Nearly 5,000 tourists were affected by airspace closures in the Middle East, Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim said at a press conference, noting that around 30 to 35 percent of tourist arrivals to the Maldives transit through the Gulf. The government is working to arrange alternative options, including facilitating more direct flights from Europe and Russia, and boosting arrivals from India and China to offset potential losses, he said. The transport ministry said it is in discussions with airlines to increase flights from India, Southeast Asia and East Asia.
The Prosecutor General’s Office filed charges of forgery and counterfeiting against former MWSC Managing Director Fazeel Rasheed for submitting falsified land registry documents and an agreement related to the Binveriya housing scheme to the Housing Development Corporation, which at the time was headed by his brother, Fazul Rasheed. The same charges were brought against eight others. Ahmed Atheeg Abdulla and Ahmed Mazin were separately charged with forgery for allegedly fabricating the documents used by Fazeel, while Arushad Ali was charged as an accomplice.
The Maldives is "exploring options" for a legal challenge to the UK's handover of Chagos to Mauritius, including possible proceedings at the International Court of Justice, the foreign ministry told the Telegraph. A spokesman said the government is conducting a comprehensive legal review with international experts, though no formal action has been taken. The government considers the deal "not adequately grounded in international legal principles" and has not ruled out "any legal or diplomatic avenues consistent with international law." Former Attorney General Azima Shakoor, described as involved in Chagos advocacy, told the paper the UK should halt the handover to give the Maldives time to establish its claim.
The PG office pressed charges of obstructing a law enforcement officer against MDP MP Mauroof Zakir along with seven other opposition activists who were detained during a protest on October 3. The offence is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanour, which carries a maximum prison sentence of one year. The PG office said similar charges were dropped against seven others due to lack of evidence.
Maldivians view Saudi Arabia and China most favourably among a shortlist of countries, while the United States ranked last, according to a Baani Centre opinion poll. Respondents rated countries on a scale of 0 to 10, with Saudi Arabia and China both scoring 6.9, followed by India at 6.2. The US scored 3.5, behind the UK on 4.3 and Ukraine on 3.9. Younger Maldivians were significantly more positive toward the US and Western countries, with 18-to-24-year-olds giving the US a score of 5 compared to 2.5 among those aged 55 and above. Urban respondents were also more favourably disposed toward Western countries than those from rural islands. The telephone poll of 391 adults was conducted in late November and early December 2025.
President Muizzu presented the presidential prize and medals to 31 huffaz who completed the memorisation of the Holy Quran.
Two people were hospitalised with injuries sustained in an accident on the link road in Laamu Gan.
Mohamed Ageel, the former finance head of the Football Association of Maldives, was remanded in custody pending the conclusion of his trial on charges of aiding former FAM president Bassam Adeel Jaleel in laundering US$ 1 million in funds provided to FAM by FIFA. Ageel was detained last week after being repatriated to the Maldives following his arrest in Bangkok by Thai authorities based on an Interpol red notice.
The Civil Court ruled that former lawmaker and businessman Abdulla Jabir is the rightful owner of Athama Plaza, a 10-storey building in Malé he says he bought for MVR 14 million in 2010. The property remained registered to Ismail Abdul Latheef, the owner of the Maleesha Hajj Group who was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2019 for defrauding people of Hajj payments. Jabir sued in 2021 after Ismail failed to complete the transfer. The court ordered the registration to be completed within two months but rejected Jabir's claim for MVR 16 million in damages.
