A day after Maldives failed to secure a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, losing to&nbsp;Indonesia, the government of Maldives thanked the Indian government for supporting its candidature in the UNSC.

Ambassador of Maldives to India, Ahmed Mohamed, appreciated India's support for Maldives' UNSC candidature.&nbsp;

He tweeted, "The #Maldives highly appreciates the support by #India for our #UNSC candidature. We received reassurances in writing on 7 June 2018 as well. @MDVForeign @MDVinIND".

Maldives had contested against Indonesia for a seat in the UNSC where it lost in the plenary session held at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday. Indonesia won the seat after securing 144 votes against 46 for the Maldives.

The Ministry of External Affairs has, however, not clarified on whether India voted for Maldives or Indonesia. Quoting the MEA a media reported that the ministry never reveals such vote to the public.

The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations majorly responsible for maintaining international peace and security.&nbsp;

Ambassador of Maldives to India, Ahmed Mohamed, has appreciated India's support for Maldives' UNSC candidature. He tweeted, "The #Maldives highly appreciates the support by #India for our #UNSC candidature. We received reassurances in writing on 7 June 2018 as well. @MDVForeign @MDVinIND"

A day after Maldives failed to secure a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, losing to Indonesia, the government of Maldives thanked the Indian government for supporting its candidature in the UNSC. Ambassador of Maldives to India, Ahmed Mohamed, appreciated India's support for Maldives' UNSC candidature. He tweeted, "The #Maldives highly appreciates the support by #India for our #UNSC candidature. We received reassurances in writing on 7 June 2018 as well. @MDVForeign @MDVinIND". Maldives had contested against Indonesia for a seat in the UNSC where it lost in the plenary session held at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday. Indonesia won the seat after securing 144 votes against 46 for the Maldives. The Ministry of External Affairs has, however, not clarified on whether India voted for Maldives or Indonesia. Quoting the MEA a media reported that the ministry never reveals such vote to the public. The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations majorly responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

Despite losing UNSC bid, Maldives govt thanks India for support

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/-europeans-nations-unanimously-oppose-president-trumps-call-to-admit-russia-into-g7-macron-143208">Europeans nations 'unanimously oppose' President Trump's call to admit Russia into G7: Macron</a>

As US President called G-7 countries to admit Russia, French president Emmanuel Macron said European members "unanimously oppose" Russia's entry.

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/watch-macron-may-have-put-too-much-pressure-on-trump-at-the-g7-summit-leaves-thumb-imprint--143212">Watch: Macron may have put 'too much pressure' on Trump at G7, leaves thumb imprint</a>

French President Emmanuel Macron on&nbsp<a href="http://wionews.com/world/-europeans-nations-unanimously-oppose-president-trumps-call-to-admit-russia-into-g7-macron-143208">Friday met US President Donald Trump in&nbsp</a>Canada for the continued trade talks and put pressure on the US on its decision to impose tariffs&nbspon metals imports. But, he may have put a tad bit too much, which was evidently seen by the aftermath of the handshake - which left a prominent imprint on the US Presidents hand.&nbsp

<a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/despite-losing-unsc-seat-maldives-govt-thanks-india-for-support--143215">Despite losing UNSC seat, Maldives govt thanks India for support</a>

A day after Maldives failed to secure a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, losing to&nbspIndonesia, the government of Maldives thanked the Indian government for supporting its candidature in the UNSC.

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-heads-to-china-for-sco-summit-143220">PM Modi heads to China for SCO Summit</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning departed for China's Qingdao to attend the two-day long 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

<a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/pak-interim-pm-reviews-fatf-requirements-on-terror-financing-143210">Pak interim PM reviews FATF requirements on terror financing</a>

Pakistan's interim Prime Minister Nasir-ul-Mulk reviewed on Friday the measures taken by the country to meet the requirement of the global watchdog Financial Action Task Force over terrorism financing.

&nbsp

Europeans nations 'unanimously oppose' President Trump's call to admit Russia into G7: Macron As US President called G-7 countries to admit Russia, French president Emmanuel Macron said European members "unanimously oppose" Russia's entry. Watch: Macron may have put 'too much pressure' on Trump at G7, leaves thumb imprint French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday met US President Donald Trump in Canada for the continued trade talks and put pressure on the US on its decision to impose tariffs&nbspon metals imports. But, he may have put a tad bit too much, which was evidently seen by the aftermath of the handshake - which left a prominent imprint on the US Presidents hand. Despite losing UNSC seat, Maldives govt thanks India for support A day after Maldives failed to secure a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, losing to&nbspIndonesia, the government of Maldives thanked the Indian government for supporting its candidature in the UNSC. PM Modi heads to China for SCO Summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning departed for China's Qingdao to attend the two-day long 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Pak interim PM reviews FATF requirements on terror financing Pakistan's interim Prime Minister Nasir-ul-Mulk reviewed on Friday the measures taken by the country to meet the requirement of the global watchdog Financial Action Task Force over terrorism financing.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Despite losing UNSC seat, Maldives govt thanks India for support

They might deny it but pictures are proof that there is much more than just friendship between Bollywood actors Disha Patani and Tiger Shroff who are currently holidaying in the Maldives and giving us some serious summer body goals.&nbsp;

The two left for the pristine beaches of Maldives earlier this weekend and started flooding their Instagram profile with sizzling photos of self, obviously on separate handles.&nbsp;

From what we know, this is a short vacay for the two as Tiger Shroff recently wrapped up shooting of “Student Of The Year 2”. The two rumoured lovebirds were last seen in the blockbuster hit “Baaghi 2”. &nbsp;

As per a report published in a tabloid, the rumoured couple is staying in a staying in a private island resort and have booked a secluded villa for themselves. The two stayed at the same property when they went there for a vacation in January. &nbsp;

Meanwhile quashing dating rumours, Tiger at the time of “Baaghi 2” said, "We always go around…all the time. Going around doesn’t mean we’re dating. You do go around with friends, right? I go around with my guy friends also, which no one cares about. Besides, have Disha and I ever indulged in PDA or anything. Today, I can say that she is one of those few people who I can trust implicitly and is very open, straightforward and honest. I don’t have too many friends and I don’t open up easily with people, but she’s an exception. "

Disha Patani will next be seen in Salman Khan's “Bharat” along with Priyanka Chopra. She has also signed a film with Hrithik Roshan. Meanwhile, Tiger Shroff will be seen in “Student Of The Year 2” with Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria.&nbsp;

See their pictures:&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

The two have vehemently denied dating each other even though pictures are proof of their sizzling chemistry

They might deny it but pictures are proof that there is much more than just friendship between Bollywood actors Disha Patani and Tiger Shroff who are currently holidaying in the Maldives and giving us some serious summer body goals. The two left for the pristine beaches of Maldives earlier this weekend and started flooding their Instagram profile with sizzling photos of self, obviously on separate handles. From what we know, this is a short vacay for the two as Tiger Shroff recently wrapped up shooting of “Student Of The Year 2”. The two rumoured lovebirds were last seen in the blockbuster hit “Baaghi 2”. As per a report published in a tabloid, the rumoured couple is staying in a staying in a private island resort and have booked a secluded villa for themselves. The two stayed at the same property when they went there for a vacation in January. Meanwhile quashing dating rumours, Tiger at the time of “Baaghi 2” said, "We always go around…all the time. Going around doesn’t mean we’re dating. You do go around with friends, right? I go around with my guy friends also, which no one cares about. Besides, have Disha and I ever indulged in PDA or anything. Today, I can say that she is one of those few people who I can trust implicitly and is very open, straightforward and honest. I don’t have too many friends and I don’t open up easily with people, but she’s an exception. " Disha Patani will next be seen in Salman Khan's “Bharat” along with Priyanka Chopra. She has also signed a film with Hrithik Roshan. Meanwhile, Tiger Shroff will be seen in “Student Of The Year 2” with Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria. See their pictures: ?? A post shared by disha patani (paatni) (@dishapatani) on May 27, 2018 at 10:15pm PDT × ?? A post shared by disha patani (paatni) (@dishapatani) on May 28, 2018 at 9:47pm PDT × #crashlanding #mothernature #chillinwithmyfellowfishies A post shared by Tiger Shroff (@tigerjackieshroff) on May 28, 2018 at 5:28am PDT ×

In pictures: Disha Patani, Tiger Shroff set the temperature soaring as they holiday in Maldives

Maldives is a "challenge" for India at the moment as its current government is more inclined towards China, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said today, indicating that the ties between New Delhi and Male are yet to reach a level of normalcy.&nbsp

Lanba, however, added that patrolling of the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by the Indian Navy has again commenced and that India would continue to work with the government of the archipelago nation.&nbsp

He also said there is no necessity to get a military dimension to the Quad involving India, the US, Australia and Japan.

"Maldives is a challenge at the moment. The present government in Maldives is more inclined towards China. The constitution has been tweaked and some islands have been given to the Chinese for development. There is no news at the moment of any listening post in the Maldives. There is some development that is going on. We will have to wait and watch," Lanba said in response to a question at an event at the Vivekananda Foundation International.&nbsp

India's ties with Maldives nose-dived after it criticised the Abdulla Yameen government for imposing a 45-day emergency in the archipelago nation earlier this year.&nbsp

During the crisis, India had ignored calls for military intervention from the opposition parties in the island nation.

The influence of China on Maldives, an island nation in the Indian ocean, considered a backyard of India, has been growing and it is seen as a concern in New Delhi.&nbsp 
&nbsp

Maldives neither participated in the multi-national 'MILAN' naval conclave, a congregation of littoral navies conducted biennially by the Indian Navy at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which was held in mid-March this year nor did its defence minister lead his country's delegation to take part in the DefExpo2018.&nbsp

"We (India) have an EEZ patrolling (exercise) that we regularly do with Maldives. We just finished one (exercise) last week. The one (exercise) previously held had been called off by the Maldivian government, but that has been recommenced. We continue to train their personnel. We just finished a special forces training camp. We will continue to work with the Maldivian government," Lanba said.

Responding to another question on the Quad, the Navy chief said it was a discussion forum for international good order and peace and following the norms of the United Nations Convention on the Law Of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"We are not going down that route. I don't think there is a necessity to get a military dimension to the Quad," he said.

The Quad is also seen as a move to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region where Beijing has been trying to spread its influence.&nbsp

The meeting was held in Manila in November last year, which was attended by leaders of the four countries.

Lanba said the rapid growth of the Chinese navy is "apparent" and it is also in collusion with other "adversaries" in the Indian Ocean region.

"Deployment of Chinese naval ships have increased manifold since October 2008 and new bases have been set up," he said citing the example of the Djibouti naval base in Africa.&nbsp

On a question on deployment of tactical nuclear weapons at sea by Pakistan, the Navy chief said there is no such information, but Islamabad is in the process of developing a cruise missile which it hopes to fit on a submarine that is being built in China.&nbsp

The missile, he said, is also being built with the help of Chinese technology.&nbsp

He said the Indian Navy is "well-poised" for handling any exigency and the strategic roadmap the force follows keeps it ready for "assuring peace and winning wars should that become inevitable".&nbsp

Lanba said India and Bangladesh will hold its first coordinated patrol next month.

Responding to a question on whether he had any interaction with former Navy official Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani court for alleged spying, in his career.&nbsp

"I don't have access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Unfortunately, in my service career, we have not worked together. The officer's mother and wife had met up with him. That was the first access we gained of Kulbhushan Jadhav.

What we came to know that he is hail and hearty and up and about," Lanba said.

Pakistan permitted a meeting between Jadhav and his mother and wife at Islamabad in December last year.&nbsp

India's ties with the Maldives nosedived after it criticised the Abdulla Yameen government for imposing a 45-day emergency in the archipelago nation earlier this year

Maldives is a "challenge" for India at the moment as its current government is more inclined towards China, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said today, indicating that the ties between New Delhi and Male are yet to reach a level of normalcy. Lanba, however, added that patrolling of the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by the Indian Navy has again commenced and that India would continue to work with the government of the archipelago nation. He also said there is no necessity to get a military dimension to the Quad involving India, the US, Australia and Japan. "Maldives is a challenge at the moment. The present government in Maldives is more inclined towards China. The constitution has been tweaked and some islands have been given to the Chinese for development. There is no news at the moment of any listening post in the Maldives. There is some development that is going on. We will have to wait and watch," Lanba said in response to a question at an event at the Vivekananda Foundation International. India's ties with Maldives nose-dived after it criticised the Abdulla Yameen government for imposing a 45-day emergency in the archipelago nation earlier this year. During the crisis, India had ignored calls for military intervention from the opposition parties in the island nation. The influence of China on Maldives, an island nation in the Indian ocean, considered a backyard of India, has been growing and it is seen as a concern in New Delhi. Maldives neither participated in the multi-national 'MILAN' naval conclave, a congregation of littoral navies conducted biennially by the Indian Navy at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which was held in mid-March this year nor did its defence minister lead his country's delegation to take part in the DefExpo2018. "We (India) have an EEZ patrolling (exercise) that we regularly do with Maldives. We just finished one (exercise) last week. The one (exercise) previously held had been called off by the Maldivian government, but that has been recommenced. We continue to train their personnel. We just finished a special forces training camp. We will continue to work with the Maldivian government," Lanba said. Responding to another question on the Quad, the Navy chief said it was a discussion forum for international good order and peace and following the norms of the United Nations Convention on the Law Of the Sea (UNCLOS). "We are not going down that route. I don't think there is a necessity to get a military dimension to the Quad," he said. The Quad is also seen as a move to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region where Beijing has been trying to spread its influence. The meeting was held in Manila in November last year, which was attended by leaders of the four countries. Lanba said the rapid growth of the Chinese navy is "apparent" and it is also in collusion with other "adversaries" in the Indian Ocean region. "Deployment of Chinese naval ships have increased manifold since October 2008 and new bases have been set up," he said citing the example of the Djibouti naval base in Africa. On a question on deployment of tactical nuclear weapons at sea by Pakistan, the Navy chief said there is no such information, but Islamabad is in the process of developing a cruise missile which it hopes to fit on a submarine that is being built in China. The missile, he said, is also being built with the help of Chinese technology. He said the Indian Navy is "well-poised" for handling any exigency and the strategic roadmap the force follows keeps it ready for "assuring peace and winning wars should that become inevitable". Lanba said India and Bangladesh will hold its first coordinated patrol next month. Responding to a question on whether he had any interaction with former Navy official Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani court for alleged spying, in his career. "I don't have access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Unfortunately, in my service career, we have not worked together. The officer's mother and wife had met up with him. That was the first access we gained of Kulbhushan Jadhav. What we came to know that he is hail and hearty and up and about," Lanba said. Pakistan permitted a meeting between Jadhav and his mother and wife at Islamabad in December last year.

Maldives a 'challenge', more inclined towards China: Navy chief Sunil Lanba

Amid allegations of China engaging in massive land grabbing in the Maldives, the Pentagon today said it was a cause of concern for the US.

Asserting that the US was "committed to a free and open" Indo-Pacific rules-based order, the Pentagon said anything else would cause the US concern.

"The US is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific rules-based order. We have seen concerning developments in Maldives as far as the Chinese influence is concerned," Joe Felter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, told.

"It's in India's backyard. We know it's of concern to India. So, yes, (the situation in Maldives) is a concern. We will see how it plays out. It emphasizes some of our priorities identified in our National Defence Strategy," the top Pentagon official said.

He was responding to a question on the allegations of a Maldivian opposition leader and a former foreign minister, on the Chinese land grabbing activities in the island nation with the potential of developing them into a military outpost.

Felter said these developments were "a cause of concern" for all states that supported the maintenance of a rules-based order.

"If you look at similar activities across the region, it gives us some cause for concern. From Djibouti to, Gwadar put to Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, and now potentially the Maldives and then extending further east, it's of concern," he said.

Other countries in the region have expressed similar concern, including India, he noted.

"We believe the interests of all states- large and small- are best served by maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based order. Some of China's activities that we've observed give us concern because they do not seem to be consistent with those interests. I suspect India shares these concerns as well," Felter said.

During a recent visit to the US, Ahmed Naseem, a former foreign minister of Maldives, had alleged that China was meddling in internal affairs of Maldives and had indulged itself in a massive land grabbing endeavour which if left unchecked would pose a major strategic threat to both the US and India.

China, he alleged, appeared to be keen on building a base in the Maldives which one day may house warships and submarines.&nbsp

''We have seen concerning developments in Maldives as far as the Chinese influence is concerned," Joe Felter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, told.

Amid allegations of China engaging in massive land grabbing in the Maldives, the Pentagon today said it was a cause of concern for the US. Asserting that the US was "committed to a free and open" Indo-Pacific rules-based order, the Pentagon said anything else would cause the US concern. "The US is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific rules-based order. We have seen concerning developments in Maldives as far as the Chinese influence is concerned," Joe Felter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, told. "It's in India's backyard. We know it's of concern to India. So, yes, (the situation in Maldives) is a concern. We will see how it plays out. It emphasizes some of our priorities identified in our National Defence Strategy," the top Pentagon official said. He was responding to a question on the allegations of a Maldivian opposition leader and a former foreign minister, on the Chinese land grabbing activities in the island nation with the potential of developing them into a military outpost. Felter said these developments were "a cause of concern" for all states that supported the maintenance of a rules-based order. "If you look at similar activities across the region, it gives us some cause for concern. From Djibouti to, Gwadar put to Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, and now potentially the Maldives and then extending further east, it's of concern," he said. Other countries in the region have expressed similar concern, including India, he noted. "We believe the interests of all states- large and small- are best served by maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based order. Some of China's activities that we've observed give us concern because they do not seem to be consistent with those interests. I suspect India shares these concerns as well," Felter said. During a recent visit to the US, Ahmed Naseem, a former foreign minister of Maldives, had alleged that China was meddling in internal affairs of Maldives and had indulged itself in a massive land grabbing endeavour which if left unchecked would pose a major strategic threat to both the US and India. China, he alleged, appeared to be keen on building a base in the Maldives which one day may house warships and submarines.

Developments in Maldives cause of concern: Pentagon

Amid allegations of China engaging in massive land grabbing in the Maldives, the Pentagon on Saturday said it was a cause of concern for the US.

Asserting that the US was "committed to a free and open" India-Pacific rules-based order, the Pentagon said anything else would cause the US concern.

"The US is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific rules-based order. We have seen concerning developments in the Maldives as far as the Chinese influence is concerned," Joe Felter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, told PTI in an interview.

"It's in India's backyard. We know it's of concern to India. So, yes, (the situation in the Maldives) is a concern. We will see how it plays out. It emphasises some of our priorities identified in our National Defence Strategy," the top Pentagon official said.&nbsp

He was responding to a question on the allegations of a Maldivian opposition leader and a former foreign minister, on the Chinese land grabbing activities in the island nation with the potential of developing them into a military outpost.

Felter said these developments were "a cause of concern" for all states that supported the maintenance of a rules-based order.

"If you look at similar activities across the region, it gives us some cause for concern. From Djibouti to, Gwadar put to Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, and now potentially the Maldives and then extending further east, it's of concern," he said.

Other countries in the region have expressed similar concern, including India, he noted.

"We believe the interests of all states - large and small - are best served by maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based order. Some of China's activities that we've observed give us concern because they do not seem to be consistent with those interests. I suspect India shares these concerns as well," Felter said.&nbsp

During a recent visit to the US, Ahmed Naseem, a former foreign minister of Maldives, had alleged that China was meddling in internal affairs of Maldives and had indulged itself in a massive land grabbing endeavour which if left unchecked would pose a major strategic threat to both the US and India.

China, he alleged, appeared to be keen on building a base in the Maldives which one day may house warships and submarines.

Felter said these developments were "a cause of concern" for all states that supported the maintenance of a rules-based order.

Amid allegations of China engaging in massive land grabbing in the Maldives, the Pentagon on Saturday said it was a cause of concern for the US. Asserting that the US was "committed to a free and open" India-Pacific rules-based order, the Pentagon said anything else would cause the US concern. "The US is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific rules-based order. We have seen concerning developments in the Maldives as far as the Chinese influence is concerned," Joe Felter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, told PTI in an interview. "It's in India's backyard. We know it's of concern to India. So, yes, (the situation in the Maldives) is a concern. We will see how it plays out. It emphasises some of our priorities identified in our National Defence Strategy," the top Pentagon official said. He was responding to a question on the allegations of a Maldivian opposition leader and a former foreign minister, on the Chinese land grabbing activities in the island nation with the potential of developing them into a military outpost. Felter said these developments were "a cause of concern" for all states that supported the maintenance of a rules-based order. "If you look at similar activities across the region, it gives us some cause for concern. From Djibouti to, Gwadar put to Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, and now potentially the Maldives and then extending further east, it's of concern," he said. Other countries in the region have expressed similar concern, including India, he noted. "We believe the interests of all states - large and small - are best served by maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based order. Some of China's activities that we've observed give us concern because they do not seem to be consistent with those interests. I suspect India shares these concerns as well," Felter said. During a recent visit to the US, Ahmed Naseem, a former foreign minister of Maldives, had alleged that China was meddling in internal affairs of Maldives and had indulged itself in a massive land grabbing endeavour which if left unchecked would pose a major strategic threat to both the US and India. China, he alleged, appeared to be keen on building a base in the Maldives which one day may house warships and submarines.

China’s increasing new developments in Maldives a cause of threat: Pentagon

Maldives has declined an invitation by India to send a ministerial-level delegation to the Defence Expo, a biennial exhibition of weapons and military hardware, which will be held in Chennai next week, official sources said.

The decision by Maldives is seen as an apparent snub to New Delhi which was critical of the Abdulla Yameen government for imposing emergency in the island nation earlier this year.

Sources told PTI that Maldives has conveyed to New Delhi that its defence minister would be travelling abroad and it would not be possible for him to lead a delegation to attend the expo, which will be held from April 11-14 in Thiruvidandai, south Chennai.

In February, Maldives had declined India's invitation to participate in the eight-day mega naval exercise - Milan - from March 6-13.

Ties between India and Maldives nosedived after Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen declared emergency on February 5 following an order by the country's Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials.

On February 21, India had reacted strongly over the extension of emergency by a month. The emergency was lifted 45 days later.

China has been trying to expand its influence over Maldives and it had appeared to be supportive of President Yameen's decision to clamp emergency.

Interestingly, Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa paid a rare visit to Maldives this week. Bajwa met Maldivian defence minister Adam Shareef Umar and called on Maldives President Yameen.

Sources said India has also invited China for the Defence Expo but there has not been any response from Beijing.&nbsp;

In February, Maldives had declined India's invitation to participate in the eight-day mega naval exercise — Milan — from March 6-13

Maldives has declined an invitation by India to send a ministerial-level delegation to the Defence Expo, a biennial exhibition of weapons and military hardware, which will be held in Chennai next week, official sources said. The decision by Maldives is seen as an apparent snub to New Delhi which was critical of the Abdulla Yameen government for imposing emergency in the island nation earlier this year. Sources told PTI that Maldives has conveyed to New Delhi that its defence minister would be travelling abroad and it would not be possible for him to lead a delegation to attend the expo, which will be held from April 11-14 in Thiruvidandai, south Chennai. In February, Maldives had declined India's invitation to participate in the eight-day mega naval exercise - Milan - from March 6-13. Ties between India and Maldives nosedived after Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen declared emergency on February 5 following an order by the country's Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. On February 21, India had reacted strongly over the extension of emergency by a month. The emergency was lifted 45 days later. China has been trying to expand its influence over Maldives and it had appeared to be supportive of President Yameen's decision to clamp emergency. Interestingly, Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa paid a rare visit to Maldives this week. Bajwa met Maldivian defence minister Adam Shareef Umar and called on Maldives President Yameen. Sources said India has also invited China for the Defence Expo but there has not been any response from Beijing.

Maldives snubs India again, says will not attend Defence Expo

The global pressure mounting on the Maldivian government seems to escalate further with reports suggesting that European airlines may halt flights to the island country. Germany's ambassador's to Sri Lanka tweeted out suggesting the same.&nbsp;

In his tweet, Joern Rohde noted, "We hear big airline carriers from Europe will suspend their Maldives flight for the summer season.” Rohde reasoned that despite the lifting of the state of emergency by the Yameen government, “democratic rights remain curtailed as MPs remain jailed on politically motivated prosecutions. The economy and thus the people suffer since tourists continue to stay away.”&nbsp;

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...we hear big airline carriers from Europe will suspend their Maldives flight for the summer season. 
 
Solution: Only a return to Democracy will bring back stability and the positive image of the wonderful Maldives now tarnished by the ongoing undermining of democratic rights
— Joern Rohde (@joern_rohde) <a href="https://twitter.com/joern_rohde/status/979300973247045632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Rohde further added that the only way for the Maldives to return to a state of stability is by turning back to democracy. He added that the country's otherwise "wonderful" and "positive" image has now been tarnished "by the ongoing undermining of democratic rights.”

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Thursday lifted the 45-day State of Emergency that he imposed on February 5.

Yameen imposed a state of emergency on February 5 for 15 days to annul a February 1 Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison.&nbsp;

He later extended the state of emergency for another 30 days with parliament approval, a move challenged by the opposition.&nbsp;

Under the emergency, Yameen’s administration arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges.&nbsp;

Germany's ambassador's to Sri Lanka tweeted out suggesting the same

The global pressure mounting on the Maldivian government seems to escalate further with reports suggesting that European airlines may halt flights to the island country. Germany's ambassador's to Sri Lanka tweeted out suggesting the same. In his tweet, Joern Rohde noted, "We hear big airline carriers from Europe will suspend their Maldives flight for the summer season.” Rohde reasoned that despite the lifting of the state of emergency by the Yameen government, “democratic rights remain curtailed as MPs remain jailed on politically motivated prosecutions. The economy and thus the people suffer since tourists continue to stay away.” ...we hear big airline carriers from Europe will suspend their Maldives flight for the summer season. Solution: Only a return to Democracy will bring back stability and the positive image of the wonderful Maldives now tarnished by the ongoing undermining of democratic rights — Joern Rohde (@joern_rohde) March 29, 2018 × Rohde further added that the only way for the Maldives to return to a state of stability is by turning back to democracy. He added that the country's otherwise "wonderful" and "positive" image has now been tarnished "by the ongoing undermining of democratic rights.” Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Thursday lifted the 45-day State of Emergency that he imposed on February 5. Yameen imposed a state of emergency on February 5 for 15 days to annul a February 1 Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. He later extended the state of emergency for another 30 days with parliament approval, a move challenged by the opposition. Under the emergency, Yameen’s administration arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges.

Europe likely to halt flights to Maldives to ensure return to democracy

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom&nbsp;on Thursday lifted the 45-day State of Emergency that he imposed&nbsp;on February 5.

Yameen imposed a state of emergency on February 5 for 15 days to annul a February 1 Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison.&nbsp;

He later extended the state of emergency for another 30 days with parliament approval, a move challenged by the opposition.&nbsp;

Under the emergency, Yameen&rsquo;s administration arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges.&nbsp;

Maldives police said on Saturday that at least 139 opposition protesters were arrested as they attempted to defy orders under the state of emergency and march into the high-security zone in capital Male.&nbsp;

Now, The Maldives Police have been able to progress substantially into their investigation of corruption and other crimes relating to the Constitutional Crisis.&nbsp;

The Prosecutor General issued a statement on 20 March 2018 outlining the charges to be filled by her Office regarding the submissions by the Maldives Police Service to date.

The emergency was imposed following a political and constitutional crisis following a Supreme Court order to release nine persons including the exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Thursday lifted the 45-day State of Emergency that he imposed on February 5. Yameen imposed a state of emergency on February 5 for 15 days to annul a February 1 Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. He later extended the state of emergency for another 30 days with parliament approval, a move challenged by the opposition. Under the emergency, Yameen’s administration arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges. Maldives police said on Saturday that at least 139 opposition protesters were arrested as they attempted to defy orders under the state of emergency and march into the high-security zone in capital Male. Now, The Maldives Police have been able to progress substantially into their investigation of corruption and other crimes relating to the Constitutional Crisis. The Prosecutor General issued a statement on 20 March 2018 outlining the charges to be filled by her Office regarding the submissions by the Maldives Police Service to date.

Maldives President lifts state of emergency

Authorities in Maldives charged longtime former dictator and top judges and police officials with terrorism as the government deals with political turmoil that prompted a weeks-long state of emergency.

According to reports, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-to-lift-state-of-emergency-charge-ex-president-chief-justice-with-bribery-36487">nine people charged</a> at the criminal court included Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the 30-year ruler of the Indian Ocean archipelago state; Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed; four lawmakers including Gayoom&#39;s son; and a former police commissioner.

Prosecutors did not specify the grounds on which they are charged with terrorism. If convicted, they could be jailed for 10 to 15 years. All three also were charged with obstruction of justice on suspicion of refusing to hand over their phones to investigators.

Under the emergency, Yameen&#39;s administration arrested former president&nbsp;Maumoon&nbsp;AbdulGayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges.

&quot;Unless something unusual happens, we should not have an emergency by Thursday,&quot; Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Maldives Ambassador for Sri Lanka told a Foreign Correspondents Association forum on Monday.

&quot;The government has no intention of extending it any further barring very unusual circumstances like widespread violence. The intention is to do away with this state of emergency when the current 30 day period expires on March 22.&quot;

Shareef said bribery charges against Chief Justice&nbsp;Abdulla Saeed and Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed have been sent to the prosecutor general and that bribery charges will also be brought against former president&nbsp;Gayoom&nbsp;and Supreme Court administrator Hassan Sayeed.

&quot;That is definite. We know that charges will be pressed against the four of them,&rdquo; Shareef said.

Gayoom&nbsp;is accused of bribing the three legal professionals to overthrow the Yameen government.

Meanwhile, Maldives&nbsp;President Abdulla Yameen will lift a 45-day state of emergency on Thursday.&nbsp;

If convicted, they could be jailed for 10 to 15 years. All three also were charged with obstruction of justice on suspicion of refusing to hand over their phones to investigators

Authorities in Maldives charged longtime former dictator and top judges and police officials with terrorism as the government deals with political turmoil that prompted a weeks-long state of emergency. According to reports, nine people charged at the criminal court included Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the 30-year ruler of the Indian Ocean archipelago state; Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed; four lawmakers including Gayoom's son; and a former police commissioner. Prosecutors did not specify the grounds on which they are charged with terrorism. If convicted, they could be jailed for 10 to 15 years. All three also were charged with obstruction of justice on suspicion of refusing to hand over their phones to investigators. Under the emergency, Yameen's administration arrested former president Maumoon AbdulGayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges. "Unless something unusual happens, we should not have an emergency by Thursday," Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Maldives Ambassador for Sri Lanka told a Foreign Correspondents Association forum on Monday. "The government has no intention of extending it any further barring very unusual circumstances like widespread violence. The intention is to do away with this state of emergency when the current 30 day period expires on March 22." Shareef said bribery charges against Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed have been sent to the prosecutor general and that bribery charges will also be brought against former president Gayoom and Supreme Court administrator Hassan Sayeed. "That is definite. We know that charges will be pressed against the four of them,” Shareef said. Gayoom is accused of bribing the three legal professionals to overthrow the Yameen government. Meanwhile, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen will lift a 45-day state of emergency on Thursday.

Maldives: Former dictator, judges charged with terrorism

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen will lift a 45-day state of emergency on Thursday and the government will bring bribery charges against former leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the chief justice, said a senior Maldives diplomat.

Yameen imposed a state of emergency on Feb. 5 for 15 days to annul a Feb. 1 Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. He later extended the state of emergency for another 30 days with parliament approval, a move challenged by the opposition.

Under the emergency, Yameen&#39;s administration arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges.

&quot;Unless something unusual happens, we should not have emergency by Thursday,&quot; Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Maldives Ambassador for Sri Lanka told a Foreign Correspondents Association forum on Monday.

&quot;The government has no intention of extending it any further barring very unusual circumstances like widespread violence. The intention is to do away with this state of emergency when the current 30 day period expires on March 22.&quot;

Shareef said bribery charges against Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed have been sent to the prosecutor general and that bribery charges will also be brought against former president Gayoom and Supreme Court administrator Hassan Sayeed.

&quot;That is definite. We know that charges will be pressed against the four of them,&rdquo; Shareef said.

Gayoom is accused of bribing the three legal professionals to overthrow the Yameen government.

Despite opposition claims that hundreds of people have been arrested under the state of emergency, Shareef said only 38 had been arrested so far while others were &quot;detained and released&quot;.

Maldives police told Reuters on Saturday that at least 139 opposition protesters were arrested as they attempted to defy orders under the state of emergency and march into the high security zone in capital Male.

When asked if any foreign agent or country had a role in the Maldives crisis, Shareef said: &quot;For my knowledge, the investigations at the moment are focused on local actors only&quot;.

Rights group Amnesty International has said the Maldivian government was using the emergency &quot;as a licence for repression, targeting members of civil society, judges and political opponents&quot;.

Yameen&#39;s government retains a majority in parliament in the absence of the opposition&#39;s 12 MPs who were stripped of their seats by Yameen&#39;s party for defecting last year.

A senior Maldives diplomat said the 45-day state of emergency would be lifted Thursday

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen will lift a 45-day state of emergency on Thursday and the government will bring bribery charges against former leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the chief justice, said a senior Maldives diplomat. Yameen imposed a state of emergency on Feb. 5 for 15 days to annul a Feb. 1 Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. He later extended the state of emergency for another 30 days with parliament approval, a move challenged by the opposition. Under the emergency, Yameen's administration arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges. "Unless something unusual happens, we should not have emergency by Thursday," Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Maldives Ambassador for Sri Lanka told a Foreign Correspondents Association forum on Monday. "The government has no intention of extending it any further barring very unusual circumstances like widespread violence. The intention is to do away with this state of emergency when the current 30 day period expires on March 22." Shareef said bribery charges against Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed have been sent to the prosecutor general and that bribery charges will also be brought against former president Gayoom and Supreme Court administrator Hassan Sayeed. "That is definite. We know that charges will be pressed against the four of them,” Shareef said. Gayoom is accused of bribing the three legal professionals to overthrow the Yameen government. Despite opposition claims that hundreds of people have been arrested under the state of emergency, Shareef said only 38 had been arrested so far while others were "detained and released". Maldives police told Reuters on Saturday that at least 139 opposition protesters were arrested as they attempted to defy orders under the state of emergency and march into the high security zone in capital Male. When asked if any foreign agent or country had a role in the Maldives crisis, Shareef said: "For my knowledge, the investigations at the moment are focused on local actors only". Rights group Amnesty International has said the Maldivian government was using the emergency "as a licence for repression, targeting members of civil society, judges and political opponents". Yameen's government retains a majority in parliament in the absence of the opposition's 12 MPs who were stripped of their seats by Yameen's party for defecting last year.

Maldives to lift state of emergency, charge ex-president, chief justice with bribery

China is meddling in the internal affairs of the Maldives and engaged in massive land grabbing, posing a major security threat to India and the entire Indian Ocean region, a former Maldivian foreign minister and Opposition leader had said.

Ahmed Naseem, who is in the US to brief Trump administration officials on the political turmoil in the Maldives and China&#39;s alleged interference in the island nation, said his country is now a &quot;full-blown dictatorship&quot;.

&quot;China likes to tell the West not to meddle in the domestic affairs of Asian countries. But in the Maldives, China is only too happy to meddle in our domestic affairs, by corrupting the ruling elite and encouraging an authoritarian president to double down on repression,&quot; Naseem said yesterday addressing a gathering at top American think-tank South Asia Centre of Atlantic Council here.

The Maldives has been witnessing political crisis as President Abdulla Yameen declared an emergency in the island nation on February 5 after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely-criticised trials.

The emergency was extended for another 30 days on February 20. There has been international condemnation of the Maldivian government&#39;s moves.

&quot;Almost all the democratic gains that we made in recent years have been lost since President Yameen assumed power in 2013. Every opposition leader is in jail, or exile. The military has stormed, and now occupies, the parliament,&quot; he said.

Asserting that the Maldives is now a &quot;full-blown dictatorship&quot;, Naseem, who is also vice chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Maldivian Democratic Party, said, &quot;It&#39;s difficult to believe that President Yameen would have dared to do all this, defying India and the West -- without the implicit support of his new best friend in Beijing.&quot;

He said that Beijing likes dictatorships because &quot;dictators are easier to bribe, and dictatorships are easier to seduce into a Chinese debt trap.&quot;

&quot;This facilitates China&#39;s primary goal which is a land grab. More specifically, China appears to be keen on building a base in the Maldives which one day may house warships and submarines,&nbsp;Naseem alleged.

&quot;China&#39;s standard prescription for a land grab have been&nbsp;change state type to autocracy, dismantle transparency and democratic oversight, acquire infrastructure projects, very often vanity projects; roads that lead to nowhere, bridges that don&#39;t bridge.

&quot;Prices of these projects are often extremely inflated, and financed through commercial loans or supplier credit. The receiving country, therefore, cannot pay back the debt, and that debt is used as a disciplining regime,&quot; he alleged.

Calling it a &quot;classic case of debt trap&quot;, he said, &quot;When countries can&#39;t pay back the debt, they ask for equity and we end up relinquishing sovereignty. Without firing a single shot, China has grabbed more land than the East India Company.&quot;

Describing this as a dangerous situation, Naseem said that this affects not just the Maldives, but the security and stability of the entire Indian Ocean region.

&quot;In particular, China&#39;s actions are undermining India&#39;s security concerns. What is happening in the Maldives is not just about democracy. It&#39;s about peace, stability, and security of entire neighbourhood,&nbsp;he said.

Naseem alleged that Yameen&#39;s &quot;criminal activities&quot; undermine the US-led, rule-based international system.

Last month, a Maldivian oil tanker was photographed by the Japanese air force engaged in suspected sanction-busting activities, he said.

The Maldivian government furiously denied any involvement in the incident, claiming the tanker was using a fake Maldivian flag.

But since then, the tanker has been connected to the Maldives where it is registered&nbsp;and also to President Yameen&#39;s family, he said.

&quot;We have now learned that a member of Yameen&#39;s family used the tanker as collateral in an application for a USD 4 million mortgage at the Bank of Maldives.

&quot;The opposition believes that Yameen has a fleet of 27 oil tankers, which are being used to systematically bust UN sanctions on North Korea. This business model is nothing new for President Yameen. In the early 2000s, he was documented selling bootleg oil to the Burmese junta, in breach of then UN sanctions,&nbsp;Naseem said.

So this is the problem we face in the Maldives. China is propping up, and actively encouraging a criminal regime, which is busy dismantling the institutions of democracy to cement his rule, and busy selling off the country to Beijing,&quot; the former foreign minister said.

Naseem warned the Washington audience that the Maldives is becoming more volatile, more lawless, and more in the grip of Islamic extremists.

&quot;I don&#39;t think things are going to end well, unless this regime can be brought to a swift end and democracy restored,&nbsp;he said.&nbsp;

China is meddling in the internal affairs of the Maldives and engaged in massive land grabbing, posing a major security threat to India and the entire Indian Ocean region, a former Maldivian foreign minister and Opposition leader had said

China is meddling in the internal affairs of the Maldives and engaged in massive land grabbing, posing a major security threat to India and the entire Indian Ocean region, a former Maldivian foreign minister and Opposition leader had said. Ahmed Naseem, who is in the US to brief Trump administration officials on the political turmoil in the Maldives and China's alleged interference in the island nation, said his country is now a "full-blown dictatorship". "China likes to tell the West not to meddle in the domestic affairs of Asian countries. But in the Maldives, China is only too happy to meddle in our domestic affairs, by corrupting the ruling elite and encouraging an authoritarian president to double down on repression," Naseem said yesterday addressing a gathering at top American think-tank South Asia Centre of Atlantic Council here. The Maldives has been witnessing political crisis as President Abdulla Yameen declared an emergency in the island nation on February 5 after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely-criticised trials. The emergency was extended for another 30 days on February 20. There has been international condemnation of the Maldivian government's moves. "Almost all the democratic gains that we made in recent years have been lost since President Yameen assumed power in 2013. Every opposition leader is in jail, or exile. The military has stormed, and now occupies, the parliament," he said. Asserting that the Maldives is now a "full-blown dictatorship", Naseem, who is also vice chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Maldivian Democratic Party, said, "It's difficult to believe that President Yameen would have dared to do all this, defying India and the West -- without the implicit support of his new best friend in Beijing." He said that Beijing likes dictatorships because "dictators are easier to bribe, and dictatorships are easier to seduce into a Chinese debt trap." "This facilitates China's primary goal which is a land grab. More specifically, China appears to be keen on building a base in the Maldives which one day may house warships and submarines, Naseem alleged. "China's standard prescription for a land grab have been change state type to autocracy, dismantle transparency and democratic oversight, acquire infrastructure projects, very often vanity projects; roads that lead to nowhere, bridges that don't bridge. "Prices of these projects are often extremely inflated, and financed through commercial loans or supplier credit. The receiving country, therefore, cannot pay back the debt, and that debt is used as a disciplining regime," he alleged. Calling it a "classic case of debt trap", he said, "When countries can't pay back the debt, they ask for equity and we end up relinquishing sovereignty. Without firing a single shot, China has grabbed more land than the East India Company." Describing this as a dangerous situation, Naseem said that this affects not just the Maldives, but the security and stability of the entire Indian Ocean region. "In particular, China's actions are undermining India's security concerns. What is happening in the Maldives is not just about democracy. It's about peace, stability, and security of entire neighbourhood, he said. Naseem alleged that Yameen's "criminal activities" undermine the US-led, rule-based international system. Last month, a Maldivian oil tanker was photographed by the Japanese air force engaged in suspected sanction-busting activities, he said. The Maldivian government furiously denied any involvement in the incident, claiming the tanker was using a fake Maldivian flag. But since then, the tanker has been connected to the Maldives where it is registered and also to President Yameen's family, he said. "We have now learned that a member of Yameen's family used the tanker as collateral in an application for a USD 4 million mortgage at the Bank of Maldives. "The opposition believes that Yameen has a fleet of 27 oil tankers, which are being used to systematically bust UN sanctions on North Korea. This business model is nothing new for President Yameen. In the early 2000s, he was documented selling bootleg oil to the Burmese junta, in breach of then UN sanctions, Naseem said. So this is the problem we face in the Maldives. China is propping up, and actively encouraging a criminal regime, which is busy dismantling the institutions of democracy to cement his rule, and busy selling off the country to Beijing," the former foreign minister said. Naseem warned the Washington audience that the Maldives is becoming more volatile, more lawless, and more in the grip of Islamic extremists. "I don't think things are going to end well, unless this regime can be brought to a swift end and democracy restored, he said.

China meddling in Maldives' internal affairs: Former foreign minister Ahmed Naseem

Expressing &quot;grave concern&quot;&nbsp;over the current political crisis in the Maldives, the European Parliament, through a resolution, has called upon the governments of India and China to work with countries in the European Union (EU) to help deliver political and democratic stability in the crisis-ridden archipelago.&nbsp;

In a 16-point resolution introduced and passed unanimously earlier this week, the EU Parliament called on the EU &quot;to make full use of all instruments at its disposal to promote respect for human rights and democratic principles&quot;&nbsp;in the Maldives, including, possibly, the suspension of EU financial assistance to the country pending the resumption of the rule of law and abidance by democratic principles.&nbsp;

The resolution said there was a need for introducing targeted measures and sanctions against those in the country undermining human rights, and to freeze the assets abroad of, and impose travel bans on, certain members of the Maldivian government and their leading supporters in the Maldivian business community.&nbsp;

It further called on the government of Maldives to carry out &quot;a far-reaching reform of the judiciary&#39;&#39;, to establish the impartiality of the Judicial Service Commission, to re-establish the independence of the Prosecutor General, and to respect due process of law and the right to a fair, impartial and independent trial.&nbsp;

The resolution also recognized that, under the Constitution, elections must be held in 2018, and stressed that immediate action should be taken to ensure that these elections are transparent and credible; that voters are given a genuine choice and that parties are able to campaign freely.&nbsp;

Expressing deep concern over the serious and deteriorating political and human rights situation in Maldives, and the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Yameen and his Government, the EU Parliament, according to its resolution published by the website www.europarl.europa.eu, called on Maldives to lift the state of emergency immediately, to respect the institutions and their competencies as provided for in the Constitution, and to respect the fundamental rights of all people, including the right to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the rule of law; expresses its growing concern over the recent actions of the government, which seriously damage and undermine democracy, and run counter to the Maldives&nbsp;Constitution and the country&#39;s international human rights obligations.

It also condemned the &quot;continued intimidation of, and threats against, journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders in the Maldives&quot;, and urged the Maldivian authorities to guarantee the safety of all civil society activists, human rights defenders and media workers in the country.&nbsp;

It also deplored the crackdown on political opponents in Maldives and called on the government to drop all charges against all those being held for political reasons and release them immediately and unconditionally.&nbsp;

It said it is very concerned over the increasing breakdown of the principle of separation of the executive, judicial and other powers in Maldives, and called on &quot;responsible authorities to take immediate steps to restore and uphold the principles enshrined in its Constitution.&quot;.&nbsp;

It said that the Maldivian government must engage in an inclusive dialogue with leaders of all political parties to pave the way for credible, transparent and inclusive elections.

It called on the EU to also actively continue to support UN facilitation for and of such a dialogue.&nbsp;

The EU Parliament said: &quot;We believe that the only way to reverse the deterioration in democracy, human rights and freedoms in The Maldives is through a process of genuine dialogue, involving all political parties and other civic leaders. It further believes that, as the first step towards reconciliation, the government must release all opposition politicians currently held in jail, and reiterated the EU`s firm opposition to the death penalty, in all cases and without exception; strongly condemns the announcement of the reintroduction of the death penalty in the Maldives, and urges the government and parliament of the Maldives to respect the moratorium on the death penalty that has been in place for more than 60 years.&quot;

The European Parliament, through a resolution, has called upon the Governments of India and China to work with countries in the European Union (EU) to help deliver political and democratic stability in the crisis-ridden archipelago

Expressing "grave concern" over the current political crisis in the Maldives, the European Parliament, through a resolution, has called upon the governments of India and China to work with countries in the European Union (EU) to help deliver political and democratic stability in the crisis-ridden archipelago. In a 16-point resolution introduced and passed unanimously earlier this week, the EU Parliament called on the EU "to make full use of all instruments at its disposal to promote respect for human rights and democratic principles" in the Maldives, including, possibly, the suspension of EU financial assistance to the country pending the resumption of the rule of law and abidance by democratic principles. The resolution said there was a need for introducing targeted measures and sanctions against those in the country undermining human rights, and to freeze the assets abroad of, and impose travel bans on, certain members of the Maldivian government and their leading supporters in the Maldivian business community. It further called on the government of Maldives to carry out "a far-reaching reform of the judiciary'', to establish the impartiality of the Judicial Service Commission, to re-establish the independence of the Prosecutor General, and to respect due process of law and the right to a fair, impartial and independent trial. The resolution also recognized that, under the Constitution, elections must be held in 2018, and stressed that immediate action should be taken to ensure that these elections are transparent and credible; that voters are given a genuine choice and that parties are able to campaign freely. Expressing deep concern over the serious and deteriorating political and human rights situation in Maldives, and the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Yameen and his Government, the EU Parliament, according to its resolution published by the website www.europarl.europa.eu, called on Maldives to lift the state of emergency immediately, to respect the institutions and their competencies as provided for in the Constitution, and to respect the fundamental rights of all people, including the right to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the rule of law; expresses its growing concern over the recent actions of the government, which seriously damage and undermine democracy, and run counter to the Maldives Constitution and the country's international human rights obligations. It also condemned the "continued intimidation of, and threats against, journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders in the Maldives", and urged the Maldivian authorities to guarantee the safety of all civil society activists, human rights defenders and media workers in the country. It also deplored the crackdown on political opponents in Maldives and called on the government to drop all charges against all those being held for political reasons and release them immediately and unconditionally. It said it is very concerned over the increasing breakdown of the principle of separation of the executive, judicial and other powers in Maldives, and called on "responsible authorities to take immediate steps to restore and uphold the principles enshrined in its Constitution.". It said that the Maldivian government must engage in an inclusive dialogue with leaders of all political parties to pave the way for credible, transparent and inclusive elections. It called on the EU to also actively continue to support UN facilitation for and of such a dialogue. The EU Parliament said: "We believe that the only way to reverse the deterioration in democracy, human rights and freedoms in The Maldives is through a process of genuine dialogue, involving all political parties and other civic leaders. It further believes that, as the first step towards reconciliation, the government must release all opposition politicians currently held in jail, and reiterated the EU`s firm opposition to the death penalty, in all cases and without exception; strongly condemns the announcement of the reintroduction of the death penalty in the Maldives, and urges the government and parliament of the Maldives to respect the moratorium on the death penalty that has been in place for more than 60 years."

India, China should work with EU to ensure democratic stability in Maldives: European Parliament

&nbsp;The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday notified that the depression over the southeast Arabian Sea is likely to intensify into a deep depression during the next 24 hours, thus causing rainfall or thundershowers over south Tamil Nadu and Kerala for two days.

Rain/ thundershower at many places on March 14 and 15 is very likely over south Tamil Nadu.

Rain/thundershower at most places with isolated heavy falls on March 14 and 15 over Kerala.

Rainfall at most places on March 14 and 15 with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places is very likely over Lakshadweep Islands,&quot; the IMD said in its bulletin.

The weather department further noted that gusty winds are likely to occur over Comorin area and along and off the south Tamil Nadu-south Kerala coasts during the next 36 hours, and along and off the Kerala coast in the subsequent 24 hours.

The same is also forecasted over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea the given dates.

The IMD further stated that the sea condition will be rough to very rough over the Comorin-Maldives area and adjoining sea areas during the next 36 hours and over Lakshadweep and the adjoining southeast Arabian Sea off Kerala coast for the two days.

In this regard, a warning has been issued to fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea along and off south Tamil Nadu, Comorin-Maldives area, the adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Mannar area during the next 24 hours.

Furthermore, fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along and off Kerala coast, Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea on Wednesday and Thursday on account of the rough sea.&nbsp;

Rain/ thundershower at many places on March 14 and 15 is very likely over south Tamil Nadu

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday notified that the depression over the southeast Arabian Sea is likely to intensify into a deep depression during the next 24 hours, thus causing rainfall or thundershowers over south Tamil Nadu and Kerala for two days. Rain/ thundershower at many places on March 14 and 15 is very likely over south Tamil Nadu. Rain/thundershower at most places with isolated heavy falls on March 14 and 15 over Kerala. Rainfall at most places on March 14 and 15 with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places is very likely over Lakshadweep Islands," the IMD said in its bulletin. The weather department further noted that gusty winds are likely to occur over Comorin area and along and off the south Tamil Nadu-south Kerala coasts during the next 36 hours, and along and off the Kerala coast in the subsequent 24 hours. The same is also forecasted over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea the given dates. The IMD further stated that the sea condition will be rough to very rough over the Comorin-Maldives area and adjoining sea areas during the next 36 hours and over Lakshadweep and the adjoining southeast Arabian Sea off Kerala coast for the two days. In this regard, a warning has been issued to fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea along and off south Tamil Nadu, Comorin-Maldives area, the adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Mannar area during the next 24 hours. Furthermore, fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along and off Kerala coast, Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea on Wednesday and Thursday on account of the rough sea.

Rains in Kerala, Tamil Nadu next two days due to depression over Arabian Sea: IMD

Chinese observer <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/obor-project-should-not-be-seen-as-geo-strategic-tool-china-34691">Hu Zhiyong speaking to state-run</a> newspaper Global Times said that India wants to maintain relations with its partners in South Asia, &quot;but those countries may not listen to India.&quot;

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/maldives-president-abdulla-yameen-backs-chinas-obor-signs-mou-26163">right-leaning Chinese daily quoting</a> several Indian reports said PM Modi will be engaging with its South Asian neighbours this year in a major foreign policy initiative amid China&#39;s relentless push to make inroads into Himalayan states and &quot;attempts to implement projects in Bangladesh under China&#39;s Belt and Road(OBOR) initiative.

&quot;India will focus on diplomacy with its neighbours this year, including Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal,&quot; the newspaper said, asserting that the strategy is likely to fail.

The newspaper quoted the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang saying that the Communist state is ready to develop Sino-Indian relations to boost mutual trust.

Hu Zhiyong, research fellow at the Institute of International Relations of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences told Global Times despite India&#39;s renewed push to further ties with its neighbours &quot;will not work&quot;, adding,&quot;Nepal&#39;s election with pro-China KP Sharma Oli taking office as prime minister for the second time this February was a heavy blow to India.&quot;

&quot;South Asian countries including Sri Lanka and the Maldives have been actively participating in China&#39;s Belt and Road initiative,&quot; Hu said.

Hu told the daily that India can reverse its &quot;passive situation&quot; in the region by &quot;sincerely joining the OBOR project&quot;.

&quot;India&#39;s partners in South Asia will diminish if it continues its pro-West policy,&quot; Hu warned.

 
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&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The newspaper quoted the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang saying that the Communist state is ready to develop Sino-Indian relations to boost mutual trust.

Chinese observer Hu Zhiyong speaking to state-run newspaper Global Times said that India wants to maintain relations with its partners in South Asia, "but those countries may not listen to India." The right-leaning Chinese daily quoting several Indian reports said PM Modi will be engaging with its South Asian neighbours this year in a major foreign policy initiative amid China's relentless push to make inroads into Himalayan states and "attempts to implement projects in Bangladesh under China's Belt and Road(OBOR) initiative. "India will focus on diplomacy with its neighbours this year, including Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal," the newspaper said, asserting that the strategy is likely to fail. The newspaper quoted the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang saying that the Communist state is ready to develop Sino-Indian relations to boost mutual trust. Hu Zhiyong, research fellow at the Institute of International Relations of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences told Global Times despite India's renewed push to further ties with its neighbours "will not work", adding,"Nepal's election with pro-China KP Sharma Oli taking office as prime minister for the second time this February was a heavy blow to India." "South Asian countries including Sri Lanka and the Maldives have been actively participating in China's Belt and Road initiative," Hu said. Hu told the daily that India can reverse its "passive situation" in the region by "sincerely joining the OBOR project". "India's partners in South Asia will diminish if it continues its pro-West policy," Hu warned.

South Asian neighbours may not listen to India: Chinese analyst to Global Times

Minutes after President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-snubs-claims-of-violating-un-sanctions-on-north-korea-34357">Abdalla Yameen&rsquo;s dictatorial government </a>fiercely denied Japan&#39;s charges that a tanker registered in the Maldives was one of the four ships that have defied international sanctions and transferred illegal goods to North Korean vessels, WION found the vessel in question on several websites that track mercantile shipping around the earth.&nbsp;

The Xin <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-former-president-nasheed-alleges-president-yameen-of-violating-un-sanctions-on-north-korea-34340">Huan 18 is listed as a tanker, it is</a> very much registered in the Maldives, it flies the Maldivian flag and - was last spotted via satellite in the China seas.&nbsp;

Maps on the websites show the exact location of the tanker, whose name XIN HUAN also reveals just how tight a stranglehold President Yameen&#39;s close ally, China, has on the Indian Ocean island-state.

Japan&#39;s government had earlier released photographs of the Xin Huan 18 anchored alongside a North Korean tanker last weekend.&nbsp;

According to the Nikkei Asian Review, the vehicle was flying the flag of the Maldives and may have been transferring fuel.&nbsp;

The photograph was taken from an aircraft belonging Japan&#39;s maritime Self-Defence Force and Coast Guard just days ago. The illegal at-sea transfer is the fourth instance of foreign vessels transferring goods to North Korean ships.

President Yameen lost no time in issuing a press release in the name of the &quot;Government of the Republic of Maldives&quot;:

&ldquo;The government of the Maldives in no uncertain terms, refutes the assumption that a vessel named Xin Yuan 18 is of Maldivian origin &ndash; no such vehicle is registered in the country. Further, we condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the use of our national flag in a manner so as to tarnish the good standing and reputation of our nation and that of our people.&rdquo;

But WION found the vessel on several shipping websites which use satellites to track mercantile shipping. &nbsp;

Xin Yuan 18&rsquo;s dimensions are 77 M x 23 M, its status is &ldquo;active&rdquo; and as on February 8, 2018 on one website, its last registered position at 11.06 UTC (coordinated universal time) was in the South China Sea.&nbsp;

The Xin Yuan 18 was clipping along at a speed of 9.8 knots and was at 280 degrees.

So far, Japan has been the only country to patrol the waters of the Yellow Sea between China and the Korean peninsula and the neighbouring East China Sea. &nbsp;

Tokyo is now seeking help from other nations to keep North Korea&#39;s maritime smuggling in check. There are global sanctions against North Korea which prohibit the transfer of goods to Pyongyang. So far, the illegal transfers have been of crude oil or refined petroleum products.

The Maldives is currently in the iron-fisted stranglehold of dictatorial President Abdulla Yameen. He has sacked and arrested the judiciary and opposition and consolidated all powers within his own office. President Yameen is also accused of selling entire atolls of his island-nation to both Saudi Arabia and China.

Under his rule, the Maldives has become a quasi-protectorate of China, of whose Belt-and-Road-Initiative, the Maldives is a part.

Meanwhile, exiled former president Mohammed Nasheed disclosed via Twitter that international smuggling operations to regimes under sanction are nothing new under Mr Yameen.

&ldquo;It&#39;s concerning but unsurprising to learn (sic) Prez Yameen is again breaking UN sanctions,&rdquo; read the tweet. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s getting Maldives flagged ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. In the 1990s, President Yameen did the same with the Burmese junta.&rdquo;

Mr Nasheed, who was democratically elected but ousted by Mr Yameen, is referring to allegations of corruption faced by Mr Yameen back in the early 2000s. &nbsp;

Mr Yameen was then reportedly with a state-owned company which sold nearly $300 million worth of oil to Myanmar&#39;s military dictatorship which was then also under international sanctions. Mr Nasheed later alleged that nearly half the money from that sale had disappeared without a trace.

The Xin Huan 18 is listed as a tanker, it is very much registered in the Maldives, it flies the Maldivian flag

Minutes after President Abdalla Yameen’s dictatorial government fiercely denied Japan's charges that a tanker registered in the Maldives was one of the four ships that have defied international sanctions and transferred illegal goods to North Korean vessels, WION found the vessel in question on several websites that track mercantile shipping around the earth. The Xin Huan 18 is listed as a tanker, it is very much registered in the Maldives, it flies the Maldivian flag and - was last spotted via satellite in the China seas. Maps on the websites show the exact location of the tanker, whose name XIN HUAN also reveals just how tight a stranglehold President Yameen's close ally, China, has on the Indian Ocean island-state. Japan's government had earlier released photographs of the Xin Huan 18 anchored alongside a North Korean tanker last weekend. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, the vehicle was flying the flag of the Maldives and may have been transferring fuel. The photograph was taken from an aircraft belonging Japan's maritime Self-Defence Force and Coast Guard just days ago. The illegal at-sea transfer is the fourth instance of foreign vessels transferring goods to North Korean ships. President Yameen lost no time in issuing a press release in the name of the "Government of the Republic of Maldives": “The government of the Maldives in no uncertain terms, refutes the assumption that a vessel named Xin Yuan 18 is of Maldivian origin – no such vehicle is registered in the country. Further, we condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the use of our national flag in a manner so as to tarnish the good standing and reputation of our nation and that of our people.” But WION found the vessel on several shipping websites which use satellites to track mercantile shipping. Xin Yuan 18’s dimensions are 77 M x 23 M, its status is “active” and as on February 8, 2018 on one website, its last registered position at 11.06 UTC (coordinated universal time) was in the South China Sea. The Xin Yuan 18 was clipping along at a speed of 9.8 knots and was at 280 degrees. So far, Japan has been the only country to patrol the waters of the Yellow Sea between China and the Korean peninsula and the neighbouring East China Sea. Tokyo is now seeking help from other nations to keep North Korea's maritime smuggling in check. There are global sanctions against North Korea which prohibit the transfer of goods to Pyongyang. So far, the illegal transfers have been of crude oil or refined petroleum products. The Maldives is currently in the iron-fisted stranglehold of dictatorial President Abdulla Yameen. He has sacked and arrested the judiciary and opposition and consolidated all powers within his own office. President Yameen is also accused of selling entire atolls of his island-nation to both Saudi Arabia and China. Under his rule, the Maldives has become a quasi-protectorate of China, of whose Belt-and-Road-Initiative, the Maldives is a part. Meanwhile, exiled former president Mohammed Nasheed disclosed via Twitter that international smuggling operations to regimes under sanction are nothing new under Mr Yameen. “It's concerning but unsurprising to learn (sic) Prez Yameen is again breaking UN sanctions,” read the tweet. “He’s getting Maldives flagged ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. In the 1990s, President Yameen did the same with the Burmese junta.” Mr Nasheed, who was democratically elected but ousted by Mr Yameen, is referring to allegations of corruption faced by Mr Yameen back in the early 2000s. Mr Yameen was then reportedly with a state-owned company which sold nearly $300 million worth of oil to Myanmar's military dictatorship which was then also under international sanctions. Mr Nasheed later alleged that nearly half the money from that sale had disappeared without a trace.

North Korea tanker row: Vessel with Maldives flag spotted in satellite

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has allegedly accused President Abdulla Yameen of going against UN sanctions on North Korea.

Nasheed further noted that Yameen allowed the ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. The former president took to Twitter saying, &quot;It&#39;s concerning, but unsurprising, to learn President Yameen is again breaking UN sanctions, this time with North Korea. He&#39;s getting Maldives flagged ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. In the 1990s, Prez Yameen did the same with the Burmese junta.&quot;

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It&rsquo;s concerning, but unsurprising, to learn Prez Yameen is again breaking UN sanctions, this time with North Korea. He&rsquo;s getting Maldives flagged ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. In 1990s, Prez Yameen did the same with Burmese junta.
&mdash; Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohamedNasheed/status/968755520357261312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Yesterday, Nasheed claimed over 50 Maldives &quot;National Defence Force (MNDF) and Police Officers&quot; to have been detained by the loyalists of President Yameen.

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Yameen loyalists have detained more than 50 MNDF and Police Officers. Some being detained in their barracks incommunicado; while senior SO police held in Dhoonidhoo. This is worrying. They must be freed.
&mdash; Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohamedNasheed/status/968366062885535744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Abdulla Shahid, member of Maldivian Democratic Party has urged President Yameen to &quot;immediately release&quot; the MPs who were arrested from the Joint Opposition protest that took place on Monday.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

Nasheed further noted that Yameen allowed ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has allegedly accused President Abdulla Yameen of going against UN sanctions on North Korea. Nasheed further noted that Yameen allowed the ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. The former president took to Twitter saying, "It's concerning, but unsurprising, to learn President Yameen is again breaking UN sanctions, this time with North Korea. He's getting Maldives flagged ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. In the 1990s, Prez Yameen did the same with the Burmese junta." It’s concerning, but unsurprising, to learn Prez Yameen is again breaking UN sanctions, this time with North Korea. He’s getting Maldives flagged ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. In 1990s, Prez Yameen did the same with Burmese junta. — Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) February 28, 2018 × Yesterday, Nasheed claimed over 50 Maldives "National Defence Force (MNDF) and Police Officers" to have been detained by the loyalists of President Yameen. Yameen loyalists have detained more than 50 MNDF and Police Officers. Some being detained in their barracks incommunicado; while senior SO police held in Dhoonidhoo. This is worrying. They must be freed. — Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) February 27, 2018 × Abdulla Shahid, member of Maldivian Democratic Party has urged President Yameen to "immediately release" the MPs who were arrested from the Joint Opposition protest that took place on Monday. (With inputs from ANI)

Maldives: Former President Nasheed alleges President Yameen of violating UN sanctions on North Korea

The Maldivian President&#39;s office has issued a statement in the wake former President Nasheed&#39;s allegations accusing President Yameen of &quot;violating UN sanctions on North Korea&quot;.

&quot;The Maldives will pursue aggressive regulatory action against those who tarnish the good standing and reputation of the nation,&quot; noted the official release.&nbsp;

&quot;The Government of Maldives gives high priority to the implementation of all resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, including the Resolutions on Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea (North Korea),&quot; the statement further noted.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-former-president-nasheed-alleges-president-yameen-of-violating-un-sanctions-on-north-korea-34340">Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed alleged</a> that Yameen allowed the ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. The former president took to Twitter saying, &quot;It&#39;s concerning, but unsurprising, to learn President Yameen is again breaking UN sanctions, this time with North Korea. He&#39;s getting Maldives flagged ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. In the 1990s, Prez Yameen did the same with the Burmese junta.&quot;

The release clarified that &quot;the Government of the Republic of Maldives, in no uncertain terms, refutes the assumption that a vessel named Xin Yuan 18 is of Maldivian origin &ndash; no such vessel is registered in the country. Further, we condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the use of our National Flag in a manner so as to tarnish the good standing and reputation of our nation and that of our people&quot;.

The statement concluded saying that the Maldivian authorities do not allow flag of convenience to foreign-owned vessels to operate outside Maldivian waters.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives confirmed that the vessel &lsquo;Xin Yuan 18&rsquo; is not registered in the Maldives.&nbsp;

The statement concluded saying that the Maldivian authorities do not allow flag of convenience to foreign-owned vessels to operate outside Maldivian waters

The Maldivian President's office has issued a statement in the wake former President Nasheed's allegations accusing President Yameen of "violating UN sanctions on North Korea". "The Maldives will pursue aggressive regulatory action against those who tarnish the good standing and reputation of the nation," noted the official release. "The Government of Maldives gives high priority to the implementation of all resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, including the Resolutions on Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)," the statement further noted. Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed alleged that Yameen allowed the ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. The former president took to Twitter saying, "It's concerning, but unsurprising, to learn President Yameen is again breaking UN sanctions, this time with North Korea. He's getting Maldives flagged ships to transfer cargo to North Korean ships on the high seas. In the 1990s, Prez Yameen did the same with the Burmese junta." The release clarified that "the Government of the Republic of Maldives, in no uncertain terms, refutes the assumption that a vessel named Xin Yuan 18 is of Maldivian origin – no such vessel is registered in the country. Further, we condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the use of our National Flag in a manner so as to tarnish the good standing and reputation of our nation and that of our people". The statement concluded saying that the Maldivian authorities do not allow flag of convenience to foreign-owned vessels to operate outside Maldivian waters. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives confirmed that the vessel ‘Xin Yuan 18’ is not registered in the Maldives.

Maldives snubs claims of violating UN sanctions on North Korea

Maldives police arrested at least another four opposition members under state of emergency laws for protesting against President Abdulla Yameen&#39;s government, the opposition said on Tuesday.

The top court in the Maldives validated last week a 30-day extension of the state of emergency, which was sought by Yameen over what he has called a national security threat and constitutional crisis.

Opposition politicians defied a police order to stop protesting after 10.30 pm local time on Monday (1730 GMT) and continued to demand that Yameen implement a Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered the release of politicians and officials held in prison.

The Maldivian Democratic Party, the main opposition party, said on Twitter police had arrested Mohamed Ameeth and Abdulla Ahmed, two lawmakers who had defected from Yameen&#39;s party, and two more from other opposition parties late on Monday.

Independent television Raajje TV, which showed footage of police forcibly blocking protesters, said Abdulla Ahmed was arrested while giving a media interview about the protest.

Yameen&#39;s government has so far ignored international calls to lift the state of emergency, first declared on February 5 for 15 days, and release opposition leaders from jail.

The Council of the European Union threatened the Maldives on Monday with &quot;targeted measures&quot; if the crisis did not improve.

&quot;The Council condemns politically motivated arrests and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners,&quot; the EU said in a statement.

&quot;The Council also condemns any interference with the work of the Supreme Court of the Maldives and actions taken against the judiciary and the judges,&quot; it said.

The Maldives foreign ministry said in a statement there was no legal mandate to implement the Supreme Court order, which also included reinstating 12 lawmakers stripped of their parliamentary seats by Yameen&#39;s party for defecting last year.

&quot;The government will ensure that the state of emergency is lifted as soon as the threats posed to national security are addressed satisfactorily,&quot; the statement said.

Difficult steps

Countries including the United States, Canada, and neighbouring India, along with the United Nations, have urged Yameen to lift the emergency.

Tour operators say hundreds of hotel bookings have been cancelled daily since the emergency was imposed, despite government assurances that all was normal in Indian Ocean resort islands far from the capital.

The government said in a statement on Monday it had to take difficult steps to safeguard the constitution and ensure that civil and political rights were protected.

The prosecutor general has said the extension of the state of emergency was unconstitutional because parliament did not have the required quorum when it voted last week.

However, the three-judge Supreme Court, which is functioning without a chief justice, said late on Monday the parliamentary vote on the extension was valid.

Under the emergency, Yameen&#39;s administration has arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government.

Yameen has also fired two police chiefs who said they would uphold the court&#39;s rulings. His government retains a majority in parliament in the absence of the 12 MPs stripped of their seats.

The top court in the Maldives validated last week a 30-day extension of the state of emergency, which was sought by Yameen over what he has called a national security threat and constitutional crisis

Maldives police arrested at least another four opposition members under state of emergency laws for protesting against President Abdulla Yameen's government, the opposition said on Tuesday. The top court in the Maldives validated last week a 30-day extension of the state of emergency, which was sought by Yameen over what he has called a national security threat and constitutional crisis. Opposition politicians defied a police order to stop protesting after 10.30 pm local time on Monday (1730 GMT) and continued to demand that Yameen implement a Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered the release of politicians and officials held in prison. The Maldivian Democratic Party, the main opposition party, said on Twitter police had arrested Mohamed Ameeth and Abdulla Ahmed, two lawmakers who had defected from Yameen's party, and two more from other opposition parties late on Monday. Independent television Raajje TV, which showed footage of police forcibly blocking protesters, said Abdulla Ahmed was arrested while giving a media interview about the protest. Yameen's government has so far ignored international calls to lift the state of emergency, first declared on February 5 for 15 days, and release opposition leaders from jail. The Council of the European Union threatened the Maldives on Monday with "targeted measures" if the crisis did not improve. "The Council condemns politically motivated arrests and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners," the EU said in a statement. "The Council also condemns any interference with the work of the Supreme Court of the Maldives and actions taken against the judiciary and the judges," it said. The Maldives foreign ministry said in a statement there was no legal mandate to implement the Supreme Court order, which also included reinstating 12 lawmakers stripped of their parliamentary seats by Yameen's party for defecting last year. "The government will ensure that the state of emergency is lifted as soon as the threats posed to national security are addressed satisfactorily," the statement said. Difficult steps Countries including the United States, Canada, and neighbouring India, along with the United Nations, have urged Yameen to lift the emergency. Tour operators say hundreds of hotel bookings have been cancelled daily since the emergency was imposed, despite government assurances that all was normal in Indian Ocean resort islands far from the capital. The government said in a statement on Monday it had to take difficult steps to safeguard the constitution and ensure that civil and political rights were protected. The prosecutor general has said the extension of the state of emergency was unconstitutional because parliament did not have the required quorum when it voted last week. However, the three-judge Supreme Court, which is functioning without a chief justice, said late on Monday the parliamentary vote on the extension was valid. Under the emergency, Yameen's administration has arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. Yameen has also fired two police chiefs who said they would uphold the court's rulings. His government retains a majority in parliament in the absence of the 12 MPs stripped of their seats.

Maldives opposition protesters arrested after top court validates emergency rule

The Maldives has turned down an invite to a naval exercise hosted by India, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said in Delhi on Tuesday.&nbsp;

&quot;Maldives was sent an invitation to attend &#39;Milan&#39;, a multilateral naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy but it declined the invitation,&quot; Lanba said.&nbsp;

The Maldives has been in turmoil ever since President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency over the country. On the sidelines, India and China are sparring with each other to exercise greater authority over the island nation.&nbsp;

Government sources have since said -- anonymously -- that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-india-to-keep-troops-ready-32037" target="_blank">Indian forces are being kept ready</a> in view of the Maldives situation. The sources however added that this was &quot;standard operating procedure&quot;.&nbsp;

There were then a few days ago reports that Chinese ships had been seen in the region, but the reports were refuted by the Indian government.&nbsp;

&quot;We are aware of the Chinese activities in Indian Ocean region. Their pattern of deployment has remained same since many years. At any time, there are 8-10 ships in the Indian Ocean,&quot; Lanba said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

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We are aware of the Chinese activities in Indian Ocean region. Their pattern of deployment has remained same since many years. At any time, there are 8-10 ships in the Indian Ocean: Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/Y4y5rwhqoc">pic.twitter.com/Y4y5rwhqoc</a>
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'Maldives was sent an invitation to attend 'Milan', a multilateral naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy but it declined the invitation,' Navy Chief Admir Sunil Lanba said Tuesday

The Maldives has turned down an invite to a naval exercise hosted by India, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said in Delhi on Tuesday. "Maldives was sent an invitation to attend 'Milan', a multilateral naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy but it declined the invitation," Lanba said. The Maldives has been in turmoil ever since President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency over the country. On the sidelines, India and China are sparring with each other to exercise greater authority over the island nation. Government sources have since said -- anonymously -- that Indian forces are being kept ready in view of the Maldives situation. The sources however added that this was "standard operating procedure". There were then a few days ago reports that Chinese ships had been seen in the region, but the reports were refuted by the Indian government. "We are aware of the Chinese activities in Indian Ocean region. Their pattern of deployment has remained same since many years. At any time, there are 8-10 ships in the Indian Ocean," Lanba said on Tuesday. We are aware of the Chinese activities in Indian Ocean region. Their pattern of deployment has remained same since many years. At any time, there are 8-10 ships in the Indian Ocean: Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba in Delhi pic.twitter.com/Y4y5rwhqoc — ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 ×

Maldives turns down Indian invite to naval exercise

Maldives Ambassador Ahmed Mohamed has clarified that the Maldives is not participating in the naval exercise Milan because of the ongoing state of emergency in the country. The official statement also noted that the state of emergency requires forces to be in a state of heightened readiness.&nbsp;

&quot;I would like to clarify that the Maldives is unable to participate in the naval exercise during this time due to the current circumstances of a State of Emergency being in effect for those under investigation for serious crimes. During such a time especially, security personnel are expected to be at a heightened stance of readiness,&quot; noted the statement.&nbsp;

Mohamed also noted that when situations back at home require officers to be there, they are held from being deployed overseas.

&quot;The Maldives and India enjoy a long history of excellent defence and military cooperation and it is a tradition that we are confident that will endure and continue indefinitely,&quot; read the statement.&nbsp;

The Maldives <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maldives-turns-down-indian-invite-to-naval-exercise-34200">turned down an invite to a naval exercise</a> hosted by India earlier today.&nbsp;

&quot;The Maldives was sent an invitation to attend &#39;Milan&#39;, a multilateral naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy but it declined the invitation,&quot; Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said in Delhi on Tuesday. &nbsp;

The official statement also noted that the state of emergency requires forces to be in a state of heightened readiness

Maldives Ambassador Ahmed Mohamed has clarified that the Maldives is not participating in the naval exercise Milan because of the ongoing state of emergency in the country. The official statement also noted that the state of emergency requires forces to be in a state of heightened readiness. "I would like to clarify that the Maldives is unable to participate in the naval exercise during this time due to the current circumstances of a State of Emergency being in effect for those under investigation for serious crimes. During such a time especially, security personnel are expected to be at a heightened stance of readiness," noted the statement. Mohamed also noted that when situations back at home require officers to be there, they are held from being deployed overseas. "The Maldives and India enjoy a long history of excellent defence and military cooperation and it is a tradition that we are confident that will endure and continue indefinitely," read the statement. The Maldives turned down an invite to a naval exercise hosted by India earlier today. "The Maldives was sent an invitation to attend 'Milan', a multilateral naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy but it declined the invitation," Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said in Delhi on Tuesday.

Invitation for MILAN exercises declined due to ongoing state of emergency, Maldives clarifies

The tourism sector in Maldives is paying a huge price due to the large-scale layoff that is taking place as resorts are receiving significant cancellations from tour operators.

A majority of resorts and hotels in the island nation are facing over 40 per cent room cancellations per day, which directly affect the employees.

Recently, the Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM) raised concern over the effect on tourism due to political issues.

&quot;We, as an organisation formed to develop, promote and advocate on behalf of a sector in tourism, believe that a responsible role must be played by all involved in the political environment in protecting the competitive tourism industry&quot;.

Many countries have issued travel advisories to its citizens as political unrest continues to prevail in the island nation.

LAM later said in a statement, &quot;We also believe that calling for boycotting tourism and the extension of State of Emergency in Maldives will boldly effect the occupancy and bookings confirmed. With huge international media coverage about the ongoing issues, many friendly nations have issued travel advisories with recommendations for their citizens to avoid travelling to Maldives during the period, while we learn that some charter flights scheduled for summer 2018 have cancelled&quot;.

On February 20, Maldives Parliament approved the extension of the State of Emergency by 30 days.

This came a day after President Abdulla Yameen sought the extension, citing threat to national security and the constitutional crisis in the country.

The opposition leaders boycotted the session and called the extension illegal and unconstitutional.

The Maldives is facing political unrest since President Yameen imposed emergency after refusing to implement a Supreme Court order of freeing imprisoned opposition leaders.

On February 2, the Maldivian Supreme Court acquitted former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, former Maldivian Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and ordered the reinstatement of 12 other parliamentary members.

The political unrest in the country deepened further when the police used force to crack down on the Maldivian opposition leaders, who continued to hold anti-government protests.

A majority of resorts and hotels in the island nation are facing over 40 per cent room cancellations per day, which directly affect the employees

The tourism sector in Maldives is paying a huge price due to the large-scale layoff that is taking place as resorts are receiving significant cancellations from tour operators. A majority of resorts and hotels in the island nation are facing over 40 per cent room cancellations per day, which directly affect the employees. Recently, the Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM) raised concern over the effect on tourism due to political issues. "We, as an organisation formed to develop, promote and advocate on behalf of a sector in tourism, believe that a responsible role must be played by all involved in the political environment in protecting the competitive tourism industry". Many countries have issued travel advisories to its citizens as political unrest continues to prevail in the island nation. LAM later said in a statement, "We also believe that calling for boycotting tourism and the extension of State of Emergency in Maldives will boldly effect the occupancy and bookings confirmed. With huge international media coverage about the ongoing issues, many friendly nations have issued travel advisories with recommendations for their citizens to avoid travelling to Maldives during the period, while we learn that some charter flights scheduled for summer 2018 have cancelled". On February 20, Maldives Parliament approved the extension of the State of Emergency by 30 days. This came a day after President Abdulla Yameen sought the extension, citing threat to national security and the constitutional crisis in the country. The opposition leaders boycotted the session and called the extension illegal and unconstitutional. The Maldives is facing political unrest since President Yameen imposed emergency after refusing to implement a Supreme Court order of freeing imprisoned opposition leaders. On February 2, the Maldivian Supreme Court acquitted former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, former Maldivian Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and ordered the reinstatement of 12 other parliamentary members. The political unrest in the country deepened further when the police used force to crack down on the Maldivian opposition leaders, who continued to hold anti-government protests.

Unrest in Maldives: Tourism industry witnesses large-scale layoffs

The Maldivian opposition said Tuesday it had hired a former UN rights rapporteur to push the global body to intervene in a worsening political crisis that has roiled the troubled honeymoon islands.

The opposition alliance, which includes the parties of former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said they had enlisted British lawyer Ben Emmerson to advise them on securing UN mediation in the crisis.

Emmerson, a UN special rapporteur until last year, is also a member of Nasheed&#39;s pro-bono international legal team, which includes high-profile rights lawyer Amal Clooney.

His appointment follows reports that President Abdulla Yameen, who declared a state of emergency in a crackdown on dissent earlier this month, had declined an offer from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for multi-party talks.

Emmerson will &quot;advise the joint opposition in discussions with UN officials&quot; on possible talks with Yameen&#39;s administration, the Colombo-based opposition alliance said in a statement.

Yameen has stepped up a crackdown on opposition activists, including his estranged half brother and ex-president Gayoom, since imposing a draconian state of emergency on February 5.

He has also arrested the chief justice after the Supreme Court ordered the release of political prisoners, and has stripped parliament of its power using emergency laws to head off impeachment.

In another development, Yameen&#39;s niece Dunya Maumoon, resigned as state minister for Health, a position she held for just over a year. Earlier she had been Yameen&#39;s foreign minister.

She has been under pressure to resign since Yameen had her father Gayoom arrested earlier this month on a charge of trying to topple the government.

&quot;Today at this time of pain and crisis for both my family and my country, it is my sincere hope to see my father home at the earliest&quot;, she said in a statement after her resignation.

Yameen&#39;s education minister Aishath Shiham on Tuesday told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that the Supreme Court&#39;s &quot;judicial overreach&quot; had threatened democracy in the Maldives.

&quot;In order to uphold the integrity of the constitution, drastic action was necessary. The president declared a state of emergency. This decision was not taken lightly,&quot; she said. The Council of the European Union on Monday urged Yameen to end the state of emergency, release all political prisoners and restore rule of law. It warned of sanctions if Yameen failed to comply.

&quot;The current situation is not in accordance with the principles of democratic rule and separation of powers,&quot; the Council said.

&quot;If the situation does not improve, the Council may, therefore, consider targeted measures.&quot;

It said the European Union was ready to support any UN facilitation of talks between Maldivian parties to end the standoff, which it said threatened the safety of residents and tourists visiting the popular holiday islands.

Last week Yameen&#39;s regime warned India against interfering in the crisis after New Delhi, once seen as Male&#39;s closest ally, expressed dismay over the president extending the state of emergency.

Yameen has jailed almost all his political opponents since coming to power in late 2013 and the resulting fallout has dented the nation&#39;s image as a popular tourist destination.

Amnesty International on Tuesday called on authorities to &quot;unconditionally release&quot; all those detained under the emergency provisions. 
&nbsp;

The opposition alliance said they had enlisted British lawyer Ben Emmerson to advise them on securing UN mediation in the crisis

The Maldivian opposition said Tuesday it had hired a former UN rights rapporteur to push the global body to intervene in a worsening political crisis that has roiled the troubled honeymoon islands. The opposition alliance, which includes the parties of former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said they had enlisted British lawyer Ben Emmerson to advise them on securing UN mediation in the crisis. Emmerson, a UN special rapporteur until last year, is also a member of Nasheed's pro-bono international legal team, which includes high-profile rights lawyer Amal Clooney. His appointment follows reports that President Abdulla Yameen, who declared a state of emergency in a crackdown on dissent earlier this month, had declined an offer from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for multi-party talks. Emmerson will "advise the joint opposition in discussions with UN officials" on possible talks with Yameen's administration, the Colombo-based opposition alliance said in a statement. Yameen has stepped up a crackdown on opposition activists, including his estranged half brother and ex-president Gayoom, since imposing a draconian state of emergency on February 5. He has also arrested the chief justice after the Supreme Court ordered the release of political prisoners, and has stripped parliament of its power using emergency laws to head off impeachment. In another development, Yameen's niece Dunya Maumoon, resigned as state minister for Health, a position she held for just over a year. Earlier she had been Yameen's foreign minister. She has been under pressure to resign since Yameen had her father Gayoom arrested earlier this month on a charge of trying to topple the government. "Today at this time of pain and crisis for both my family and my country, it is my sincere hope to see my father home at the earliest", she said in a statement after her resignation. Yameen's education minister Aishath Shiham on Tuesday told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that the Supreme Court's "judicial overreach" had threatened democracy in the Maldives. "In order to uphold the integrity of the constitution, drastic action was necessary. The president declared a state of emergency. This decision was not taken lightly," she said. The Council of the European Union on Monday urged Yameen to end the state of emergency, release all political prisoners and restore rule of law. It warned of sanctions if Yameen failed to comply. "The current situation is not in accordance with the principles of democratic rule and separation of powers," the Council said. "If the situation does not improve, the Council may, therefore, consider targeted measures." It said the European Union was ready to support any UN facilitation of talks between Maldivian parties to end the standoff, which it said threatened the safety of residents and tourists visiting the popular holiday islands. Last week Yameen's regime warned India against interfering in the crisis after New Delhi, once seen as Male's closest ally, expressed dismay over the president extending the state of emergency. Yameen has jailed almost all his political opponents since coming to power in late 2013 and the resulting fallout has dented the nation's image as a popular tourist destination. Amnesty International on Tuesday called on authorities to "unconditionally release" all those detained under the emergency provisions.

Maldives opposition seeks UN-mediated talks to end crisis

Maldives health minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maldives-turns-down-indian-invite-to-naval-exercise-34200">Dunya Maumoon resigned today</a> pained by the arrest of his father as the crisis in the island nation continued unabated.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Today, at this time of<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-opposition-protesters-arrested-after-top-court-validates-emergency-rule-34207"> pain and crisis for both my family </a>and my country, it is my sincere hope to see my father home at the earliest,&rdquo; Maumoon said, adding, &ldquo;I call upon the international community to support the Maldivian people to help us overcome this crisis and to build a stronger democratic system.&quot;

Maldives president &nbsp;Abdulla Yameen had declared a state of emergency on February which was extended by 30-days after the Supreme Court gave its approval.

Dunya&#39;s father is Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who is also the president&#39;s half-brother. Gayoom ruled the country for 30 years until 2008. He was arrested last month as the government crackdown on several top government officials including the chief justice who was put behind bars.

&ldquo;He is not just my father, but the father of the nation, who has built this country and has earned the respect and love of the people,&rdquo; Dunya said.

Last week the Maldives government had arrested at least another four opposition members under the state of emergency laws for protesting against President Abdulla Yameen&#39;s government.

The United States, Canada including India, along with the United Nations, have urged Yameen to lift the emergency but the government has ignored all suggestions so far.&nbsp;

The government said in a statement it had to take &quot;difficult steps&quot; to safeguard the constitution and ensure that &quot;civil and political rights&quot; were protected.

Under the emergency, Yameen&#39;s administration has arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government.

Maldives president Abdulla Yameen had declared a state of emergency on February which was extended by 30-days after the Supreme Court gave its approval.

Maldives health minister Dunya Maumoon resigned today pained by the arrest of his father as the crisis in the island nation continued unabated. “Today, at this time of pain and crisis for both my family and my country, it is my sincere hope to see my father home at the earliest,” Maumoon said, adding, “I call upon the international community to support the Maldivian people to help us overcome this crisis and to build a stronger democratic system." Maldives president Abdulla Yameen had declared a state of emergency on February which was extended by 30-days after the Supreme Court gave its approval. Dunya's father is Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who is also the president's half-brother. Gayoom ruled the country for 30 years until 2008. He was arrested last month as the government crackdown on several top government officials including the chief justice who was put behind bars. “He is not just my father, but the father of the nation, who has built this country and has earned the respect and love of the people,” Dunya said. Last week the Maldives government had arrested at least another four opposition members under the state of emergency laws for protesting against President Abdulla Yameen's government. The United States, Canada including India, along with the United Nations, have urged Yameen to lift the emergency but the government has ignored all suggestions so far. The government said in a statement it had to take "difficult steps" to safeguard the constitution and ensure that "civil and political rights" were protected. Under the emergency, Yameen's administration has arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government.

Maldives health minister resigns, calls for 'international support'

China&#39;s attempt to increase its economic and military might in the Indian Ocean came to light once again with East Asian nation&#39;s plan to establish a Joint Ocean Observation Station in the Maldives.&nbsp;

The joint ocean observation station which China is looking to establish in the Maldives could prove to be another security challenge for the Indian government with the Maldivian opposition leaders claiming that the observatory will also have a military application with provision even for a submarine base.

The observatory location in Makunudhoo, the westernmost atoll in the north (not far from India), will allow the Chinese a vantage point of an important Indian Ocean shipping route through which many merchants and other ships pass, said political sources in Male. It will be uncomfortably close to Indian waters and test red lines with regard to ties with the Maldives.

Indian officials confirmed that an official agreement titled Protocol on Establishment of Joint Ocean Observation Station between China and the Maldives was finalised last year around the time the countries also controversially signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).&nbsp;

They, however, said they&#39;ll have to check the specifics of the agreement before offering a comment.

The joint ocean observation station which China is looking to establish in the Maldives could prove to be another security challenge for the Indian government

China's attempt to increase its economic and military might in the Indian Ocean came to light once again with East Asian nation's plan to establish a Joint Ocean Observation Station in the Maldives. The joint ocean observation station which China is looking to establish in the Maldives could prove to be another security challenge for the Indian government with the Maldivian opposition leaders claiming that the observatory will also have a military application with provision even for a submarine base. The observatory location in Makunudhoo, the westernmost atoll in the north (not far from India), will allow the Chinese a vantage point of an important Indian Ocean shipping route through which many merchants and other ships pass, said political sources in Male. It will be uncomfortably close to Indian waters and test red lines with regard to ties with the Maldives. Indian officials confirmed that an official agreement titled Protocol on Establishment of Joint Ocean Observation Station between China and the Maldives was finalised last year around the time the countries also controversially signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). They, however, said they'll have to check the specifics of the agreement before offering a comment.

China's ocean observatory in Maldives sparks fresh security concerns for India

The extension of a state of emergency in the Maldives was unconstitutional, the country&#39;s prosecutor general has said, according to two sources and local media on Wednesday.

Parliament approved on Tuesday the extension sought by President Abdulla Yameen, but it was passed without the constitutionally required quorum of 43 lawmakers.

The prosecutor general, Aishath Bisham, had told police in a letter the state of emergency was unconstitutional, two senior officials of the Prosecutor General&#39;s office told Reuters.

&quot;The prosecutor general said that she believed the vote was unconstitutional and as a result, the state of emergency is also unconstitutional,&quot; one official said.

&quot;She did not ask the police to release the state of emergency arrestees, but she said that she could not see any legal basis for keeping them under arrest.&quot;

Prosecutor General&#39;s letter comes after several travel advisories since Yameen declared the state of emergency on Feb. 5 and several tourists have been cancelling hundreds of hotel bookings every day despite government assurances that all is normal in the resort islands, far from the capital.

When parliament approved the extension of emergency, the ruling party legislators also sought a Supreme Court opinion through a resolution on the approval without the quorum.

In his request to extend the emergency, Yameen said a threat to national security had not diminished and a constitutional crisis had not been resolved.

Yameen imposed a state of emergency on Feb. 5 for 15 days to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. The emergency ended on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court after the parliament vote on Tuesday issued a temporary stay, asking all state institutions to follow the state of emergency declaration until it deliberated on a resolution submitted to the court by the parliament.

The resolution raised questions about the legality of the vote to extend the state of emergency.

Abdul Raheem Abdulla, the vice president Yameen&#39;s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) said the Supreme Court&#39;s stay order means that the Court has seen the state of emergency declaration vote as &quot;something that can be lawfully done&quot;.

Ahmed Mahloof, an opposition spokesperson, said the president was forcing the police to keep the people arrested in detention, despite the prosecutor general&#39;s letter.

&quot;The chief justice and a judge of the court are detained illegally,&quot; Mahloof told reporters. &quot;The Supreme Court can&#39;t deliberate without the chief justice. They can&#39;t even use the seal of the court without the permission of the chief justice.&quot;

Police dispersed night protests by opposition supporters who have been demanding the detention of president Yameen and release of opposition leaders.

Under the emergency, Yameen&#39;s administration has arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government.

Though Yameen has ignored the court rulings, he has stopped short of saying he will not obey them. He has, however, fired two police chiefs who said they would uphold the rulings, and he continues to jail opposition members.

Parliament approved on Tuesday the extension sought by President Abdulla Yameen, but it was passed without the constitutionally required quorum of 43 lawmakers.

The extension of a state of emergency in the Maldives was unconstitutional, the country's prosecutor general has said, according to two sources and local media on Wednesday. Parliament approved on Tuesday the extension sought by President Abdulla Yameen, but it was passed without the constitutionally required quorum of 43 lawmakers. The prosecutor general, Aishath Bisham, had told police in a letter the state of emergency was unconstitutional, two senior officials of the Prosecutor General's office told Reuters. "The prosecutor general said that she believed the vote was unconstitutional and as a result, the state of emergency is also unconstitutional," one official said. "She did not ask the police to release the state of emergency arrestees, but she said that she could not see any legal basis for keeping them under arrest." Prosecutor General's letter comes after several travel advisories since Yameen declared the state of emergency on Feb. 5 and several tourists have been cancelling hundreds of hotel bookings every day despite government assurances that all is normal in the resort islands, far from the capital. When parliament approved the extension of emergency, the ruling party legislators also sought a Supreme Court opinion through a resolution on the approval without the quorum. In his request to extend the emergency, Yameen said a threat to national security had not diminished and a constitutional crisis had not been resolved. Yameen imposed a state of emergency on Feb. 5 for 15 days to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. The emergency ended on Tuesday. The Supreme Court after the parliament vote on Tuesday issued a temporary stay, asking all state institutions to follow the state of emergency declaration until it deliberated on a resolution submitted to the court by the parliament. The resolution raised questions about the legality of the vote to extend the state of emergency. Abdul Raheem Abdulla, the vice president Yameen's Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) said the Supreme Court's stay order means that the Court has seen the state of emergency declaration vote as "something that can be lawfully done". Ahmed Mahloof, an opposition spokesperson, said the president was forcing the police to keep the people arrested in detention, despite the prosecutor general's letter. "The chief justice and a judge of the court are detained illegally," Mahloof told reporters. "The Supreme Court can't deliberate without the chief justice. They can't even use the seal of the court without the permission of the chief justice." Police dispersed night protests by opposition supporters who have been demanding the detention of president Yameen and release of opposition leaders. Under the emergency, Yameen's administration has arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. Though Yameen has ignored the court rulings, he has stopped short of saying he will not obey them. He has, however, fired two police chiefs who said they would uphold the rulings, and he continues to jail opposition members.

Prosecutor General calls Maldives' extension of emergency unconstitutional: Media

India&#39;s relations with the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/extension-of-emergency-will-delay-restoration-of-normalcy-in-maldives-ministry-of-external-affairs-33626">Maldives continued to slide</a> as&nbsp;the Maldives government in a statement said today that India has ignored facts and ground realities with regard to political developments in the country.

&quot;The assertion by India that the extension of the state of emergency was unconstitutional is a clear distortion of facts,&quot; the statement by Maldives government said.

India on Wednesday had said it was deeply &quot;dismayed&quot; with the Maldives government after it extended the emergency for 30 days. The government added that the manner &quot;in which the extension of the State of Emergency was approved by the Majlis in contravention of the Constitution of Maldives is also a matter of concern&quot;.&nbsp;

The Maldives government justified the move asserting that the Supreme Court had cleared the &quot;validity of the emergency&quot; in its ruling on February 21st.

&quot;It is therefore important that friends and partners in the international community, including India, refrain from any actions that could hinder resolving the situation facing the country,&quot; the statement declared.

&quot;The People&rsquo;s Majlis provided relief by lifting some of the restrictions imposed on Constitutional Articles under the State of Emergency and by imposing the State of Emergency only upon individuals alleged to have carried out illegal activities and in the places they stayed,&quot; the Maldives government statement said.

&ldquo;The government of Maldives reiterates its firm commitment to work closely with the international community, including India, to address the concerns they might have,&quot; the statement concluded.

India had earlier raised concern over developments in the Maldives even as the Yameen-led government imposed emergency on February 5th and then extended it by a further 30 days on Wednesday.

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India had earlier raised concern over developments in the Maldives even as the Yameen-led government imposed emergency

India's relations with the Maldives continued to slide as the Maldives government in a statement said today that India has ignored facts and ground realities with regard to political developments in the country. "The assertion by India that the extension of the state of emergency was unconstitutional is a clear distortion of facts," the statement by Maldives government said. India on Wednesday had said it was deeply "dismayed" with the Maldives government after it extended the emergency for 30 days. The government added that the manner "in which the extension of the State of Emergency was approved by the Majlis in contravention of the Constitution of Maldives is also a matter of concern". The Maldives government justified the move asserting that the Supreme Court had cleared the "validity of the emergency" in its ruling on February 21st. "It is therefore important that friends and partners in the international community, including India, refrain from any actions that could hinder resolving the situation facing the country," the statement declared. "The People’s Majlis provided relief by lifting some of the restrictions imposed on Constitutional Articles under the State of Emergency and by imposing the State of Emergency only upon individuals alleged to have carried out illegal activities and in the places they stayed," the Maldives government statement said. “The government of Maldives reiterates its firm commitment to work closely with the international community, including India, to address the concerns they might have," the statement concluded. India had earlier raised concern over developments in the Maldives even as the Yameen-led government imposed emergency on February 5th and then extended it by a further 30 days on Wednesday.

India's view on extension of emergency clear distortion of facts: Maldives government

With the Maldives&#39; government extending the state of emergency for another 30 days, India feels &quot;deeply dismayed&quot; by the move.

&quot;Deeply dismayed that the Government of Maldives has extended the State of Emergency for a further 30 days,&quot; noted the official Ministry of External Affairs statement.

The release noted that the manner &quot;in which the extension of the State of Emergency was approved by the Majlis in contravention of the Constitution of Maldives is also a matter of concern&quot;.&nbsp;

The MEA noted that the move will further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives.&nbsp;

&quot;The consequent delay in the resumption of the political process and the continuing suspension of the functioning of democratic institutions including the judiciary is likely to further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives,&quot; noted the statement.

India yesterday voiced its opinion over the extension of emergency in the Maldives saying that it would not want the Maldives to go ahead with the extension.&nbsp;

&quot;It is important that the Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged,&quot; the MEA noted yesterday.

The MEA noted that the move will further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives.

With the Maldives' government extending the state of emergency for another 30 days, India feels "deeply dismayed" by the move. "Deeply dismayed that the Government of Maldives has extended the State of Emergency for a further 30 days," noted the official Ministry of External Affairs statement. The release noted that the manner "in which the extension of the State of Emergency was approved by the Majlis in contravention of the Constitution of Maldives is also a matter of concern". The MEA noted that the move will further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives. "The consequent delay in the resumption of the political process and the continuing suspension of the functioning of democratic institutions including the judiciary is likely to further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives," noted the statement. India yesterday voiced its opinion over the extension of emergency in the Maldives saying that it would not want the Maldives to go ahead with the extension. "It is important that the Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged," the MEA noted yesterday.

Extension of emergency will delay restoration of normalcy in Maldives: MEA

The US today expressed disappointment over the Maldivian government <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-parliament-approves-extension-of-state-of-emergency-by-30-days-33529">extending the state of emergency by another 30 days</a> and asked President Abdulla Yameen to uphold the rule of law in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation.

Yameen yesterday extended a draconian state of emergency by another month yesterday, bolstering his grip on power in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation.

&quot;The United States is disappointed by reports that Maldivian President Yameen has extended the state of emergency in that country for an additional 30 days,&quot; State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

&quot;The US continues to call on President Yameen to end the state of emergency, uphold the rule of law, permit the full and proper functioning of the Parliament and the judiciary, restore constitutionally guaranteed rights of the people of the Maldives, and respect the Maldives&#39; international human rights obligations and commitments,&quot; Nauert said.

Yameen earlier this month had declared a 15-day state of emergency curtailing the powers of the judiciary and the legislature after the country&#39;s Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials.

The Maldives&#39; Parliament yesterday extended the state of emergency by approving Yameen&#39;s recommendation. Only 38 MPs were present for the vote, which took place hours before the state of emergency was due to expire, despite 43 lawmakers being needed for the vote to take place as required by the Constitution.

All 38 were from the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives. The opposition boycotted the vote.

The state of emergency will now end on March 22.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal in an editorial expressed concern over China&#39;s increasing influence in Male.

&quot;Xi Jinping&#39;s Belt and Road Initiative puts the expansion of Chinese power and influence above all else, and the Maldives is an example of the collateral damage. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has called China&#39;s practices &#39;predatory economics&#39;, and too often that&#39;s right,&quot; the daily said.

India, it said, is naturally concerned that China could use the Maldives ports to expand its military presence in the Indian Ocean.

India&#39;s economic ties with the Maldives are also being eclipsed, the editorial said.

&quot;In 2012 the Yameen administration terminated a contract with an Indian company to renovate the country&#39;s airport in favour of a Chinese company. Last year, the government pushed a trade agreement with China through parliament without debate, eliminating tariffs on 95 per cent of Chinese goods over eight years,&quot; it said.

According to the daily, as part of Xi&#39;s Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing granted loans and sent state-owned companies to develop the Maldives ports and other public works.

A new International Monetary Fund report projects the Maldives&#39; external debt will hit 51.2 per cent of GDP in 2021 from 34.7 per cent in 2016 as a result of the projects, it said.&nbsp;

The US asked President Abdulla Yameen to uphold the rule of law in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation.

The US today expressed disappointment over the Maldivian government extending the state of emergency by another 30 days and asked President Abdulla Yameen to uphold the rule of law in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation. Yameen yesterday extended a draconian state of emergency by another month yesterday, bolstering his grip on power in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation. "The United States is disappointed by reports that Maldivian President Yameen has extended the state of emergency in that country for an additional 30 days," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said. "The US continues to call on President Yameen to end the state of emergency, uphold the rule of law, permit the full and proper functioning of the Parliament and the judiciary, restore constitutionally guaranteed rights of the people of the Maldives, and respect the Maldives' international human rights obligations and commitments," Nauert said. Yameen earlier this month had declared a 15-day state of emergency curtailing the powers of the judiciary and the legislature after the country's Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. The Maldives' Parliament yesterday extended the state of emergency by approving Yameen's recommendation. Only 38 MPs were present for the vote, which took place hours before the state of emergency was due to expire, despite 43 lawmakers being needed for the vote to take place as required by the Constitution. All 38 were from the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives. The opposition boycotted the vote. The state of emergency will now end on March 22. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal in an editorial expressed concern over China's increasing influence in Male. "Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative puts the expansion of Chinese power and influence above all else, and the Maldives is an example of the collateral damage. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has called China's practices 'predatory economics', and too often that's right," the daily said. India, it said, is naturally concerned that China could use the Maldives ports to expand its military presence in the Indian Ocean. India's economic ties with the Maldives are also being eclipsed, the editorial said. "In 2012 the Yameen administration terminated a contract with an Indian company to renovate the country's airport in favour of a Chinese company. Last year, the government pushed a trade agreement with China through parliament without debate, eliminating tariffs on 95 per cent of Chinese goods over eight years," it said. According to the daily, as part of Xi's Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing granted loans and sent state-owned companies to develop the Maldives ports and other public works. A new International Monetary Fund report projects the Maldives' external debt will hit 51.2 per cent of GDP in 2021 from 34.7 per cent in 2016 as a result of the projects, it said.

US disappointed over extension of emergency in Maldives

Parliament in the Maldives on Tuesday approved a 30-day extension of a state of emergency sought by President Abdulla Yameen who cited an ongoing national security threat and constitutional crisis.

Countries including the United States, India and Canada along with the United Nations have urged Yameen to lift the emergency and restore normalcy.

Tour operators say hundreds of hotel bookings have been cancelled daily since the 15-day emergency was imposed on Feb. 5 despite government assurances that all is normal in the resort islands, which are far from the capital.

Yameen imposed the emergency to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed the convictions of nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison.

The emergency &quot;shall only apply to those alleged to have carried out illegal activities &ndash; it shall not apply to otherwise law abiding residents of, or visitors to, the Maldives,&quot; a statement from Yameen`s office said on Tuesday.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement on Tuesday saying Washington was disappointed by the extension of the state of emergency.

Since Feb. 5, the government has arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on charges of attempting to usurp power.

Yameen has ignored the court rulings but stopped short of saying he would not obey them. He has jailed opposition members and fired two police chiefs who said they would uphold the court rulings.

Yameen took power in 2013 and his recent moves aim to consolidate power ahead of an election this year.&nbsp;

The country`s neighbour India urged the government to release the nine opposition leaders as required by the Supreme Court.

All 38 ruling party lawmakers approved the vote at an extraordinary session of parliament boycotted by the opposition who cited the constitution to say it required 43 MPs.

Former president Mohamed Nasheed, who is in exile, said the government could not extend the emergency without 43 votes.

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, leader of the opposition coalition`s parliamentary group, said: &quot;This state of emergency is illegal .... Yameen has, in effect, hijacked the entire state and is ruling the Maldives like a military dictator.&quot;

Parliament says it passed the extension to the emergency under a procedure that does not require a quorum and it sought an opinion on the matter from the Supreme Court.

Former attorney general Ahmed Ali Sawad said more than half of MPs should be present for a vote on the emergency decree.

&quot;This is fundamental legislative check on an executive action having wide ranging ramifications on the rights, liberties and affairs of the people,&quot; Sawad told Reuters.

Shahinda Ismail, executive director of Maldives Democracy Network said the ruling party has effectively and completely removed all democratic and lawful systems of governance.

President Yameen imposed the emergency to annul a Supreme Court ruling

Parliament in the Maldives on Tuesday approved a 30-day extension of a state of emergency sought by President Abdulla Yameen who cited an ongoing national security threat and constitutional crisis. Countries including the United States, India and Canada along with the United Nations have urged Yameen to lift the emergency and restore normalcy. Tour operators say hundreds of hotel bookings have been cancelled daily since the 15-day emergency was imposed on Feb. 5 despite government assurances that all is normal in the resort islands, which are far from the capital. Yameen imposed the emergency to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed the convictions of nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. The emergency "shall only apply to those alleged to have carried out illegal activities – it shall not apply to otherwise law abiding residents of, or visitors to, the Maldives," a statement from Yameen`s office said on Tuesday. The U.S. State Department issued a statement on Tuesday saying Washington was disappointed by the extension of the state of emergency. Since Feb. 5, the government has arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on charges of attempting to usurp power. Yameen has ignored the court rulings but stopped short of saying he would not obey them. He has jailed opposition members and fired two police chiefs who said they would uphold the court rulings. Yameen took power in 2013 and his recent moves aim to consolidate power ahead of an election this year. The country`s neighbour India urged the government to release the nine opposition leaders as required by the Supreme Court. All 38 ruling party lawmakers approved the vote at an extraordinary session of parliament boycotted by the opposition who cited the constitution to say it required 43 MPs. Former president Mohamed Nasheed, who is in exile, said the government could not extend the emergency without 43 votes. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, leader of the opposition coalition`s parliamentary group, said: "This state of emergency is illegal .... Yameen has, in effect, hijacked the entire state and is ruling the Maldives like a military dictator." Parliament says it passed the extension to the emergency under a procedure that does not require a quorum and it sought an opinion on the matter from the Supreme Court. Former attorney general Ahmed Ali Sawad said more than half of MPs should be present for a vote on the emergency decree. "This is fundamental legislative check on an executive action having wide ranging ramifications on the rights, liberties and affairs of the people," Sawad told Reuters. Shahinda Ismail, executive director of Maldives Democracy Network said the ruling party has effectively and completely removed all democratic and lawful systems of governance.

Maldives parliament extends emergency by 30 days

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