The Health Protection Agency urged the public to exercise caution as air quality in the Malé area dropped to levels that pose dangers to health. The HPA advised regularly checking IQAir, which showed the concentration of particulate matter – tiny solid particles and liquid droplets in the air, like dust, soot, smoke, and dirt – in Villimalè reached 87 µg/m³ on Monday evening, more than 17 times higher than the WHO recommended levels. "Haze conditions over the Maldives have deteriorated, particularly across the central regions, where visibility has dropped below 2 km. This is lowest air quality recorded over the past week in central region," the Met office explained. The haze is expected to persist with prevailing northeasterly winds.
Malé Mayor Adam Azim rejected President Muizzu’s claim that the city council had refused to take over municipal services in Hulhumalé from the state-owned Housing Development Corporation. Azim shared a timeline of discussions and meetings on the issue, saying the council had fully cooperated. Both the finance ministry and HDC were ready for the handover, but that the president no longer wanted the change, he said. But Deputy Mayor Areesh from the ruling party pushed back and accused Azim of misleading the public. The mayor has not put the matter to a vote, he said, a claim that was backed by Villimalé Councillor Nahula.
Former MP Ali Azim, a candidate seeking the MDP's mayoral ticket, filed a complaint with the opposition party’s appeals council over preparations for the upcoming primary. All members registered before December 11 should be eligible to vote, he argued, referring to the reopening for expressions of interest on that date for councils in Malé, Fuvahmulah, Addu Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo following changes to electoral constituencies. Internal election regulations were amended without national council approval, he alleged, accusing the elections committee – whose members he claimed were aligned with his opponent – of assuming duties assigned to the secretariat.
President Muizzu launched the National Financial Inclusion Strategy and the National Sustainable Finance Roadmap. The NFIS “aims to enhance access to financial services and promote their effective usage across all segments of society” while the NSFR “provides a structured approach to mobilising finance for climate action and sustainable development," according to the President’s Office. At the ceremony, the central bank launched a Payment Maldives company to develop and manage payments infrastructure under separate management.
Qatar Airways became the 37th airline to move its operations to the new terminal at Velana International Airport. The move was marked by a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and a water salute for the inaugural flight. Emirates moved its operations to the new terminal on Sunday. More than half a million passengers had used the new terminal as of mid-December, the Maldives Airport Company Limited said.
Hanimadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa criticised the government’s decision to abolish Haa Dhaal Hirimaradhoo council and to ask the island's 260 residents to vote for the Hanimadhoo council ahead of their planned relocation. Ghafoor, who was recently elected interim chairman of the MDP, argued that the move was unconstitutional and in violation of the Decentralisation Act.
The Adhaalath Party issued a statement expressing “concern over the mismanagement of state-owned enterprises, breaches of corporate governance standards, and the normalisation of theft, corruption and the looting of public assets.”
