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Stripes bounce back with Sirens win 

December 13, 2019, 10:54 am
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Birkirkara's Federico Falcone (right) tussles for the ball against Sirens.

BIRKIRKARA  2Falcone 10Attard 25 SIRENS   0 BIRKIRKARA: A. Hogg-7; E. Pepe-6; M. Guillaumier-6.5; M. Vella-6; J. Bezzina-6.5 (75 T. Agius); K. Zammit-6.5; F. Falcone (36 M. Mifsud) (46 Tarabai); C. Attard-6.5; Caio-6.5; O. Carniello-6.5; I. Ntow-5.  SIRENS: D. Cassar-7; R. Grech-5 (90 R. Fenech); Wellington-5; Raphael-5; E. Okoye-5; A. Borg-5; I. Adeshina-5; Y. Yao-5 (70 L. Sciberras); R. Romao-5; Romario-5; T. Espindola-5.  Referee Fyodor Zammit Yellow cards: Romario, Guillaumier, Okoye, Vella. Birkirkara bounced back from their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Sliema Wanderers after having the better off Sirens with a 2-0 victory. Two goals in the first-half set up the Stripes victory as despite a couple of open chances, Sirens never really threatened Birkirkara. Andre Paus’s side dominated proceedings from start to end but the Dutch coach will surely not be happy by the number of chances missed by his team.  Sirens, on their part, missed the chance to close in on leaders Floriana as their positive run came to an end against the Stripes. For this game, coach Steve D’Amato handed a debut to the newly-arrived Frenchman Yves Yao.  Birkirkara took only 10 minutes to forge ahead when...
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Trump to face impeachment vote after House panel approves charges

December 13, 2019, 11:35 am
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US President Donald Trump stood on the verge of impeachment Friday after a House panel approved charges he abused his power and obstructed Congress, setting up a historic vote in the chamber next week. In a grave moment for a deeply divided nation, Democrats and Republicans in the Judiciary Committee voted along strict party lines, 23 to 17, to approve two articles of impeachment against the president. "Today is a solemn and sad day," committee chairman Jerry Nadler said after the votes, which were called with surprising speed the day after a 14-hour debate pitting the warring parties against one another. The panel recommended that the Democratic-led House ratify both articles, ahead of a vote by the entire chamber that is expected to make Trump only the third US president in history to be impeached. One article charges the president with abuse of power for conditioning $391 million in critical military aid and a White House meeting on Ukraine launching investigations into Democrats ahead of the 2020 election. The other charges him with obstruction of Congress for his blanket refusal to cooperate with any aspect of the inquiry, a development Democrats say is unprecedented in...
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Away in a manger

December 13, 2019, 11:39 am
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Taking the ferry to Gozo is like stepping back in time. Instead of tall tower blocks and bustle, the buildings nestle close to the land, an unassuming stripe along the skyline where traces of the old traditions of the archipelago can still be found. [attach id=801838 size="medium" align="right" type="image"][/attach] During December, in the village of Għajnsielem, visitors can travel yet further back in time, stepping 2000 years into the past to the days when Jesus was born. The name of this village, the first to greet you as you land in the small port of Mġarr and look up to the hillside above, literally translates as ‘spring of peace’. Fresh water bubbled from the ground here in earlier times and flowed down the valley giving life to crops and plants. Now during advent, another kind of new life is celebrated with the biggest Christmas crib in Malta. The tranquil landscape of Ta’ Passi that slopes between Għajnsielem and the harbour is transformed into a life-size crib, an imagined village that transports visitors back to Bethlehem. Cribs and dioramas of the nativity scene are a long-standing tradition here, constructed with incredible craftsmanship as layer after layer of...
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Argentine Lavezzi retires after 'amazing' and lucrative career

December 13, 2019, 11:39 am
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Ezequiel Lavezzi (right) controls the ball while playing in the Chinese Super League.

Argentine international forward Ezequiel Lavezzi confirmed on Friday that he was retiring from playing at the age of 34, ending "the most amazing phase life has given me." Lavezzi played 51 times for Argentina and was in the starting lineup when they lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany.  He played five seasons at Napoli and five at Paris Saint-Germain before finishing his career in Heibei Fortune in China where he was, when he arrived, the highest-paid player in the world.  Lavezzi made his last appearance for Heibei on November 27, scoring as the team lost to champions Evergrande in the penultimate round of the season. After the game he said he was considering retiring. On Thursday, he confirmed that he had made the decision with a post on his Facebook page, accompanied by photos of goal celebrations in Argentina, Italy, France and China, and in a tweet. "They were amazing years," he wrote. "Years marked by learning, unique moments and lots of that will stay in my heart." "I will always be grateful to those who have stayed by my side this journey." Wikileaks revealed that when he moved from Paris to Heibei in February 2016 it was for an estimated salary of 53 million euros...
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Bizarre is in the stars

December 13, 2019, 12:07 pm
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The Befana leaves a lump of coal for the bad kids and presents for the good ones.

From trolls and witches to fried caterpillars and rollerblading to church, Christmas traditions can be bizarre, says Terence Mirabelli Christmas is a time of sugar and spice, and all things nice. It’s a time of traditions; of doing things because that’s what we do at this time of year. We don’t question them; we just do them because it’s traditional to do so. Most local Christmas traditions are, well, ‘sweet’ and ‘nice’ such as the child’s sermon (il-priedka tat-tifel). This uniquely Maltese tradition is said to have begun on Christmas Eve in 1883 in Luqa when altar boy George Sapiano delivered the sermon during Midnight Mass. Traditionally, a boy or girl of between seven and 10 tells the story of the nativity from the pulpit. Not all traditions are so charming, however. For the past decade or so, we have seen cribs erected annually at roundabouts. “How sweet”, you may say, but what has become customary – not to say traditional – is for the Baby Jesus figurine to be stolen from some of these al fresco cribs. No doubt this will occur again this Christmastime. This is mild compared to some traditions around the world. The evening before the feast of St Nicholas – December 6 and...
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Two men attempt self-harm while in police custody

December 13, 2019, 12:29 pm
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Two men being held under arrest at the police Floriana headquarters lock-up tried to injure themselves in separate incidents on Friday. The police said the incidents took place at 1.45pm and at 6.45pm.  The men are a 30-year-old Egyptian and a 26-year-old Palestinian. The police intervened on time and the men did not suffer any injuries. They were still taken to the Floriana Health Centre for a check-up.
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New line of spare parts for classic cars

December 13, 2019, 12:51 pm
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Owners of FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) classic cars can now purchase Heritage Parts, a new line of faithfully reproduced spare parts for classic cars conceived and created by FCA Heritage in tandem with the Mopar brand. The project starts with one of the most iconic vehicles in the history of FCA: the front and rear bumpers of Lancia Delta HF Integrale and Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione. The parts are produced using the original molds preserved by FCA Manufacturing, and today, following the necessary renovation operations performed in the FCA plant in Grugliasco, they will begin a new life. Specifically, the bumpers are supplied unprimed as the materials do not require flame-polishing. They must be sanded by the customer before they are painted. [attach id=806563 type="video"][/attach] The products offered by Mopar and FCA Heritage use original molds and materials, ensuring a perfect fit and enabling the cars to take to the road in full compliance with current homologation regulations. This is an important new initiative for the owners of these Lancia vehicles, timeless symbols of the most prestigious rally racing victories. The Heritage Parts range therefore combines...
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Stocks surge on Boris Johnson triumph, US trade deal reports

December 13, 2019, 9:25 pm
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London stocks and the British pound jumped yesterday after an election triumph for Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson that analysts said will bring clarity to Brexit proceedings and unlock stronger economic growth. Other European stock markets – although lagging buoyant London, which rose over two per cent at one point – also powered ahead, supported by reports that a US-China partial trade deal is imminent. Wall Street opened with a slightly softer tone. “Investors might have two early Christmas presents this week: a phase one trade deal between the US and China, and Brexit getting done,” said Jasper Lawler, head of research at trading firm London Capital Group. Johnson, whose governing Conservative Party swept to a decisive win, will now push ahead with Britain’s scheduled exit from the European Union on January 31 as he seeks to dispel three years of uncertainty and political deadlock, with a post-Brexit, probably expansionary, budget planned in March. But he also warned that “as long as there remains the possibility of something like a ‘no deal’, those gains ought to be limited”. European leaders welcomed also what appeared to be an end to Brexit paralysis, but also...
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Red light for Malta on women in Parliament

December 13, 2019, 9:34 pm
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Malta’s Parliament has scored badly vis-à-vis gender equality, according to an EU report. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.

The EU's centre on gender equality has switched on the red light for Malta as the country scored with the worst seven European countries when it comes gender equality in national parliaments. Among others, the country fared worst when it comes to women and men having equal opportunities to enter Parliament, according to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). Apart from just looking into the proportion of women and men among candidates and elected representatives, the report investigated whether constitutional laws directly refer to gender equality in political representation, and also whether and how gender quotas are applied. According to the EIGE, while women are still numerically under-represented in parliaments across the EU and the European Parliament, the rise of electoral gender quotas has contributed to creating an upward trend. Malta was also among the lowest performers when it comes to women’s interests and concerns having adequate space on parliament’s agendas. It scored better when it comes to equal opportunities to influence Parliament’s working procedures and gender-sensitive legislation. The report mentions Malta as one of only nine member states that...
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Announcements - December 14, 2019

December 13, 2019, 9:39 pm
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Obituary SAMMUT. On December 11, at Mater Dei Hospital, VALENTINA, known as Violet, of Fleur-de-Lys, aged 88, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband Godwin, her daughters Stellina and her husband Mario and Tanya and her husband Aldo, her grandchildren Massimo and his wife Andrea and Sammy Jo and her partner Dirk, her great-grandchildren, her sisters, other relatives and friends. The funeral leaves Mater Dei Hospital today, Saturday, December 14, at 1pm, for St Mary’s parish church (knisja l-qadima), Birkirkara, where Mass præsente cadavere will be said at 1.30pm, followed by interment at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to id-Dar tal-Providenza, Siġġiewi, will be greatly appreciated. The family regret they are unable to receive visitors. Lord, grant her eternal rest. The family would like to thank the staff of Holy Family Home, Naxxar. In Memoriam CASSAR GALEA – Dr JOSEPH FERDINAND, LL.D. Precious and unfading memories of a most devoted and loving husband and father especially today being the 30th anniversary of his demise. May God grant him eternal rest. Pauline and Liliana. Mass...
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Baroque inspirations

December 13, 2019, 9:41 pm
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The Renaissance, the 16th century time of rebirth, was also a time for musical games. Since July 2017, maestro Marco Mencoboni has been training a consort of singers in ensemble work and baroque vocal and musical techniques. The masterclasses focus on the work of the influential Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi and his contemporaries and culminates in a showcase concert being held today. The Monteverdi Project was devised by Kenneth Zammit Tabona, the artistic director of the Manoel Theatre and the Valletta Baroque Festival. He engaged Mencoboni, who is considered to be one of the leading specialists of baroque and Renaissance music, to run the project. The Monteverdi Project concentrates on the music of the Italian composer and his contemporaries among whom are Maltese composers like the Balzano brothers and Griscti, among others. Music that has been discovered in the Mdina Cathedral archives like the great Balzano piece is being premiered in this evening’s concert. A Night of Madrigal & Early Baroque Music ‒ Monteverdi Project is being held at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta today at 8pm. Tickets may be obtained at booking.teatrumanoel.com.mt.
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Our inalienable rights - Mark A. Schapiro

December 13, 2019, 9:42 pm
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“We must not be bystanders to violations of human rights. In doing so we devalue not only the dignity of the victim but also our own inherent dignity.” Photo: John Gomez/Shutterstock.com

Seventy-one years ago, after the atrocities of the Holocaust bore witness to the systematic deaths of six million Jews, world leaders began to seek to identify what constitutes our fundamental human rights. Prior to 1948, human rights were often overlooked by the despots of history. Human history has been plagued by various forms of persecution by some against others because of racial prejudice, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or cultural difference. In today’s splintered world, it is sometimes difficult to find commonalities that we can embrace as an integral part of our communities. But International Human Rights Day, which was celebrated this week, reminded us that it was not so long ago that the world came together to do exactly that.  On December 10, 1948, the United Nations unanimously adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a set of rights to which all individuals are entitled: the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; the right to freedom of religion or belief; the right to freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly; the right to form and join trade unions.  Under the UDHR, every...
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UN report exposes how Libya's arms embargo is being bypassed

December 13, 2019, 9:48 pm
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Remains of missiles and other weapons found at a camp that was used by forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar in Gharyan, Libya. Photo: AFP

From buying an Irish navy boat re-registered as a "pleasure yacht" to enlisting a Canadian firm to recruit Sudanese fighters -- Libya's warring parties are running rings around a UN arms embargo. That's the upshot of a near-400-word report published this week by UN experts, who accuse an array of firms and external powers of violating a 2011 embargo by delivering arms or fighters to the North African country. Mired in chaos since the NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi eight years ago, Libya's military malaise has deepened further this year. Eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar in April launched an offensive against the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) -- a military campaign the UN panel of experts says has "unleashed new transfers of military equipment" to Libya. Such transfers have been "repeated and sometimes blatant, with scant regard paid to compliance with the sanctions measures", the report says, noting that some deliveries were long planned and painstakingly disguised. The UN experts conclude "the arms embargo was ineffective, and resulted in regular maritime and air transfers to Libya of military material". For example, they...
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Malta Fiscal Advisory Council publishes assessment of Draft Budgetary Plan 2020

December 13, 2019, 9:50 pm
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On December 11, the Malta Fiscal Advisory Council (MFAC) presented to the Minister for Finance its assessment of the Draft Budgetary Plan 2020, which the Ministry submitted to the European Commission on October 15. The Fiscal Council considered the updated macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts for 2019 and 2020 to be within its endorsable range. The Council also confirmed that the rules prescribed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Stability and Growth Pact were complied with in 2018, and the fiscal plans put forward should ensure continued compliance with such rules, both in 2019 and in 2020. The Council noted that according to the official projections, the Maltese economy is expected to maintain strong momentum but real GDP growth is expected to ease gradually, from 6.8 per cent in 2018, to 5.0 per cent in 2019 and 4.3 per cent in 2020. Supported by this economic outlook, government is targeting further fiscal surpluses, albeit slightly smaller than in 2018. The fiscal surplus is set to stabilise at 1.4 per cent of GDP, both in 2019 and 2020. Meanwhile, the debt ratio is expected to maintain its gradual downward trend, falling from 45.8 per cent of GDP in 2018, to 40.3 per...
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Ugo Mifsud Bonnici – a formidable figure - Raymond Mangion

December 13, 2019, 9:58 pm
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Dr Mifsud Bonnici is recognised as one of the Presidents of the Republic of Malta who kept equidistant and impartial from politics once he terminated his term of office as Malta’s Head of State. Photo: DOI

The Faculty of Laws at the University of Malta on Thursday held its eighth Foundation Day Commemoration, conferring its Award for Academic Excellence on President Emeritus of Malta Ugo Mifsud Bonnici. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici was born in Bormla (Cospicua) on November 8, 1932. He was the youngest of Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and Maria Ross’s three children. His siblings were Josette, who died at 11 months, and the late and lamented Professor Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici, President Emeritus of the Maltese Courts and Judge Emeritus of the European Court of Human Rights. His father, Carmelo, better known as ‘Il-Gross’ for his Falstaffian figure, is considered in historical documentation and collective memory as one of the leading criminologists in Malta and as one of the most brilliant orators in the halls of the Maltese legislature and law courts. Above all, he is also one of Malta’s greatest political giants and patriots of all time. Dr Mifsud Bonnici belongs to one of the most distinguished political and legal households in Malta. His progenitors were Giuseppe Mifsud, a cleric, and Olympia Bonici whose family of noble extraction was founder of the arch-parish church of Żejtun. He belongs to...
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Labour Party raises more than €500,000 in fundraising telethon

December 13, 2019, 10:01 pm
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Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle (centre) flanked by PL leadership contenders Chris Fearne (left) and Robert Abela (right).

The Labour Party collected more than half a million euro in donations during a fundraising telethon on Friday. Some €516,896 were donated throughout the eight-hour fundraiser, which outgoing party leader and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife played a prominent role in. Labour leadership contenders Chris Fearne and Robert Abela were among those who manned phone lines and took calls from donors throughout the day. Dr Muscat, who was accompanied by his wife Michelle, discussed the end of his political career on the programme and vouched to stay out of his successor’s way.“Do not expect to see me at the forefront,” he told viewers. “The new leader will need space to affirm himself. If the party needs me to not appear at all, I will do that. If they need me to be a marginal figure, I will do that too.”It was the second fundraiser by a political party in one week. Last Sunday, the Nationalist Party held a fundraising activity of its own. The party collected €405,709.
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The cult of Joseph - Timothy Alden

December 13, 2019, 10:15 pm
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Joseph Muscat’s conversion to destructive neoliberalism went deeper than people realised. A few days ago, Anna Khakee wrote an article in the EU Observer posing the question: “Does Malta’s Labour Party now belong in S&D?” She was challenging whether the Labour Party was still at home as a member of the Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament; whether they still share its values. I consider it a very valid question indeed, especially given what I learned in recent months, thanks to Partit Demokratiku’s membership of Renew Europe – formerly ALDE. Apparently, Muscat hired Sandro Gozi as a liberal adviser, whom he shared with France, because he planned to pull the Labour Party out of S&D so as to join Renew Europe and take his place as a liberal in Europe. Perhaps these intentions were linked to his future ambitions for a European job, having lost his friends within S&D, where he was long opposed by MEP Ana Gomes. In any case, it is clear that Muscat ultimately betrayed the founding principles of the Labour Party through his neoliberal agenda. Although the two leadership contenders for Labour made a show of embracing him during his farewell tour, the fact that they are...
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After Brexit, what’s next?

December 13, 2019, 10:26 pm
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The British people have voted overwhelmingly to support the Conservative Party, which has sought a clear mandate to accelerate the country’s departure from the EU. So Boris Johnson can now rely on Parliament’s full support to get Brexit done as soon as possible. This is the good news that those who see Britain’s future outside the Europeans Union wanted. But the realities of this momentous decision will begin to be discovered in the coming months and years, especially after voters realise that some of the pledges from the Brexit camp are unattainable. We can only hope that the election result will not continue exacerbating the right-wings sentiments in the UK.  One probable collateral effect of Thursday’s election may well be the break up of the United Kingdom. Scotland supported the Scottish Nationalist Party and the demand for a second independence referendum may be hard for the Westminster Parliament to resist. Johnson will need to use every shred of his charisma to keep Britain united. The biggest loser in this election was, of course, the Labour Party and its leader Jeremy Corbyn. Labour preferred to sit on the fence on the Brexit issue, trying to please both Remainers and...
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Successful ifs Malta event

December 13, 2019, 10:31 pm
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Ifs Malta president Kenneth B. Micallef

Ifs Malta organised its annual dinner at the Corinthia Palace Hotel in Attard. The well-established and highly-anticipated event in the calendar of bankers and financial services practitioners in Malta turned out to be a successful gathering of the leading financial players in the financial services sector together with others from the wider economy. As customary, official speeches were delivered by the Central Bank of Malta Governor and the minister for finance. Ifs Malta president Kenneth Micallef commenced proceedings with a welcome address in which he highlighted the institute’s main achievements during the year, with its academic success of having over 200 students completing their course of studies being at the forefront. Ifs Malta currently offers more than 30 internationally recognised financial and academic programmes in diverse areas, most of which are done through strategic alliances with internationally-renowned professional educational bodies. He added how the institute is committed to doing its utmost for the betterment of the financial services sector. To this end, it has recently updated its award in home loan finance qualification following regulatory changes...
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Today's front pages - December 14, 2019

December 13, 2019, 10:32 pm
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President George Vella’s Republic Day speech dominates headlines of local newspapers this Saturday. Times of Malta highlights the president’s disavowal of the “gang who brought shame” to Malta and its name, noting the president’s comments that he is “saddened, hurt and shocked” by recent political events. The Malta Independent chooses a similar headline for its leading story, with the newspaper also teasing an interview with Labour leadership candidate Chris Fearne in which he highlights his pledge to implement equal pay for equal work principles across all government entities. In-Nazzjon gives top billing to PN leader Adrian Delia, who told a party EGM that the PN has plans to turn the country around. The newspaper also reserves front-page space to a protest that happened during Republic Day activities and the president’s speech. L-Orizzont highlights the president’s remarks that “the nation’s name does not deserve to be brought so low”. The newspaper also gives prominence to the General Workers Union endorsement of the right to disconnect – allowing workers to switch off their phones and email notifications once they clock off work.  
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