Tourism & Aviation Costs: Cabinet decided to direct IASL to reduce tourist airfares, but the move could add pressure since Maldivian’s parent is already loss-making. Foreign Exchange Rules: Parliament passed Foreign Currency Act amendments raising the deposit threshold for businesses to USD 25m and easing rules for fully Maldivian-owned firms. Tax Policy: Parliament approved a hike in withholding tax on payments to non-resident construction contractors from 5% to 10%, aiming for higher state revenue. GST on Tourism Services: Parliament backed GST on services by foreign tour operators and booking platforms, with lawmakers pushing the bill despite calls for tourism-industry consultation; Finance Ministry says it consulted the IMF to limit impact on Maldivians. Public Sector “Rightsizing”: Government says it has hired 4,938 employees into SOEs since taking office and that public-sector employment is “bloated” at about 53% of the workforce; it also set up an MVR 600m Kumevi fund for redundant workers to start businesses. Governance & Transparency: ACC warned sports bodies face high corruption risk without proper financial reporting; iCOM launched a strategic action plan to improve access to government information. Environment: Climate Minister Ali Shareef visited Hanifaru Bay to review conservation efforts in the UNESCO biosphere reserve. International Diplomacy: Maldives condemned Israel’s rejection of the UN-backed Gaza roadmap and urged full implementation. Digital Services: WAMCO launched an official waste-services app; MPB inaugurated digital banking platforms; and Ncell introduced a 60-second pulse rate for international outgoing calls.