The Islamic island nation will impose a ban on all Israeli passports, said the office of the president, announcing a national fundraising campaign in ‘solidarity with Palestine’.

Pressure is growing on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following US President Joe Biden’s proposal for an end to the war in Gaza.

After a tense start to the year, India and the Maldives appear to be mending fences – with what analysts call ‘deep economic difficulties’ pushing the Indian Ocean nation to engage.

The vision of sustainable luxury hotel pioneers Sonu Shivdasani and his wife Eva, the newly opened Soneva Secret is located in the remote-but-pristine Haa Dhaalu Atoll

The Chinese internet giant aims to expand the coverage of WeChat Pay in the Maldives to 8,000 merchants by the end of this year.

As of June 2023, the Export-Import Bank of China owned 25.2 per cent of the Maldives’ external debt and was the country’s biggest single lender.

India pulled out its last remaining soldiers stationed in the Maldives on Friday, meeting a deadline for their withdrawal that had strained ties between the two neighbours.

A thumping victory for his party in this month’s parliamentary elections has lent Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu a free hand. But observers say his country is simply ‘too small’ to be taking sides.

Voters backed President Mohamed Muizzu‘s tilt towards China and away from traditional benefactor India, with his party winning 66 of the first 86 seats declared on Monday.

Judges ruled that Yameen’s 2022 trial on corruption and money-laundering charges during tenure of a pro-Indian government was unfair, ordered a retrial.

As Indian military begins withdrawing, China’s defence ministry confirms a PLA delegation last week visited island nation and met President Muizzu.

India should take steps to counter China’s ‘timely opportunism’ to draw closer to the Maldives, analysts say.

The Maldivian defence ministry said it had signed an ‘agreement on China’s provision of military assistance’ without giving further details. Some 89 Indian military personnel in the Indian Ocean nation will be gone by May 10.

India’s navy has said it is bolstering forces on “strategically important” islands close to the Maldives, with a new base set to open just days before Male starts sending home Indian forces.

A holiday spot for celebrities from Taylor Swift to Tom Cruise to Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Maldives has plenty to love about it – though Indians might presently disagree.

Xiang Yang Hong 03 arrived at Male as bilateral ties between the two countries deepen.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s JVP has long been anti-India. But New Delhi looks ready to set that aside as the political coalition he leads hones in on crisis-hit Sri Lanka’s presidency.

There is much attention on the changing “dynamics” in India-Maldives ties, but Maldivian leader Mohamed Muizzu has said the island nation still needs Delhi’s partnership.

Male’s foreign ministry said Xiang Yang Hong 3 will not conduct any ‘research’ and would stop only for a resupply call.

The row that was sparked by tourism comments on social media has escalated, with Male telling New Delhi to withdraw its troops by March 15.

The request by the Maldives comes after President Mohamed Muizzu said China firmly respects ‘territorial integrity’.

Returning home from a trip to Beijing, Muizzu said the Maldives was not in any country’s backyard and China respects the archipelago’s territorial integrity.

Three Maldivian officials criticised India’s PM Modi on social media, sparking fury among Indians, who form the bulk of tourists to the archipelago nation.

Newly elected President Mohamed Muizzu tells Invest Maldives business forum China is one of his country’s closest allies and developmental partners.