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
The Christmas Tree’s Roots Reach Back to Ancient Afghanistan
On the longest night of the year, long before Christmas existed as a word or an idea, people in what is now Afghanistan watched the sun disappear and waited for its return.
Minister Thoriq Charts a Future Between Paradise and Pressure
Malé, Maldives — At a press conference on Tuesday, the Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim, outlined sweeping developments in the country’s tourism economy, renewable‑energy transition, and waste‑management overhaul, presenting a
In Last of Public Meetings, President Addresses Discipline, Development and Justice Backlogs
MALÉ — At a community meeting in Hulhumalé Phase 1, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu confronted concerns over school discipline, urban planning, law‑enforcement crackdowns and a series of looming policy changes. These sessions, held
A Promise to Dhivehi: At a Scholar’s School, the Maldives Confronts Its Literary Future
MALÉ — The evening unfolded beneath the quiet weight of history. At Salahuddin School, a modest but symbolically charged building named for the scholar who helped shape the Maldives’ first formal education
Maldives Steps Up Vape Ban With Unusually Consistent Enforcement
MALÉ, Maldives — In a rare display of swift and coordinated enforcement, authorities have seized more than 73,000 vape devices and related paraphernalia in the weeks since the country enacted one of
Behind the Numbers: How a Rigorous 9,916-Call Audit Confirmed the President’s Popularity
MALE’, Maldives — In an era of scepticism about polling and public opinion, the Baani Centre’s December 2025 survey stands out for its scientific rigor and logistical scale. To confirm President Dr.
President Muizzu Pledges Sweeping Reforms for Small Businesses
MALÉ, Maldives — In a meeting that stretched late into the night, President Dr. Mohammed Muizzu sat with many small and medium business owners, listening to grievances that ranged from customs delays
Muizzu Meets Small Businesses, Pledges Solutions to Ease Obstacles
MALÉ, Maldives — President Dr. Mohammed Muizzu spent three hours last night in a rare, extended meeting with small and medium business owners, listening as they laid out grievances ranging from bureaucratic
PNC Launches Primary With Record Candidate Slate Ahead of Local Council Elections
MALE’, Maldives — The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has announced that it will field candidates in 97 percent of constituencies in its primary to determine nominees for next year’s local council
Congress Party Membership Expected to Surpass 75,000 Ahead of Council Elections
MALE’, Maldives — The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) is on track to surpass 75,000 members as it prepares for the upcoming local council election primaries, party officials said Wednesday. Ibrahim Falah,