Diplomatic Appointments: President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has appointed Adam Shareef Umar as Ambassador to Qatar and Thoriq Ibrahim as Ambassador to the UAE, following parliamentary approval, as the Maldives looks to deepen ties with key regional partners. Elections Commission: Muizzu also appointed Mohamed Shakeel, former Managing Director of Maldives Hajj Corporation, as a member of the Elections Commission after a parliamentary vote, filling the seat left by Mohamed Zahid’s resignation. Border Modernisation: Japan has handed over a facial recognition system to the Maldives to strengthen immigration and border management, aiming for faster identity checks at entry and exit points. Climate & Food Security Grants: The Maldives launched the VilunVeshi Grant Programme to boost climate resilience and food security, with support from the Asian Development Bank and implementation via SME Digital. Tourism Diversification: Visit Maldives Corporation and MAYA welcomed the first Chinese cruise ship to the Maldives, signaling growth in cruise tourism alongside the wider visitor target push. Outer Islands Energy: Tencent’s CarbonX backed a MWh-scale flow battery project for Himandhoo Island, intended to cut diesel reliance and improve resilience via a microgrid. US-Maldives Talks: Muizzu met US Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur to discuss expanding cooperation on economic development, investment, and maritime security.