Maldives saves to buy land for move

THE Maldives’ newly elected president said in an interview yesterday that his government would begin saving to buy a new homeland in case global warming caused the country to disappear into the sea.

Beloved by tourists for their white sandy beaches, palm trees and clear waters, the 1,192 coral islands that make up the Indian Ocean country risk devastation by rising sea levels caused by climate change.

Mohamed “Anni” Nasheed, who won the Maldives’ first democratic presidential election last month, said his government would start putting aside part of its billion-dollar annual tourism income in case the worst happens.