A mysterious gang of masked men has been chopping down palm trees in Male, the capital of the Maldives. The areca palms were planted by the city council as part of a project to beautify the tiny island capital, but the gang has felled more than 25 trees in recent days. Adding to the intrigue, there is evidence that the phantom choppers are linked to the city police force, who have been accused of playing an increasingly partisan role in disputes between the ruling party and opposition politicians. Read more: minivannews.com