Maldives-Thailand Travel Update: Thailand’s Cabinet has revised visa-free rules, extending Maldivians’ visa-free stay to up to 30 days (after publication in the Royal Thai Gazette), aiming to balance tourism convenience with tighter immigration oversight. Banking & FX Confidence: Bank of Maldives (BML) CEO Mohamed Shareef pushed back on unverified claims about the bank’s US dollar liquidity, saying average monthly dollar sales have risen to about USD 80m and warning misinformation could damage public confidence and economic activity. Branch Expansion: BML opened seven new branches across multiple atolls, bringing its network to 55 branches nationwide, alongside 340+ ATMs and digital services. Cybersecurity for Business: Dhiraagu launched “Cyber Protect,” an Eset-powered managed endpoint security service for enterprise devices, targeting rising digital threats. Tourism Industry Focus: Hotelier Maldives announced the theme for its 10th General Managers’ Forum (Oct 5, 2026): “Resilience and Reinvention: Talent, Technology and Transformation.” Regional Trade Talks: India and the Maldives concluded the first round of FTA negotiations with “substantive progress,” aiming to deepen trade and investment ties. Aviation Connectivity: Shirak Avia announced direct flights from Yerevan to the Maldives (from Nov 14, weekly Saturdays), plus Bali and Phuket.