Maldives Edition
World Freshly Swept Step Day leads today's complete edition for Maldives.
Daily Edition
Official observances, world days, local context, and everyday celebrations for people who need something worth reading, sharing, or talking about today.
A day for the visible care people give to entrances, porches, shopfronts, courtyards, sidewalks, and shared spaces.
The anniversary of the 1988 coup attempt, when a group of Sri Lankan Tamil mercenaries (hired by Maldivian businessman Abdullah Luthufi) attempted to overthrow the government of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The mercenaries landed at Malé's harbor in the early morning, seized key buildings, and nearly succeeded : but the Maldivian National Defence Force held the radio station and called for help. Indian paratroopers (Operation Cactus) were flown in within hours, and the coup was foiled in a single day. 19 people were killed, including several Maldivian soldiers. The day is observed with ceremonies and the reminder that the Maldives is a small nation in a strategic location, and security is never guaranteed.
