldives: Govt

India on Thursday said it remains committed to take forward its development agenda with the Maldives including implementation of various welfare projects in the island nation. The comments by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came amid strain in ties between the two countries following Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's call for withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country by March 15. "We remain committed to our projects and to take them forward. We have been an important development partner of the Maldives," he said at his weekly media briefing while replying to a question. "We remain committed to doing all things that we can do as a development partner of the Maldives," Jaiswal added. On Male insisting on withdrawal of Indian troops, he suggested that the matter will be deliberated upon at the second meeting of India-Maldives core group. The next core group meeting is set to take place in New Delhi early next month. The issue of the Indian ...

Explained: Why does President Muizzu want Indian troops out of Maldives?

Bilateral relationship between India and Maldives involves defence cooperation, with Indian soldiers training Maldivian counterparts in combat, reconnaissance, and participating in rescue operations

UP restaurant offers free chole bhature for cancelling Maldives trip

A restaurant chain in Noida and Ghaziabad is giving away a dish of their 'special chole bhature' for free to anyone who has booked a vacation to Lakshadweep or cancelled their visit to the Maldives

China fully supports sovereignty of Maldives: Muizzu amid row with India

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has spoken highly of his country's strategic ties with China, saying the two countries respect each other and Beijing fully supports the Indian Ocean island's sovereignty. Muizzu's comments came amid an unease in the Maldives' bilateral ties with India after he took office in November last year. Muizzu, who returned to the Maldives on Saturday after a high-profile state visit to China, noted that China has provided assistance to the development of the Maldives since establishing diplomatic relations in 1972. During his just-concluded visit to China, Muizzu, regarded as a pro-China leader, sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing and both countries elevated their ties to a strategic partnership. He also said China's Belt and Road Initiative has taken bilateral relations to a new level. China is not a country that would interfere with the internal affairs of the Maldives, which is why the two countries have a strong relationship, Muizzu was quote

Maldives calls for withdrawal of Indian troops; Core group meeting held

The two sides decided to set up the core group on the contentious issue following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 summit

Maldives president's party loses Male poll amid diplomatic row with India

In a setback to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, the pro-India opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has secured a landslide victory in the capital Male's Mayoral election. The MDP candidate, Adam Azim, has been elected as the new mayor of Male, a post held by Muizzu till recently. Muizzu resigned from the position to contest the presidential elections last year. The Maldives media reported Azim's win as a landslide and victory by a large margin. The MDP is headed by pro-India former president Mohammad Solih, who was defeated by Muizzu, a pro-China leader, in the presidential elections. With 41 boxes counted, Azim has taken a huge lead with 5,303 votes. His rival Aishath Azima Shakoor of Muizzu's People's National Congress (PNC) got 3,301 votes, Maldives' Sun Online news portal reported. The poll on Saturday was marked by a low turnout, according to reports. The Mayoral election victory is expected to revive the political fortunes of the MDP, which still holds a majority

Maldives' pro-India oppn MDP secures landslide victory in Male Mayoral poll

In a setback to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, pro-India opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Saturday secured a landslide victory in the capital Male's Mayoral election. The MDP candidate, Adam Azim, has been elected as the new mayor of Male, a post held by Muizzu till recently. Muizzu resigned from the position to contest the presidential elections last year. The Maldives media reported Azim's win as a landslide and victory by a large margin. The MDP is headed by pro-India former president Mohammad Solih, who was defeated by Muizzu, a pro-China leader, in the presidential elections. With 41 boxes counted, Azim has taken a huge lead with 5,303 votes. His rival Aishath Azima Shakoor of Muizzu's People's National Congress (PNC) got 3,301 votes, Maldives' Sun Online news portal reported. The poll was marked by a low turnout, according to reports. The Mayoral election victory is expected to revive the political fortunes of the MDP, which still holds a majority in the .