National Payments Upgrade: Parliament has passed an amendment to the National Payment System Act to set up a National Payment Switch, giving the Maldives Monetary Authority power to route bank and payment-provider transactions through one system for smoother QR and card/wallet payments. Healthcare Capacity Boost: Universal Foundation awarded four 2026 medical scholarships in specialised fields (neurosurgery, paediatric surgery, critical care, and paediatric respiratory medicine) to tackle local skills shortages and strengthen the healthcare pipeline. AI for Dhivehi Users: Maldivian deep-tech firm Synetecs upgraded Thaana AI with full Dhivehi and English support, new models and tool-calling, plus much higher fair-use limits and easier recurring payments via card tokenization. Digital Assets for Tourism: Visit Maldives Corporation will host the inaugural Digital Ownership Summit 2026 on tokenised assets, linking real-world asset ownership to the Maldives 2.0 digital transformation agenda. Marine Science Spotlight: A new study says Indo-Pacific atolls support about 31.2 million nesting seabirds and that their nutrients help sustain island and ocean ecosystems. Housing Progress: Rasmalé reclamation is reported at 55% complete, with 556.54 hectares reclaimed so far toward 1,009 hectares. Space Inspiration: A Maldivian girl has been selected for Mission ShakthiSAT, a global programme introducing girls to satellite building and lunar-orbit mission design. Safety Warning: Influencers are being urged to stop risky “shark selfie” behaviour after multiple bite incidents, including cases tied to feeding or getting too close.