MALDIVES: President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu reports that the tobacco-control measures put in place by his administration are showing positive results, with many people quitting smoking. His administration has taken several steps to control tobacco use, such as banning vapes and e-cigarettes, doubling the import duty and value-added tax on cigarettes, and introducing a general [...]

MALDIVES: The phrase "iPad kids" has become a common, though concerning, way to describe a generation that has been glued to screens since they were little. We've all noticed them: the quiet child in a restaurant, eating while fixated on a YouTube video; the toddler in a stroller, who suddenly wakes up when the 'Cocomelon' [...]

MALDIVES: The media community in the Maldives has come together to oppose the proposed establishment of a new regulator that would have extensive powers to impose fines and shut down news organizations, signaling concerns over a potential new crackdown as the government dismissed calls to abandon the "media control bill." Parliament held a special session [...]

MALDIVES: Women in the Maldives who suffer from endometriosis encounter significant challenges, including misdiagnosis, stigma, and financial struggles. Even though the current government has opened an endometriosis clinic and offers health insurance coverage, many surgeries still need to be performed overseas, and welfare assistance does not cover these expenses. In the country, radiologists often do [...]

MALDIVES: President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has reiterated the Maldives' dedication to enhancing collaboration with Sri Lanka in order to reach common objectives of peace, development, and prosperity. He emphasized the strong relationship between the two nations, which is founded on sixty years of diplomatic relations, a shared historical background, and strong cultural ties. Dr. Muizzu [...]

Maldives: Youth make up 35 percent of the country's unemployed population. Those who do have jobs report working long hours for minimal pay, which negatively impacts their mental well-being. Almost a quarter of Maldivians aged 18 to 35 are neither employed, studying, nor undergoing training, totaling 117,076 young individuals—nearly the entire population of Malé. Despite [...]

Maldives: So far, 8,396 individuals have reached out for assistance from the mental health helpline. The helpline aims to improve the quality of services for those dealing with various mental health challenges through sustainable measures. A key goal of the helpline is to provide initial support to individuals of all ages who are experiencing mental [...]

Maldives: The drug court has disclosed that 18% of individuals who have undergone treatment for drug addiction relapse into drug use. The drug legislation in the Maldives was enacted and ratified on December 21, 2011, leading to the establishment of the Drug Court under this law. Statistics from the Drug Court indicate that over 11,700 [...]