Country’s tourist industry fueling waste glut, turning coral reef into 7km long rubbish dump.

Anti-government protests were held place for the seventh day in a row in the Maldives capital of Male. The people are demonstrating because of soaring prices and claim the president is mishandling the economy. But the democratically-elected president is calling it an attempt to reinstate a dictatorship in this tropical paradise. Al Jazeera’s Steve Chao reports.

Representatives from the Afghan government, the Taliban and a number of other armed groups have gathered in the Maldives for talks aimed at reaching a political reconciliation in Afghanistan. The delegates all say they are not officially representing anyone, but that their leaders are aware of their attendance at the talks. But with discussions ranging from the need for fresh elections to the future of foreign troops in the country, some say there is little optimism about the outcome of the talks. Al Jazeera’s Dan Nolan reports. [20 May 10]

It’s a controversial idea that some say is the only way to bring peace to Afghanistan … How to convince members of the Taliban to put down their guns, and bring them into the political fold. Al Jazeera has learned that secret talks have been held, and an ambitious plan is underway to get fighters lay down their arms, in return for money and jobs. David Chater has this exclusive report. January 27th, 2009

For thousands of people who survived the devastating tsunami in 2004, coping with its devastating effects meant relocating to a new island in the Maldives to avoid the risk of another disaster. As part of our series five years on from the tsunami, Chan Tau Chou reports from the island of Dhuvaafaru.