January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
COLOMBO, May 4 — Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has claimed a new world record after speaking at a press conference for nearly 15 hours, surpassing a previous mark set by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, his office said Sunday.
According to the statement, Muizzu, 46, began the session at 10.00am (0500 GMT) on Saturday and continued for 14 hours and 54 minutes, pausing only briefly for prayers.
“The press conference extended past midnight — a new world record by a president — with President Muizzu continuously responding to journalists’ questions,” the statement said.
The Indian Ocean nation’s government timed the event to coincide with World Press Freedom Day, highlighting its commitment to media transparency.
In October 2019, Ukraine’s National Records Agency announced that Zelensky had set a record with a 14-hour press conference, beating a previous seven-hour record held by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Muizzu’s press conference included responses not only to reporters but also to questions submitted by the public through journalists. His office said the event underscored the president’s recognition of the media’s vital role and his call for accurate, fair, and balanced journalism.
Muizzu, who assumed office in 2023, also noted the Maldives’ advancement in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), moving up two spots to 104th out of 180 countries.
Roughly two dozen reporters attended the marathon session, where food was provided.
The Maldives has a history of headline-grabbing stunts — in 2009, former president Mohamed Nasheed held the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting to draw attention to climate change and the threat of rising sea levels to the low-lying island nation. — AFP
