The Christmas Tree’s Roots Reach Back to Ancient Afghanistan
On the longest night of the year, long before Christmas existed as a word or an idea, people in what is now Afghanistan watched the sun disappear and waited for its return.
Jetex’s $125 Million Bet on Maldives Luxury Faces Government’s Leisurely Pace
MALÉ, Maldives – At Jetex, a private aviation company redefining luxury travel, the goal is clear: when a flight touches down, guests are whisked to their waiting cars within minutes, with luggage
A Milestone for Maldives: Indian Honeymooner Marks One Millionth Tourist in Historic Year
VELANA, Maldives — In a vibrant celebration of tourism and sustainability, the Maldives welcomed its one millionth tourist of 2025, Kajal Singh and her husband, Indian citizens, who arrived on IndiGo Flight
President Appoints First Female Chairman of Maldives Airports Company
MALE’, Maldives —Aisha Noorain Janah has been named chairman of the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), marking the first time a woman has held this pivotal role in the nation’s aviation sector.
President Muizzu Opens New Airport in Muli, Paving the Way for Regional Development
MULI, Maldives — On a sunlit Tuesday morning, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stood before a crowd of local leaders and residents on Muli Island to inaugurate a long-awaited airport, a project he
Maldives and Malaysia Chart a New Course for Economic Ties
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — When President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stepped up to the podium at the inaugural Maldives-Malaysia Business Forum here, his message was clear: the Maldives is open for business, and
Maldives Tourism Surges 7.6% in 2025, Led by Chinese Visitors
Male’, Maldives—The Maldives welcomed 806,110 tourists in 2025 through April 27, a 7.6% increase from the 749,225 arrivals in the same period last year, according to the Tourism Ministry. The figure also
A Roadblock in Paradise: Addu’s Airport Expansion Stumbles Over Corporate Greed and Government Missteps
MALE, — In the lush, equatorial heart of the Maldives, Addu City is a paradox: a prime swath of land blessed with turquoise lagoons and rare tropical jungles, yet its people reap
Maldives Battles Corruption and Economic Strain
MALE’, Maldives — The arrest this week of the Maldives’ immigration controller and several associates has jolted this island nation, casting a harsh light on a government grappling with entrenched corruption and economic
Trouble in Paradise: Fees, Fights, and the Fraying Welcome of Dhigurah
Picture this: a sunburned tourist sprints across the sands of Dhigurah, flip-flops flapping, towel trailing behind like a cape. Chasing him, the island council president, red-faced and breathless, shouts about unpaid fees
Blackstone’s Second Shot at a Seaplane Empire in the Maldives
MALÉ, Maldives — Blackstone Group is trying to reclaim a piece of paradise. The private equity giant is closing in on a deal to buy back Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA), the world’s
The Maldives’ Education Edge Is Slipping—And Muizzu Seems Unmoved
The Maldives has long punched above its weight in education, spending 4.58% of its GDP on the sector in 2022—outpacing South Asia’s average of 3.7% and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC)
Russia’s Envoy Chides Maldives Over U.N. Vote, Touts Tourism Ties
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Russia’s ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Levan Dzhagaryan, issued a sharp rebuttal on Thursday to a former Maldivian president, defending Moscow’s role as a key economic