Category: News in Brief

Prostitution on the rise in the Maldives

Prostitution is on the rise in the Maldives, reports Miadhu.

Locals as well as foreigners are becoming involved in prostitution, while many people from Russia and East Asia are being brought into the country for this purpose, the newspaper claimed.

Police have recently busted many guest houses and massage parlours that were involved in prostitution, Miadhu said.

The Health Ministry has also expressed concern about the threat of AIDS spreading through prostitution. The ministry also claimed that 200 labourers had tested positive for AIDS, Miadhu said.

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Heavy rain floods 11 islands

Islands in two atolls have been flooded following heavy storms currently over much of the country, Haveeru reports.

The two affected atolls were Noonu and Shaviyani; Noonu atoll had nine islands flooded and Shaviyani two.

Mohamed Maahidhu, the councilor of Noonu atoll said some islands had as much as three to four feet of flooding.

According to Haveeru, some people have temporarily moved into friend’s and relative’s houses because of the damage caused to their own homes.

The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has been working with residents to drain the water from the flooded islands.

According to the meteorological office, the country will experience heavy rain over the next couple of days.

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STO onion shipment to go on sale

The State Trading Organisation (STO) will begin selling its newest onion shipment on Saturday, in an effort to reduce the current high prices for the basic commodity.

According to Miadhu, the STO said that even though the shipment was small, they would continue weekly shipments until prices stabilised.

STO also requested small stores to sell the onions at a set price. Miadhu reported that the STO would keep tabs on these stores and if they did not conform to these prices they would take action against them.

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Bids opened for Nasandhura

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation held a pre-bid meeting for Nasandhura Palace Hotel.

In a meeting held yesterday at Nalahiya Hotel, the ministry opened bids for eight parties and announced the offers.

Nasandhura was the first hotel ever built in Male’ and was opened in 1981. The hotel was mainly used for transfer and business passengers, but is currently being used as a clinic and quarantine centre for suspected swine flu cases.

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Warehouse collapse in Male’

Part of a three storey warehouse in Male’ collapsed yesterday.

The warehouse was located on Machangoalhi Raidhebaamagu. According to MNDF Fire and Rescue, the collapse occured because the warehouse was overstocked, mostly with juice packets and condensed milk.

According to MNDF the warehouse contained 10 container-loads worth of goods.

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Maumoon says Copenhagen a failure

Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that the climate summit in Copenhagen was a failure.

According to Miadhu, Gayoom thought the summit was a failure because the outcome was decided when leaders of five countries met and finalised the accord and without passing it at the main summit.

Maumoon also said that the two degree Celsius change in global temperature was not enough to prevent the threat of climate change.

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National badminton tournament 2009

The national badminton tournament for 2009 has come to an end with Mohamed Ajfaan Rasheed taking out the men’s first division title for the fourth year running.

Moosa Nashid and Nashih Sharafudheen won the men’s doubles while Neela Ahmed and Nejeeba Aishath won the women’s doubles.

The mixed doubles were taken out by Mohamed Ajfaan Rasheed and Neela Ahmed.

Ali Amir, the president of the badminton association, handed out all the trophies. Haveeru reported that as a gesture of support for the atoll teams, all playing equipment was gifted to them by the badminton association.

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Rock thrown into Holiday Inn head office

The glass door of the Holiday Inn head office in Male’ was smashed yesterday, reports Haveeru.

A police media official said the glass door of the office at the Maarana building in Ameenee Magu was smashed and the investigation was ongoing.

Brett Wilson, general manager of Holiday Inn Male’, said a rock was thrown into the head office between 6am and 7am yesterday.

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