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 Urges Character Building. Can Political Parties Do the Same?
At a recent gathering with Gen Z audiences, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu did something unusual for Maldivian political culture: he talked about character building. Not policy metrics, not infrastructure, not the usual
Nasheed–Solih Reconciliation Amid MDP’s Fragile Unity
The joint press conference on Dec. 24, 2025, between former Presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was not a seismic political moment, but it was one that seasoned observers should take
In Maldives, a Young Graduate Waits for a License — and for the System to Wake Up
Malé, Maldives — When the Disability Council met with the Ministry of Health this week to discuss delays in the psychologist licensing process, the announcement sounded like another routine bureaucratic exchange. But
RasMalé Reclamation Reaches 30%, as Contractor’s Costs Expected to Exceed $700 Million
MALÉ, Maldives — The state‑owned Maldives Airports Company Ltd. said Wednesday that reclamation work for the RasMalé project has reached 30 percent completion, marking a visible acceleration in one of the government’s
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.