First Light

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced on Thursday evening, at the Maldives–Pakistan Business Forum in Islamabad, that national carrier Maldivian will soon operate direct flights to Karachi, Atoll Times reports (opens in a new tab). Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended. Dawn reports (opens in a new tab) that Sharif said he had issued instructions for direct flights and that a delegation of Pakistani officials and businessmen would travel to Malé within about a week of the President's return.

According to Atoll Times, Muizzu also urged Pakistani private airlines and aviation authorities to explore further links, and asked shipping lines, port operators and logistics firms to set up direct transport routes. The Edition reports (opens in a new tab) Sharif as saying the aviation ministry was told to begin studies immediately. Both leaders restated a goal of raising trade to US$200 million within two years. Outlets differ on the starting figure: the President's Office gives US$13 million, while the Maldives Independent gives US$13.9 million, so it is omitted here.

The forum followed the exchange of 20 MoUs on 21 October, which the President's Office lists (opens in a new tab) as covering areas including defence, health, fisheries, tourism and air connectivity.

A Parliament committee on Wednesday approved higher allowances for the Speaker, cabinet ministers and island councillors, on a proposal from ruling PNC MP Abdulla Shareef of Kelaa, Atoll Times reports (opens in a new tab). The Speaker gets an extra MVR 22,000 a month, bringing total pay and allowances to MVR 95,125. Ministers' vehicle allowance rises to MVR 17,000 a month.

The Edition says (opens in a new tab) the vehicle allowance covers petrol, a driver's salary and a driver's living allowance, and that councillors get a MVR 5,000 service allowance to narrow the gap with city council pay. The Parliament Secretariat's paper, cited by Atoll Times, says the Speaker earns less than the Deputy Speaker (MVR 91,000) and ordinary MPs (MVR 82,500). The Maldives Independent reports (opens in a new tab) that Moosa warned the cost would strain the budget and leave councils with less money for services.

Raajje carried critical reaction from Faisal and from Fayyaz; their full statements were not read.

Heavy rain flooded Malé on Wednesday night. Atoll Times reports (opens in a new tab) that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) received requests from 89 properties, including 35 shops, 33 homes, four schools and two clinics. The authority said it helped 31 during the night and gave Malé City Council 10,000 sandbags. The Maldives Meteorological Service recorded 90 millimetres of rain over the preceding 24 hours.

The Edition says (opens in a new tab) an operation was launched with the military, police, the city council, MTCC, HDC and the Red Crescent, and that the MNDF was draining water from homes and shops. The Maldives Independent adds (opens in a new tab) that pumps were deployed in 10 areas and that one home reported a sewage leak.

Raajje headlines Mayor Azim's claim that the flooding followed the removal of drainage pumps without a backup plan. That is the mayor's account; we have not seen a response from the authorities.

Continuous rain since early Wednesday flooded GDh. Fiyoaree, affecting roughly 90 per cent of households, Atoll Times reports (opens in a new tab). The island's council information officer, Aathif Saeed, said almost the entire island was under water. The paper says Huvadhu Atoll has been among the worst-affected areas.

The Edition reports (opens in a new tab) the Meteorological Service saying the southwest monsoon is strengthening, a low-pressure system has formed in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, heavy rain is likely on some islands, and winds and rough seas will affect the northern and central atolls for three days. The Maldives Independent says (opens in a new tab) the service issued an orange alert for the central atolls. Raajje reports a yellow alert from Kaafu to Laamu Atoll. The alert levels may reflect different times or areas.