First Light

Swell waves (udha) struck the Malé area around midday today, coinciding with the day's highest tide. MNDF reported on social media that it is working to drain floodwater, though no further details were given.

The hardest-hit area was Industrial Village, where waves carrying rocks and sand caused motorcycles to fall into the water, resulting in significant damage. The Carnival area was also badly affected — parked motorcycles and cars were swept into the water, and waves entered nearby cafés along the seafront, creating dangerous conditions.

Today's peak tide reached 0.74 meters at 11:53am. Tide models forecast tomorrow's peak at 0.79 meters around 12:28pm. The Meteorological Office expects wave heights of 2–4 feet in the area, with average winds from the west-northwest at 5–15 mph and gusts up to 35 mph.

Despite cloudy skies over Malé today, officials noted the swell was not unusually severe for the season.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday night commissioned into service (opens in a new tab) a newly built military vessel donated by the Australian government, at a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Hassan Rasheed, senior MNDF officers and Australian delegates. Officials said the vessel — following an earlier one obtained from Turkey under the same policy — will help the Maldives National Defence Force guard the country's maritime zone without ceding any part of it.

The People's Majlis meets at 9:00 am Tuesday for the 16th sitting of its 2026 second session, where the Speaker's desk will refer the President's nomination of a permanent representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to the relevant standing committee, under Article 115(d) of the Constitution and the Foreign Service Act (Law 20/2021). Members will also resume debate on Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir's resolution alleging politically motivated dismissals under the guise of staff cuts at state-owned companies, consider the Public Accounts Committee's report on a special audit of Fenaka Corporation's Addu City branches and projects (2021–2023), confirm the minutes of six earlier sittings, and hold any votes that reach the voting stage.

President and Commander-in-Chief Dr Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the new Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) building of the Maldives National Defence Force at a ceremony in Vilimalé on 27 July, received by Defence Minister Hassan Rasheed and Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy. The building was constructed under grant assistance from Japan with UNODC as coordinating partner, with Australia supporting its equipment and operational systems; construction began in 2022 but stalled before the President prioritised its completion as part of efforts to strengthen the Coast Guard. The new building houses a modern search-and-rescue operations room, classrooms and an auditorium, and the ceremony was attended by Japan's Ambassador Ishigami Rumiko, UN Resident Coordinator Hao Zhang, cabinet ministers and senior MNDF officers.