"Maldives Suspends Officials Over Racist Remarks Against PM Modi"

The Maldives government suspended three deputy ministers for mocking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, calling him a "clown," a "terrorist," and a "puppet of Israel." The criticism arose after Modi shared photos of India's Lakshadweep islands, which some viewed as an attempt to draw visitors away from the Maldives, a nation heavily reliant on tourism. President Mohamed Muizzu ordered an investigation and suspended the officials, emphasizing that their opinions were personal and did not represent the government's views. The incident reflects diplomatic tensions and concerns about potential repercussions from the derogatory posts about Modi.