Amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, which prohibit the import, sale, free distribution and use of vaping devices and electronic cigarettes in the Maldives, came into force on 15 December; already nine persons have been sanctioned

The UN Disability Rights Committee reported the absence of strategies, policies and disaggregated data on women with disabilities, the lack of gender perspectives in disability laws and the absence of disability perspectives in gender policies

President Muizzu called for more inclusion of small developing countries in international decision-making at the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State meeting SCO Plus meeting in Tianjin, China

Journalists filled the parliament gallery in silent protest earlier this week as lawmakers in the chamber below debated a bill proposing a new regulatory body with sweeping powers to punish and shut down media outlets

A maximum prison sentence of three years and higher fines will hit individuals who intentionally fail to submit tax filings for any taxes required or fail to reveal data, if the proposed amendment to the Tax Administration Act passes