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President's engagements - June 7, 2020

June 7, 2020, 1:17 am
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Tomorrow 4pm The President holds a conference call with the leadership team, leaders and young members of the Malta Girl Guides Association at San Anton Palace, Attard. Tuesday 2pm The President holds a conference call with the national committee, leaders and young members of the Scout Association of Malta at San Anton Place. 3.30pm The President holds a conference call with the leadership team, leaders and young members of the Baden Powell Scouts Malta at San Anton Palace. Wednesday 10am The President receives a courtesy call by Prof. Andrew Azzopardi at San Anton Palace. 2.30pm The President receives a courtesy call by representatives of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions (CMTU) at San Anton Palace. Thursday 10am The President receives a courtesy call by representatives of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) at San Anton Palace. 11am The President presides over a virtual meeting of the Constitutional Reform Committee at San Anton Palace. 2.30pm The President receives a courtesy call by representatives of Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) at San Anton Palace. Friday 10.30am The President receives a courtesy call by representatives of the Malta...
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UFC superstar Conor McGregor announces retirement

June 7, 2020, 1:18 am
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Mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor announced his retirement from the sport on Sunday. The two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) World Champion said his fighting days were over in a Twitter message posted on his verified account, alongside a picture of the Irishman with his mother, Margaret. “Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting. Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been!” he wrote. “Here is a picture of myself and my mother in Las Vegas post one of my World title wins! Pick the home of your dreams Mags I love you! Whatever you desire it’s yours.” The controversial fighter, nicknamed “The Notorious”, previously announced his retirement from the sport in March last year after being battered into submission by arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018. In April 2016 he also said he was retiring with a now-famous tweet: “I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later.”  His last appearance in the octagon was in January after a 15 month-absence when he knocked out American Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in a ruthless 40-second destruction in Las Vegas.  The 31-year-old, an icon of the UFC, is no stranger to...
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Reflections, balance and endurance

June 7, 2020, 1:26 am
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Louis A. Farrugia (second from left) celebrating 50 years of Kinnie with Bryan A. Gera, Nini Miceli-Farrugia and Gino Miceli-Farrugia in 2002.

40 Years at the Helmby Louis A. Farrugia, Kite Publications, 2019. Readers have certain expectations when opening a new book. This partly depends upon the genre. A book of memoirs is often a one-off work, unlike publications by a regular writer of some kind, perhaps a historian or a novelist. [attach id=883608 size="medium" align="right" type="image"][/attach] Louis Farrugia is the author and protagonist of these memoirs. He says immediately that, while persuaded to document his experiences, he did not have the inclination to sit down and put his thoughts on paper. He was, however, willing to talk about the important events of his life for someone else to interpret them in writing. Joseph Cassar, diplomat and political commentator, agreed to collaborate. The result is based on a series of 10 meetings and long interviews. Sadly, Dr Cassar passed away with the text still unfinished, and the book was completed for publication without him. For the general reader, the interest of memoirs typically lies in the insights offered by the protagonist, from an individual’s point of view and derived from experience. The narrative of this book moves chronologically, not thematically, from...
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Stranded migrants grabbed knives, threatened to blow up gas cylinder - Abela

June 7, 2020, 1:39 am
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One of the Captain Morgan boats upon arrival in Malta on Saturday night. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Migrants on board a government-chartered tourist boat off Malta occupied the kitchen, grabbed knives and threatened to blow up a gas cylinder and burn rubbish, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday. "They gave us half an hour to act or they would kidnap the crew," he said. The migrants had been left out at sea for more than a month, sparking protests from humanitarian organisations.  Describing the dramatic situation, he told a One News interviewer that up until Saturday morning, the government had not planned to bring in the migrants being held offshore on board four tourist boats.  But he said he had to take a decision after the crew (on board Europa II) called for help, even calling him personally pleading 'Please save us'. He said the easiest choice would have been to board the boat with force, take control and stop the situation. But the AFM had warned him of a risk of soldiers and migrants possibly being injured or killed.  Abela said he could not risk lives or losing control. He said another consideration about bringing the migrants to Malta was the length of time they had been at sea. Some of them had been at sea for 40 days, he said. Malta had done its duty by...
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Watch: Church sees COVID-19 as opportunity to ‘reawaken’

June 7, 2020, 1:42 am
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The Archbishop celebrating mass on Sunday to mark the Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity ahead of the document launch.Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The Church believes the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the world to its knees, is a “sign” and served as a challenge to transform the way it operates.  In a document outlining a four-year plan, revised in recent weeks to address issues brought about by the novel virus, the Church in Malta highlights eight stages it plans to work through by 2024.  “One Church, One Journey offers a vision of becoming ‘church’ rooted in that promoted by Pope Francis, in particular in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium.  [attach id=884004 type="video"][/attach] “Its presentation of a process of renewal is a local interpretation of the Pope’s own desire for renewal for the universal Church. The document also indicates the specific processes that the Archdiocese is committing itself to start and implement in these next four years,” Archbishop Charles Scicluna said during the document launch on Sunday.  Scicluna urged all the Church’s entities - parishes, religious congregations, schools, lay movements, families and all others – to read the document, available online, and to reflect on its contents.  What will the Church be doing in the next four years? Throughout 2020, the focus will be on...
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What if?

June 7, 2020, 2:20 am
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The global effort being made to try to find a cure to the COVID-19 virus in the shortest time possible is providing an improved economic outlook. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Two words which, when used frequently by an individual up until four months ago, would have earned him the label of an ‘over thinker’, a ‘daydreamer’ or a ‘pessimist’. The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has turned the world on its head, and so has the importance of these two words. What used to be a regularly used simple phrase, possibly going unnoticed, has now become a trigger for a variety of emotions ranging from hope to reassurance or perhaps fear. What if this virus loses strength and vanishes abruptly, as happened with SARS? What if this virus turns out to be seasonal and a stronger wave of infections is experienced again in autumn? What if the development of a vaccine takes longer than expected? What if the virus has been running undetected in the community for months, is over­-estima­ted and the ensuing economic measures taken unjustified? I am definitively not suitable to give a qualified opinion on health issues and will be focusing on some possible implications of these scenarios on economic data and investment markets. As the COVID-19 outbreak’s epicentre moved from China to Europe and subsequently to the US, different sectors in the respective economies started taking...
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Incentives on dining out, weekend breaks to be announced Monday, Abela says

June 7, 2020, 2:38 am
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Prime Minister Robert Abela was interviewed on Sunday.

The government will on Monday announce financial incentives to encourage people to eat out at restaurants and go on weekend breaks, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday.   The measures, he said, were meant to inject a feel-good factor back in the economy.   Some, he said, would receive more than others, in the “targeted” programme of measures.  Abela also hinted that there would be “rewards” for enterprises that had flourished during the coronavirus pandemic.   “We are a government that helps, that gives, not one that takes away in taxes,” he added.   On Monday the government is expected to announce a number of financial measures to help facilitate the island’s post-COVID economic recovery.  Abela had announced last week that the government would present a 'multi-million' programme with its latest measures to help businesses and encourage consumption. Speaking on the Labour Party’s media platform ONE on Sunday, Abela said that since relaxing restrictive measures earlier this month, he had already started to see the country “come back to normality”.   He said he was encouraged when he saw the public returning to the streets, go to shops, and enjoying the summer with family...
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The PN had turned a profit and has financial stability - Arrigo

June 7, 2020, 2:57 am
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The Nationalist Party has returned a profit and has financial stability deputy leader Robert Arrigo said on Sunday. Writing in a Facebook post, Arrigo said that over the past 30 months the PN had been forced to cancel two fund-raising marathons,  one due to the internal situation and the other because of Covid-19.  Those marathons could have yielded it €500,000. Nonetheless, he added, "we now have public audited accounts for the PN, that show a profit." Furthermore, the PN is property rich to the tune of €36 million. "We have restructured both financially and also our workforce. The staff made its sacrifices. We now have a plan. With an eye to the future administrations. What was found was not good enough. We are proud to have a financial stability that permits us to look forward and invest," he added. Arrigo said the PN media was found to be losing up to €1 million each year, something which was unacceptable. By 2021 this would be zeroed, without selling off assets, and there would be no more burdens. "People's money has been well invested. The successful cedoli system continued and has reached 500 contracts. It continues at a 4% investment rate, payable yearly" he added with...
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Love (and life) in the time of coronavirus

June 7, 2020, 3:15 am
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Michael Nazir and his wife Chandra on their wedding day last December.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in countless changes to daily life. Two CareMalta employees, who joined the company’s 10-week lockdown initiative with elderly residents, share their stories. Pakistani player on Malta national cricket team hasn’t seen wife for months For Michael Nazir, 41, who works at Casa San Paolo in Buġibba, his lockdown journey wasn’t an easy time without his wife Chanda by his side. [attach id=883749 size="medium" align="right" type="image"]Michael is a member of Malta’s national cricket team.[/attach] Practically newly-weds, having tied the knot last December in Pakistan, the couple has not been able to be together at all after the wedding. He is in Malta while his wife is in Pakistan. Chanda was meant to fly to Malta on April 2 – having had both a visa and a work permit – to happily reunite with her husband, only to end up separated at the very last minute due to travel restrictions. Michael has been working as a carer for the past four-and-a-half years. “Having completed my studies in Pakistan, it was my dream to work with the elderly. When I left Pakistan, I got the job I’ve always wanted. I’m very happy here,” he says. “Even though what I’m...
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PM tried to be populist but failed – Delia on migration decisions

June 7, 2020, 3:21 am
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Prime Minister Robert Abela tried to be populist when he decided to keep migrants onboard tourist boats offshore but had failed, endangering people’s lives in the process, PN leader Adrian Delia said on Sunday.  Speaking on Nationalist Party media, the Opposition leader said that Abela “chose to endanger lives to play a card and take a position which he believed to be populist,” but failed.  The PN leader was reacting to the decision to allow some 425 migrants who were being held offshore on four tourist boats to disembark on Saturday night. According to Abela, those onboard one of the government-chartered boats occupied the kitchen, grabbed knives and threatened to blow up a gas cylinder and burn rubbish.  The migrants then gave the authorities 30 minutes to act and if not, they threatened to kidnap the crew, the Prime Minister said.  Delia went on to criticise what he said is a lack of decisiveness by the government on matters of great importance.    The Opposition leader said people did not know what to expect to come out of Monday’s mini-budget, as the government had been giving conflicting information.  “The sense of uncertainty brought about by the pandemic has been made...
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Doing business with Japan after COVID-19

June 7, 2020, 3:24 am
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The neon lights of the Shinjuku district in Tokyo reflect a vibrant hub of retail and commercial business, restaurants and entertainment. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Japan is the world’s third largest economy and one of Malta’s largest trading partners and export destinations. It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world economy to its knees with travel restrictions, business closures, uncertainty and rising unemployment. The major dilemma governments are facing now is to balance global health with the economic well-being of a nation. It is, therefore, paramount to have an integrated recovery plan to kick-start the economy once again after the pandemic starts to phase out – and one can do this by looking where the sun rises, to Japan. A resilient economy Nana korobi, ya oki (fall down seven times, stand up eight) is a Japanese proverb that symbolises the virtue of resilience. This resilience can be seen when Japan quickly bounced back after negative or catastrophic situations. The Japanese economy bounced back from heavy post-war setbacks in 1945, the 1973 oil crisis, the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the global economic crisis of 2008. One should also not forget the natural disasters like the tsunami of 2011, earthquakes and the recent typhoon Hagibis of last October (which I had the misfortune of experiencing) that...
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Two new COVID-19 cases

June 7, 2020, 3:38 am
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Two new COVID-19 cases were detected on Sunday as no patients recovered overnight.  This means healthcare officials are now caring for 24 patients.  The two new cases were identified from 905 swab tests. Malta’s health authorities have conducted an estimated 75,374 COVID-19 tests since the first cases were detected on March 7.  The number of new cases was released by the Health Ministry on Facebook on Sunday though no further details on the patients were provided. Briefings by Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci that would shed light on new cases came to an end on Wednesday. [attach id=884007 size="large" align="left" type="image"][/attach] Instead, the health authorities are now only providing information on the number of new cases and recoveries.  In total, there have been 629 COVID-19 cases in Malta so far, with 596 of the patients having recovered from the virus, while a further nine patients have died.  Most coronavirus restrictions were lifted on Friday, after the government said Malta has beaten back the virus and can now shift its focus on getting the economy back on track.   
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Pedestrian bridge inaugurated near airport

June 7, 2020, 3:58 am
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A pedestrian bridge across Vjal L-Avjazzjoni, Luqa, was inaugurated on Sunday morning by Infrastructure minister Ian Borg.  The bridge is located near the temporary premises of the Institute of Tourism Studies and facilitates pedestrian access between Luqa and Gudja. The 43-tonne steel structure was laid in place in February and is 34 metres long. It features lifts and spiral ramps on both sides. Infrastructure Malta is currently planning major works up the road where the roundabout in Gudja leading to the airport, Birzebbuga, Zurrieq and Kirkop will be replaced by underpasses.   [attach id=884013 size="large" align="left" type="image"][/attach]
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Heavyweight champion Joshua hits out at ‘virus’ of racism

June 7, 2020, 4:12 am
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World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua told a Black Lives Matter march on Saturday that protesters were the “vaccine” to the “virus” of racism.  “The virus I am referring to is called racism,” he said, comparing its effects to the damage done by COVID-19. Meanwhile the British boxer asked: “How long are we going to allow racism to spread through our communities?” Worldwide protests under the banner of Black Lives Matter took place Saturday in response to the death of George Floyd, a black American man who died in Minneapolis last month while being arrested by police officers. “You are the vaccine, I am the vaccine,” the 30-year-old Joshua told a rally in his home town of Watford. “Killing a person outright is unforgivable, but stripping them of their human rights, oppressing them, mocking them, insulting them, placing glass ceilings above them... is just a slower way of killing them and taking the life out of their soul.” Joshua was on crutches at times on Saturday and was also seen wearing a knee brace, but a spokesperson insisted that was just a “precautionary measure”.  Joshua, the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO title-holder, felt a “slight twinge” in his left knee in a...
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The impact of smoking on radiotherapy treatment

June 7, 2020, 4:15 am
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Smoking while receiving radiotherapy may result in a reduced response to treatment. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Cigarette smoking has been shown to be one of the leading causes of preventable deaths worldwide. Smoking may also give rise to different types of cancers, the most common of which is lung cancer. However, it can lead to more than 15 types of cancer in other parts of the body, such as the colon, rectum, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas and others. So, how does smoking increase the incidence of cancer? It comes as no surprise that the number of years one spends smoking affects the risk of cancer accordingly. Research has shown that a DNA change occurs for every 15 ciga­rettes smoked,  possibly leading to a ma­­lignant transformation of cells. Chemicals in cigarette smoke enter the bloodstream and affect individuals systemically. Although the human body is capable of dealing with some damage, the amount of harmful agents in tobacco smoke is so disruptive that the body may not even be able to cope with it. It is interesting to note that: • 90 per cent and 83 per cent of lung cancers in men and women respectively are caused by smoking; • nine out of every 10 people who die of lung cancer are smokers; and • Smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer by 10 to 15 per cent. Since...
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‘Substantial increase’ in couples seeking separation during lockdown

June 7, 2020, 9:35 pm
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Some couples cannot have a conversation. Photo: Shutterstock.com

The novel coronavirus outbreak led to a “substantial” increase in couples seeking legal advice on separations as COVID-19 puts a magnifying glass on relationships, family lawyers say. Times of Malta spoke to four family lawyers, who all reported an increase in people seeking their advice on marriage breakdowns since April as couples spent more time together when under partial lockdown. The final push to go their separate ways seems to have been down to proximity and the lack of distraction that the pandemic caused, forcing couples to think – and decide they want out. Family lawyer Anne Marie Bisazza, who has been working in the field for 18 years, said she has never been so busy with rekindled requests for legal advice on separations, as well as new clients. “Life got slower and, with more time to rest and think, rather than just work and play, some marriages started to feel like forced cohabitation,” she said. Patience ran out after Easter Family lawyers noticed a similar pattern: from March to Easter week, couples seemed to be waiting it out. But the moment they sensed the situation would last longer, patience ran out and an element of panic set in. Those in the process of...
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Announcements - June 8, 2020

June 7, 2020, 9:40 pm
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Obituaries [attach id=884154 size="small" align="right" type="image"][/attach] ATTARD. On June 6, TANIA, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband Francis, her children Mark and Chris and their respective wives, Margaret and Francesca, her beloved grandchildren Alessia, Enya, Andre and Austin, her siblings, Charles, Rita and Mario and their spouses, nephews and nieces, in-laws, other relatives and friends. In view of the current circumstances, a private funeral Mass for the immediate family will be celebrated today, Monday, June 8, at 2pm, at the Msida parish church, followed by interment in the family grave. Lord, grant her eternal rest.   TABONE. On Friday, June 5, JOSEPHINE née Camilleri, aged 83, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her great loss her husband Dr Mario Tabone, her children Jean Paul and his wife Niki, Mark and his wife Daphne, Simone and her husband Philip, her seven grandchildren Karl, Julia, Nina, Michael, Kristina, Luca and Max, her brothers Victor and his partner Veronica, Tony and his wife Marika, her sister Carmen, her sister-in-law Jill, and all...
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A heartfelt appeal to the young - Fr Charles Cini, SDB

June 7, 2020, 9:54 pm
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Humbly, I would like to tell young people in Malta and Gozo: believe in God and His love. Life will appear splendid and attractive. What, really, is in the order and harmony of all things? It is the future, the work, the sacrifice in enthusiastic and exciting achievement. You can become rich, powerful, learned, scientists but without God in your hearts you will never experience real joy and never have lasting peace. Unfortunately, we become aware of this void with the passing of years, after some sorrowful experiences and, at times, when it may be too late. Notwithstanding the great progress registered in science, techno­logy, welfare and knowledge, life has become inhumane, sometimes senseless and, at times, even horrendous. We do not have peace in our hearts, serenity in our families and tranquillity in all our affairs. There is no security in our future: everything has become unstable, uncertain and illusory; everything eludes us; everything is disposable, even human beings. Why? From generation to generation, we have moved away from God, from His law, and we have replaced love with hate, justice with power, truth with hypocrisy and falsehood. We have forgotten that...
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Britain starts mandatory self-quarantine for arrivals

June 7, 2020, 9:55 pm
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Photo: AFP

Most people arriving in Britain from today will have to self-isolate for two weeks under a new coronavirus restriction that has been roundly condemned by the ailing aviation sector. The measure, which applies to both residents and visitors with some exceptions, aims to prevent a second wave of contagion from abroad. But critics question why Britain - where the number of new COVID-19 infections per 100,000 people in the past fortnight was the second-highest in Europe - is inflicting more pain on hotels and airlines by reducing travel from countries with fewer virus cases. British Airways and budget carriers EasyJet and Ryanair have launched joint legal proceedings against the government over what they called a "disproportionate and unfair" step. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the new rules made sense because "the proportion of infections that come from abroad increases" as Britain's own caseload drops. "We've got to take an approach that starts with caution," he told Sky News. To enter Britain by plane, train, road or sea, travellers must provide details of their journey and the address where they will self-isolate. How the quarantine will be implemented differs between...
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All Atlas Insurance branches and head office reopen safely

June 7, 2020, 9:59 pm
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Atlas Insurance is ensuring that the highest levels of health and safety are upheld in its reopened branches for both its employees and clients.

As from today, all 10 Atlas Insurance branches and its head office in Ta’ Xbiex will be open for clients. Atlas has branches in Birkirkara, Cospicua, Żeb­buġ, Mosta, Paola, Rabat, San Ġwann, SkyParks, St Paul’s Bay and Ta’ Xbiex. Branches are being reopened following the positive developments and the latest government health directives. Atlas is ensuring that the highest levels of health and safety are upheld for both its employees and clients. In fact, visitors are encouraged to follow safety measures when entering the firm’s branches, including wearing a face mask or visor at all times, using hand sanitisers provided on entering branches or offices, as well as waiting outside the branch at a safe distance of two metres between individuals until called inside. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we kept up client service even though we had to close our branches for obvious health reasons. In fact, we had put in place several pre-planned contingency measures to minimise any negative impact on service quality and ensure our clients can obtain what they need over the phone, online and via our social media channels. We are now thrilled to welcome visitors back to our branches, whilst...
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