Heraldry and nobility in Malta

February 11, 2020, 3:56 am

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Dr Charles Gauci will be delivering a public lecture on the subject of heraldry and nobility in Malta. History lovers will enjoy learning about the reasons behind the introduction of titles in Malta, their origins and the status of the nobility today. Dr Gauci will be available to sign copies of his latest book The Peerage and Knightage in Malta, which will also be for sale at the end of the lecture. This lecture is being held under the auspices of the Lieutenancy of Malta of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre whose mission is to protect and support Christianity in the Holy Land. The lecture is also being supported by the University of Malta. The lecture is being held tomorrow at the Aula Prima of the University Campus in Valletta at 7pm. Send an e-mail to eohsj.malta@gmail.com or call on 9942 4521 to book your seat. A donation of €10 towards the Order’s projects in the Holy Land will be collected at the door. For more information on the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, log on to www.eohsjmalta.com.

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December trade deficit down on 2018

February 11, 2020, 4:02 am

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A trade deficit of €58.7 million was recorded in December, according to provisional figures provided by the National Statistics Office. The NSO said data for registered international trade recorded a trade deficit of €58.7 million, compared to a deficit of €95 million in the same month in 2018. Both imports and exports experienced increases of €0.9 million and €37.1 million respectively. The increase in the value of imports was primarily due to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€29.3 million) and semi-manufactured goods (€8.3 million). These were partly outweighed by a decrease of €30 million in machinery and transport equipment. On the exports side, chemicals (€18.7 million), machinery and transport equipment (€15.7 million) and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€14.8 million) accounted for the main increase, partly outweighed by a decrease of €11.4 million in food. January-December 2019 The trade deficit in the whole of 2019 widened by €868.2 million when compared to 2018, reaching €3,706.7 million. Both imports and exports increased by €1,039.2 million and €171 million respectively. Higher imports were recorded mainly in machinery and transport...

Residents fight to retain view from Tigné square

February 11, 2020, 4:14 am

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The residents of Tigné Point have kept up their battle to retain a view of the sea and fortifications from Pjazza Tigné, forcing the developers to go back to the drawing board. Plans were filed two years ago by Mid Knight Holdings Ltd to develop new offices at the Tigné business centre, a large block overlooking the square. The block is raised on pillars to create an open space under the lowest floor and allows free public access as well as an area for open-air restaurants and cafés. The new application seeks to replace the open-air restaurants with more office space. Residents maintain that the new design will create a landlocked piazza that would lose the only remaining view of the open sea and British-period fortifications, which they claim was promised by the developers. They want the application revoked to avoid it becoming “an airless box surrounded by dense commercialisation”. A decision meant to be taken in January was postponed pending a site inspection. In the meantime, residents have kept up the opposition. They have been encouraged by a Planning Authority decision to reject plans for a restaurant structure above St George’s Bay promenade in St Julian’s that would...

Michael Schumacher’s first Ferrari F1 is for sale

February 11, 2020, 4:20 am

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The first Ferrari F1 car driven by legendary racer Michael Schumacher has gone up for sale in London. Car sales company Girardo & Co said the car is available to buy now and will be on show in its London showroom. The company has not disclosed the asking price. The 1995 Ferrari 412 T2, chassis number 157, marks the beginning of one of the most iconic driver and team combinations in the history of the sport. This model comes from the final season to use the V12 engine, and this example became the last V12-powered car to win a Formula 1 race, taking victory in the Canadian grand prix that year with Schumacher’s team-mate Jean Alesi at the wheel. [attach id=834617 size="large" align="left" type="image"][/attach] Included in the sale are various documents, such as timesheets from Schumacher’s first test of the vehicle at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in Italy, as well as further sheets from testing at Estoril, Portugal. Once the car was retired from competition, it was bought directly from Scuderia Ferrari team manager Jean Todt by a German collector. The engine was overhauled in 2014 under its current owner, covering less than about 60 miles (97 kilometres) since. In 2018, the car...

Birkirkara girls resume title challenge with Mosta clash

February 11, 2020, 4:33 am

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Women’s league leaders Birkirkara return to action in Week 13 of the BOV Women's League as they meet Mosta.  Birkirkara are three points above Mġarr United, who defeated Swieqi United last week, but the champions have a game in hand. This week, the Greens will not be in action after their opponents Hibernians withdrew their teams from the senior and U-19 leagues. Hence, Mġarr will be awarded the three points. Kirkop United vs Raiders Għargħur (Tuesday, Mosta Ground, 20.15) With just one point separating these two teams, the tie between Kirkop United and Raiders could turn out to be the highlight game of the week. Both sides are on the back of important wins. Kirkop hit back from a goal down to beat Mosta 3-2 while Raiders eased past Hibernians 9-0. Kirkop currently sit fourth on 12 points while Raiders Għargħur follow them on 11 with both teams having played 10 league games. Birkirkara vs Mosta (Tuesday, Dingli Ground, 20.15) Defending champions Birkirkara will be looking to retain their three-point lead over Mġarr when they face Mosta. After 10 games, the Stripes are leading on 28 points and look firmly on course to defend the league title. In their last outing, Birkirkara...

18 residential roads in Mosta to be rebuilt

February 11, 2020, 4:38 am

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Infrastructure Malta has started working on 18 residential roads around Mosta, to be rebuilt in the next 1.5 years. These are over and able the €700 million project, Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said. Speaking during a visit to the tad-Dib area, the minister said  a custom contract was prepared to carry out emergency works because of the inconveniences residents had to suffer “We heard the complaints of Mosta residents and made plans to solve this problem. We understand that the local louncil is not in a position to make interventions of this magnitude and we thank the Mosta local council that collaborated fully with us and helped to identify a number of roads,” he said. Dr Borg said that similar custom contracts would be issued from time to time in localities where such a need is observed.  He said that just like what was being done in the multimillion residential roads project across seven years, the Mosta contract also included work on services, foundations, pavements and road signage.  Roads in which work has already begun are Triq San Silvestru and Triq il-Familja Cumbo. The rest of the tad-Dib area roads are Triq Alofju Wignacourt, Triq Kumbu, Triq il-Ballata, Triq...

Homeless man went to church to beg, and stole a priest's car, court told

February 11, 2020, 4:49 am

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A homeless man went into a Zabbar church begging for alms, then snatched a priest's keys and drove off in his car, a court heard on Tuesday. Prosecuting Inspectors Fabian Fleri and Lydon Zammit were testifying in proceedings against Dylan Degiorgio, 26, who stands accused of having stolen the car, just three weeks after being released from prison.   The Toyota Vitz was stolen shortly before 3pm on February 5 while it was parked outside the  Holy Cross Church at Zabbar. The priest had filed a police report, saying that shortly before the theft, the suspect thief had entered the chapel, begging for alms.  CCTV footage from the scene showed Mr Degiorgio open the Toyota and driving off, the prosecution explained. The suspect thief was then involved in a minor traffic accident at Marsa, where he collided with a Honda car. The woman driving the Honda managed to snatch a picture of him before he drove off. Investigators managed to track down the Toyota, still in fairly good condition, and Degiorgio was charged with having stolen the car, driving negligently without an insurance cover as well as relapsing. Inspector Fleri said that Degiorgio had fully cooperated with the police once he...

Johnson approves Britain's new high-speed railway HS2

February 11, 2020, 5:09 am

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday said the UK's high-speed railway HS2 will be built despite soaring costs, bringing faster and greener transport connections between London and northern England. Addressing parliament, Johnson said his "cabinet has given high-speed rail the green signal".  He added: "We are going to get this done and to ensure that we do so without further blowouts to costs or schedule; we are today taking decisive action to restore discipline to the programme." Johnson's full backing comes after he ordered a review into the viability of the line, the largest current infrastructure project in Europe, after years of delays and ballooning costs. Some projections suggest HS2 could cost more than €118 billion, double an official 2015 estimate, and far more than was suggested when HS2 was first mooted in 2009. HS2 will be Britain's second high-speed rail project after HS1, the line linking London with the Channel Tunnel to France.

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Accused stabbed Charlene Chetcuti and then walked away, court told

February 11, 2020, 6:08 am

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A man who had been playing a game of billiards with Chantelle Chetcuti minutes before she was fatally stabbed outside a Żabbar club, on Tuesday recalled the gruesome sight of the victim with a knife lodged in her head. Sylvan Medina described the scene in the compilation of evidence against Justin Borg, who is accused of murdering his former girlfriend Ms Chetcuti. Mr Medina said he and Ms Chetcuti were having a drink while playing billiards at St Patrick’s Club in the evening of February 2 when she spotted a certain 'Dylan' entering the club. “Once he’s here, the other one [her ex] will know,” she told Mr Medina. Sure enough, a short while later, her former partner Justin Borg arrived. He went up to Ms Chetcuti and insisted that they needed to talk. She tried to shrug off his efforts, going around the billiards table, seemingly ignoring him. At one point, Mr Borg turned to Mr Medina and told him: “Do you mind if I talk to her?”  “I won’t get between you,” Mr Medina replied. Once the game was over, Ms Chetcuti walked out of the club with Mr Borg. Minutes later, a stranger came in yelling for help. “Call the police! Call an ambulance,” he shouted. Mr Medina said he rushed outside...

Horse sulkies stolen in France found in Malta

February 11, 2020, 6:30 am

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A Maltese man has been arrested in connection with the theft of a number of sulkies (horse racing carts) in France. The police said the arrest was made in Marsa where some of the sulkies suspected to have been stolen in France were found. The arrest was made on the strength of a European Investigation Order after cooperation with the French police in Normandy. The sulkies were stolen a few years ago and investigations were carried out in several countries, the police said. The sulkies cost several thousand euros.  Investigations are continuing.  Maltese horse-racers have close connections with French stables and many of the horses at the Marsa horseracing track were actually imported from France.

Miriam Christine releases new single 

February 11, 2020, 6:40 am

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Singer Miriam Christine has launched the title track from her album Dil-Mara. Released last November, the album reached the top of the local chart on the digital platform iTunes. The launch of the title track is Christine's third single from the album, following Bi Ftit Kliem and Mill-Għatba ‘l Ġew. Dil-Mara, the song which closes off the album, was composed by Miriam Christine and penned in collaboration with Emil Calleja Bayliss.     The song Dil-Mara was written for those women whose life in the face of love was nowhere near easy. They should never lose hope for the future and should not let the past dictate what’s yet to happen. They have to continue believing, and trying to find love, because in the long run, what’s more important than love?   For more information, visit www.dil-mara.com.mt. 

‘Destiny’s chances are good’ – Robert Abela on X Factor winner

February 11, 2020, 6:40 am

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Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Tuesday he believes singer Destiny Chukunyere’s chances at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest are good.  Destiny will be heading to Rotterdam in May to participate in the popular contest after winning the second edition of X Factor Malta on Saturday. Ahead of a meeting with the singer, her parents and her two siblings, Dr Abela said he admires the 17-year-old’s talent.  “We believe in the talents of young people. As a country, we should continue to promote such talent. It makes us very proud to see young people with so much enthusiasm,” Dr Abela said. Destiny thanked the prime minister for his comments and nodded in agreement as he encouraged her to continue working on her singing career. On Saturday, the teenager beat three other finalists to be crowned the people's favourite on a final night of the TV talent show staged live at the MFCC in Ta' Qali. Destiny is not new to the Eurovision stage after having won the children’s version of the contest in 2015 with her catchy song Not My Soul, whose lyrics the then-12-year-old had written herself. At the time she had said she hoped to one day represent Malta in the contest’s adult version. 

Green Christmases: Alpine ski resorts ponder a future without snow

February 11, 2020, 10:00 am

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Last Christmas, for the first time in its existence, a ski resort in the French Alpine town of Montclar could count neither on Mother Nature nor its artificial snow machines to produce enough of the white stuff to cover its pistes.  Instead, it had to use a helicopter, at great cost, to bring snow from the high peaks of the Alps to lower, warmer altitudes where, unusually, there was no natural ski cover. The predicament came as a shock for the small community that relies heavily on the snow for its survival, not just for this season but as a portent of things to come as climate change wreaks havoc with temperatures. The Alps are particularly exposed to the ravaging effects of global warming. According to the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA), temperatures in the mountain range have risen by nearly two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in the past 120 years -- almost double the global average, and will continue on the same upward trend. The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Davos, Switzerland, warns on its website of increasingly common "green Christmases" in the Alps, with stations below an altitude of 1,300 metres most...

Preparing for the pontiff

February 11, 2020, 10:01 am

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Pope Francis’ visit is 110 days away, but no matter how much time they have to prepare, the papal visit organisers remain on edge until the very last minute. Ten years ago, the organising committee had seven months to prepare for Pope Benedict’s visit, but it could have all gone up in smoke on April 27, the very day that he was due to set foot in Malta. The plume from the eruption of a now-famous Icelandic volcano had made it all the way to Milan, Monsignor Charles Cordina recalls, giving rise to fears that flights to and from Rome would be cancelled. But Pope Benedict came and left as planned, with Vatican representatives in awe at the number of people who took to the streets throughout his visit. Mgr Cordina, who chaired the organising committee, told Times of Malta that representatives of the State and the Church had set up office in Floriana months before the Papal visit to prepare for the event. [attach id=834317 size="medium" align="right" type="image"][/attach] Preparations for Pope Francis’ visit will include vetting the security of every place he will pass through, arranging press conferences at the sites he will visit and engaging architects to design a stage for...

Original documentary series celebrates Malta’s heritage

February 11, 2020, 10:01 am

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Malta’s rich history and culture are being showcased and celebrated in an innovative series comprising 130 one-minute features on TVM. The clips will be aired daily for 26 consecutive weeks just before the evening news. Carrying the theme Din Mhux is-Soltu Storja, the features were produced exclusively by GO upon an initiative by NGO Din l-Art Ħelwa. They also feature original music and lyrics produced by local artists. “Over the years, GO has played a central role in Malta’s communication history. We are proud of Malta and its heritage and wanted to play a part in celebrating this for current and future generations,” Charmaine Farrugia, chief of corporate strategy and business planning, said. “The innovative concept behind this production lies in the fact that it will not only be promoting some of Malta’s most memorable sights and destinations but will do so in a way that gives a rightful platform to our very own home-grown talent in an original and unexpected way. “We have invested millions of euros in our cutting-edge TV platform to ensure that we can deliver a superb TV experience to our esteemed customers. We wanted to extend this investment to actual content production and...

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Malta's first plastic-free, zero waste shop is open for business

February 11, 2020, 10:15 am

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It was during their travels that Jean Paul Farrugia, his sister Christina and her husband, Paul Micallef, came up with the idea behind ReRoot, the first zero waste, plastic free shop on the island. The siblings were on a beach in Phuket, Thailand when from picking up seashells they slowly shifted to picking up plastic bottles and other rubbish till they realised the whole beach was littered in plastic. “It was really shocking. We had always wanted to start a business together, and that day we sat down and said if we’re going to start a new venture, it has to be something around reducing waste and minimising our impact on the environment,” said Mr Farrugia. [attach id=834175 size="medium" align="left" type="image"]Jean Paul Farrugia, his sister Christina and her husband, Paul Micallef. [/attach] Around two months ago, after a lot of hard work, they opened the doors to a project through which they hope to support the movement away from the age of convenience and disposables to a lifestyle that is less harmful to the environment. From edibles to cosmetics, washing detergents and clothing, all the products for sale at ReRoot, in Iklin, are either reusable, recyclable/compost-able or...

The intelligence coup of the century -US, German spies plundered global secrets

February 11, 2020, 10:24 am

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US and German intelligence services raked in the top secret communications of governments around the world for decades through their hidden control of a top encryption company, Crypto AG, US, German and Swiss media reported Tuesday. The Swiss company was a top supplier of devices for encoding communications to some 120 countries from after World War II to the beginning of this century, including Iran, South American governments, and India and Pakistan.  Unknown to those governments, Crypto was secretly owned by the US Central Intelligence Agency together with Germany's BND Federal Intelligence Service. Together they rigged Crypto's equipment to be able to easily break the codes and read the government's messages, according to reports by the Washington Post, German television ZTE and Swiss state media SRF. - 'Coup of the century' - Citing a classified internal CIA history of what was originally called operation "Thesaurus" and later "Rubicon," the reports said that in the 1980s the harvest from the Crypto machines supplied roughly 40 percent of all the foreign communications US codebreakers processed for intelligence. Meanwhile, the company took in millions of dollars in profits...

Top FIFA, UEFA officials head to crisis-hit Greece

February 11, 2020, 10:31 am

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Senior officials from FIFA and UEFA are scheduled to visit Athens on February 25 to help resolve a crisis affecting Greek football, the government said Tuesday UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and FIFA vice president Greg Clarke "are expected to contribute to the consolidation of the framework so that we can reshape Greek football," government spokesman Stelios Petsas said. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government has been drawn into a dispute between two of the country’s top clubs, PAOK Thessaloniki and Olympiakos Piraeus. The Greek professional sports commission had previously recommended the relegation of current Super League champions PAOK over allegations of common ownership of fellow top-flight club Xanthi. PAOK chief Ivan Savvidis was accused by Olympiakos of acquiring a stake in Xanthi through a family member, a claim which he denies. The Thessaloniki club have called the accusations a "setup" engineered by arch-rivals and current league leaders Olympiakos. In an effort to calm PAOK tempers, Mitsotakis’ government amended a law which replaces relegation with points deduction as the punishment for multiple team ownership. Under the amended law PAOK would be docked...

Injury woe hits Wales fly-half Williams again

February 11, 2020, 11:00 am

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Wales fly-half Owen Williams has been ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations with a hamstring injury, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Gloucester playmaker has had a miserable run with fitness problems, only returning in January after nine months out with a knee issue. Williams -- who can also play inside centre -- injured his hamstring in the warm-up prior to Saturday's 24-14 defeat by Ireland in Dublin.   He was in the squad as a back-up to first choice Dan Biggar but Jarrod Evans came in for him on the replacements bench and replaced Biggar when he went off due to a clash of heads.  "Further assessment has concluded that the injury will rule Williams out of the remainder of Wales' Six Nations Campaign," read the WRU statement. The three-times capped Williams's injury will be a blow to his club too as they lost first choice outside-half Danny Cipriani for two months in mid-January due to a torn calf muscle.

Mandzukic scores on Al Duhail Champions League debut

February 11, 2020, 11:28 am

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Former Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic struck on his Asian Champions League debut as Qatar giants Al Duhail beat Iran’s Persepolis 2-0 in their opening Group C match of the continent’s premier competition on Tuesday. Ex-Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Juventus attacker Mandzukic, who was part of the Croatia side who finished runners-up at the 2018 World Cup, headed in a fifth-minute cross from Almoez Ali to give the hosts the lead at the Abdulla bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha. Mandzukic got plenty of help from the Persepolis defenders though, as they were busy protesting an alleged foul even as Ali chipped the ball from just outside the penalty area. Despite the early setback, the visitors, who boast a fan following of more than 40 million in Iran, failed to get their defence right as the home side consolidated the lead in the 13th minute. North Korea forward Han Kwang-song took advantage of another Persepolis mistake by pouncing on a loose ball on the edge of the box before passing the ball to Brazilian Edmilson who scored with a low shot. The Tehran side barely made an impact in the first half, but ex-Celtic striker Anthony Stokes tested the Al Duhail defence on his club debut...