Page 9 - Maldives

Maldives' envoy summoned by govt amid diplomatic row over ministers' remark

The development comes a day after three Maldives ministers were suspended for their "derogatory" remarks on PM Modi, which triggered a massive nationwide boycott call against the island nation

Remarks against PM Modi do not represent views of people: Maldivian govt

The Maldivian government on Monday informed India's High Commissioner Munu Muhawar that the derogatory remarks made by three now-suspended deputy ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi do not represent its views. The Indian High Commissioner met Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Ministry, according to the Sun Online. A top Maldivian government official said that during the meeting, Naseer made it clear that the remarks do not reflect the views of the Maldivian government, and reaffirmed Maldives' continued support for its neighbour, the website reported. The Maldivian foreign ministry said the government is aware of "derogatory remarks" on social media platforms against foreign leaders and that the personal views do not represent its position. The meeting came after India summoned Maldivian envoy Ibrahim Shaheeb on Monday to the external affairs ministry and conveyed strong concern over remarks posted on social media against the Prime Minister by

Maldives Prez Muizzu arrives in China, set to sign several agreements

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu arrived here on Monday on a five-day state visit during which he is due to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and sign several agreements to bolster the bilateral ties. Muizzu, who is regarded as pro-China, is accompanied by his wife Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation. The President and the First Lady were greeted by senior Chinese officials upon their arrival. Muizzu's maiden visit to China, however, has been marred by a huge diplomatic row triggered by the derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by some Maldivian ministers after he posted a video of him on a pristine beach during his visit to Lakshadweep. The Maldivian envoy to India was on Monday summoned to the external affairs ministry and conveyed strong concern over remarks. Muizzu is due to hold talks with Chinese President Xi and sign several agreements to bolster the bilateral ties, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang ...

Boycott Maldives trends on X, here are the celebrities who joined campaign

After a derogatory remark by Maldivian ministers against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several celebrities and cricketers urged people to explore the Indian islands instead of Maldives

EaseMyTrip suspends flight bookings to Maldives over tourism row with India

Maldivian ministers mocked PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, stating that India could not compete in terms of tourism

Maldives govt suspends 3 ministers for 'derogatory remarks' against PM Modi

All three had made scathing remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Lakshadweep. The government is currently trying to make the Union Territory a major tourism destination

Maldives govt suspends 3 ministers over derogatory remarks against PM Modi

The Maldivian government Sunday suspended three ministers who posted "derogatory remarks" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it distanced itself from their comments on social media and said these opinions are "personal and do not represent the views of the Government". The development came after opposition leaders slammed the "appalling language" used by the officials against the Indian leader. "Government officials who posted derogatory remarks about neighbouring India have been suspended, state broadcaster PSM News reported, citing the President's Office. The Maldives government has affirmed its commitment to taking swift action against individuals on social media whose conduct undermines international relations, it added. The Sun Online identified the officials who were suspended over the posts as three deputy ministers from the Youth Ministry; Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid. Earlier on Sunday, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said they were aware o

'Strongly condemn derogatory, racist remarks on PM Modi': Ex-Maldivian VP

The condemnation by the former vice-premier comes amid mounting anger over a Maldivian deputy minister's post, making a mocking reference to Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to visit China from January 8-12

New Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu will pay a state visit to China from January 8 to 12, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced here on Friday. Muizzu, a close associate of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen who forged close ties with China during his Presidency from 2013 to 2018, took oath as the eighth President of the Maldives after defeating India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September. Muizzu is visiting China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press release. Muizzu's predecessors in the recent past visited India first, considering the wide-ranging bilateral ties and the Maldives' proximity to India, followed by China which has expanded its influence in the island nation by investing in major infrastructure projects there. However, Muizzu chose Turkey as his first visit soon after his election followed by the UAE where he met Prime Minister ...

Maldives opts out of hydrology agreement with Indian Navy signed in 2019

The Maldives has decided to pull out of the 2019 agreement for cooperation in the field of hydrology between Indian Navy and Maldives National Defence Force

Maldives reports contamination in Pakistani syrups, suspension medicines

The report prompted the World Health Organisation to issue an alert urging countries to step up vigilance and test products manufactured by a Lahore-based pharmaceutical company, according to Dawn

China to hold 2nd Indian Ocean Region Forum to firm up influence in India

China this week will hold the second conference of its Indian Ocean Region Forum, an initiative to bring together several countries in the region in an attempt to solidify its influence in the strategic waters adjacent to India's backyard. Last year the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), an organisation part of the ruling Communist Party of China's Leadership Group, held a meeting of the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation (CIORFDC) in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in southwest China. CIDCA is headed by Luo Zhaohui, the former Vice Foreign Minister and ex-Ambassador to India. The CIDCA claimed 19 countries including Indonesia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Djibouti, Australia took part in the conference. Australia and Maldives subsequently denied their participation. India was not invited to the

New Maldives govt reviewing over 100 agreements with India: Official

There were 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives and the new government here was reviewing more than 100 agreements signed with New Delhi, a senior Maldivian official said on Sunday, a day after President Mohamed Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw them from the island nation. Addressing a press conference here, the Undersecretary for Public Policy of the Presidential Office, Mohamed Firuzul Abdul Khaleel said the new administration has established that there are 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. There were 24 Indian military personnel to manage the first helicopter, 25 Indians to manage the Dornier aircraft, 26 personnel to manage the second helicopter, and two more for maintenance and engineering, Firuzul was quoted as saying by the Maldivian media. He said that President Muizzu, who won the presidential election in September, has initiated efforts to expel all 77 from the Maldives. The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the strategic

LIVE: Uttar Pradesh govt bans sale of halal certified edible items

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Leaders discuss solutions for use of Indian military platforms in Maldives

India and the Maldives on Saturday agreed to discuss "workable solutions" to continue use of Indian military platforms by the island nation as such a corporation serves interests of Maldivian people, sources said after a meeting between Union minister Kiren Rijiju and new Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in Male. Rijiju called on Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, at his office, a day after attending the Maldivian leader's inauguration ceremony. A statement released by the Maldivian president's office said Muizzu "formally requested the government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives" in the meeting. Muizzu has maintained that he will keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country. "At the meeting, President Muizzu had formally requested the Government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives," the statement said. "The President noted that at the presidential election held in September, the .

Muizzu, new president of Maldives, asks India to withdraw military presence

Less than 24 hours after taking oath as the President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday formally requested the Government of India to "withdraw" its military personnel from his country, saying the Maldivian people have given a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. Muizzu's request came when India's Union Minister Kiren Rejiju paid a courtesy call on the new president at the latter's office, the Maldivian President's Office said in a press release. The exact number of Indian military personnel in the Maldives is not known. Engineer-turned-politician, Muizzu, 45, took oath on Friday as the eighth president of the strategically-located archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean. Underscoring India's Neighbourhood First Policy', Rijiju represented the country at Muizzu's inauguration ceremony. A close associate of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who forged close ties with China during his Presidency from 2013 to 2018, Muizzu defeated India-friendly incumbent .

Committed to policy of engagement with int'l community: Maldives president

The Maldives is committed to a policy of engagement with the international community, newly sworn-in President Mohamed Muizzu has said, as he thanked representatives from 49 countries, including India, for showing immense support to his new government. Muizzu, 45, an engineer-turned-politician, took oath as the eighth President of the Maldives on Friday at a ceremony attended by a multitude of foreign dignitaries, including India's Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. "My profound appreciation to more than 190 representatives from 49 countries and many international organisations that attended the oath-taking ceremony today. I am heartened by the immense support shown by the international community towards the new government. We are committed to a policy of engagement," he said. Apart from Rijiju, other South Asian neighbours present for the inauguration ceremony included Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister for Information of Bangladesh, Hasan Mahmud; Pakistan's Federal ...

Maldives President-elect to be sworn in tomorrow; Rijiju to represent India

Maldives President-elect Mohamed Muizzu will take oath of office on Friday at a ceremony in the capital Male, where India would be represented by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. Muizzu, a close associate of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen who forged close ties with China during his Presidency from 2013 to 2018, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September. He is due to take over the office on Friday after which he is expected to outline his foreign policy priorities. At the invitation of President-elect Muizzu, Minister of Earth Sciences Rijiju arrived in Maldives on Thursday to represent India at the inaugural ceremony of the presidency. The minister was received by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President-elect. "Honoured to welcome @KirenRijiju, Hon. Minister of Earth Sciences of India, to #Maldives. His presence at the inauguration of President-elect Dr @MMuizzu, representi

Why Jaishankar and not PM Modi may attend Maldives president's swearing-in

Archipelagic state's new leader is changing his predecessor's 'India First' policy

Two Indian workers killed in powerful explosion in Maldives, says report

Two Indian workers were killed in a powerful explosion near a fish market on Haa Dhaal Makunudhoo island in the Maldives, the Indian mission here said on Sunday. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident on Haa Dhaal Makunudhoo island in which two Indian nationals have lost their lives," the High Commission of India in Maldives said in a post on X. It said the mission is in "close contact" with the Maldivian authorities as well as the families of the victims. Citing a resident, the Sun Online news website reported that the explosion took place near the fish market, located at the southern end of the island's harbour, at around 04:15 pm on Saturday. Preliminary investigative findings show the explosion was caused by a gas cylinder near Kamunudhoo's fish market, a police spokesperson was quoted as saying. The victims were workers employed by the contractor for the land reclamation project to build an airport on the island, it said, without identifying their nationalities. "The