The Lyricist and the Mufti: A Search for God in a Divided Age
NEW DELHI — In a quiet hall at the Constitution Club, just a stone’s throw from India’s Parliament, two men sat across from each other to argue a question as old as
China’s High-Speed Rail: Debt and Doubt Derail Ambition
China’s high-speed railway network, a sprawling 30,000-mile marvel, stands as a symbol of the country’s rapid modernization. Launched under Xi Jinping’s ambitious vision in 2013, it has grown into one of the
A Golden Jubilee of Friendship: Viet Nam and the Maldives Move forward to a New Path
By Her Excellency Trinh Thi Tam, Non-Resident Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to the Maldives As Viet Nam and the Maldives approach the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, we
President Lauds China’s Rise and Enduring Ties in National Day Address
MALÉ, Maldives — In a heartfelt tribute to a steadfast ally, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu celebrated China’s ascent from postwar struggles to global prominence on Monday, offering congratulations ahead of the People’s
Sharjah’s Silver Jubilee Story telling Forum Celebrates Global Narratives with Maldives as Guest of Honor
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates — The 25th Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF), organized by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, concluded its silver jubilee edition on September 26, 2025, under the evocative theme “Travelers’
From Atolls to Arabia: Maldives’ Storytelling Heritage Lands in Sharjah
MALE’, Maldives — Adam Naseer Ibrahim, the Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage, departed Sunday for Sharjah to attend the 25th edition of the Sharjah Narrators Forum, a gathering that has
“Dictatorships Cannot Afford Laughter.” — Shankar’s Final Editorial, 1975
MALE’, Maldives — The cartoon seemed harmless enough. A dead cow at an altar, drawn in Abdulla Naeem Ibrahim’s loose, unassuming strokes, printed in the morning pages of Afathis. But the timing
Nepal’s Sudden Political Shift Raises Questions on Regional Partnerships
The unexpected downfall of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli’s government in Nepal has introduced a layer of unpredictability into the Himalayan nation’s international relations, particularly with Beijing. China’s response has been
Maldives Approves Sweeping Media and Broadcasting Law, Reshaping Oversight
MALE’, Maldives — The Maldives took a decisive step in reshaping the country’s media landscape, as President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu approved the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, legislation that its backers
Media Freedom in the Maldives Under Threat: Opposition Leader Raises Alarm Over “Media Control Bill”
MALE’, Maldives — Abdulla Shahid, the leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has condemned the recently passed Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, labeled the “Media Control Bill” by the opposition,
Himalayan Ecosystems and China’s Environmental Footprint
China’s spectacular economic rise over the past forty years has brought prosperity to millions of its citizens, yet the costs to the environment have remained profound. Air, soil, and water degradation inside
In the Maldives, ‘Medias’ Multiply as the Debate on Press Freedom Heats Up
MALE’, Maldives — The Ministry tasked with overseeing the nation’s information ecosystem has a curious mandate. On its English-language website, the mandate section reads like a bureaucratic shrug: “Mandate The current mandate
Maldives Joins Atomic Energy Club, Promises Not to Build Nuclear Submarine Just Yet
VIENNA — The Maldives, best known for beaches, corals and tourists fighting over overwater villas, has now officially been welcomed into the International Atomic Energy Agency. A nation with a land area