Maldives Cave Diving Safety: Five Italian divers and a Maldivian military diver died in Vaavu Atoll after a cave dive tragedy that authorities say involved permission to go deeper than recreational limits, but questions remain over depth, equipment, and whether a wrong turn or “sand wall” illusion played a role. Regional Tech & Governance: India unveiled an AI-driven roadmap for fisheries monitoring, combining AI, satellite communication, and digital traceability to curb illegal fishing—discussed with Maldives and Sri Lanka at a regional policy meet. Travel Tech & AI Search: RateGain released its APMEA Direct Booking Friction Report 2026, warning that hotels lose direct bookings to website friction (slow load times, poor search visibility, and trust issues) and that AI search may push hotel sites out of the booking journey. Energy Innovation: UK wind startup AirPlus Renewables is preparing to launch its “Edge Wind Tech” XEVA turbine, designed for decentralized power generation near where electricity is used, with planned deployments including the Maldives. Tourism Skills Pipeline: Four Seasons Maldives marked 25 years of its hospitality apprenticeship programme, graduating 1,058 Maldivians and starting a new 2027 intake selected from 300+ applicants. Trade & Expo: China will use the China–South Asia Expo (June 11–16, Kunming) to boost trade and investment, noting China is the largest trading partner for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.