Quantcast
Channel: Times Of Malta
Viewing all 84484 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

MSE Equity Price Index at 30-month low

April 9, 2018, 7:50 am
$
0
0

The MSE Equity Price Index extended its recent negative trend with a further decline of 1.66% to a two-and-a-half year low of 4,330.139 points. Monday's drop was driven by the 6.5% slump in the share price of IHI and a further five equites (including HSBC and BOV) which also ended the day in negative territory. Meanwhile, MIA and PG traded unchanged. Most of today’s trading activity took place in the equity of HSBC Bank Malta plc which slid by a further 2.9% to the €1.67 level after partially recovering from an intra-day low of €1.64 (the lowest price since October 2016). A total of 135,446 shares changed hands, representing 63% of the total value of equities traded. The bank is due to hold its Annual General Meeting this Thursday 12 April 2018. Within the same sector, Bank of Valletta plc moved back to the €1.75 level (-2.5%) across 34,593 shares. Today, the equity started trading without entitlement to the recently declared net final dividend of €0.052 per share. International Hotel Investments plc slumped by 6.5% to the €0.58 level on five deals totalling 113,227 shares whilst Simonds Farsons Cisk plc dropped 0.7% to a sixteen-month low of €6.85 across 5,200 shares. The other...
↧
Search

A taste of spring at Mġarr

April 9, 2018, 8:01 am
$
0
0

Thousands flocked to the ever popular Festa Frawli in Mġarr yesterday, sampling fresh strawberries and novelty dishes, as well as exploring the village’s scenic surroundings and heritage sites. Photos: Mark Zammit Cordina

With the start of spring comes the start of strawberry harvest and that brings one of the most anticipated events of the season. The 12th edition of the annual Festa Frawli in Mġarr, now renowned for its freshly-grown strawberries, was held on Sunday, again drawing the crowds. Organised by the Mġarr Evening Commission and the local council, with the help of several volunteers, the festival offered a steady supply of fruit straight from the nearby fields and a range of strawberry-based dishes. Visitors were offered a whole range of home-made strawberry cakes, pastries, jams and wines as well as novelty dishes such as strawberry ravioli, spring rolls and arancini, all prepared by professional chefs. For the first time, the festival included a strong heritage element, with organised trail walks and photo hunts exploring the town’s scenic surroundings, including the Għajn Tuffieħa coastline, Binġemma and Ġnejna, as well as historical and archaeological sites. The megalithic Ta’ Ħaġrat and Skorba temples were open at a reduced price with guided tours in Maltese and English throughout the day. Apart from the strawberry treats, a full day of entertainment was organised with DJs,...
↧
↧

Evicted tenant attacked landlord's son with a spirit level

April 9, 2018, 8:09 am
$
0
0

A fight over unpaid utility bills landed a landlady’s son with grievous back injuries and the defaulting tenant with a suspended sentence, after his behaviour was described as “unacceptable” by the court. Joseph Borg, a 28-year old from Siġġiewi, was facing multiple charges relating to the violent row regarding the Żebbuġ apartment, which he used to lease from the victim’s family. Mr Borg's lease had been terminated by his landlady after he failed to make rent and pay utility bills for the flat on Luret Cutajar street on time.  On the morning of August 5, 2011, Mr Borg began emptying the rented flat, leaving behind his cat and some other belongings. Yet when he returned later in the evening, he immediately realised that the lock to the flat door had been changed. Earlier in the afternoon, his landlady had allegedly warned him that he would only be allowed to take the rest of his things once he had settled his dues. When the landlady’s son turned up outside the apartment around 10.00pm, a violent row broke out between the man and the tenant, who at the time was accompanied by some three friends. As the fight escalated, the accused allegedly hit the other man with a spirit level...
↧

Silo demolition goes awry in Denmark - building falls the wrong way

April 9, 2018, 8:44 am
$
0
0

The planned detonation of a silo in southern Denmark went spectacularly wrong when the silo fell in the opposite direction intended. Nobody was injured as the 53-metre silo at Vordingborg Harbour fell, but it damaged a small section of an adjacent library. The blast had been prepared for six months and an investigation has begun into what went wrong. Vordingborg's mayor, Mikael Smed, told the Ritzau news agency that dust and glass would need to be cleared up from the damaged area and a structural assessment of the damaged building carried out.
↧

Minister slaps down SLAPP amendments meant to protect journalists

April 9, 2018, 9:18 am
$
0
0

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici on Monday afternoon argued that anti-SLAPP amendments could not be made to the new Media and Defamation Bill because they violated EU rules. SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) lawsuits are designed to silence and intimidate journalists, often by burdening them with lawsuits in foreign jurisdictions.  In presenting the amendments, in the parliamentary committee for consideration of bills, Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi said they were aimed at protecting journalists from “forum-shopped” foreign lawsuits where it would be prohibitively expensive for the journalists to defend themselves. He cited as an example the case instituted by Pilatus Bank against s;ain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Arizona last May, and threats of legal action made by British-based Shillings Group, also on behalf of Pilatus Bank, against local media houses last October. READ: No word on Labour support for anti-SLAPP Bill In the Arizona lawsuit, Pilatus Bank had been seeking $40 million in damages from Ms Caruana Galizia. Arguing that the amendment did not in any way prejudice the right of any individual or entity to bring accusations of libel against...
↧
↧

‘Near zero’ carbon buildings

April 9, 2018, 10:01 am
$
0
0

Monitoring of energy efficiency measures at St Nicholas College primary school will provide ideas for retrofitting of more schools in Malta and the Med. Photo: Water and Energy Agency.

Technologies for reducing carbon emissions from buildings are advancing rapidly. Anne Zammit reports on a multi-nation ZeroCO2 initiative. A proposed action plan to promote zero carbon in the construction or renovation of buildings is under consideration in Malta. The 16-point plan promoting ZeroCO2 buildings – or as near to zero carbon as possible – is the result of an EU-funded project linking Malta with seven regional partners. By the end of the year all buildings occupied by public authorities are already obliged to achieve nearly-zero energy status. Under the action plan, this will apply to all new and renovated buildings within 35 months from now, leaving scant time to prepare for changes in the way buildings are constructed. The first round of regional meetings for stakeholders was held by project partners in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Lithuania, Greece and Malta in 2016. Since then the Malta arm of the Interreg-Europe project has come up with a policy action plan. As policy advisors, the Water and Energy Agency and the Building Regulations Office have put forward the plan to the government for due consideration. A strong message from this project is an...
↧

Peace Lab calls for integration on Luther King anniversary

April 9, 2018, 10:01 am
$
0
0

Peace Laboratory director, Fr Dionysius Mintoff, shows a tie worn by Martin Luther King, donated by his widow, Coretta. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The Peace Laboratory in Ħal Far has marked 50 years since the assassination of Martin Luther King with a call for integration and social justice. Peace Laboratory director Fr Dionysius Mintoff said that while Dr King’s name was associated with the civil rights struggle in America, his goals resonated with the challenges faced by Europe today. “More than the issues relating to skin colour, King was also in favour of social justice where the common good was shared. He knew that you cannot have integration without real social justice. In fact, the day he was assassinated, he had been participating in an initiative with striking road workers,” Fr Mintoff said. “Unfortunately, there are people in Malta and in Europe who think they can have integration without social justice. Work to promote one sector without the other will result in a total failure of either goal. We are witnessing the rise of the extreme right throughout Europe because of this failure,” he remarked. Fr Mintoff said Dr King had also recognised there could be no integration or social justice without peace, He noted Malta’s constitutional commitment to “actively seeking peace, security and social progress among...
↧

Colours galore as Holi hits Sta Venera

April 9, 2018, 10:01 am
$
0
0

Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

People of all ages chased relatives and friends with handfuls of coloured powder as they heralded the beginning of spring. Known by many as the ‘festival of colours’, Holi marks the end of winter and the beginning of a new season. It is a celebration of good over evil and, for many of the faithful, it is also a celebration of friendship. This year, Holi fell on March 20 but, throughout the past weeks, various Indian communities around the globe gathered for Holi celebrations. As has been the case in recent years, the Maltese-Indian Community welcomed the spring season in Santa Venera with people of different nationalities attending the activity.
↧
Search

Indian workers suspended after train goes out of control in reverse

April 9, 2018, 10:05 am
$
0
0

India’s state-run railway suspended seven workers on Monday after brakes failed on a train carrying hundreds of passengers, letting it run freely in reverse for about eight miles. See video above.
↧
↧

Facebook CEO says company did not do enough to prevent misuse

April 9, 2018, 10:10 am
$
0
0

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg told Congress on Monday that the social media network did not do enough to prevent itself and its members' data being misused over the past few years and offered an apology to lawmakers. His conciliatory tone in written testimony precedes two days of Congressional hearings, where Zuckerberg is set to answer questions about Facebook user data being improperly appropriated by a political consultancy and the role the network played in the U.S. 2016 election. "It’s clear now that we didn’t do enough to prevent these tools from being used for harm..." he said in remarks released by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Monday. "That goes for fake news, foreign interference in elections, and hate speech, as well as developers and data privacy." Zuckerberg was meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Monday, ahead of his scheduled appearance before two Congressional committees on Tuesday and Wednesday. Top of the agenda will be Facebook's admission that the personal information of up to 87 million users, mostly in the United States, may have been improperly shared with political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. "We didn’t take a...
↧

Heroin hidden in a fridge results in trial by jury

April 9, 2018, 11:03 am
$
0
0

Nine years after police discovered five packages of heroin found tucked away inside a fridge, the man they believe was the trafficker responsible has started facing a trial by jury.  Martin Dimech, the now-57 year old from Żejtun, had pleaded not guilty to the aggravated possession and trafficking of heroin upon his arraignment back in May 2009, which had followed the discovery of the cache. The police had been monitoring the accused’s movements for some two months, acting upon a tip-off that the man was suspected of being involved in drug trafficking. A search warrant executed at the suspect’s home had ultimately led to the discovery of five packets of heroin hidden inside the fridge compartments, with the substance weighing some 925 grams. The drug, having a purity of some 35%, was estimated to have a street value of €42,561.96 at the time. At the end of the compilation of evidence, the accused had been placed under a bill of indictment, with the trial scheduled to kick off in 2013. However, the trial was suspended pending the resolution of a constitutional case wherein the accused was claiming that the law, empowering the Attorney General to decide whether proceedings were...
↧

Sunday works irk Sliema residents

April 9, 2018, 11:15 am
$
0
0

This photograph of the site of the former Fortina Hotel was taken early yesterday afternoon. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Work early on Sunday morning at the site of the former Fortina Hotel in Sliema resulted in a barrage of complaints to the police, the Times of Malta has learnt. This newspaper was told the police informed complaining residents yesterday that nothing could be done because the work was covered by a permit issued by the Planning Authority. Questions sent to the planning authority remained unanswered at the time of writing. Residents said the work started at 8am. One of them lamented that the locality had already been turned into a building site and the least residents could expect was some respite on a Sunday morning. Yesterday, no work was in progress when a Times of Malta photographer visited the area soon after noon. Work carried out during the demolition of the hotel sparked an investigation into possible breaches of construction practices, with debris reportedly being dumped from a height of eight stories. The demolition work had also angered residents whose cars and property were covered in dust. Several other residents had complained to the Times of Malta that work was “shoddy” and that they could barely open a window because of the dust, especially on windy days. The...
↧

Malta to join biggest Parkinson’s campaign

April 9, 2018, 11:30 am
$
0
0

The Malta Parkinson’s Disease Association is joining forces with organisations from more than 150 countries on World Parkinson’s Day on Wednesday, seeking to raise global awareness of the disease as part of the ground-breaking #UniteForParkinsons campaign. The campaign seeks to bring together people affected by the condition on a larger scale than ever, from a global community 10 million strong. April 11 will see the launch of a campaign video made up entirely of people with Parkinson’s from across the world, including Malta. They will be talking about or showing what the condition means to them.  Association president Veronica Clark said: “We are proud to be part of this exciting campaign to once again throw an international spotlight on the issues people with Parkinson’s can face. PD is a progressive neurological condition which affects everyone differently but we are all united in the fight to raise vital awareness and overcome the daily challenges people face due to the lack of public understanding of the condition. On World Parkinson’s Day, we want all people in Malta to show their support by watching and sharing our campaign video.” This is simple to do: visit the...
↧
↧

New fuel station in Attard would have ‘major negative impacts’

April 9, 2018, 11:43 am
$
0
0

The site of the proposed fuel station in Attard.

A proposed fuel station in Attard will eat up potential vineyards and destroy several mature protected trees, environmental studies have concluded. The application in Mdina Road will occupy about 3,000 square metres of rural land outside development zones, ‘relocating’ a kerbside station in Valley Road, Msida. An environment planning statement newly published for public consultation concludes that it is likely to have major negative impacts on the area’s agriculture, landscape and visual amenity. The statement, published in the midst of an ongoing review of the controversial fuel stations policy, found that the project would result in the “permanent loss of potentially good quality agricultural land”. While most of the site is uncultivated, a portion forms part of the Delicata Vineyard and, if not developed, the whole site could be used to cultivate vines or other crops, according to the EPS. Moreover, dust generated during construction has the potential to affect production from the vineyard – depending on the timing of excavations – and from nearby fields in the Ta’ Bert area, due to the prevailing winds. The project will also involve the removal of one mature olive tree and...
↧

Zombie slugs could be the answer to gardeners' woes

April 9, 2018, 12:10 pm
$
0
0

Slugs and snails are the bane of almost every vegetable planting gardener and farmer. Slugs in particular have voracious appetites and are relentless in eating stems, leaves and shoots. No wonder gardeners have sought any means to control the spread of this crop killer. Unfortunately, the most common response – slug pellets – can have a terrible effect on other wildlife. One alternative is the parasite Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, a nematode worm which naturally kills slugs and snails. Until recently, we had little idea why this parasite was so effective. Our recent research, published in Behavioural Processes, shows that after P. hermaphrodita infects the slug, it takes control over its behaviour, essentially transforming it into a zombie. By delving further into how this parasite takes control of the slug’s behaviour, we can gain a better understanding into the molecular intricacies of mind control and even how to control the behaviour of slugs en masse. Slugs are notably very hard to control because they can move deep into the soil and produce a tremendous number of offspring. Control methods that have tended to focus on slug pellets can be washed away easily and are highly...
↧
Search

Watch: NBA roundup: Sixers reach 50 wins for first time since '01

April 9, 2018, 12:24 pm
$
0
0

JJ Redick led five players in double figures with a team-high 18 points as the Philadelphia 76ers became a 50-game winner for the first time in 17 years with a 109-97 victory Sunday afternoon over the visiting Dallas Mavericks. The win allowed the 76ers (50-30) to lower their magic number to clinch the third seed in the Eastern to two over the Cleveland Cavaliers (49-31) with two games remaining. The 76ers finish the regular season Tuesday at Atlanta and Wednesday at home against Milwaukee. The Cavaliers wrap up with a home-and-home series Monday and Wednesday against New York. Philadelphia, which won just 10 games two seasons ago, hadn't won 50 games in a season since going 56-26 in 2001. Jazz 112, Lakers 97 Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points, collected nine rebounds and dished out eight assists to help Utah Jazz clinch a playoff spot by beating host Los Angeles. Utah (47-33) trails the Portland Trail Blazers (48-32) by a game for the Western Conference's third seed. The Jazz are one game in front of the New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, all 46-34. Josh Hart scored 25 points to lead Los Angeles. Tyler Ennis added 22 points while Julius Randle...
↧

Writing the next chapter

April 9, 2018, 11:54 pm
$
0
0

The sea gives Malta a resource advantage for alternative energy, aquaculture, marine biotechnology and maritime transport.

Some say that the sea is everything to the Maltese, in all aspects: historical, cultural and economic. And some add that if we are lacking in natural resources in our country, the sea around us is by far a compensating resource which we have not yet succeeded to fully acknowledge. Indeed, the sea surface area around the Maltese islands, contained within just the 25 nautical miles offshore limit, amounts to an astounding share equivalent to the size of eight football pitches for every resident on the islands, and is at least 20 times more in extent compared to the land size of the islands. This is by far superior to any other European country, and constitutes a resource advantage for alternative energy, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, maritime transport and many other activities underpinning the maritime economy. When I first took a firm interest in oceanography, about three decades ago, these concepts were already known, and the aim of my first engagement, in those days with the Malta Council of Science and Technology, was to create a number of expert groups, together with the University, to explore and take the first steps in this direction. The British military forces had...
↧
↧

Finger discovery points to early human dispersals

April 10, 2018, 12:08 am
$
0
0

A general view of the excavations at the Al Wusta site. The ancient lake bed (in white) is surrounded by sand dunes of the Nefud Desert. Photo: Huw Groucutt

Researchers conducting archaeological fieldwork in the Nefud Desert of Saudi Arabia have discovered a fossilised finger bone of an early member of Homo sapiens. The discovery is the oldest directly dated Homo sapiens fossil outside of Africa and the immediately adjacent Levant, and indicates that early dispersals into Eurasia were more expansive than previously thought. Prior to this discovery, it was thought that early dispersals into Eurasia were unsuccessful and remained restricted to the Mediterranean forests of the Levant, on the doorstep of Africa. Maltese archaeologist Eleanor Scerri formed part of the team from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History of Germany that led the project. “It is an extremely exciting find,” enthused Dr Scerri. The results of the study, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, detail the discovery made at the site of Al Wusta, an ancient fresh-water lake located in what is now the hyper-arid Nefud Desert. Numerous animal fossils, including those of hippopotamus and tiny fresh water snails were found, as well as abundant stone tools made by humans. There was a well preserved and small fossil, just 3.2cm long, which was...
↧

Cars damaged in suspected arson attack in Sliema

April 10, 2018, 12:09 am
$
0
0

Two cars caught fire on Sliema Road in Gżira on Monday night, in what police investigators suspect was an arson attack.  A Kia vehicle was thoroughly burnt by the flames, with a Toyota parked beside it also damaged in the fire.  Forensic and court experts searched for clues at the site on Tuesday morning, as part of an investigation into the case. 
↧

Valletta’s Piciollo wins March award

April 10, 2018, 12:17 am
$
0
0

Valletta FC’s Matteo Piciollo is the BOV Player of the Month for March 2018. The Italian left-winger stole the show in Valletta’s 2-0 over Tarxien Rainbows, so much so that he was selected as the BOV Man of the Match. In the first minute of the second half, Piciollo sent a menacing cross-shot that the Tarxien goalkeeper Cassar just managed to tip over the bar. Moments later he intercepted a pass by Andrew Agius veering sideways and fired a beautiful shot to the near corner past Cassar, taking his season tally to 6. He also went close in giving Valletta the lead in their 1-0 win over St Andrews when just past the half hour, he picked up a Miguel Angel Alba cross with his close range effort hitting the woodwork. The upright denied him again in the 42nd minute from a good attempt on the left. Piciollo was part of Valletta's team which defeated Ħamrun Spartans 3-0, last Sunday, as they overtook Balzan to regain the top spot in the championship with two games to go. 
↧
Viewing all 84484 articles
Browse latest View live
Search
<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>