An additional opportunity has been granted to become monitors and observers for the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections and the public referendum, extending deadline for submitting application forms until 3:00 PM today

Customers have been reporting delays in receiving gas from state‑owned Maldive Gas, company says the issue is beyond their control and caused by delays in supply; Gas is being delivered through Villa Gas, private supplier with large reserves in Thilafushi

The Maldives is facing a shortage of medicines, with many essential drugs unavailable and challenges in accessing doctors, so that even basic treatments can be difficult to obtain; public complaints about healthcare quality reflect structural problems

Tourist arrivals continued to rise in December, with figures pointing to sustained year on year growth of 10% and over during what is traditionally the busiest month; notwithstanding the Christmas holidays China is expected to lead the incoming this month