Maldives Financial Expo 2026: President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has launched the three-day expo at Hulhumalé Central Park, returning after a nine-year gap, with a focus on “Inclusion, Innovation, and Intelligence” and participation from banks, insurers, regulators and government bodies. UNRWA Support: The Maldives pledged USD 50,000 annually to UNRWA at the UN pledging conference, reiterating solidarity with Palestinians and urging sustained funding for the agency’s work. Tobacco Tax Update: Muizzu ratified the 20th Amendment to the Export-Import Act, setting cigarette and heated-tobacco import duties at MVR 4 per stick plus 30% ad valorem, while nicotine gum and patches for smoking cessation are duty-exempt. Diplomatic Credentials: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received credentials copies for Maldives’ ambassador to Qatar, with State Minister Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi assuring support to deepen bilateral cooperation. Tourism Procurement Digitised: Visit Maldives Corporation launched a new vendor platform to streamline procurement, standardise vendor registration and improve transparency through online RFP/RFQ handling and document submission. China Tourism Push: The tourism and civil aviation ministry leads a high-level visit to China (1–11 July) to engage officials, airlines and tech firms, as China remains the Maldives’ top source market. Regional Connectivity Note: A report says Google is planning “connectivity hubs” in Africa and has previously mentioned hubs in the Maldives, linking subsea routes for improved internet resilience.