Tag Archives: Maldives

BBC Northern Ireland reports:

DUP MP Ian Paisley was given a complimentary holiday at a luxury Maldives resort months after advocating on behalf of its government.

BBC Spotlight obtained new evidence which suggested the visit was requested by the Maldivian government and facilitated by the resort owner, who had political links.

The programme examined whether the MP should have declared the trip in 2016.

He said he paid for part of the holiday and the rest was paid for by a friend.

The North Antrim MP did not reveal the identity of this friend. He said the friend was unconnected with his work and has received no benefit as a result of his work.

Paisley faces luxury Maldives holiday questions (BBC Northern Ireland)

Meanwhile…

Eek.

Paisley faces luxury Maldives holiday questions (BBC Northern Ireland)

Previously: There Had Been Rumours

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A coconut has been detained by Maldivian police on suspicion of vote-rigging in a key presidential election. The coconut, described as “young”, was found near a school that will be used as a polling station on Saturday on the remote Kaafu atoll, one of the hundreds of islands that comprise the Indian Ocean archipelago state.

The local Minivan news website reported that police “took the coconut into their possession” around 7.05am on Tuesday, after they received a complaint about the suspicious fruit near the school on the Guraidhoo Island, which lies 130 miles from the capital, Male, and has a population of around 2,000.

Any excuse

Coconut detained in Maldives over vote-rigging claims (Jason Burke, Guardian)

Pic: pureblissnutrition