Now for a look at stories making headlines around the world and we start with the political unrest in the Maldives.<br />The government of the island nation declared a 15-day state of emergency Monday amid the bitter standoff between the president and the Supreme Court. <br />For more on this we turn to our Ro Aram… <br />Aram… what has led to all this unrest in a country considered a honeymooners' paradise?<br /><br /> Well Semin…. the Maldives has been plunged into chaos in recent years amid a crackdown on dissent, with President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom jailing almost all his political opposition since he came to power in 2013. <br /> The crisis was exacerbated last week when the Supreme Court surprisingly ordered the release of the imprisoned opposition leaders as well as for 12 lawmakers to be reinstated.<br />That would restore an opposition majority in parliament and potentially create a platform for impeachment. <br />It also threw out a trial against former President Mohamed Nasheed - the country's first democratically elected leader who was controversially convicted of terrorism in 2015 by the Gayoom regime.<br />Opposition supporters have staged street protests lobbying the government to obey the court order, but an infuriated Gayoom eventually declared the state of emergency.<br />The move gives him sweeping powers to make arrests, search and seize properties and restrict freedom of assembly.<br />Hours after the emergency was declared, soldiers forced their way into the Supreme Court building, where the judges were believed to be taking shelter.<br /> Several countries, including the U.S., as well as some human rights groups have urged the Maldives government to adhere to the Supreme Court's ruling and respect the rule of law.<br />The United Kingdom, China and India have issued travel warnings to the island nation amid the political unrest. <br />
