Sunday, December 31, 2017
Man arrested after stabbing incident in Ghaxaq
A man was arrested this morning after a stabbing incident in Ghaxaq, the police said.
The incident took place in Rebbiegha Street at 3am.
A 26-year-old of Ghaxaq was stabbed, with a 37-year-old being held by the police for further questioning.
The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment.
Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech is conducting an inquiry.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2zWchM3
via IFTTT
[WATCH] New Year's Resolutions
A number of Maltese personalities share their New Year's resolutions and wishes with MaltaToday
from MaltaToday News http://ift.tt/2lA19ix
via IFTTT
Daphne’s murder ‘does not reflect who we are as a country’ – PM in end of year speech
The murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia does not reflect who we are as a country, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in his end of year speech.
This is his full address to the nation:
As a country, we find ourselves at a very important moment. Where each one of us, without distinction, has a role to play in our society, a society that is experiencing continuous change. Change that sometimes, we and the people around us, may not always understand enough.
Our country is moving forward at a very fast pace. The economy and wealth that is being generated is creating changes in our society and sometimes even new tensions. These are the challenges of a country that is coming of age, spreading its wings and travelling to places it has never been before.
A strong country, not only because our economy is at its peak, but also because the results of it are being felt by all our children and our families. The wealth generated is reaching those that need it most, and that is why I believe our country is getting stronger, because we measure results, by how much the quality of life of each one of you has improved.
I am proud that in this past year, you gave us the privilege of serving you again for another legislature. We promised you that if given your trust we will not stop half way and we will continue to make this country stronger. The strong vote of confidence you gave us is being reciprocated with more work, more diligence and above all by generating further wealth and a better quality of life for all of you.
This year, as a country, we passed through some difficult moments, particularly one that saddened all of us who love our people in an indescribable way. It hurt me on a human level. And it angered me in a way that I felt our country must react, this after the brutal murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Her murder does not reflect who we are as a country. Indeed, the angered reaction and sadness, and the need to react as a mature state that will not bow its head to criminals, confirms what I know of our people. People who can distinguish between what is right and wrong and are prepared to stop the few, the very few, bad elements in our society.
This year, I want to thank especially the men and women of our disciplined forces. The mothers and fathers that work tirelessly and many times without the recognition they deserve. Worse than that, they are degraded and suffer lack of respect. To the police, the armed forces, and the civil protection and to every person that has worked to ensure order in our country – I salute and thank you on behalf of our country.
The beauty of these islands remains the way that we unite as one country. Maybe because we place great value on the sense of family and love for those close to us. The value that trumps all rivalry is the love we show to our children, our friends, and those we live and work close to.
That is why I continue to believe in our country.
A country that although small, has the will to lead when asked, as we did when leading the Presidency of the European Union for six whole months of this year. It was a great moment to hear leaders of our European friends praising our country using adjectives that are not often heard of other countries going through the same experience. That is what we want to hear about our country, praise and not insults from those who may envy us.
We will start 2018 by placing our country again at centre stage on a European and Global level, by means of our capital city, our gem, the city of Valletta, as the European Capital of Culture. The remarkable work to prepare for this event is one that makes us proud again. Proud to be able to show off the jewels of this city such as the place we are in now, our National Library, our Co-Cathedral, the Auberges and Palaces that form part of our inheritance left by our ancestors. But not only that. We are also proud to show off our culture as a way of life. The pleasant way we live here in our country. The diverse ways of life and how we go about our day-to-day life, at work, in our homes and places of leisure.
We live in a beautiful country that knows how to love and live in peace. This is the country we must continue to show everyone, once we remove the divisiveness, sometimes puerile, that creates unnecessary tension.
A country where love does not discriminate. A country that provides work for everyone. That is passing through a time of great wealth and that wealth is being felt by everyone. As was the case with the budget without any taxes, we put forward for the commencing year, the fruit of which will be felt by all of you in the coming weeks.
We feel and live the pride of our country. Pride that has no political colour, has not one belief, has no stereotypes, everyone, even those who criticises us the most, sometimes in an aggressive way, can feel in the depth of their heart, a great sense of belonging towards our country.
This year that is now coming to a close, was a year of decisions, decisions that go beyond the electoral ones and those capable of dividing us. Decisions based on an image created about this country, a country that today has an unprecedented economic growth rate, that has an employment growth rate that outpaces that of our European partners, the lowest unemployment rate in our history, a reduction on those who depend on social services, a country that is once again focused on the future of its people. Except, the most important measure on our scales was that of social progress, which we will continue to do in the coming period.
In recent times, it was also confirmed that we reduced the number of people at risk of poverty by half in the last four years. These results show the difference that we can make in people's lives.
Social progress was seen in the move towards marriage equality. I cannot remove the image from my mind of all the happiness I saw in the eyes of couples that will do anything for their loved one but because of the conservative forces of our country could not seal their love.
This social progress will not stop here and during the upcoming year, there will be one push after the other, because my colleagues and I are here to create change. We are here to strengthen what is good and fix that which can be mended. We are here, together with my colleagues to serve the Maltese and Gozitan population, without prejudice or distinction.
Therefore, we will give all possible means to those two people who love each other to have a chance to raise their own child and not just imagine holding in their arms a child they could call son or daughter, all of this because of barriers that we politicians can fix, and we want to fix them.
We are here to offer hope to those suffering from serious, heart-breaking illnesses and we are ready to offer help to mitigate the suffering not only of those who are ill but also of those close to them, for example by giving the opportunity to prescribe medicinal marijuana as an alternative.
We will continue to be a shelter to those families who are going through social problems. We will continue to help pensioners, minimum-wage earners, those who need a helping hand to access the work force and we will continue to seriously tackle the rent problem while offering affordable housing to those who are really in need.
During the coming year, we will continue to invest in our infrastructure because that is the next step for a modern country like ours where every year tourist arrival in numbers four times greater than our population.
We will continue working to strengthen the educational sector because our children deserve the best, to strengthen the health service because this service should always be of the highest standard and above all, we will continue to preserve the environment we live in.
2018 will be the year when we will continue to push forward reforms on controversial subjects, which we cannot continue to sweep under the carpet. We are here to decide.
We will continue what we started in the past few years, after initiating discussions we will now extend voting rights to 16-year olds.
I am confident that in 2018 we will overcome all the challenges that will come our way. Because our country is endowed with a hard working nation that never succumbs to challenges. We need to thank you because the results that we achieved are thanks to each one of you that together make a strong nation.
On behalf of my wife, of our children, on behalf of the Government, from my heart, I wish all Maltese and Gozitans a new year filled with health, unity and peace.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2ls8NfO
via IFTTT
Record breaking €2 million won in Maltco horse racing bet
During the last few hours of 2017 one lucky punter will be ending this year and starting the New Year with a big bang and more than 2 million euros in his pocket.
The winning ticket was played on the V75 jackpot organised by ATG, the ticket was bought from a Maltco Lotteries point of sale in St Julian's.
Top winning ticket is of €2,111,973, additionally three other winning tickets above €8,500 each were also won.
First comments from the St Julian's agent were that he was very happy for the luck of his punter, he also said that U*BET Horseracing betting has become more popular amongst U*BET players leaving lots of satisfied winners.
U*BET offers betting on British, Irish, South African as well as Swedish Horse Racing.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2CjNI1i
via IFTTT
New year should be a point of departure for doing better – Adrian Delia
Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia said that the start of a new year should be a point of departure for doing better, including in politics.
In his end of year message, Delia said that looking back at 2017 will make us think what went wrong with a view of making the effort to improve in 2018.
One should think of those who did not do so well in the past year, and try to find ways of making life better for them too. It is not enough for numbers to be good unless everybody is sharing from the success, he said.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2DDvEeU
via IFTTT
Revellers around the world ring in 2018, say bye to the old
A look at how people around the world are ringing in 2018:
___
JAPAN
Many Japanese celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Dog in the traditional way of praying for peace and good fortune at neighborhood Shinto shrines, and eating New Year's food such as noodles, shrimp and sweet black beans.
Barbecued beef and octopus dumpling stalls were out at Tokyo's Zojoji Temple, where people take turns striking the giant bell 108 times at midnight, an annual practice repeated at other Buddhist temples throughout Japan.
North Korea's nuclear and missile programs cast a shadow over Japan's hopes for peace, said 33-year-old cab driver Masaru Eguchi, who was ready to be busy all night shuttling shrine visitors.
"The world situation has grown so complex," Eguchi said, adding that he also worried about possible terrorism targeting Japan. "I feel this very abstracted sense of uncertainty, although I really have no idea what might happen."
___
AUSTRALIA
Fireworks lit up the sky above Sydney Harbour, highlighting the city's New Year's celebrations.
The massive fireworks display included a rainbow waterfall cascade of lights and color flowing off the harbor's bridge to celebrate recently passed legislation legalizing gay marriage in Australia.
Over a million people were expected to gather to watch the festivities. Security was tight, but officials said there was no particular alert.
Sydney officials said the event would generate some $170 million for the city and "priceless publicity." Nearly half the revelers were tourists.
___
NEW ZEALAND
Tens of thousands of New Zealanders took to streets and beaches, becoming among the first in the world to usher in 2018.
As the new year dawned in this southern hemisphere nation, fireworks boomed and crackled above city centers and harbors, and party-goers sang, hugged, danced and kissed.
In Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, tens of thousands gathered around Sky Tower as five minutes of nonstop pyrotechnics exploded from the top of the structure.
But on nearby Waiheke Island, 30 kilometers (20 miles) away, authorities canceled the planned fireworks display because of drought conditions and low water supplies for firefighters.
___
UGANDA
Thousands of Ugandans were gathering at churches across the country to mark the end of 2017.
The raucous events, during which some preachers are known to make dubious predictions, have become such a staple of New Year's Eve festivities that the country's longtime president, Yoweri Museveni, sometimes makes time to make an appearance at a church.
Still, many in this East African country prefer to celebrate at crowded beaches on the shores of Lake Victoria or in darkened halls listening to the music of pop stars who take turns offering crowd pleasers until midnight.
Police warned revelers not to burn car tires in celebration, citing safety reasons, to discourage a favorite activity of those, especially in the countryside, who cannot afford real fireworks.
___
GERMANY
Germans will ring in 2018 under tight security from police mindful of widespread sexual abuse of women in Cologne two years ago and of a terrorist attack on a Christmas market last year.
Police in Berlin added 1,600 officers on duty and said that large bags and knapsacks would not be allowed on the "Party Mile" leading from Brandenburg Gate, where thousands were expected to celebrate at midnight. Police in Frankfurt imposed similar restrictions in the celebration area along the Main River in the country's financial capital.
Two years ago, New Year's in Cologne was marred by groping and theft committed against hundreds of women, in most cases by migrants. On Dec. 19, 2016, Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri drove a stolen truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 19 people.
___
BRITAIN
A major windstorm was causing problems in Scotland, but organizers expected Edinburgh's famed Hogmany New Year's Eve celebration to be unaffected.
Storm Dylan is battering parts of Scotland with gusts of up to 80 miles per hour, with forecasters saying injuries are possible because of flying debris.
Forecasters have not, however, put wind warnings in place for Sunday night, when the Hogmany celebrations are planned. Event organizers say the forecast for Edinburgh indicates that the celebrations will not have to be curtailed.
The Edinburgh celebration is one of the most popular in Britain and regularly draws visitors from many parts of the world.
___
CHINA
Those willing to brave the cold in Beijing were joining a countdown at the tower at Yongdingmen Gate, a rebuilt version of the Ming dynasty-era landmark gate at the southern end of the city's north-south axis.
Bells will be rung and prayers offered at temples in Beijing, but the Gregorian calendar's New Year's celebrations are typically muted in China compared to the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, a time of fireworks, feasts and family reunions.
Authorities throughout China were also on high alert for stampedes or terror attacks at large public gatherings. Police in the central city of Zhengzhou put 3,500 officers on duty across the city while residents gathered to watch a light show and cultural performance in a public square.
The official Xinhua News Agency reported that President Xi Jinping sent a New Year's greeting to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, saying Beijing is ready to boost cooperation with Russia in 2018.
SOUTH KOREA
After spending an exhausting year that saw a presidency toppled by a corruption scandal and nuclear-armed North Korea firing missile after missile, South Koreans enter 2018 in need of a happy distraction. The upcoming winter Olympics just might do it.
Thousands of people filled the streets near Seoul's City Hall for a traditional bell-tolling ceremony to usher in the new year. The group of dignitaries picked to ring the old Bosingak bell at midnight included Soohorang and Bandabi — the tiger and bear mascots for the Pyeongchang Winter Games and Paralympics in February and March.
Tens of thousands of people were expected to flock to eastern coastal areas, including Gangneung, the seaside city that will host the Olympic skating and hockey events, to watch the sun rise on 2018.
___
INDIA
Security was tight in the southern Indian city of Bangalore to prevent a repeat of incidents of alleged groping and molestation of several women during last year's New Year's Eve celebrations.
Sunil Kumar, the city's police commissioner, said at least 15,000 police officers were on duty and were being aided by drones and additional closed-circuit television cameras.
Last year, police first denied that any sexual harassment had taken place during the celebrations in Bangalore, India's information technology hub. But later, police detained at least six men after several video clips of women being attacked by groups of men spread on social media.
___
PHILIPPINES
Hours before midnight, authorities had already reported that scores of people had been injured by celebratory firecrackers in the Philippines, which has some of the most raucous New Year's celebrations in Asia.
Although the number of injuries has tapered off in recent years, largely due to hard economic times and government scare campaigns, the figures remain alarming. President Rodrigo Duterte signed an order in June confining the use of firecrackers to community-designated areas, such as near shopping malls and parks.
Many Filipinos, largely influenced by Chinese tradition, believe that noisy New Year's celebrations drive away evil and misfortune. But they have carried that superstition to extremes, exploding dangerously large firecrackers and firing guns to welcome the new year despite threats of arrest.
___
TURKEY
Security measures were ramped up across Turkey, which was hit by a New Year's attack a year ago that killed dozens.
In Istanbul alone, 37,000 officers were on duty, with multiple streets closed to traffic and large vehicles barred from entering certain districts. Several New Year's Eve street parties were canceled for security reasons.
Early on Jan. 1, 2017, an assailant shot his way into Istanbul's Reina nightclub, where hundreds were celebrating New Year's. Thirty-nine people were killed — mostly foreigners — and 79 wounded. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility.
On Sunday, some 100 people gathered outside the nightclub to remember the victims of the attack.
ROMANIA
Romanians prepared to usher in a new year in which the focus is expected to be an anti-corruption fight as the government seeks to push through legislation that critics say will make it harder to punish high-level graft.
Television stations broadcast live from supermarkets full of last-minute shoppers, while beauty salons reported full bookings as revelers geared up for traditional celebrations of copious meals that can run to hundreds of euros (dollars).
Others meditated and prayed at Orthodox churches and monasteries. In rural eastern Romania, villagers danced traditional pantomime-like jigs to welcome the new year, wrapping themselves in bear furs or dressing as horses.
In his New Year message, President Klaus Iohannis praised Romanians who staged the largest protests since the end of communism.
___
LAS VEGAS
Tens of thousands of revelers will ring in the new year in Las Vegas under the close eye of law enforcement just three months after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Tourism officials expect about 330,000 people to come to Las Vegas for the festivities, which are anchored by a roughly eight-minute fireworks display at the top of seven casino-hotels.
Acts including Bruno Mars, Britney Spears, Celine Dion and the Foo Fighters will keep partiers entertained before and after midnight at properties across Sin City.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department will have every officer working Sunday, while the Nevada National Guard is activating about 350 soldiers and airmen.
The federal government also is sending dozens of personnel to assist with intelligence and other efforts.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2CuRMsM
via IFTTT
Man City's record winning run ends with 0-0 draw at Palace
Manchester City saw its record 18-game winning run in the Premier League ended with a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday, with the leaders dealt a further blow with injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne.
It needed a penalty save from Ederson Moraes off Luka Milivojevic in injury time to preserve City's unbeaten run after 21 games and leave Pep Guardiola's side 14 points clear heading into the new year.
Despite being in a commanding position with 17 games remaining, City will be concerned in particular with the injury to Jesus, who limped off in tears with a left leg injury midway through the first half after falling awkwardly.
"Maybe one month or two months," Guardiola said of the likely length of absence of the Brazil striker.
De Bruyne was carried off on a stretcher in injury time, moments after Ederson's penalty save, and was helped along the touchline by two members of City's medical staff after the final whistle.
Guardiola said the midfielder was "lucky" it was not more serious but didn't give any more details.
City failed to score in a league game for the first time this season as Palace showed no inferiority complex up against one of the best sides to ever play in the Premier League.
"I thought our discipline, defensively, throughout the game was very good," Palace manager Roy Hodgson said.
"Before we would have been jumping through hoops to get a point," Hodgson added. "But when you miss a penalty, there is always an element of sadness."
This was the first time City dropped points since a 1-1 draw at home to Everton on Aug. 21. The four-month winning run started five days later with a last-gasp victory at Bournemouth.
A 19th straight victory would have matched the record winning streak in Europe's top five leagues, set by Guardiola's Bayern Munich in the 2013-14 season. It also would have set a Premier League record of 12 straight away wins.
The closest City came to scoring was a deflected shot by substitute Sergio Aguero — the replacement for Jesus — that struck the post in the first half.
There was a lack of flow to City's play for much of the match, with De Bruyne's passing unusually sloppy and Palace sometimes hurting the visitors with their direct style.
It was a surreal ending to the match. Moments after the penalty, contentiously awarded for a foul by Raheem Sterling on Wilfried Zaha, came the foul on De Bruyne by Jason Puncheon as City launched a late counterattack.
As both players got treatment — they were both carried off the field on stretchers at the same time — Guardiola took a seat next to Hodgson in Palace's dug-out as the managers chatted.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2q5Kby7
via IFTTT
Maltese man arrested for falsely reporting a letter about a bomb
A man from Malta, 45, was reportedly arrested in Holland for fabricating a story about a letter which included details about a bomb at the Amsterdam train station
from MaltaToday News http://ift.tt/2C1zG06
via IFTTT
Man arrested in attempted shop burglary
No reported injuries after attempted armed robbery
from MaltaToday News http://ift.tt/2CiwqBO
via IFTTT
On the last day of the year, MIA welcomes its 6 millionth passenger
On the last day of 2017, the mood at Malta International Airport became even more festive as the airport welcomed its sixth millionth passenger in a single year, topping all previous traffic records.
This means that annual traffic through Malta International Airport has increased by almost one million passenger movements in just 12 months, making 2017 the fastest-growing year in the airport's history.
"This is our most impressive achievement in terms of traffic growth, which will see MIA register an increase of over 17% over last year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all industry stakeholders for working in close cooperation with us to make 2017 yet another remarkable year" said Malta International Airport CEO, Mr Alan Borg.
Mr Borg went on to note that this record number of passengers was welcomed as different corners of the airport were undergoing a complete overhaul as part of the airport's €12 million Terminal Reconfiguration Project.
"2017 was a challenging year, and yet, our team delivered outstanding results whilst also maintaining the same levels of passenger satisfaction. This is the perfect occasion to thank the 3,000 airport staff for their commitment in providing the best service to our guests day in day out, and invite them to keep working towards our goal in becoming the best airport in Europe," said Mr Borg.
Minister for Tourism Konrad Mizzi said that the Government recognises the important role of sustainable relationships with airlines in order to increase direct routes and have a long term positive performance on Malta as a destination. Minister Konrad Mizzi noted the fact that this 6 million passenger milestone means an overall increase of 1 million passenger movements when compared to the previous year.
MTA CEO, Mr Paul Bugeja congratulated MIA in reaching this important milestone whilst emphasising the importance which expanded, year-round air connectivity held for the Maltese tourism industry. Mr Bugeja said "MTA and MIA continue to collaborate to maximise Malta's opportunities in this regard and as 2017 draws to an end, we look forward to yet another year of record tourism performance."
As part of the celebrations, the 6 millionth passenger was given a small memento of Malta to mark the occasion. Ms Manuela Fastner arrived in Malta on flight KM353 from Düsseldorf on Sunday the 31st of December.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2DEuT5m
via IFTTT
Germany has given €230 million toward job creation in Middle East
The Middle East Employment Initiative sponsors creation of low-paying jobs for thousands of refugees
from MaltaToday News http://ift.tt/2CofVDz
via IFTTT
Germany has given €230 million toward job creation in Middle East
The Middle East Employment Initiative sponsors creation of low-paying jobs for thousands of refugees
from MaltaToday News http://ift.tt/2C14gHm
via IFTTT
Man arrested trying to steal from bakery in Qormi
A 40 year old man was arrested while trying to steal a cash register in a bakery in Qormi, last night.
The incident which took place at roughly 12.30 am, involved a man wearing a scarf who armed with a pointed and sharp instrument, entered the shop and allegedly tried to steal a cash register which contained some money.
The police were called for assistance to the bakery at Bishop Street, Qormi, were it seems two people who at the time were working in the same bakery, managed to resist the thief long enough until the police arrived on the scene. Nobody was hurt in the incident.
The suspect is being held by the police for further investigation.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2El5vmn
via IFTTT
Highflying Italian president of would-be Malta airline arrested
The president of a would-be Italian-Maltese airline, Fly Volare, was arrested this week as he was about to board a flight to the United Arab Emirates from Bologna.
The man, named yesterday in Italian media as Fausto Chiparo, is the president of Fly Volare, which has reportedly been seeking to purchase flight routes to and from the airport of Perugia.
The 38-year-old from Parma, whose official residence is in Salzburg, Austria, was arrested by Modena's Guardia di Finanza in an anti-money laundering operation codenamed 'Last Drink', which followed on the heels of another operation codenamed 'Barqueiro'.
The two operations stretched over a two-year period, with police having tapped close to 25,000 hours of telephone conversations, Italian media reported.
Fly Volare is based in Birkirkara and has an issued share capital of €1,200. Chiparo is the company's sole director while the company's sole shareholder is the Rome-based Blu Jet. He had a Bentley and other top end vehicles registered to his companies, which range from real estate to air transport.
The Italian authorities believe Chiparo worked together with a partner from Reggiano, identified as 55-year-old Luigi Predieri who lives in Portugal. The former had been arrested in July in connection with the suspected illegal acquisition of companies.
The pair are suspected to have worked together to take over companies, drain them of funds and bankrupting them for their personal benefit.
The Italian authorities estimate that up to €35 million in company funds were siphoned off from different companies by the pair.
Fly Volare was purportedly to have had its debut in the third quarter of 2017 but the launch never materialised. The airline was to have been based at Perugia's San Francesco d'Assisi Airport. In collaboration with several tour operators, it planned to operate scheduled and charter services from Perugia to regional destinations using an A319 aircraft.
The Maltese-registered carrier was to have operated five domestic services to Milan, Lamezia Terme, Brindisi, Cagliari and Palermo and four international services to Amsterdam, Casablanca, Iasi and Cluj-Napoca.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2q0MLWg
via IFTTT
St Ignatius Villa, Balluta and its heritage significance
The first of Din l-Art Helwa's cultural presentations for 2018 will be dedicated to the historic Villa St Ignatius in Balluta.
Architect Edward Said, who specialises in heritage buildings, will provide his audience with an understanding of the historic and architectural value of this iconic building which truly is steeped in history.
In the first decades of the 19th century, what is today bustling Balluta Bay was then a remote, idyllic cove. Fields and quiet country lanes met the coastline, at that point in time fortified by the entrenchment built during the reign of Grand Master Pinto, and dominating this landscape was a fine country villa called Bel-Vedere.
Apart from its architectural attributes, this building would, over the next century, accommodate various uses which today are considered to be of great historic interest, most notably as a Jesuit College. Along the way, most of the once-enchanting gardens that complimented this estate were lost to development, yet the mansion known today as St Ignatius Villa still stands, although somewhat obscured from sight.
In the light of recent threats to its preservation, a study was commissioned by Din l-Art Helwa to establish the heritage value of the villa in an urgent bid to encourage the local authorities to have it listed as a scheduled building. The presentation by Edward Said will take place on Thursday, 11 January, at 6.30pm in the Judge Caruana Curran Hall at 133 Melita Street, Valletta. Admission is free of charge but a donation towards the restoration programmes of Din l-Art Helwa will be much appreciated
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2Eoieor
via IFTTT
Opposition calls Vitals deal scandalous and should have been withdrawn
The Nationalist Party has labelled the Vitals Global Healthcare deal as scandalous deal with a mysterious company which should have been revoked when it was clear that there were major shortcomings.
The Opposition's statement was made in a response to The Times of Malta report published today, which revealed that Vitals Global Healthcare has not managed to keep up with all the major aims stipulated by its contact to run the three hospitals it was given. Such aims included: contents of the hospitals including expensive medical equipment, which according to the report were sold to VGH for just €1 in March 2016. In return the private company was paid €2 billion concession to run the three hospitals: Karen Grech, St Luke's and Gozo hospitals for 30 years.
The government had earlier this year published a redacted version of the contract.
The Nationalist Party called on the government to stop hiding and to answer questions; claiming that "the scandalous sum of only one euro was hidden from the Maltese people and blacked out when the government published the contract".
According to the report, various other milestones have not been completed including: building a medical collage at the Gozo General Hospital to be used by Barts of the UK, which was to be completed by last July; additional beds at Karen Grech and St Luke's, which was meant to have been running for the past 12 months; and the introduction of 80 additional rehabilitation beds at St Luke's by last September.
The Times of Malta report also stipulates the concession has now been sold on to a US company, signed between the government and VGH. VGH is an unknown health company registered in the British Virgin Islands.
Another Times of Malta report published this week also revealed that government was in the know of Vitals sale talks three months ago. The government and VGH announced last week that the concession of the Maltese public hospital was sold to an American company called Steward Healthcare.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2lpddnK
via IFTTT
SLAPP lawsuits: Parliament cannot prevent foreign lawsuits but Maltese courts could limit damages
The new menace of SLAPP lawsuits being faced by the Maltese media cannot be stopped by Maltese legislation, but the Maltese courts could limit the damages awarded by foreign courts in such cases, Justice Minister Owen told The Malta Independent on Sunday.
Malta's three English language newspapers have all been slapped with potentially financially crippling lawsuits to the tune of tens of millions of euros, as has a news website just this week. Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) lawsuits can be defined as a lawsuit or a legal course of action that is primarily intended to cause a chilling effect on critics by burdening them with costs and expenses.
Contacted yesterday, Bonnici told this newspaper that the recent Media and Defamation Bill, which was unanimously approved by Parliament in its second reading stage, will do away with various criminal provisions such as criminal libel and other ancillary criminal offences that serve to curb freedom of journalistic expression.
The Bill, he said, will also prevent SLAPPs from being levelled against the Maltese media in Malta.
As the minister explains: "This piece of legislation will also effectively forbid the use of SLAPPs here in Malta: for instance the Bill will do away with precautionary warrants against journalists and with the practice of filing multiple law suits against a journalist on basically the same facts.
"Also, the amount of damages in civil libel cases has not only been capped, but the maximum amount which can be awarded will remain untouched."
But Bonnici stresses: "What our Parliament cannot do, however, is prohibit a person from suing the Maltese media in a foreign court.
"Should that happen, the issue would be whether a judgment granting large amounts in damages would be unenforceable in Malta for public policy reasons. That would be something which the Maltese Courts would have to decide on [after a lawsuit against a Maltese media house is lost in a foreign jurisdiction and claims are made in the Maltese courts to have the damages awarded].
SLAPP lawsuits are intended solely to censor, intimidate, and silence critics such as the media by burdening them with an excessively costly legal defence until they abandon their criticism.
The aim of such lawsuits is not necessarily to secure a legal victory, but, rather, to prevent the media from exercising its right and sacrosanct duty to inform the public about matters of public interest.
Most recently, Pilatus Bank has threatened The Malta Independent, The Times of Malta and MaltaToday with SLAPPs over their reportage in the lead-up to the last general election. More recently, Henley & Partners, the concessionaires of the Individual Investor Programme, has threatened theshiftnews.com with a SLAPP lawsuit over an article carried about allegations against it in Grenada. As such, the trend appears to be growing.
All these cases could have been filed against the aforementioned media outlets in the appropriate jurisdiction, in the Maltese courts if proper redress was being sought, but the threats to sue in foreign jurisdictions, such as in the US or UK, are clearly aimed at stifling the media into submission.
MEP David Casa is pushing the issue further. He has asked the European Commission to investigate the SLAPP lawsuits levelled against the Maltese media, which he has labelled as abusive and tantamount to harassment of media houses, arguing that the practice of intimidating media houses with multi-million euro lawsuits in jurisdictions outside the EU is unacceptable and requires an EU-wide response.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2CnXAGF
via IFTTT
Labour , PN end-of-year messages to be broadcast on both parties' stations
One and Net TV will air the end-of-year messages of both political parties in a 'new way of doing things'
from MaltaToday News http://ift.tt/2Cr6lgF
via IFTTT
Highflying Italian president of would-be Malta airline arrested
The president of a would-be Italian-Maltese airline, Fly Volare, was arrested this week as he was about to board a flight to the United Arab Emirates from Bologna.
The man, named yesterday in Italian media as Fausto Chiparo, is the president of Fly Volare, which has reportedly been seeking to purchase flight routes to and from the airport of Perugia.
The 38-year-old from Parma, whose official residence is in Salzburg, Austria, was arrested by Modena's Guardia di Finanza in an anti-money laundering operation codenamed 'Last Drink', which followed on the heels of another operation codenamed 'Barqueiro'.
The two operations stretched over a two-year period, with police having tapped close to 25,000 hours of telephone conversations, Italian media reported.
Fly Volare is based in Birkirkara and has an issued share capital of €1,200. Chiparo is the company's sole director while the company's sole shareholder is the Rome-based Blu Jet. He had a Bentley and other top end vehicles registered to his companies, which range from real estate to air transport.
The Italian authorities believe Chiparo worked together with a partner from Reggiano, identified as 55-year-old Luigi Predieri who lives in Portugal. The former had been arrested in July in connection with the suspected illegal acquisition of companies.
The pair are suspected to have worked together to take over companies, drain them of funds and bankrupting them for their personal benefit.
The Italian authorities estimate that up to €35 million in company funds were siphoned off from different companies by the pair.
Fly Volare was purportedly to have had its debut in the third quarter of 2017 but the launch never materialised. The airline was to have been based at Perugia's San Francesco d'Assisi Airport. In collaboration with several tour operators, it planned to operate scheduled and charter services from Perugia to regional destinations using an A319 aircraft.
The Maltese-registered carrier was to have operated five domestic services to Milan, Lamezia Terme, Brindisi, Cagliari and Palermo and four international services to Amsterdam, Casablanca, Iasi and Cluj-Napoca.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2q0MLWg
via IFTTT
Daphne’s murder: Report of suicide attempt by one of accused ‘not true’
A report alleging that one of the three people accused of murdering journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia is "not true", the government said today.
Il-Mument today reported that George Degiorgio attempted to kill himself in the cell where he is being kept. He is accused of the murder together with his brother Alfred and Vince Muscat.
In a statement, the government said that it is not true that Degiorgio tried to kill himself making use of bed sheets.
The Home Affairs Ministry said that the Corradino Correctional Facility denied that such an attempt took place, and condemned "irresponsible" reporting.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2lp2ee0
via IFTTT
TMIS Editorial: The best way to close off 2017 is to make it through to 2018
There are so many issues to potentially address in this final editorial of the year: the tragic loss of Daphne Caruana Galizia (which Noel Grima does in fine fashion in his opinion piece), the multiple assaults – perceived and real – to the rule of law in Malta, the wholesale sell-off of state assets, the manifold scandals that have rocked the rock over the past 12 months… the list goes on and on.
Such issues are addressed elsewhere in today's issue and, to our mind, the best way to close off 2017 is to help ensure that each and every one of us sees it through to 2018 safe and sound and without the needless loss of life or limb caused by drunk driving.
This is our yearly message of caution to all road users for this evening and if it makes just one person think twice before getting behind the wheel after having had one too many then it will have been well worth the precious page space it has consumed.
Tonight is the night for the country at large to let its hair down, crack open the champagne and celebrate the year gone by and the year to come with merriment and, no doubt , much imbibing.
We do not want rain on any parades, come across as negative or teetotallers but that message is quite clear and quite simple: do not drink and drive tonight – your life, your passengers' lives and the lives of your fellow road users are far too precious to even consider such a risk.
Anyone who has known a victim of drunk driving will tell you that but even if they heard the message, how many of us would pay it proper heed?
And as such, the new traffic contravention ticketing system introduced as of this month is welcome news. No longer will people caught drinking and driving simply be slapped on the wrist, fined, or given a suspended sentence – they now face the very real prospect of having their driving licence suspended should they rack up enough points from their violations.
The new points system is all well and good when it comes to the more minor types of infractions but when it comes to the very real menace of drinking and driving, no amount of fines or points could sufficiently penalise drivers who place their own life, those of their passengers and those of their fellow road users at risk.
And in formulating the new rules, we believe the authorities should have gone further still. As matters stand, it takes 12 points to have one's licence suspended. As of November, 181 people had been arraigned in court for drunk-driving offences, compared with 203 in 2016 and 188 in 2015. First-time offenders found driving over the legal limit now face the prospect of a €1,200 fine or even a licence suspension of up to three years.
But in our opinion, a drink driving offence should automatically lead to a licence suspension, as is practised in a number of northern European countries. But, having said that, we have certainly taken a huge step forward when it comes to enforcement.
Our message is stressed at this time every year, and it simply cannot be stressed enough: if you have had one too many do not drive – take a taxi or public transport… walk or crawl.
It is really as simple as that. The potential ramifications are simply not worth a gamble which, if you win, awards you with the prize of having your car outside your front door the next morning. But, if you lose that gamble, the cost can be very dear indeed, and a complete write-off of an automobile could be the least of those costs.
For those who have their priorities mixed up and who have not been deterred by the risk to life and limb that drunk driving poses, the threat of losing their licences may just do the trick.
A Happy, and safe, New Year to all our readers.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2zRXGkN
via IFTTT
From Daphne's murder to Labour's massive win: A look back at an eventful 2017
Daphne Caruana Galizia and the rule of law
Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was brutally assassinated by a car bomb on 16 October, shortly after leaving her home in a rental car, bringing international media attention, along with European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, to the island.
Thousands of people attended a mass demonstration on Republic Street, Valletta, demanding justice for Caruana Galizia and bringing individuals from all sides of the political divide.
The EP would resoundingly pass a resolution regarding the rule of law in Malta and the assassination, while also renaming the pressroom at the EP in Strasbourg in her honour.
With a nation seemingly resigned to the fact that the case would remain unsolved, on 4 December Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced that 10 men had been arrested at a warehouse in Marsa in connection with the murder, with the publication of the video of the arrest courting significant controversy after critics claimed that the exercise felt more like a marketing ploy.
Three habitual offenders, Vince Muscat, George Degiorgio and his brother Alfred Degiorgio, were charged with the murder.
After two magistrates accepted requests for recusal, Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit presided over the compilation of evidence for the case and concluded that there was sufficient prima facie evidence to issue a bill of indictment against the men, who have all pleaded not guilty.
The compilation of evidence revealed that damning evidence against the men was found through cell-tower information and mobile phone data, while the sighting of a 'white car' around Bidnija in the days preceding the murder, and a cigarette butt with Alfred Degiorgio's DNA found at Tat-Tarġa Battery, also appear to be crucial evidence.
Inspector Keith Arnaud also provided the court with CCTV footage showing one of the Degiorgio brothers on a boat in Grand Harbour boat on the day of the murder. It is believed that the car bomb was triggered through a text message from a mobile phone out at sea.
Horrific cases of domestic abuse
A Moroccan woman was the victim of a horrific attack on 2 April when four men, including the woman's former boyfriend Ashraf Ammar Marghami, performed a forced abortion on her, leaving her for dead after inflicting multiple stab wounds to her forearm and thigh.
A bill of indictment has been issued against one of the four men, Nizar Gwelleg, on charges of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm resulting in an abortion, among others.
Ashraf Ammar Marghami is believed to have fled to Sweden, with the Maltese police issuing a European and International warrant for him.
On 27 October, Nathalie Williams was found to have been kept in an underground space near Fort Ricasoli and Fort Rinella for three days by her estranged husband, Roddy Williams, who has since been charged with attempted murder and a number of other offences.
In November, Minister for Equality Helena Dalli launched the Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Strategy and Action Plan, the first national framework to ensure that legislation, policies and services address victims' needs holistically and as a societal concern.
The action plan will cover four key areas: legal measures and integrated policies; data collection, research and training; raising awareness; and protection and support for victims.
Shootings and bombings
On 17 November, Angelo Mangion was shot and killed in an incident that occurred at around 6.15 pm outside Raymond's Upholstery on Mdina Road, Attard.
The aggressor, who was reportedly wearing a helmet during the shooting, is on the run after fleeing the scene on a motorcycle.
It is believed that the target of the gunman was the shop owner, Raymond Grima, who was injured, whereas the man who died, Mangion, was in the shop by chance.
Apart from the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Victor Calleja, also known as Iċ-Chippy, died when a car exploded in Marsa on 20 January, while Romeo Bone lost both his legs in a car explosion on Marina Street in Msida on 20 February. Both cases remain open and unsolved.
The General Election
In the face of the Egrant allegations, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat called a snap election on 1 May saying that the corruption allegations risked undermining the economy.
The media frenzy during election month culminated with a showdown between the two Party leaders during a debate broadcast live on Xarabank, which was preceded by the publication of the leaked FIAU reports. While Busuttil seemed to have the political edge, Muscat came out on top - memorably calling Busuttil a 'chicken' when he refused to support outright the Egrant allegations made by Caruana Galizia.
In an election billed as a battle between good governance and economic prosperity, Simon Busuttil's declaration that the election was about principles rather than proposals proved to be a huge mis-step, with Muscat's promises for continued success and a focused vision resulting in a massive electoral win on 3 June, and Busuttil's subsequent resignation.
Egrant, Pilatus Bank and the FIAU leak
On 20 April, Daphne Caruana Galizia claimed that Michelle Muscat was the actual owner of the infamous Egrant Inc. and would later upload the text from two alleged declaration of trusts. However, no actual document was ever published.
The whistleblower, a Russian national who worked at the bank, has since fled the country, claiming that the lives of her and her family in danger.
Caruana Galizia also claimed that the account, including the other two unveiled during the Panama Papers, was used to transfer large sums of money from Leyla Aliyeva, the daughter of Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev.
What followed the initial allegations will stick in the minds of a Maltese populace that was glued to their screens as Pilatus Chairman and Financial Controller were seen exiting the bank's offices in the middle of the night with two pieces of luggage that were claimed to be 'personal belongings'. All of this took place while Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar was eating rabbit in Mġarr.
In a surreal twist, Cutajar never instituted any form of investigation against the bank or the allegations, with the Prime Minister calling for the magisterial inquiry himself.
Three separate FIAU reports were drafted regarding suspicions of kickbacks over Enemalta's privatisation, the transfer of money from a company connected to the LNG tanker berthed in Marsaxlokk to a Dubai-based company created for Minister for Energy Konrad Mizzi and Prime Minister Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, and Pilatus Bank along with their relationship with PEPs, such as Schembri.
Simon Busuttil also presented Magistrate Aaron Bugeja with eight box files of evidence on the alleged payments made by Keith Schembri to Adrian Hillman, amounting to more than €650,000. Both Schembri and former Times of Malta managing director Hillman deny the accusations.
Former FIAU investigator Jonathan Ferris, who has claimed he was unfairly dismissed from the unit because he was investigating serious crimes involving top government officials, has claimed that there are more Malta-Azerbaijan links to reveal.
Ferris has been subject to a potential gagging order from the Attorney General while also being granted minimal police protection.
PN Leadership Election
Following Simon Busuttil's resignation, the PN leadership race was on, with Adrian Delia, Chris Said, Alex Perici Calascione and Frank Portelli all running for the position.
Delia's 'New Way' seemed to entice PN voters who had grown disillusioned with the party over the previous 10 years, while Said fell victim to a perceived link to previous administrations and the 'establishment', a term which has seemingly begun to lose its meaning.
Delia's campaign would slowly appear to unravel with Daphne Caruana Galizia's revelations that the lawyer had previously opened up an offshore account in Jersey which facilitated funds earned from a brothel in Soho. Calling her a 'bicca blogger' and criticising his perception that she held a stranglehold over the party, Delia would rather farcically file five separate libel cases against the journalist, only for him to drop the cases following her murder.
Serious concerns were also raised over his tax record, which was only published the day before the election, showing that Delia owed some €85,000 to the Inland Revenue Department, €35,000 of which was in respect of overdue fines.
Delia went on to win the run-off election with Said by a whisker, but the newly crowned Opposition Leader appears to face an uphill task with surveys and trust ratings recording abysmal figures, not to mention facing an internal struggle following the open rebellion to his first parliamentary motion.
Chris Cardona
Chris Cardona found himself at the centre of media scrutiny after yet another allegation by Caruana Galizia that the Minister had visited a brothel in Essen during an official visit to Dusseldorf.
Cardona, along with Joseph Gerada (who was allegedly with the Minister at the time), filed for garnishee orders amounting to €47,460 after instituting libel cases against Caruana Galizia. While a fundraising initiative saw Caruana Galizia acquire the necessary funds, her bank accounts remained frozen at the time of her death.
In spite of Cardona's lawyers fighting tooth and nail in the court, a magistrate ordered mobile phone operators to conserve all TAP files related to the Minister at the time he was allegedly at the brothel.
The Azure Window
In March, the Maltese Islands lost one of its most famous landmarks - Gozo's Azure Window at Dwejra - when it collapsed as a result of bad weather and after years of erosion that had seen parts of the natural window being slowly eroded by the elements.
The Window, in the west of Gozo, was one of the most well-known symbols of the Maltese Islands and was frequently used in films and in tourism promotional material.
The EU presidency: the Malta Declaration and data roaming
The first six months of 2017 saw Malta become the rotating President of the Council of the European Union, and oversaw a number of significant milestones during the country's tenure.
The Malta Declaration - made on 3 February - focuses on measures to stem the flow of immigration from Libya to Italy and the EU.
The plan includes increasing training and equipment for the Libyan coastguard, further efforts to block smuggling routes and increasing EU involvement and support within Libya and surrounding countries.
While seemingly curtailing sea crossings, which fell by 70 per cent in 2017, human rights groups have severely criticised the declaration, especially considering the recent revelations that a significant number of migrants in Libya are being sold into the slave trade, with videos of human auctions stunning the international press.
More positively, under Malta's tenure data roaming fees were scrapped across the EU, paving the way for a single digital market.
Same-sex marriage
Ever since the divorce referendum in 2011, Malta has become a beacon for liberal and progressive legislation, with Muscat's government championing LGBTI rights. Three years after the country introduced civil unions, 2017 saw Malta become the 25th country in the world to legalise gay marriage.
The bill had cross-party support, but PN MP Edwin Vassallo broke ranks, insisting that the vote was a matter of moral conscience.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2CmFdBY
via IFTTT
Man grievously injured in traffic accident
The 57-year-old pedestrian was hit by a car on Saturday evening
from MaltaToday News http://ift.tt/2DDf4fn
via IFTTT
New Maltese citizen among those detained in Saudi corruption crackdown
The Saudi media mogul Waleed Al Ibrahim, who was detained last month in a corruption crackdown in Saudi Arabia, is amongst those listed as having acquired a Maltese passport last year, and is therefore now a Maltese citizen, according to a list published in the Government Gazette this week.
On 4 November, authorities in Saudi Arabia arrested over 200 Saudi royals, senior government officials and businessmen in an investigation into corruption that is being overseen by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Waleed Al Ibrahim is one of the people listed on the list of over 2,000 individuals who were naturalised/registered as citizens of Malta between January and December 2016.
Registered as a Maltese national in 2016, Al Ibrahim would have gained his citizenship prior to the corruption crackdown.
The arrest orders came about just hours after Prince Mohammed was appointed as the head of a new anti-corruption committee. According to media reports by Associated Press, the sweep has uncovered at least US$100 billion in corruption based on investigations undertaken over the past three years. Waleed Al Ibrahim was amongst those detained.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia are asking for cash and assets in return for their freedom and, following this, some of those arrested have been released. However, this newspaper does not yet know whether Al-Ibrahim remains detained. Questions that have been sent to the Saudi Arabian embassy in this regard remain unanswered.
Waleed Al Ibrahim, a billionaire, is the founder of Middle East Broadcasting Centre, which owns satellite television channel Al Arabiya. He has received an honour and awards for his work in the media.
Names found on the list of new Maltese citizens could also have a link with those of relatives of Waleed Al Ibrahim, and could differ slightly due to translation errors. The list includes the names Khaled Albrahim, and Ibrahim Majid Alibrahim. Waleed Al Ibrahim's brother is named Khalid Al Ibrahim, while Ibrahim Al Ibrahim could possibly be Waleed Al Ibrahim's father.
Saudi critics and experts have hailed the series of arrests as a bold and risky move by the Crown Prince. In the purge, about 1,700 individual bank accounts have been frozen.
According to the Associated Press news agency, "Saudis have complained for years of rampant corruption and the misuse of public funds by top officials in a system where nepotism is also widespread."
Another person who was registered as a Maltese citizen in 2016, Nazim Asadul Haque, also had his name listed in the Panama Papers.
Raeesah Khan, the name of the daughter of Singaporean entrepreneur, and that of Russian businessman Vladimir Semenikhin are also listed as new Maltese citizens in 2016.
The names of the individuals who bought Maltese passports in 2016 are listed together with those who became citizens of Malta through normal channels in the same year. There is no indication as to those who purchased citizenship through the Individual Investment Programme as opposed to those who became citizens through naturalisation.
It is important to note that the list of new citizens provided by the government is comprised of limited data, consisting solely of the names of new citizens, alphabetised by their first names – thus increasing the chance of error. However, apart from having the same names, the affluent backgrounds of the individuals mentioned above fit the monetary criteria needed to purchase a passport, which costs €650,000. That price is in addition to the need to invest €150,000 in government bonds, purchase property for at least €350,000 or rent a property for at least €16,000 a year.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2EndBuE
via IFTTT
A meaningful book: Samuel and the Magic Tooth
Twelve-year-old Samuel Farrugia is now a familiar face on Maltese local media. In 2016, he became the face of l-Istrina, with his testimonial video for the fund-raising event doing the rounds and breaking many Maltese hearts. Fast forward a year and Samuel has just published his first book, Samuel and the Magic Tooth, and has also played a role in this year's record-breaking l-Istrina.
Samuel lost the sight in one eye when he was five years old as a result of cancer. He then suffered a relapse and lost the sight in his other eye. Talking about his experience, he said: "At first I panicked: I didn't know what to do. Then I started to get used to being blind and I realised that I couldn't solve the problem by crying and neither could my mum, so we just had to get on with life."
He was interviewed earlier this week on INDEPTH
Samuel is a keen learner and his passion for reading and learning can be seen from his love and collection of audio books. When speaking to him, his love for learning is palpable and he is always ready to share an anecdote or a fun fact he has picked up from books.
Samuel and the Magic Tooth explores the adventures of Samuel as he discovers a magical tooth that takes him back to the time of the dinosaurs. The story is the fruit of Samuel's vivid and colourful imagination, together with his passion for - and love of - dinosaurs.
Following his active participation in the 2016 edition of l-Istrina, Samuel told the President that he loves writing and had already written a short book for children. The staff at the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation wanted to make Samuel's dream a reality and publish Samuel's book and Samuel and the Magic Tooth has been published by Panda Books with the aim of raising funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund and to send a strong message to children with disability to see what they can do and to never give up chasing their dreams and ambitions.
The book is very descriptive, with its pages full of vivid imagery, and the illustrations by the young talented Maltese illustrator Emma Galea Naudi bring the story to life. Talking about his imagination, Samuel said: "I don't just see black like most people think. My imagination makes an image of what's around me. I have no restrictions. If someone says this room is one colour, I can imagine it in every colour I want. I call it 'mind-modelling'."
Talking about the book, Samuel says he was very surprised and emotional when the President presented him with a copy of his printed book on Xarabank. He said he had not been aware that the book was going to be published and he now looks forward to turning it into an audio book so that other children who have lost their eyesight can enjoy his story. When he was asked if he had any other books planned, Samuel said that he has continued writing over the past year and would love to further develop the adventures of Samuel, the main character in his book.
He encouraged other children to embrace a love of reading as it opens up a new world on which anyone can build, according to their imagination. He hopes that his book will also contribute to this and looks forward to introducing it to his friends at school and other children.
Samuel is always positive and has a joy for life. He is confident that his own motivation can inspire other children - and adults - to overcome the obstacles that life can bring and pursue their dreams. "One door closes and a hundred others open," he added.
The book will be officially launched early in the New Year and will be available for sale at leading shops.
Samuel and the Magic Tooth was sponsored by the National Aquarium and all the proceeds from its sale will go to the Malta Community Chest Fund
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2q0dz8V
via IFTTT
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Keeping traditional Malta alive through pasturi
In an age where cultural hegemony has meant the loss of tradition, it is up to a determined few to keep crafts alive. Pawlu Muscat and his wife Tanya are the only people who still make traditional Maltese Nativity figurines (pasturi) on the islands.
Pawlu - who sells the figurines at his workshop in Birkirkara and also attends a number of fairs around the island - including Bethlehem Ghajnsielem (which will come to a close at 8pm on Sunday, 7 January) - works on the actual modelling of the figurines. He even offers personalised versions of the figurines, producing a model he made of a friend.
His wife, Tanya, intricately paints them, but jokes that the eyes will always remain a challenge: "Sometimes I end up getting half of their face black!"
Pawlu explained how the art of pasturi was brought to Malta by the Knights of St John early in the 17th century and would typically adorn traditional Maltese clothing. This, he said, remained the dominant style until World War II, when the more refined Italian style grew in popularity.
His experience with the craft started with fond memories of the owner of a neighbouring corner shop, who used to make the figurines. However, it was only about 10 years ago that he and his wife took up the craft more seriously.
"We had decided to make our own set, and after being asked to present them at a fair, I was approached by a tourist and two Maltese people, asking if they could buy some", he said. "At the time, I made about 28 different figures - we make 78 different ones now!" he said.
Pawlu remains optimistic regarding the future, explaining that he has noticed an increase in popularity year after year since he began, and the search for more authenticity, tradition, and culture following the advent of the internet.
"We used to sell about 100, but this year we've sold 500. We've lost our connection with tradition over the years and I think people are starting to feel it. We've notice what we've lost and we are trying to keep it up. It's almost like the way people look at antiques."
Children, he said, also seem to be extremely interested in the craft and he would like to promote the activity with the younger age group.
"We want children to start young so that they can continue the tradition. In fact, that's why we insist on keeping the price low, so that any child can walk in here and get a figurine for themselves."
Traditional Maltese culture remains at the core of Pawlu's craft, with the figurines depicting historical professions such as salt-harvesters.
The woman wearing the għonellah remains the most popular. Pawlu explained that, along with the Grand Master, it is the only figurine that wears shoes and does not hold any object, highlighting her noble status.
"Maltese people also love food, so naturally the pastizzar is one of the most popular," he joked.
Maltese tradition remains at the heart of Pawlu's craft and the recent inclusion of a figurine depicting St George Preca is clear evidence of this.
"Christmas wasn't so popular in the past. Remember, most Maltese people worked in agriculture and so it is a time of the year when they are particularly busy. It was only when St George Preca began promoting the Christmas traditions that the Maltese thought it was important for them to include him, in the same way that the Italians associated themselves with St Francis."
Despite their present association with a traditional Christmas crib, Pawlu explains that the figurines remain more popular during the Feast of St Peter and Easter Week.
"The year is always full: as a matter of fact, as soon as the Christmas season is over, we'll get started on the Feast of St Peter," he said.
Pawlu went on to explain how the figurines also revealed the cultural intricacies across the island.
"We have a figurine of a woman holding a bird and one of a hunter. These do not sell at all in Malta but remain very popular in Gozo, showing the deep relationship Gozitans have with agricultural and animals in general."
Pawlu has also noted some cultural changes, pointing towards the traditional figurine that used to depict a farmer hitting a sheep.
"In the past this ill-treatment of animals was seen as something normal, but people are not really interested in that sort of thing nowadays."
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2BZ747Q
via IFTTT
Punished for success | Godfrey Grima
Malta has been exposed to unprecedented international scrutiny this year, with questions raised about freedom of expression and the rule of law. But for veteran journalist GODFREY GRIMA, much of this international criticism is in part a by-product of Malta's economic success
from MaltaToday News http://ift.tt/2DACJg8
via IFTTT
Experts look back at 2017 – and give their thoughts on the year ahead
The Malta Independent on Sunday contacted various individuals, asking them for their views on 2017 and their hopes and concerns for the year ahead in their particular area of expertise.
Godfrey Baldacchino - Professor of Sociology at the University of MaltaIn 2017, the world was busy celebrating the 500th anniversary of the publication of Sir Thomas More's Utopia (1517): a fictional account of an idealised, perfect society. In Malta, many would be excused for believing that Utopia was hardly fiction, but rather a condition strutted by this small archipelago which has finally vindicated its long history of poverty, pillage and dependency and come of age as a modern, peaceful, affluent and multi-cultural democracy, all economic systems at full blast.
The snap June 2017 General Election delivered a landslide result for the Partit Laburista (PL), with an even stronger popular mandate than 2013 (55 per cent) - the likes of which a Maltese political party had not seen since 1947. And yet, others would describe the very same country as a shady jurisdiction run by a cabal that has twisted the institutions of the state to serve its purpose and would stop at nothing - not even murder - to protect its interests. Here we are, back to two solitudes, two diametrically opposed representations of the state, as gripped Malta during the constitutional crisis of 1981-1986. Might a root-and-branch overhaul of the Constitution, with a strong input by civil society, patch the rift in 2018?
Labour-importing economy
We are also gradually waking up to Malta as a labour-importing economy and society. The arrival of refugee claimants and asylum seekers in the opening years of the 21st century has now been eclipsed by a more significant influx of foreign nationals looking for gainful employment. Our Somali waste collectors have been joined by Filipino care workers, Italian restaurateurs and Serbian construction workers. We do not yet know whether they will stay here when the current economic spurt runs out.
Meanwhile, we are not yet fully cognisant of the social impacts and accommodations necessary to facilitate the transition to cosmopolitan Malta (as, for example, the diminished public role of the Maltese language). Many people are under the false impression that it is the state's business to deal with foreigners. 'Integration' may be a declared state policy, but it is implemented by the citizens and not the civil servants.
A labour importing economy and a powerful government, both on a small island state whose performance defies what is supposed to be an inherent and chronic vulnerability? Economist Lino Briguglio calls this 'the Singapore effect'. Is Malta heading towards becoming 'the Singapore of the Mediterranean', with all that this would imply?
With the government enjoying a supermajority in Parliament, it is well-placed to make some bold decisions in 2018: urging consumers to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans with suitable fiscal inducements; nudging transportation away from the use of private vehicles and incentivising the refitting and restoration of existing vacant properties.
***
Tara Cassar - FAA representative on the environment
The positive aspects of 2017
On the environmental front, the silver lining is the undaunted dedication of unsung environmental heroes who are constantly working behind the scenes on positive and future-looking projects, whilst also seeking to safeguard and conserve the health, wellbeing and heritage of the country.
These people continue to dedicate a huge amount of their time and energy to a selfless endeavour to protect the environment for the community. We are also seeing eNGOs upscaling and becoming increasingly professional in their work and this is definitely a positive step for the long-term protection of our environment.
With regard to the institutions and authorities, we find that the Environment Minister's afforestation efforts and project initiatives, as well as his attempts to empower the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), which is slowly being strengthened, to be worthy of mention. With regard to the Planning Authority, we welcome the recent scheduling of certain historic properties and the massive clean-up of Wied Qirda as steps in the right direction.
The overwhelmingly positive response to the Public Domain Campaign, which the FAA led in conjunction with Friends of the Earth, was an immense success. The campaign sought to safeguard numerous sites of natural, ecological and heritage value. We had over 5,500 people supporting this campaign and we are now seeking to ensure that it comes to fruition.
The negative aspects of 2017
The continuing deregulation of the planning process remains one of the strongest threats to the state of our environment, be it in urban or green areas. Another factor is the stonewalling of the authorities when it comes to providing environmental information and their obstinate refusal to consider planning in a holistic sense. Unfortunately, we can go on about the negative implications of each of these aspects endlessly...
In addition, despite the categorisation of Outside Development Zone, we have seen hundreds of inconsistent planning permits granted. Unfortunately, these short-sighted piecemeal approvals are already having a serious impact on our environment, with villas under the guise of agricultural stores popping up in the remotest of rural areas, and this most often against the recommendation of the ERA. The weakness of the ERA's position, coupled with a failure of enforcement, is undeniably taking its toll on the state of our environment and really needs to be addressed urgently.
Outlook for 2018
We need the authorities to come to their senses and realise that this one-sided, unregulated, anything-goes approach to planning is not sustainable and cannot go on at this increased rate without there being serious consequences.
Perhaps, when traffic has become so bad that we would be better off dumping our cars in the street and crawling to our destinations, certain authorities just might start to acknowledge that things on the ground haven't been as peachy as projected on paper. Until then, we will keep insisting that we are not just fighting for patches of green and butterflies but for holistic sustainable planning solutions that truly safeguard our environment, our heritage and, above all, the public's wellbeing and right to a decent quality of life.
***
EY's Ronald Attard (Country Managing Partner) and Chris Meilak (Executive Director - Economic Advisory)
A strong economic showing in 2017 - but it's time to look at the bigger picture
In recent years, Malta's economy has gone from strength to strength. In 2017, GDP surpassed previous estimates, unemployment levels fell and the government registered a surplus in its 2018 budget. None of this means that we can start to take economic achievement for granted. With the increasingly indeterminate global challenges on the horizon, this is not the time to rest on our laurels. If ever there was a time to think of new opportunities, sectors and synergies to explore, it is now. Running on the spot is just not an option.
At the same, we at EY are also calling for measuring success in more than just economic terms: GDP growth, unemployment and so on. We need a more holistic framework that ties in with our social, environmental and technological realities. That is where our future lies.
Skills shortage will be biggest challenge for businesses in 2018
For a number of years, EY's Attractiveness Survey provided a snapshot of where the country presently finds itself and where it should be going. The last few years have shown that, as a result of our success, our workforce size is slowly becoming a limiting factor for many businesses. The handling of this shortage next year will be a determining factor for sustaining economic performance. Positively, policy-makers and private stakeholders are aware of this challenge and seem keen to take bold steps through the importation of labour, the re-skilling of certain segments of the workforce or by providing additional incentives.
Embracing disruptive technology in 2018
Emerging disruptive technologies, such as blockchain, robotics, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, took centre stage in 2017. They are expected to continue reducing market friction and inefficiencies, driving huge productivity gains and building in added layers of trust and accountability in 2018. None of this should be seen as a threat to Malta's economy. In fact, there is already a lot happening that should point to myriad opportunities opening up. With labour in short supply, these new technologies may, in fact, enable workers' throughput, output and productivity to be increased, allowing companies to expand even if they cannot find all the workers they need.
Broadening Malta's pull factors
According to EYs' 2017 Attractiveness Survey responses, Malta can boast of an attractive fiscal regime, access to the EU market, a pro-business culture, cost-competiveness and a skilled, English-speaking, workforce. But the pull factors must be broadened.
The -consensus during EY's Annual Attractiveness conference was that in 2018 (and even beyond), Malta should utilise its current economic foundation, harness local innovation and introduce ground-breaking concepts to the market. For instance, one proposed solution to the island's current traffic woes came in the form of proposed bold action to encourage mass electric vehicle adoption, paving the way to a future of shared autonomous cars backed by a blockchain-based digital infrastructure. We also discussed the benefits of moving to a cashless economy.
The pressing need to innovate is increasingly necessary in a changing economic environment where the status quo, even on issues such as taxation, is being continuously challenged. Malta therefore needs to continue developing new economic niches and sectors and increase its focus on R&D to bolster its economic offering.
***
Amy Camilleri Zahra - disability rights activist and President of Amputees for Amputees (A4A)
Positives and triumphs
As a disability rights activist and as President of A4A in particular, I have to say that one of the triumphs of 2017 was the relocation of the Orthotic and Prosthetic Unit from the basement of the old out-patients building at St Luke's Hospital - which more or less resembled a dungeon and was not fit for anyone, let alone patients who had just lost a limb - to new and accessible premises.
We had been lobbying for this since the launch of the organisation back in 2009, so we are very happy to finally see it happening. We now hope that the service being offered at these premises will continue to improve for the benefit of amputees in Malta.
The move of disability-related services to Agenzija Sapport in order for the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) to take on a more regulatory role is also another triumph for the disability sector.
Issues
As regards problems, I would say that the biggest blow to the disability sector and to all the work carried out by the CRPD in the past 30 years (incidentally, the CRPD celebrated its 30th anniversary this year) has been the court ruling against the CRPD in the case of the National Stadium at Ta' Qali. The ruling has set a very dangerous precedent and goes against both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability - which Malta ratified in 2012 - and the Equal Opportunities Act.
Another blow to the disability sector and to the long-standing fight for inclusion is the fact that the Naxxar Community Hub for Persons with Disability, previously referred to as the Disability Hub, received the go-ahead. I fear that this will only create a ghetto for people with disability and will reinforce the idea that mainstream spaces need not be accessible, since disabled people will have their own space in Naxxar. In addition, even the idea of such a hub goes against everything that is enshrined in the United Nations Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disability, particularly the right to live in small homes in the community and the right to accessibility. The fight by disabled people for inclusion became very prominent in the 1970s, particularly in the UK and the US - it came to Malta much later. The idea of a hub will take us back to the pre-1970s, when disabled people lived in large institutions and were segregated from the rest of the community, with the agenda being set by the staff and non-disabled people.
Looking to 2018
As for my hopes for 2018, I have a number of them but will stick to three: I hope that the 70th anniversary of the enactment of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will not pass by unnoticed, but that serious action in safeguarding the human rights of everyone - without distinction between one minority group or another - is taken. I also hope that, in 2018, the autonomy of the CRPD is strengthened and that its roles and set-up will be based on the Paris Principles. I also hope that Parliament will continue with the transposition of the UNCRPD into Maltese law.
***
George Hyzler - President of the Chamber of Advocates - the rule of law and legislation
Over the course of 2017, we experienced serious failures in some of our institutions and in the practice of good governance and the rule of law. This has posed a serious threat to confidence in our country. Many people may have genuinely believed that a strong electoral mandate for the party in government would serve to counter the effects of these failures. I do not share that view but I am optimistic that this could be a good opportunity for our representatives in Parliament to address these inherent weaknesses and make every effort to restore public trust in our institutions as well as our country's reputation - which has taken a serious battering.
A look ahead
We therefore look forward to 2018 as the year that the Government and the Opposition parties come together to address the weaknesses that have emerged. Trust in the institutions also has a direct bearing on many areas of our work as legal practitioners and we have a direct interest in assisting in the repair of any damage sustained. For this reason, we have commissioned a report on the subject of the rule of law and governance that should contribute to the public debate.
We also hope that the coming year will be the year that the Government appreciates the need for the enactment of the much-awaited law to regulate the legal profession that will allow it to develop to the levels of our European counterparts.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2DEqEXE
via IFTTT
Inter without a win in 4 league games after draw with Lazio
Inter Milan's crisis deepened as it was held to a 0-0 draw at home by Lazio on Saturday to leave it without a win in four league matches.
Inter was undefeated and top of Serie A only two weeks ago. But it is now seven points behind leader Napoli and six below Juventus, which won 3-1 at relegation-threatened Hellas Verona.
Roma is two points further back after a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo, while Lazio remained fifth.
The two capital sides have played a match less than the top three.
"When you're part of a team like Inter there are no alibis or excuses, we just have to get good results," Inter coach Luciano Spalletti said. "For the moment we're meeting our targets, which means that the group is working hard."
Inter moved top of Serie A with a credible 0-0 draw at Juventus on Dec. 9. However, that was mainly down to the performance of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, and its struggles in front of goal have continued.
Three days later, Inter needed penalties to get past third-division Pordenone in the Italian Cup after a goalless draw. That was followed by league losses to Udinese (3-1) and Sassuolo (1-0) before Wednesday's surprise Cup defeat to AC Milan.
Inter has scored just one goal in its past six matches in all competitions.
It was the visitors who went closest to scoring at the end of the first half when Inter midfielder Borja Valero attempted to head clear Lazio's corner and it came off the crossbar.
Valero almost scored at the right end for Inter but Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha did well to turn his effort onto the post.
Lazio was awarded a penalty on the hour mark but, after reviewing the incident on video (VAR), the referee revoked his decision as Ciro Immobile's cross had hit Milan Skriniar's leg before bouncing up onto his arm so the handball was involuntary.
"My appraisal of VAR is completely negative because it takes emotions out of football, now you don't even celebrate after a goal," Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi said. "We would've had an extra seven points this season without VAR."
___
DYBALA'S BACK
Paulo Dybala broke his goal drought by scoring two goals to help Juventus keep up the pressure on Napoli at the top of Serie A by beating Hellas Verona 3-1.
Dybala hadn't scored in the league since Nov. 19 but he restored Juve's lead in the 72nd and doubled his tally five minutes later.
Earlier, former Juventus player Martin Caceres had canceled out Blaise Matuidi's opener.
Juventus bettered one of its own Serie A records, having now scored in 23 consecutive away matches.
___
ROMA FALTERS
Sassuolo was revitalized under new coach Giuseppe Iachini and had won its previous three league matches, but fell behind in the 31st minute against Roma when Edin Dzeko rolled the ball across the area for an unmarked Lorenzo Pellegrini to fire into the far bottom corner.
Pellegrini left Sassuolo in the offseason along with current Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco.
Simone Missiroli headed in the equalizer in the 78th
Edin Dzeko had a goal for Roma ruled out for offside as did Alessandro Florenzi, who was making his 200th appearance for the club.
___
FIRST-EVER WIN
Benevento recorded its first Serie A victory with a 1-0 win over Chievo Verona.
Benevento had the worst start to a season in modern history among Europe's five major leagues, losing 17 of its previous 18 matches in its debut season in Serie A.
Massimo Coda netted the historic goal for Benevento in the 64th minute, flicking Marco D'Alessandro's chipped pass beyond Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino.
Benevento picked up its first Serie A point at the beginning of the month when goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli's injury-time equalizer secured a 2-2 draw against Milan.
___
OTHER MATCHES
Teenage goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma marked his 100th appearance for Milan by helping it rescue a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina.
Donnarumma made several crucial saves, notably palming Gil Dias' header onto the crossbar from close range in first-half injury time.
Hakan Calhanoglu scored for Milan to cancel out Giovanni Simeone's opener.
Elsewhere, Cagliari upset Atalanta 2-1, while Udinese won at Bologna by the same score. Sampdoria beat Spal 2-0 and Torino drew 0-0 with Genoa.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2CnNhT3
via IFTTT
Englishman seriously injured after being hit by car
An Englishman was seriously injured on Saturday evening when he was hit by a car in St Paul's Bay, the police said.
The accident took place in Qawra Road at 10pm.
The 57-year-old was hit by a Toyota Yaris driven by a 66-year-old resident of St Paul's Bay.
The man was taken to hospital for treatment.
Magistrate Marseanne Vella is conducting an inquiry.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2zRKFaC
via IFTTT
MaltaToday Survey | Optimism colours the outlook for 2018
People believe 2018 could turn out to be a positive year for them according to the findings of a MaltaToday survey
from MaltaToday News http://ift.tt/2lz8bnY
via IFTTT
Pharmacies open today between 9am and noon
Valletta: Chemimart City Gate Pharmacy, City Gate; Ħamrun: Brown's Pharmacy, 706 St Joseph High Road; Qormi: Brown's Pharmacy, 278 Victory Street; Birkirkara: Pharmaplus, Ganu Street; Gżira: D'Argen's Pharmacy, 330, Rue D'Argens; Ta' Giorni: Spiżerija Merħa, Shop 2, Lapsi Street; Sliema: Chemimart Pharmacy, 4,5,6, Il-Piazzetta, Tower Road; Attard: Misraħ Kola Pharmacy, Pitkali Street; Mosta: Grognet Pharmacy, 41 Constitution Street; Qawra: Qawra Pharmacy, Earl's Court/1, Imħar Street; Santa Luċija: Sta Lucia Pharmacy, 1 Dorell Square; Vittoriosa: Vittoriosa Pharmacy, 9 Main Gate Street; Xagħjra: St Elias Pharmacy, St Elias Street; Birżebbuġa: Martin's Pharmacy, 182 Birżebbuġa Road; Mqabba: Kristianne Pharmacy, Cavi Street; Zebbuġ: Brown's Pharmacy, 47 Freedom Avenue; Rabat: Ideal Pharmacy, 63 Main Street.
Malta International Airport: The '8 Till Late Pharmacy' is open every day from 8am to 10pm
Gozo: 9am to noon
Victoria: Palm Pharmacy, 2 Palm Street; Għarb: Ta' Pinu Pharmacy, Franġisk Portelli Street.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2CpEArc
via IFTTT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)