https://www.scmp.com/rss/326723/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jeffie Lam,Wynna Wong Jeffie Lam,Wynna Wong Greater Bay Airlines has become the latest Hong Kong-based carrier to raise its fuel surcharges by 34 per cent amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the fee for destinations other than mainland China set to hit HK$389 (US$50). China’s largest courier, SF Express, also said on Friday it would switch to adjusting its fuel surcharge rates from a monthly to a weekly basis beginning in April because of the “continuous and frequent fluctuations” of international oil prices. Global fuel... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348094/greater-bay-airlines-raise-fuel-charges-34-joining-other-hong-kong-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348094/greater-bay-airlines-raise-fuel-charges-34-joining-other-hong-kong-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:14:56 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow India’s move to supply Bangladesh with diesel as fuel prices soar amid the Iran war reflects its “first responder” role in the region and clout through the use of its critical commodities to deepen ties with neighbouring states. If the fuel shortages were to persist, however, India would have to balance between its own energy demand and that of its neighbours, according to observers. Bangladesh will be importing 45,000 tonnes of diesel from India by April, with 5,000 tonnes having been delivered... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3347372/india-steps-regional-energy-diplomacy-supplies-bangladesh-diesel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3347372/india-steps-regional-energy-diplomacy-supplies-bangladesh-diesel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:52:25 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong Airlines will raise its fuel surcharges by up to 35.2 per cent from Thursday amid soaring oil prices driven by escalating conflict in the Middle East, becoming the first local carrier to do so. The airline announced on its website on Tuesday that fuel surcharges on tickets issued on or after March 12 would increase. Travellers on flights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal will face the sharpest increases, with charges rising 35.2 per cent from HK$284 (US$36) to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346054/hong-kong-airlines-raise-fuel-surcharges-35-amid-oil-price-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346054/hong-kong-airlines-raise-fuel-surcharges-35-amid-oil-price-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:35:33 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words I refer to the article, “Hong Kong urged to protect Sai Kung islands from overtourism, ecological damage” (October 3). Ecotourism urgently needs comprehensive management to be sustainable. Thailand’s Similan Islands are a case in point. They are open to visitors only for a few... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3329647/3-ways-hong-kong-can-keep-golden-goose-ecotourism-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3329647/3-ways-hong-kong-can-keep-golden-goose-ecotourism-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press After months of gridlock, US President Donald Trump finally landed a long-sought Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza - an agreement that only came together after a weeks-long diplomacy blitz and a whole lot of help from some Arab and Muslim allies. The breakthrough is designed to bring about a pause in the fighting unleashed by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The group is expected to release 48 hostages - about 20 of them believed to be alive - in the coming days. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3328466/trumps-gaza-deal-forged-diplomacy-blitz-lots-help-arab-and-muslim-allies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3328466/trumps-gaza-deal-forged-diplomacy-blitz-lots-help-arab-and-muslim-allies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 03:34:02 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang An experienced Chinese diver who was left adrift at sea for 40 minutes in the Maldives is yet to receive an apology from the hotel that organised the outing. Xu Man is a certified diver with nine years of experience who became a qualified rescue diver in 2024. She recently embarked on a diving trip to the Maldives with her friend, Zhang Li. On September 1, they booked a diving package with Plumeria Diving and Watersports Centre, a highly recommended resort. However, what was meant to be a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3326175/china-diver-drifts-40-minutes-after-being-forgotten-maldives-hotel-declines-apologise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3326175/china-diver-drifts-40-minutes-after-being-forgotten-maldives-hotel-declines-apologise?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 06:00:11 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. How Carina Lau became a top film star and her best movies Hong Kong actress Carina Lau Ka-ling always brings a strong sense of presence to her work, whether she is appearing in drama or comedy, as a leading actress or a supporting player. 2. A US$24 dried plum? Hong Kong seller preserves tradition while modernising Yiu... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3325806/carina-laus-best-films-jolly-rogers-evolution-seoul-art-week-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3325806/carina-laus-best-films-jolly-rogers-evolution-seoul-art-week-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:00:09 +0000 Victoria Burrows Victoria Burrows Soneva Fushi, a luxury resort in the Baa Atoll Unesco Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives, has won the Art of Hospitality Award in the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 ranking. The island resort brings the award to Asia for the first time – Gleneagles in Scotland won the inaugural title in 2023, followed by Royal Mansour in Marrakech, Morocco, in 2024. For the award, members of the World’s 50 Best Hotels voting academy – made up of more than 800 anonymous hoteliers, travel journalists, hotel educators,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3325529/worlds-50-best-hotels-2025-awards-maldives-soneva-fushi-best-hospitality-award?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3325529/worlds-50-best-hotels-2025-awards-maldives-soneva-fushi-best-hospitality-award?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:01:07 +0000 Mark Footer Mark Footer Culinary tourism is a growing trend – Grand View Research estimated the market at US$11.5 billion in 2023 and projects it to reach a mouth-watering US$40 billion by 2030 – and hotels and resorts across Asia are increasingly seeking to claim a slice of that pie by hosting their own special gastronomic events. This autumn sees a number of events featuring star guest chefs being hosted across the region; here are some of the most interesting. Bangkok, Thailand (September 22-28) The Thai capital is... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3324179/gastronomic-events-visit-autumn-bangkok-da-nang-remote-indonesia-and-maldives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3324179/gastronomic-events-visit-autumn-bangkok-da-nang-remote-indonesia-and-maldives?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:15:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi A slew of foreign leaders took China’s signature high-speed railway from the northern port city of Tianjin to Beijing on Monday and Tuesday, having departed from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to attend a Victory Day parade. Seven state leaders arrived on Monday night: President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Maldives Mohamed... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3324061/foreign-leaders-ride-rapid-rails-chinas-technological-prowess-after-sco-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3324061/foreign-leaders-ride-rapid-rails-chinas-technological-prowess-after-sco-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:31:46 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the Maldives is being viewed as a symbolic yet strategic reset in bilateral ties, signalling New Delhi’s renewed engagement with its island neighbour amid waning Chinese investment and mounting economic distress in Male. Modi’s two-day trip, which coincided with the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations, marked his first visit since President Mohamed Muizzu took office in late 2023 following an election campaign built on a combative... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3320027/modis-visit-indian-aid-pledge-reshape-maldives-ties-china-wavers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3320027/modis-visit-indian-aid-pledge-reshape-maldives-ties-china-wavers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:01:36 +0000 Umair Pervez Khan,Gulshan Rafiq Umair Pervez Khan,Gulshan Rafiq In a quiet but potentially defining moment for South Asia, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China and Bangladesh convened in the Chinese city of Kunming last month. It may have looked like just another diplomatic gathering, but it signalled a strategic shift – one that could recalibrate the balance of regional cooperation and breathe life into the idea of a regional framework post-SAARC, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. For decades, SAARC was envisioned as the collective... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3318341/are-china-pakistan-bangladesh-quietly-planting-regions-new-framework?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3318341/are-china-pakistan-bangladesh-quietly-planting-regions-new-framework?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Each year from June to September, a series of heavy rains known as monsoons sweep through the Indian subcontinent, providing relief from heat, irrigating the country’s farms and replenishing its rivers. However, as global heat increases, the rain is becoming more erratic and intense, creating the conditions for deadly floods. Nearly 1,300 people died in India last year due to heavy rain and floods. Hundreds of rain-related deaths have already occurred this year in the South Asian region – which... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3317627/south-asias-fatal-floods-caused-extreme-rainfall-linked-global-warming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3317627/south-asias-fatal-floods-caused-extreme-rainfall-linked-global-warming?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 03:33:27 +0000 Mark Footer Mark Footer June 8 is World Oceans Day, an observance designed to raise awareness of the vital role our water bodies play in supporting life on Earth, through biodiversity and their ability to regulate the climate, and the urgent need to protect them. Today, a variety of events and exhibitions to highlight the cause are being staged around the world by governments, aquariums and schools, but spare a thought for Ross Edgley. The British ultra-endurance athlete entered the water on May 16 in an attempt to... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3313326/5-luxury-experiences-celebrate-world-oceans-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3313326/5-luxury-experiences-celebrate-world-oceans-day?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Jun 2025 00:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial More often than not, news reports on online scams are more about victims falling for new tactics rather than money retrieved and culprits brought to justice. To be fair, the authorities have already doubled down on public education and enforcement. Unfortunately, fraudsters continue to outsmart their prey and the law. Hopefully, this will change after authorities in the region stepped up enforcement together. In the first joint crackdown on online scams using a cross-border communication... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3313254/joint-police-crackdown-cross-border-scams-delivers-swift-justice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3313254/joint-police-crackdown-cross-border-scams-delivers-swift-justice?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2025 22:30:12 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong and six other Asian jurisdictions, including Singapore and Thailand, have intercepted more than HK$157 million (US$20 million) and made over 1,800 arrests in the first joint crackdown on online scams using a cross-border direct communication platform for law enforcement. Chief Superintendent Ernest Wong Chun-yu of Hong Kong police’s commercial crime bureau announced on Tuesday that seven law enforcement agencies across East and Southeast Asia conducted a joint operation between April... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3312910/hong-kong-help-seize-more-hk157-million-cross-border-online-scam-operation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3312910/hong-kong-help-seize-more-hk157-million-cross-border-online-scam-operation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jun 2025 10:06:46 +0000 Nong Hong Nong Hong Decades of dispute over the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, rooted in colonial history and international legal challenges, have been addressed after the United Kingdom agreed to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius. Under the May 22 deal, the UK retains a 99-year lease on the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands. Under British colonial rule, the island chain was separated from Mauritius in 1965, three years before Mauritius was granted independence.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3311622/uks-chagos-deal-puts-spotlight-strategic-contest-indian-ocean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3311622/uks-chagos-deal-puts-spotlight-strategic-contest-indian-ocean?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 May 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Tim Pile Tim Pile Beaches provide a wonderful setting for tropical sunset photography. Skies blaze in a kaleidoscope of crimson, claret and gold while swaying palm trees lend a sense of calm. Strong silhouettes give an image drama and definition. Whether it’s a beachgoer holding a yoga pose or a couple strolling hand in hand along the water’s edge, backlit figures add depth and aesthetic beauty. Here are seven west-facing Asian beaches with plenty of evening activity to keep snappers happy, along with some... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3309731/asias-best-sunset-beaches-spectacular-golden-hour-scenes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3309731/asias-best-sunset-beaches-spectacular-golden-hour-scenes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 May 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Cash-strapped Maldives has signed a deal with a Dubai-based company to establish an US$8.8 billion investment zone aimed at diversifying the tourism hotspot into a “financial freezone”, the government said on Monday. Three residential and office towers, a convention centre and hotels will form part of the Maldives International Financial Centre (MIFC), President Mohamed Muizzu’s office said in a statement. “It will … position Male as the premier global business and financial hub in the Indian... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3309091/maldives-plans-us88-billion-tax-free-financial-freezone-ease-debt-woes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3309091/maldives-plans-us88-billion-tax-free-financial-freezone-ease-debt-woes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 May 2025 07:15:50 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan The Maldives on Monday joined Malaysia in reiterating its support for an independent Palestinian state, just two weeks after the island nation implemented an entry ban on Israeli passport holders in protest over the destruction of Gaza. The Maldives parliament on April 14 barred entry to people travelling on Israeli passports “in response to the continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people” its government said. Maldives President Mohamed... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308186/maldives-aligns-malaysia-call-legitimate-palestinian-state-amid-gaza-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308186/maldives-aligns-malaysia-call-legitimate-palestinian-state-amid-gaza-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:40:22 +0000 President Donald Trump’s second term has been a wrecking ball for US climate policy – ripping the country out of the Paris Agreement, gutting climate science funding and abandoning global clean energy commitments. Fossil fuels are back at the centre of power, while international climate efforts scramble to fill the void left by a retreating America. Scientists flee to Europe, funding dries up for energy transitions and the United States, once a key player in climate diplomacy, now cedes... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3303970/asia-cant-afford-wait-us-wake-its-climate-duty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3303970/asia-cant-afford-wait-us-wake-its-climate-duty?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Mar 2025 01:30:08 +0000 India has significantly increased its financial aid to the Maldives in its latest budget, with analysts calling it an effort to “outdo and outwait” China’s influence in the region. In the country’s 2025 national budget released on Saturday, the Maldives received an allocation of 6 billion rupees (US$69 million), up from 4.7 billion rupees last year, marking the biggest increase among South Asian beneficiaries. India initially earmarked 6 billion rupees for the Maldives in its budget last year,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3297519/india-boosts-aid-maldives-bid-outdo-chinas-influence-region?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3297519/india-boosts-aid-maldives-bid-outdo-chinas-influence-region?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:21 +0000 India’s alleged role in a plan to oust Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu for his perceived pro-China stance would yield little strategic advantage and appears baseless, according to experts who cast doubt on an investigative report that New Delhi considered such a move. Following the report, published by The Washington Post on December 30, former Maldivian leader Mohamed Nasheed expressed scepticism about the story in a social media post. “I was unaware of any serious plot against the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293186/did-india-plot-maldives-opposition-oust-muizzu-or-it-just-conspiracy-theory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293186/did-india-plot-maldives-opposition-oust-muizzu-or-it-just-conspiracy-theory?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Jan 2025 10:00:18 +0000 South Asia stands on the brink of a severe downturn unless its leaders act decisively to stabilise the region’s economies as they face unrelenting global headwinds and US president-elect Donald Trump’s protectionist trade measures. One of the poorest regions in the world, South Asia has experienced numerous incidents of political violence, which have hampered its development and economic growth. Pakistan recently launched air strikes on Afghanistan apparently to thwart militants even as doubts... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3292365/south-asia-needs-get-its-political-house-order-turn-around-its-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3292365/south-asia-needs-get-its-political-house-order-turn-around-its-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Dec 2024 02:30:10 +0000 With the review of the implementation of a landmark global manifesto on women’s rights ahead of its 30th anniversary next year, a key message has become very clear: Asia-Pacific countries need to take faster, bolder action if they are to realise its vision of “equality, development and peace for all women everywhere in the interest of all humanity”. Since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995, the Asia-Pacific has made significant strides in key areas such as... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3286109/faster-bolder-action-needed-empower-women-across-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3286109/faster-bolder-action-needed-empower-women-across-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:30:07 +0000 Chinese navy ships docked in Bangladesh last weekend, sending ripples through Indian Ocean geopolitics – and raising eyebrows in New Delhi. The visit marked the first time foreign vessels had set anchor in the South Asian nation under its new interim government, which took power after the ousting of former leader Sheikh Hasina in August amid student-led protests. China’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, emphasised that the port call showed relations would continue to grow regardless of recent... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3282971/chinas-navy-docks-bangladesh-india-watches-growing-concern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3282971/chinas-navy-docks-bangladesh-india-watches-growing-concern?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Oct 2024 07:00:07 +0000 India and the Maldives are set to put their strained ties behind them as analysts point out that a new bilateral partnership signals that the two neighbours want to foster closer cooperation on the economic and security fronts. After holding talks with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday that the two countries had signed a US$400-million currency swap agreement and that India would further support the cash-strapped archipelago... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3281551/indias-strategic-patience-maldives-appears-pay-are-they-allies-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3281551/indias-strategic-patience-maldives-appears-pay-are-they-allies-again?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Oct 2024 09:22:23 +0000 Singapore Airlines has rolled out discounts of up to 60 per cent on airfares for Hong Kong travellers to Asia-Pacific destinations ranging from Bali and the Maldives to Australia in an aggressive scramble for fliers amid increasingly fierce competition among regional airlines. The move is set to spark a new airfare discount war in Hong Kong and put pressure on regional rival Cathay Pacific Airways to introduce more promotional offers. Singapore Airlines announced on Thursday that it was offering... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3280078/singapore-airlines-offers-hong-kong-fliers-tickets-regional-destinations-discounted-60?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3280078/singapore-airlines-offers-hong-kong-fliers-tickets-regional-destinations-discounted-60?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:03:48 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore’s CapitaLand Investment is in advanced talks to buy a minority stake in luxury resort chain Club Med from its Chinese owner Fosun International, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The real estate investment firm, part of Temasek Holdings-owned conglomerate CapitaLand Group, is seeking to acquire from 20 to 30 per cent of the hotelier for several hundred million euros, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. The Singaporean firm... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3278864/chinas-fosun-talks-sell-stake-club-med-singapores-capitaland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3278864/chinas-fosun-talks-sell-stake-club-med-singapores-capitaland?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Sep 2024 07:20:04 +0000 A new business-class-only airline has been forced to delay its direct services between Maldives, Hong Kong and mainland China by one year due to long waits for aircraft deliveries, but has reaffirmed its commitment to luxury leisure travel for both markets. Beond, pronounced “beyond”, is an airline targeting affluent holidaymakers heading to the Indian Ocean archipelago of 1,192 islands, and offers a private jet experience with fully flat beds. Speaking to the Post earlier this week, Beond CEO... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3275752/maldives-based-luxury-airline-forced-delay-hong-kong-mainland-route-launches-1-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3275752/maldives-based-luxury-airline-forced-delay-hong-kong-mainland-route-launches-1-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Aug 2024 05:26:52 +0000 The year of elections has claimed its first casualty. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who was re-elected for her fourth consecutive term in January fled the country earlier this month after her position became untenable amid growing anti-government protests. The unrest that prompted Hasina’s departure related to the issue of public sector job quotas for families of war veterans. However, developments in Bangladesh can also be seen as a harbinger of broader trends in South Asia and the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3274931/bangladesh-unrest-signals-troubling-headwinds-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3274931/bangladesh-unrest-signals-troubling-headwinds-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Aug 2024 21:30:09 +0000 Three Chinese research vessels have been operating in the Indian Ocean this week, according to open-source data, in the latest sign Beijing aims to expand its scientific excursions at sea. While Beijing has insisted the voyages are for scientific research purposes, observers warned that regional powers such as India could become increasingly concerned about the blurred boundaries between China’s military and civilian technology, though they say open confrontation is unlikely. According to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3274603/chinas-scientific-sea-voyages-might-rile-india-will-they-lead-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3274603/chinas-scientific-sea-voyages-might-rile-india-will-they-lead-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:30:09 +0000 The recent resignation of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a key ally of India, has raised concerns about the future of New Delhi’s “Neighbourhood First” foreign policy and a possible shift in the balance of influence in South Asia towards China. Nilanthi Samaranayake, an adjunct fellow at the East-West Center in Washington, told This Week in Asia that Hasina’s resignation last week complicated India’s relations with smaller South Asian countries. “She [Hasina] had arguably the closest... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3274417/ouster-bangladeshs-sheikh-hasina-india-losing-its-south-asia-allies-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3274417/ouster-bangladeshs-sheikh-hasina-india-losing-its-south-asia-allies-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Aug 2024 11:00:12 +0000 The Maldives appears keen to reset strained relations with India in a move that analysts say is aimed at helping its key tourism industry recover following a steep decline in visitors from its neighbour. India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he was “committed to deepen India-Maldives ties” during a visit over the weekend to the Maldives, where he met President Mohamed Muizzu. This was Jaishankar’s first trip to the archipelago nation after Muizzu, who came to power last year on... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3274167/maldives-seeks-reset-strained-ties-india-woo-back-its-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3274167/maldives-seeks-reset-strained-ties-india-woo-back-its-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:01:06 +0000 Recent developments in South Asia, particularly the uprising in Bangladesh, are transforming regional dynamics with potentially global impacts. Home to 1.94 billion people, South Asia is grappling with rising extremism, democratic backsliding and political instability. As a key player in the Indo-Pacific, the region’s turmoil – particularly given Bangladesh’s strategic position in the Bay of Bengal – holds profound significance. The chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s 2021... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3273856/can-democracy-south-asia-withstand-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3273856/can-democracy-south-asia-withstand-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Aug 2024 21:30:11 +0000 Dangerous squabbles in remote Himalayan borderlands between China and India may, at least for now, have been soothed by a recent meeting between the two nations’ top diplomats. But the Indian Ocean looms as the next potential flashpoint, security analysts say, as New Delhi flashes increasingly anxious eyes at Beijing’s ports and ship deployments across a vast expanse of water in India’s backyard – but crucial to China’s supply of oil. In July, on the sidelines of an Asean (Association of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3273020/china-india-ramp-naval-rivalry-indian-ocean-maritime-crossroads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3273020/china-india-ramp-naval-rivalry-indian-ocean-maritime-crossroads?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Aug 2024 01:00:20 +0000 Comprising 1,192 coral islands sprinkled along 822km of Indian Ocean, stretching from off the western flank of Sri Lanka to south of the equator, the Maldives has long captured the imagination of travellers. With Hong Kong Airlines having resumed direct flights to the capital, Malé, this month, travelling there will be easier than making the previous schlep through Singapore or the Middle East. Now: where to stay? The country has 172 resorts to choose from, catering to just about every taste... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3270102/maldives-best-resort-raffles-meradhoo-vs-waldorf-astoria-rated-vibe-location-and-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3270102/maldives-best-resort-raffles-meradhoo-vs-waldorf-astoria-rated-vibe-location-and-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Jul 2024 00:45:09 +0000 The Maldives’ ocean ecosystem has cared for, fed and employed its population for centuries. It has propelled the country into a top luxury tourism hotspot, with one of the highest blue economy ratios worldwide, accounting for more than 36 per cent of its total gross domestic product. This strong connection between the environment, its people and the economy is critical for the Maldives, which is already battling the recurring effects of climate change. An increase in temperature of just 1.5-2... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3269371/maldives-blue-economy-sustainability-push-builds-upon-its-traditions-and-folk-stories?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3269371/maldives-blue-economy-sustainability-push-builds-upon-its-traditions-and-folk-stories?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jul 2024 03:00:18 +0000 Police in the Maldives have arrested a state environment minister, officers said on Thursday, with media in the Indian Ocean nation reporting she was accused of performing “black magic” on the president. State Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Energy, Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem, was arrested on Sunday along with two others in the capital Male, police said. She has been remanded in custody for a week pending investigations, officers added, without giving details for her... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3268264/maldives-minister-arrested-performing-black-magic-president-muizzu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3268264/maldives-minister-arrested-performing-black-magic-president-muizzu?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Jun 2024 08:20:09 +0000 The Indian Ocean nation of the Maldives will ban Israelis from the luxury tourist hotspot, the office of the president said, announcing a national campaign in “solidarity with Palestine”. The Maldives, a tiny Islamic republic of more than 1,000 strategically located coral islets, is known for its secluded sandy white beaches, shallow turquoise lagoons and Robinson Crusoe-style getaways. President Mohamed Muizzu has “resolved to impose a ban on Israeli passports”, a spokesman for his office said... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3265112/israelis-banned-luxury-indian-ocean-tourist-hotspot-maldives-over-gaza-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3265112/israelis-banned-luxury-indian-ocean-tourist-hotspot-maldives-over-gaza-war?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Jun 2024 01:52:03 +0000 An aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that Israel had accepted a framework deal for winding down the Gaza war now being advanced by US President Joe Biden, though he described it as flawed and in need of much more work. In an interview with Britain’s Sunday Times, Ophir Falk, chief foreign policy adviser to Netanyahu, said Biden’s proposal was “a deal we agreed to – it’s not a good deal but we dearly want the hostages released, all of them”. “There are a lot of details... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3265104/netanyahu-aide-bidens-gaza-plan-not-good-deal-israel-accepts-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3265104/netanyahu-aide-bidens-gaza-plan-not-good-deal-israel-accepts-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Jun 2024 18:28:22 +0000 India and the Maldives appear to be mending fences, exchanging overtures to bolster their partnership in a diplomatic dance that analysts say is driven partly by New Delhi’s worry over China’s creeping influence in the Indian Ocean. Ties were strained after President Mohamed Muizzu, who came to power on an anti-India campaign, told Delhi to withdraw its troops from his country. The 89 soldiers had been operating and maintaining two helicopters and one fixed-wing aircraft that India previously... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3264953/india-maldives-ties-flux-chinas-growing-sway-causes-new-delhi-fret?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3264953/india-maldives-ties-flux-chinas-growing-sway-causes-new-delhi-fret?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Jun 2024 11:30:11 +0000 I am watching a breathtaking ballet in the most unlikely of places – the newly opened Soneva Secret resort in the Maldives. The performers, however, are not prima ballerinas, but a group of 12 wild oceanic manta rays partaking in a cleaning ritual in the depths of the Indian Ocean below us. The marine biologist warns us that they are still getting used to seeing human life, but that doesn’t stop them from barrelling and dancing through the emerald waters, their four-metre-wide wings creating a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3264501/soneva-secret-maldives-manta-rays-and-astrologer-site-private-pools-get-ready-ultimate-luxe-robinson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3264501/soneva-secret-maldives-manta-rays-and-astrologer-site-private-pools-get-ready-ultimate-luxe-robinson?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 May 2024 08:00:11 +0000 Tencent Holdings’ WeChat Pay can now be used by mainland Chinese tourists in the Maldives, as the expanded coverage of the firm’s popular digital wallet rides on the recovery of China’s outbound travel. The Chinese tech giant on Monday signed a three-year deal with the tourism authorities of the Republic of Maldives to jointly promote WeChat Pay – known as Weixin Pay on the mainland – to merchants in the archipelagic state, according to a statement by Tencent. WeChat Pay has been available under... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3264319/tencents-wechat-pay-expands-coverage-maldives-amid-rebound-chinese-holidaymakers-heading-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3264319/tencents-wechat-pay-expands-coverage-maldives-amid-rebound-chinese-holidaymakers-heading-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 May 2024 01:00:10 +0000 The International Monetary Fund warned the Maldives against looming “debt distress” on Monday, as the small but strategically placed luxury tourist destination looks set to borrow more from main creditor China. Since winning office last year, President Mohamed Muizzu has reoriented the atoll nation – known for its upmarket beach resorts and celebrity holidaymakers – away from traditional benefactor India and towards Beijing. Last month his party won parliamentary elections in a landslide after... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3262518/chinese-loans-looming-maldives-gets-imf-warning-over-debt-distress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3262518/chinese-loans-looming-maldives-gets-imf-warning-over-debt-distress?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 May 2024 10:29:34 +0000 India pulled out its last remaining soldiers stationed in the Maldives on Friday, meeting a deadline for their withdrawal that had strained ties between the two neighbours. Pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu won office last year while campaigning on a promise to downgrade ties with India, and has since reoriented the strategically placed archipelago nation towards Beijing. After coming to power, he demanded the withdrawal of Indian soldiers who had been stationed in the upscale beach holiday... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3262230/india-completes-troop-withdrawal-maldives-request-pro-china-leader-mohamed-muizzu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3262230/india-completes-troop-withdrawal-maldives-request-pro-china-leader-mohamed-muizzu?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 May 2024 11:19:12 +0000 A landslide win for pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu’s political party in the Maldives’ recent parliamentary elections looks set to exacerbate security concerns for India and the United States – but observers say a middle path of diplomacy may be the Indian Ocean nation’s only real option. Muizzu’s administration is expected to tone down its anti-India rhetoric, with a former top official saying the country was “too small” to be taking sides. Landslide win for pro-China leader’s party in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3260069/maldives-pro-china-president-has-nothing-block-him-after-big-poll-win-india-concerned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3260069/maldives-pro-china-president-has-nothing-block-him-after-big-poll-win-india-concerned?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:24 +0000 Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won control of parliament in a Sunday election landslide, results showed, with voters backing his tilt towards China and away from regional powerhouse and traditional benefactor India. Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) secured more than two-thirds of the 93-member parliament, according to provisional results from the Elections Commission of Maldives. Maldives signed military deal with China but may remain swing state The PNC secured 66 out of 86... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3259823/maldives-votes-shadow-india-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3259823/maldives-votes-shadow-india-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Apr 2024 12:30:30 +0000 Jailed former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen was freed on Thursday after the High Court overturned his conviction and 11-year prison sentence, days before keenly contested parliamentary elections. A three-judge bench in the small but strategically located Indian Ocean archipelago nation held that Yameen’s 2022 trial on corruption and money-laundering charges during the tenure of a pro-Indian government was unfair and ordered a retrial. “The lower court ruling was not fair,” judge Hassan... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3259541/maldives-court-frees-jailed-ex-president-abdulla-yameen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3259541/maldives-court-frees-jailed-ex-president-abdulla-yameen?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Apr 2024 16:33:50 +0000 The military assistance agreement signed between the Maldives and China last week came at a sensitive time. The island’s new China-friendly president sought to elevate ties with Beijing to reduce dependence on New Delhi, including asking its South Asian neighbour to withdraw troops from the country. Some 89 Indian military personnel began withdrawing from the island nation this week as the Chinese defence ministry confirmed on Wednesday that a People’s Liberation Army delegation had visited and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3255321/maldives-signed-military-deal-beijing-may-remain-swing-state-china-india-tug-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3255321/maldives-signed-military-deal-beijing-may-remain-swing-state-china-india-tug-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:00:13 +0000