Maldives
Improving India-Maldives ties upsets islands' pro-Chinese oppn
Maldives was in a dire economic situation with the Chinese debt estimated to be between $1.5 billion to $3 billion. India came in to rescue Male from distress, immediately providing an economic assistance package of $1.4 billion in the form of budgetary support, currency swap agreements, and concessional lines of credit.
Maldives President thanks India for support during pandemic
In a statement issued by the President's Office on Sunday, he said: "I also wish to thank, on behalf of all Maldivians, our friendly bilateral partners who assisted our Covid-19 response efforts. I take this opportunity to highlight India, Japan, USA, UAE, China, Bangladesh, WHO and some of the UN agencies for their support."
No foreign forces present on the archipelago: Maldives Defence Ministry
The Defence Ministry has also clarified that no foreign armed forces will be active at the Uthuru Thilafalhu (UTF) base where the Coast Guard dock and dockyard of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) is being developed. This clarification by the Defence Ministry comes after a massive “#IndiaOut” campaign being spearheaded by the opposition leader and former President Abdulla Yameen.
Maldives' ex-president acquitted from money laundering charges
Yameen was accused of illegally receiving 1 million US dollars to his personal account from a private company and convicted for money laundering by the criminal court in November 2019. He was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay 5 million dollars in compensation to the state. Yameen's conviction was upheld by the Higher Court, after which his defence appealed to the Supreme Court.
India, Sri Lanka, Maldives maritime ops to tighten security in Indian ocean
"The Tri-lateral Focused Operations, between India-Sri Lanka-Maldives commenced at Sea from 27-28 November 2021. The exercise under the aegis of Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) is a pioneering effort to collaborate efforts towards the Pillar of Maritime Security," Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a statement.
Maldives demands $6.5 mn for reef damaged by cargo ship
Panama-flagged cargo ship Navios Amaryllis ran aground on a protected reef in the west of K. Rasfari island of the Maldives on August 19. EPA Director General Ibrahim Naeem said that the vessel may only leave the Maldivian waters after a damage assessment is made and if the ship's owners deposit 100 million MVR, which is the highest fine applicable for environmental damages under the Maldivian laws.
In blow to China, Maldives holds naval exercises with India
Navies from India and Maldives participated in the fourth edition of Ekatha exercise, with Male making a statement that it is India and not China which will serve as the net security provider of Maldives. A pivotal nation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Maldives is strategically located close to key international shipping lanes.
Maldives to reopen borders to S.Asian arrivals on July 15
Solih, in a public statement on Tuesday, said that the primary objective of his government is to restart the country's economy amid the extended lockdown restrictions necessitated by the third wave of the pandemic that peaked in May, reports Xinhua news agency. Solih said that the ongoing curfew hours would be reduced to 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. starting from Thursday.
Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid elected UNGA President defeating Afghan nominee
Shahid, who was backed by India, received 143 votes to former Afghanistan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul's 48 in the elections held on Monday. Shahid pledged a "presidency of hope" for a world struggling to recover from the devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic. He will preside over the Assembly session that starts in September, succeeding Turkey's Volkan Bozkir.
Maldives cuts leasing rates for uninhabited islands
The government last month called for bids from local and international investors to lease out 16 islands for a 50-year period and invest in tourist hotel projects aimed at increasing the bed capacity by over 3,700 within the next three years. The Tourism Ministry, which fixed the minimum lease acquisition cost
Advertisement