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Maldives

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Maldives. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Malé

Head of State

President Mohamed Muizzu

Head of Government

President Mohamed Muizzu

Rescue divers preparing to search for the four missing Italian divers near Alimathaa Island, Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, on Saturday. Photo: AP

Environment

Maldivian military diver dies in search of bodies of 4 Italian divers

The group of Italian divers is believed to have died while exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 metres (160 feet) in Vaavu Atoll despite the Maldives’ 30-metre diving limit.

16 May 2026 - 11:24PM

Italy

Search for missing Italian divers continues in Maldives cave

15 May 2026 - 8:28PM

India

Chinese drone discovery sharpens focus on Asia’s undersea security race

24 Apr 2026 - 7:27PM

Britain

UK agrees ban on cigarette sales for people born after 2008

UK lawmakers approve generational tobacco sales ban, setting the stage for it to become law.

22 Apr 2026 - 11:18AM

Smoking in England causes around 75,000 deaths per year. Photo: AP

Hong Kong transport

Greater Bay Airlines to raise fuel charges by 34%, joining other Hong Kong carriers

Fee for destinations other than mainland China to hit HK$389, while courier SF Express will review fuel surcharge on weekly basis from April.

27 Mar 2026 - 5:52PM

India

India steps up regional energy diplomacy, supplies Bangladesh with diesel

Being a ‘first responder’ in the current energy crisis is in line with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

20 Mar 2026 - 8:52PMvideocam

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong Airlines to raise fuel surcharges by up to 35% amid oil price surge

Airline becomes first local carrier to raise fuel surcharges, with South Asia routes hit hardest amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.

10 Mar 2026 - 9:11PM

Hong Kong Airlines will raise its fuel surcharges by up to 35.2 per cent amid soaring oil prices driven by conflicts in the Middle East. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | 3 ways Hong Kong can keep the golden goose of ecotourism healthy

Readers discuss how to manage ecotourism, the safety of bamboo scaffolding, and empathy for people with disabilities.

21 Oct 2025 - 11:30AM

Israel-Gaza war

Trump’s Gaza deal forged by diplomacy blitz, help from Arab and Muslim allies

Senior US officials say Hamas viewed the hostages as a liability - while the US seized on regional fury with Israel to secure first phase deal.

10 Oct 2025 - 11:38AM

Trending in China

Forgotten China diver drifts for 40 minutes, gets no apology from Maldives hotel

Faulty diving equipment, ‘unprofessional’ instructor forces experienced woman diver in trouble to use selfie stick for rescue.

27 Sep 2025 - 2:00PM

A Chinese diver who was left adrift at sea in the Maldives has yet to receive an apology from the hotel responsible for her trip. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

SCMP Highlights

US$24 dried plum, warding off dementia with exercise: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From the evolution of the Jolly Roger to an award-winning resort in the Maldives, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

18 Sep 2025 - 3:46PM

Assorted leung gwo from Yiu Fung. Photo: Yue

Tourism

‘No shoes, no news’ resort awarded best hospitality by World’s 50 Best Hotels

Soneva Fushi brings 50 Best’s Art of Hospitality Award to Asia for the first time, with staff trained to build relationships with guests.

16 Sep 2025 - 1:01PM

Asia travel

Gastronomic events to whet your appetite this autumn

Well-known chefs take Bangkok, Indonesia boasts sustainable dining, female culinary stars land in Da Nang, and Bali chefs whip up a feast at the W Maldives.

3 Sep 2025 - 6:15PM

SCO

Foreign leaders ride the rapid rails of China’s tech prowess after SCO summit

Blazing from Tianjin to Beijing on China’s signature high-speed railway, several state leaders are given a glimpse of rapid and lucrative modernisation efforts.

5 Sep 2025 - 11:35AMvideocam

Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli arrives in Beijing on Tuesday. He is among more than a dozen state leaders who took a high-speed train to Beijing this week to attend Wednesday’s Victory Day parade. Photo: Xinhua

India

‘India in’: Modi’s visit, aid pledge reshape Maldives ties as China wavers

India’s willingness to support the Maldives through its economic woes has helped shift Male’s stance to one of cooperation, analysts say.

29 Jul 2025 - 8:01PM

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (second from left) with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu (right) during the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations in Male, Maldives on July 26. Photo: EPA/India’s Press Information Bureau

Diplomacy

Opinion | Are China, Pakistan, Bangladesh quietly planting region’s new framework?

Kunming trilateral meeting comes as India-Pakistan rivalry paralyses SAARC and Pakistan is frozen out of BIMSTEC, leaving a regional void.

18 Jul 2025 - 9:30AMvideocam

India

Monsoon chaos grips South Asia as climate change causes erratic rainfall

Hundreds of rain-related deaths have already occurred this year in the region.

10 Jul 2025 - 11:33AMvideocam

Tourism

Want a special way to mark World Oceans Day? Try these luxury experiences

Adventure awaits the outgoing traveller on these 5 luxury holiday ideas that showcase the best of ocean exploration.

8 Jun 2025 - 8:30AM

A Zodiac takes tourists up close to a glacier on the Antarctic Peninsula, in the Southern Ocean. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong police

Editorial | Joint police crackdown on cross-border scams delivers swift justice

Hong Kong force joins regional counterparts on new communication platform to intercept proceeds of crime and net hundreds of fraudsters.

6 Jun 2025 - 6:30AM

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong helps seize HK$157 million in cross-border online scam operation

Seven Asian police agencies also made 1,800 arrests and froze over 32,000 bank accounts with the aid of direct communication platform.

3 Jun 2025 - 10:18PMvideocam

United States

Opinion | Why UK-Mauritius deal over military base is more than a legal milestone

Once seen as a relic of colonialism, the Chagos Archipelago has evolved into a flashpoint in global strategic competition.

28 May 2025 - 7:25AM

Asia travel

Where to catch the most photogenic beach sunsets in Asia

If you’re chasing the perfect sunset shot, head to one of these Asian beaches, all of which offer social media gold.

15 May 2025 - 5:02PM

Narigama Sri Lanka beach cricket during sunset. Photo: Tim Pile

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Maldives plans US$8.8 billion tax-free ‘financial freezone’ to ease debt woes

The Indian Ocean nation hopes a massive Middle Eastern investment will transform the tourism hotspot into a global financial hub by 2030.

5 May 2025 - 3:15PMvideocam

Israel

Maldives joins Malaysia in call for ‘legitimate’ Palestinian state amid Gaza war

The Maldives reiterated call for a Palestinian state comes two weeks after the island nation implemented an entry ban on Israeli passport holders.

28 Apr 2025 - 3:51PM

Climate change

Opinion | Asia can’t afford to wait for the US to wake up to its climate duty

As the US walks away again, Europe, China and others need to fill the climate reparation funding gap, not out of charity but responsibility.

29 Mar 2025 - 9:30AMvideocam

Elephants wade through flood waters to help bring relief supplies to villagers in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, on October 6, 2024. Photo: AP

India

India boosts aid to Maldives in bid to ‘outdo’ China’s influence in region

In a sign of an ‘uptick in bilateral relations’, India has earmarked US$69 million in financial aid for the Maldives in its latest budget.

6 Feb 2025 - 8:00AMvideocam

India

Did India plot to oust Maldives’ Muizzu or is it just a ‘conspiracy theory’?

Such a move would yield little advantage and India is unlikely to deviate from its policy of strategic patience with neighbours, analysts say.

2 Jan 2025 - 6:56PMvideocam

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

My Take | South Asia needs to get its political house in order to turn around its economy

Political violence and social unrest have dented support for South Asian countries from investors and multilateral institutions.

27 Dec 2024 - 10:30AM

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Maldives

Maldivian military diver dies in search of bodies of 4 Italian divers

The group of Italian divers is believed to have died while exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 metres (160 feet) in Vaavu Atoll despite the Maldives’ 30-metre diving limit.

Search for missing Italian divers continues in Maldives cave

Chinese drone discovery sharpens focus on Asia’s undersea security race

UK agrees ban on cigarette sales for people born after 2008

UK lawmakers approve generational tobacco sales ban, setting the stage for it to become law.

Greater Bay Airlines to raise fuel charges by 34%, joining other Hong Kong carriers

Fee for destinations other than mainland China to hit HK$389, while courier SF Express will review fuel surcharge on weekly basis from April.

India steps up regional energy diplomacy, supplies Bangladesh with diesel

Being a ‘first responder’ in the current energy crisis is in line with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

Hong Kong Airlines to raise fuel surcharges by up to 35% amid oil price surge

Airline becomes first local carrier to raise fuel surcharges, with South Asia routes hit hardest amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | 3 ways Hong Kong can keep the golden goose of ecotourism healthy

Readers discuss how to manage ecotourism, the safety of bamboo scaffolding, and empathy for people with disabilities.

Trump’s Gaza deal forged by diplomacy blitz, help from Arab and Muslim allies

Senior US officials say Hamas viewed the hostages as a liability - while the US seized on regional fury with Israel to secure first phase deal.

Forgotten China diver drifts for 40 minutes, gets no apology from Maldives hotel

Faulty diving equipment, ‘unprofessional’ instructor forces experienced woman diver in trouble to use selfie stick for rescue.

US$24 dried plum, warding off dementia with exercise: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From the evolution of the Jolly Roger to an award-winning resort in the Maldives, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

‘No shoes, no news’ resort awarded best hospitality by World’s 50 Best Hotels

Soneva Fushi brings 50 Best’s Art of Hospitality Award to Asia for the first time, with staff trained to build relationships with guests.

Gastronomic events to whet your appetite this autumn

Well-known chefs take Bangkok, Indonesia boasts sustainable dining, female culinary stars land in Da Nang, and Bali chefs whip up a feast at the W Maldives.

Foreign leaders ride the rapid rails of China’s tech prowess after SCO summit

Blazing from Tianjin to Beijing on China’s signature high-speed railway, several state leaders are given a glimpse of rapid and lucrative modernisation efforts.

‘India in’: Modi’s visit, aid pledge reshape Maldives ties as China wavers

India’s willingness to support the Maldives through its economic woes has helped shift Male’s stance to one of cooperation, analysts say.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Are China, Pakistan, Bangladesh quietly planting region’s new framework?

Kunming trilateral meeting comes as India-Pakistan rivalry paralyses SAARC and Pakistan is frozen out of BIMSTEC, leaving a regional void.

Monsoon chaos grips South Asia as climate change causes erratic rainfall

Hundreds of rain-related deaths have already occurred this year in the region.

Want a special way to mark World Oceans Day? Try these luxury experiences

Adventure awaits the outgoing traveller on these 5 luxury holiday ideas that showcase the best of ocean exploration.

Editorial | Joint police crackdown on cross-border scams delivers swift justice

Hong Kong force joins regional counterparts on new communication platform to intercept proceeds of crime and net hundreds of fraudsters.

Hong Kong helps seize HK$157 million in cross-border online scam operation

Seven Asian police agencies also made 1,800 arrests and froze over 32,000 bank accounts with the aid of direct communication platform.

Opinion | Why UK-Mauritius deal over military base is more than a legal milestone

Once seen as a relic of colonialism, the Chagos Archipelago has evolved into a flashpoint in global strategic competition.

Where to catch the most photogenic beach sunsets in Asia

If you’re chasing the perfect sunset shot, head to one of these Asian beaches, all of which offer social media gold.

Maldives plans US$8.8 billion tax-free ‘financial freezone’ to ease debt woes

The Indian Ocean nation hopes a massive Middle Eastern investment will transform the tourism hotspot into a global financial hub by 2030.

Maldives joins Malaysia in call for ‘legitimate’ Palestinian state amid Gaza war

The Maldives reiterated call for a Palestinian state comes two weeks after the island nation implemented an entry ban on Israeli passport holders.

Opinion | Asia can’t afford to wait for the US to wake up to its climate duty

As the US walks away again, Europe, China and others need to fill the climate reparation funding gap, not out of charity but responsibility.

India boosts aid to Maldives in bid to ‘outdo’ China’s influence in region

In a sign of an ‘uptick in bilateral relations’, India has earmarked US$69 million in financial aid for the Maldives in its latest budget.

Did India plot to oust Maldives’ Muizzu or is it just a ‘conspiracy theory’?

Such a move would yield little advantage and India is unlikely to deviate from its policy of strategic patience with neighbours, analysts say.

My Take | South Asia needs to get its political house in order to turn around its economy

Political violence and social unrest have dented support for South Asian countries from investors and multilateral institutions.

Letters | 3 ways Hong Kong can keep the golden goose of ecotourism healthy

Opinion | Are China, Pakistan, Bangladesh quietly planting region’s new framework?