Maldives sets target to woo 3,00,000 Indian tourists in 2025
Male, Feb 4: The Maldives government has set a target of attracting 3,00,000 Indian tourists in 2025 after their number went from top place in 2023 to sixth in 2024 following the strained relations between Male and New Delhi. Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism’s statistics shows that Maldives received 20,46,615 visitors in 2024 compared to 18,78,543 tourist arrivals in 2023. China occupied the top slot followed by Russia in 2024 as Indian tourists shunned away till about October last year with the number slowly rising after that. Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation chairman Abdulla Ghiyas told a local news portal on Monday that monthly events will be held in India to achieve the goal to attract 3,00,000 tourists. (PTI)
France’s govt likely to survive no-confidence motion
Paris, Feb 4: The head of France’s far-right National Rally party said Tuesday he doesn’t support a no-confidence motion filed against the government, making it more likely that the prime minister will remain in office and a 2025 budget will be adopted. A no-confidence vote is scheduled Wednesday in the National Assembly and needs at least half the 577 votes to pass. Hard-left France Unbowed, Communist and Green lawmakers are expected to vote in favour but don’t have the numbers on their own to bring down the centrist government. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, the biggest group in the National Assembly, said “in the current period, the French … would not benefit from a new period of instability.” The leftist Socialist party said earlier it wouldn’t back the no-confidence motion because “it’s time to give France a budget.” (AP)
Senate advances Kennedy Jr’s nomination to be health secretary
Washington, Feb 4: Robert F Kennedy Jr, the controversial environmental lawyer turned public health critic, cleared his first hurdle on Tuesday to become the nation’s top health official when the senate finance committee voted to advance his nomination for a floor vote. His nomination now will face a full senate vote, despite concerns about the work he’s done to sow doubts around vaccine safety and his potential to profit off lawsuits over drugmakers. (AP)
5 shot at adult education centre in Sweden
Orebro, Feb 4: Five people were shot at an adult education centre in Sweden on Tuesday, police said. The conditions of the victims weren’t immediately clear. The Swedish news agency TT reported, without providing its sources, that the perpetrator died by suicide. The adult education centre is on the outskirts of the city of Orebro, which is located about 200 km west of Stockholm. The school, called Campus Risbergska, serves students who are over age 20, according to its website. Primary and upper secondary school courses are offered, as well as Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. (AP)