Category: News in Brief

Bad weather affecting tourism

Tourists have begun cutting their holidays short because of the current bad weather in many of the atolls, Miadhu reports.

This sort of weather is uncommon during the December-January period when tourism usually peaks.

The Maldives Meteorological Service reported that the weather was being created by a low pressure trough above the country.

Europe and the Americas are experiencing severe bad weather and the hampering of transport systems could be having an effect on tourist arrivals to the Maldives, Miadhu suggested.

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Don’t let your guard down against the flu

The health ministry has called on people to be vigilant about swine flu.

Since July, 32 cases have been reported in the Maldives and one death. According to Miadhu, the ministry has said that even though the spread of the disease has slowed, people should still be cautious.

The ministry again emphasised the importance of controlling the spread once schools had opened, urging parents to keep children at home until fully recovered.

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Increase in cases reported to family and children service

The Family and Children service in Baa Atoll has reported that the number of cases submitted this year has more than doubled.

According to TVM, the centre reported it had received 46 cases this year compared with 21 cases last year, 42 of which were related to the abuse of children.

The centre claimed the increase was due to the effectiveness of their awareness campaigns.

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Aquaculture will be introduced

The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) has announced that the Maldives will have an aqua culture project underway by Fishermen’s Day 2010.

Research conducted by MIFCO revealed that Haa Alif Baarah was a very suitable island for such a project.

MIFCO representatives claimed the Maldives needs to expand from just relaying on fishing alone. They also said aquaculture projects would create many new jobs for local people, and added that feasibility tests had shown that such projects would be profitable.

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Maldives to grow 140,000 square kilometres

The Maldives will claim 140,000 square kilometers in territory according to Ahmed Shaheed, the minister of foreign affairs.

According to Miadhu, the foreign ministry has been conducting research on how much territory to claim, using funds provided by the Commonwealth.

Shaheed also said that the deadline for the submission was September 2010, so the process needed to be sped up and full cooperation from the different government agencies was required.

Shaheed said that the submission being proposed overlaps the submission currently being made by Sri Lanka.

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Giyaasudhin school privatised

Giyaasudhin school is set to become an international school from 2010, under the government’s privatisation scheme.

Giyaasudhin school will by run Indian company Shri Educare under a 15 year contract.

According to TVM, new students will have to pay an entrance fee of US$150. For the next academic year, the new school will have an intake of 90 students in grade one.

Students who are already enrolled in the school will have their fees paid by the government until they finish grade seven at Giyaasudhin school.

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Decade of red ends for Imran

After nine long years spent being the custodian in goal for club Victory, keeper Imran Mohamed has signed on with the VB Sports Club.

There were many reasons for his decision but Imran told Haveeru he did not wish to discuss them.

“I signed a one year deal with VB, and after nine years at the club you don’t just change, there has to be a reason,” he hinted.

Starting his career at Club Eagles, Imran joined Victory in 2001. Over the last nine years Imran has won many trophies with Victory, including this year’s FA cup.

Imrans new club VB Sports will compete in next years AFC cup, which is almost the equivalent of Europe’s Europa cup. Imran and his new team will begin training tomorrow.

According to Haveeru, CEO of VB Sports Gahuthaan Haleem said that there are four other players to be signed in the forthcoming week.

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Under 23’s begin preparation for SAFF games

The Maldivian under 23 football squad has started training for the upcoming SAFF games in Bangladesh.

The team is currently being looked after by the assistant coach for the Maldivian national team. He is in charge until head coach István Urbányi returns from a short trip back to Hungary.

According to the rules, only players born after the 1st January 1987 are allowed to participate. However, three senior members are allowed in the team – these three have yet to be announced.

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Knife attack in Thinadhoo

A man suffered slash wounds after being attacked with a knife last night in Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo.

According to TVM, Mohamed Jinaah Ali of Thinadhoo was attacked around 6.25pm. He suffered a 6 by 2 inch gash on his left arm.

Thinadhoo police alleged Jinaah was attacked by 20 year-old Ismail Ahmed, and noted that he had a police record.

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