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Thursday, January 8, 2026
TopicMaldives

Topic: Maldives

Maldivian youth participate in UNICEF event, to present recommendations for COP29

The three-day event, which included mock COP negotiations, climate science sessions aimed to foster dialogue between youth and experts on climate solutions.

China must know India is too important for South Asia to abandon. Muizzu visit is proof

From China’s perspective, this visit is less a diplomatic pivot and more an economic imperative.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to visit Maldives from 9-11 Aug amid strained ties

Visit is aimed at strengthening close partnership between two countries and to explore avenues to enhance bilateral relationship further, says MEA.

With Hasina’s exit, India loses its anchor in neighbourhood as challenges mount — Maldives to Myanmar 

Apart from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh helmed by Hasina was a stable partner in the region for India. With her departure, New Delhi's challenges are set to increase.

Aid to Maldives sees cuts, assistance to Sri Lanka increases in Budget 2024-25

Full budget sees sizeable increase in development aid to Sri Lanka, while assistance to Maldives sees drastic cuts from both 2023-24 revised estimates and 2024-25 interim budget.

Chinese research vessel heading to Maldives again, 3rd port call likely in island country this year

Research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03, that can collect data for both civilian and military purposes, is on its way to the Maldives. It had earlier docked in the island country twice.

Maldives’ economy has good growth trajectory, says ex-minister as Fitch downgrades its debt to ‘junk’

The total value of imports is currently higher than that of exports in the Maldives. The Covid-19 pandemic was an external shock that jolted the country’s tourism industry.

Maldives President Muizzu, Bangladesh PM Hasina among world leaders set to attend Modi swearing-in

Muizzu to fly down to Delhi despite frosty ties. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe confirms he will attend. Prime ministers of Nepal, Mauritius and Bhutan also invited.

EaseMyTrip faces flak for ‘resuming’ flight bookings to Maldives, founder says ‘tech issue’

Travel aggregator initially halted bookings 8 January, citing support to Indian government during a tense period of strained relations between New Delhi & Malé.

India rolls over $50-mn loan on ‘request’ by Muizzu govt, easing Maldives’ growing debt crisis

Maldives’ external debt servicing to touch $1.07 bn in 2026. Economic realities have forced a change in tactics towards India by the ‘pro-China’ Muizzu government. 

On Camera

MEA should stop living in dread of Trump. We’ve lived through Nixon before

Donald Trump seems to have rejected the old assumptions. He does not care that India is the world’s largest democracy. As for the Indian market, he wants access on his own terms.

500% tariffs ahead for India? Trump’s lined up a big bad Bill for countries buying Russian oil

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says bill will be 'well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent'.

India’s defence sky gets a solar boost: Army orders iDEX solar-electric drone 

Indian Army has inducted loitering munitions, kamikaze and surveillance drones for over Rs 5,000 crore post Operation Sindoor from various domestic firms.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.