Maldives

Today's public referendum in Addu City to determine the jurisdictional composition of the City Council raises doubts about fairness, transparency, and participation: scheduled in a rush it left no time for public awareness and informed decision-making

Ducks and fish at a popular public park in the Hulhudhoo district of Addu City, Addu Atoll, have been dying en masse, sparking allegations of foul play

Legal action will be taken against individuals who intimidate or incite hatred toward police officers on social media; the warn came form the the Maldives Police Service after recent episode connected to the curbing of street protests

The government is planning to seek public support for major constitutional changes using a new law that the opposition claims is a "tool" for President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to prolong his five-year term beyond 2028

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

A surge in tourism was registered in the first 6 months of 2025, with visitor arrivals reaching over 1,1 million and a milestone one millionth tourist was welcomed earlier than ever before

The ‘Civil-Military Workshop on Health Emergency Preparedness’ was held on 18-19 June to strengthen the Maldives' International Health Regulations core capacities; it was organized by WHO in collaboration with nation's Health Protection Agency

Mariyam Zeeniya, the secretary-general of Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom), has been penalized with a three-day suspension for failure to cooperate in implementing the commission’s decisions

Proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act – the chief of which is the enforcement of a smoking ban for the post-2007 generation – have been accepted into the Parliament and sent to a select committee for review, approved with a majority vote of 63-2