King of RasMalé’ Stays on Top as Competition Unfolds
The other day, a friend called to ask whether President Muizzu was actually winning the narrative on RasMalé. My initial reaction was to wonder: is there anyone out there even trying to
The Twilight of the Philosopher-Politician: Demagogy in the Age of Algorithms
WASHINGTON — He stands at the podium, bathed in the harsh white glow of television floodlights, but his true North Star rests flat on the acrylic surface before him. It is a
The Cost of Reckless Rhetoric: Why the Maldivian Political Class Must Respect the Sovereign Red Line
When Real Madrid’s star forward Kylian Mbappé made light of viral artificial intelligence memes merging his face with that of China’s founding leader, Mao Zedong, he likely thought he was merely sharing
The New Frontier of Higher Education: Why Maldivian Students Are Turning to Russia
This is a sponsored educational feature created in collaboration with EcoOrder Consultancy. For decades, Maldivian students seeking high‑quality education abroad followed a familiar route towards Western universities. Today, however, the global higher‑education
Editorial: Why Revive Old Fears? Mariya Didi’s Remarks Fall Out of Step
At a time when the Middle East is once again unsettled and global powers are navigating fragile alliances, Maldivians abroad are expected to speak with clarity and purpose. Yet former Defence Minister
Editorial: A Rift That Mauritius Escalated — And Did So Recklessly
The suspension of diplomatic relations between Mauritius and the Maldives is more than an overreaction; it is a revealing display of how Port Louis allows symbolism to eclipse strategy. Rather than responding
Editorial: The Platforms That Preach Democracy Must Also Protect the Young
The bullying of 18‑year‑old table tennis player Umyr Mohamed Muizzu is more than a moment of online cruelty. It is a test of whether the Maldives — and the global platforms that
South Asia’s Sovereign Outsiders vs. the Managed Democracies
MALE’, Maldives — A friend of mine often says that a barber who has practised his profession for a long time will always follow the same style of haircut. Over the years,
Iran’s Resilience: A Lesson in Sovereignty Amid Global Pressures
In the volatile theater of Middle East geopolitics, Iran stands as a perennial target of international scrutiny and sanctions. For decades, the Islamic Republic has been portrayed as a rogue state, its
In the Maldives, the Oldest Parliament in South Asia Marks Its 93rd Year
In the Maldives — the scatter of coral atolls long romanticised as God’s own archipelago — the country’s Parliament marked its 93rd anniversary this week with a shy, almost whispered acknowledgment. No
“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
Op-Ed Beyond Optics: Measuring Triumph by Avoiding Red Flags
MALE’, Maldives — As Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his two-day visit to the Maldives on Saturday, the nation took stock of a diplomatic moment that quietly reshaped its relationship with
India’s Quiet Power: Lifting Neighbors, Strengthening South Asia
As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for a landmark state visit to the Maldives on July 25–26, 2025, to mark the nation’s 60th Independence Day, Etruth presents a series of articles