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Ex-athletics chief Diack faces court over corruption

June 7, 2020, 10:00 pm
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Lamine Diack, the disgraced former head of athletics’ world governing body, goes on trial in Paris on Monday facing a potential 10-year prison sentence on charges of accepting millions of dollars to cover up Russian doping tests. Diack, the Senegalese who was in charge of the International Association of Athletics Federations (now World Athletics), between 1999 and 2015, is charged with “giving and receiving bribes”, “breach of trust” and “organised money laundering”, and is expected to attend court. The prosecution alleges that Diack, who turns 87 on Sunday, obtained $1.5 million of Russian funds to help back Macky Sall’s campaign for the 2012 Senegal presidential election - which he won - in exchange for the IAAF’s anti-doping arm covering up or delaying offences by 23 Russians. The aim, prosecutors will say, was to allow the Russians to compete in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow.  The trial, following a four-year investigation by the French Financial Prosecutor’s Office, was originally scheduled to start on January 13, and the charges carry not only a maximum sentence of 10 years’ prison but also a heavy fine. Also appearing in...
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Db’s monument to arrogance

June 7, 2020, 10:04 pm
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Local councils have denounced the unsustainability of db’s project.

Db has done anything but listen. It has certainly not listened to us, residents of Pembroke. To the thousands of registered objectors, a national record, who have repeatedly rejected its “column in the Mediterranean,” as one of db’s architects infamously called its tower. Neither has it listened to objections about its massive hotel, a monument to architectural bullying, pushing its weight around in Pembroke’s most densely populated area, towering over the apartment blocks of residents. Db has not listened to our local council and our mayor, Dean Hili, who have repeatedly stated that db’s hotel and tower are totally out of proportion in our town. Neither has it listened to the St Julian’s local council and the Swieqi local council, or the many NGOs that have the common good at heart. It has not listened to the Association of Local Councils either. That’s all the local councils in Malta coming together to denounce the unsustainability of db’s project. Db has even refused to listen to the impartial and highly respected Auditor General, who has cast serious doubts on the circumstances (and, therefore, the legitimacy) of the sale of the public land on which db wants to build its...
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Today's front pages - June 8, 2020

June 7, 2020, 10:15 pm
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The following are the top stories in some of Malta's newspapers on Monday. Times of Malta quotes family lawyers saying that the COVID-19 outbreak led to a “substantial” increase in couples seeking legal advice on separations as the pandemic put a magnifying glass on relationships. The newspaper also refers to Prime Minister Robert Abela's announcement that the government will today announce financial incentives to encourage peopleto eat out at restaurants and enjoy weekend breaks. The Malta Independent quotes real estate agents saying that the limit of property price for the Home Deposit Scheme, currently at €175,000 should be extended to €200,000. In a separate article it refers to comments by Abela on Sunday about how migrants aboard a Captain Morgan vessel out at sea stole knives from the boat's kitchen and threatened to blow up a gas cylinder. L-orizzont also refers to the same incident aboard the Captain Morgain, while in a separate article it quotes lecturer George Vital Zammit calling for a migration forum. In-Nazzjon quotes PN leader Adrian Delia calling on Abela to "persuade" Europe as "one country with a strong voice". The newspaper also reports on how the pilots’...
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Stimulus for recovery, solidarity

June 7, 2020, 10:23 pm
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The management of the economic effects of the pandemic will enter a new phase today when the prime minister makes a statement about fresh fiscal measures the government will introduce to stimulate recovery. We are living in extraordinary times when governments the world over are making extraordinary fiscal decisions that, up to some months ago, would have been unthinkable. It is good that the wheels of economic decision making both at the local and the European Union level are turning much faster than most people are used to. The belief that governments could just push a button and the printing press would churn out as much money as is required to mitigate the pain of the crisis, such as the one we are experiencing, is fallacious. But it is also not that uncommon. Businesses and individuals that are suffering the pain of the slowdown, as a result of the partial economic shutdown, have high expectations about what the government can do to restore normality in their lives. The finance minister, however, knows all too well that in the real world he cannot ignore the realpolitik of public finances for too long. Undoubtedly, the Maltese economy needs yet another dose of fiscal...
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PA moves in to stop illegal work at Gozo’s San Blas

June 7, 2020, 10:30 pm
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A 2016 shot of the picturesque San Blas Bay, in Gozo. Photo: Daniel Cilia

The Planning Authority took swift action to stop all illegal works carried out in a field metres from the picturesque San Blas Bay, in Gozo. The action was taken just hours after Times of Malta alerted the planning watchdog to the new structures and the synthetic turf placed on farmland close to the water’s edge. According to PA plans, the field is the same one that had been slapped with enforcement notices in 2014 when Gozitan construction magnate Joseph Portelli had been ordered to dismantle all structures or face a daily fine of €50. The illegal structures, consisting of a metal canopy frame and a metal gate, had been dismantled just a day after the PA issued the enforcement order. Fast forward a few years and a similar canopy has now been erected in the same field, according to PA documents. It could not be ascertained whether Portelli owns the fields and various attempts to contact him proved futile. Sources told this newspaper that the fresh structures, complete with a wooden fence, reappeared on the site over the last few weeks. However, this time, one of the two fields, connected with a staircase, was also covered in synthetic turf. The illegal patio with a shaded area,...
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'No problems' for Messi to face Mallorca - Setien

June 7, 2020, 10:39 pm
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Lionel Messi will be fit to play in Barcelona's first game back against Real Mallorca, despite some "minor tightness" in his right thigh, coach Quique Setien said on Sunday.  Messi trained alone on Saturday at Camp Nou after sitting out the team's previous two sessions, raising doubts over his involvement in the trip to Mallorca on Saturday.  But when asked whether Messi would be able to play next weekend, Setien told Movistar on Sunday: "Messi is not the only one that has not trained and felt some discomfort.  "It's what has happened to everyone or practically everyone since they have been back.  "It is some minor tightness and we have it under control. He is doing perfectly and will not have any problem."  Barcelona said on Friday that Messi should return to full training "in a few days' time", but his absence is a concern given the squad have only 10 days to train together before La Liga resumes on Thursday. Messi has also endured an injury-interrupted season.  The 32-year-old was out for six weeks between August and September with a calf injury and then at the end of September, he missed another week with a problem in his left thigh.  After regaining fitness, he quickly...
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Minneapolis council vows police dismantling as protests continue

June 7, 2020, 10:40 pm
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A man raises his fist as he walks at a memorial for George Floyd following a day of demonstrations on June 7, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Demonstrations are being held across the US following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 in police custody. Photo: AFP

Councilors in the US city of Minneapolis pledged to dismantle and rebuild the police department, after the death in custody of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests about racism in law enforcement, pushing the issue onto the national political agenda. Floyd was killed on May 25 when white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the unarmed black man's neck for nearly nine minutes. Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder and is to appear in court Monday. "We committed to dismantling policing as we know it in the city of Minneapolis and to rebuild with our community a new model of public safety that actually keeps our community safe," Council President Lisa Bender told CNN, after a majority of councilors committed to the effort. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, however, is against getting rid of the department, and the head of the city's powerful police union, Bob Kroll, appeared on stage last year with President Donald Trump. The vow by the majority of councilors came a day after Frey was booed at and asked to leave a "Defund the Police" rally. He later told AFP he supported "massive structural reform to revise this structurally racist system" but...
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COVID-19: Making waves in the shipping industry

June 7, 2020, 10:49 pm
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Since the Malta flag is the sixth largest flag in the world and largest in Europe in terms of tonnage, the local shipping industry has been significantly hit.

The shipping industry, within the limits of today’s situation, continues to operate and keep crucial supply chains flowing across the globe. Having said this, the outbreak of the coronavirus has seen a widespread negative impact on the industry’s operations. It has affected many different aspects of the industry, including the dry bulk, containership and oil tanker markets amongothers, since international trade activities across the globe have substantially declined to reduce the spread of this novel virus. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on global shipping, which in the near future, could lead to yet another industry-wide crisis in a somewhat already struggling shipping industry. Several ports and shipping companies have implemented drastic measures which, even though are vital in combatting the virus, have caused severe disruptions within the industry. Governments around the world have imposed strict containment measures resulting in substantially lower global economic growth and consequentially, lower demand for the movement of goods. Since the Malta flag is the sixth largest flag in the world and largest in Europe in terms of tonnage, the local shipping industry has been...
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Man. City face critical appeal against two-season European ban

June 7, 2020, 11:00 pm
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Manchester City’s appeal against a two-year ban from European competition will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) from Monday in a case of wide-reaching repercussions. City are accused of overstating sponsorship revenue to hide that they had not complied with UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) rules between 2012 and 2016 and were also handed a 30 million euro ($34 million, £27 million) fine. UEFA’s case was prompted when German magazine Der Spiegel published a series of leaked emails in 2018 that purported to show how City manufactured extra sponsorship revenue from a series of companies with connections to the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour. Under the Sheikh’s ownership, City’s fortunes have been transformed from perennially living in the shadow of local rivals Manchester United to winning four Premier League titles in the past eight years. However, billions of investment in players and managers has not yet been able to deliver the club’s first ever Champions League title. City are still involved in this season’s competition and will be allowed to compete should the 2019/20 edition of Champions League return in August no matter the outcome of the...
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Unseen Gozo... at the turn of a century

June 7, 2020, 11:01 pm
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Xlendi in the 1890s. Photo: The Fine Art Studio

I remember remarking, in a book about the sister island, that Malta is the more unpleasant part of Gozo. Is it still so, or is Gozo now striving to compete seriously with Malta as to which of them will turn more disagreeable? [attach id=884133 size="medium" align="right" type="image"]Young Gozitan lacemakers, 1910s. All images from the author’s collections[/attach] Nature has, overall, been kind to Gozo. More variedly contoured than Malta, and markedly greener, Gozo only lacked the splendid harbours that gave Malta an edge. An amazingly creative mankind seems to have discovered Gozo at about the same time as it appeared in Malta – see Ġgantija. And, for centuries, time froze in Gozo. At best, the march of progress was not really a march – more like a lethargic amble. But, recently, Gozo started resenting falling back in the uglification race against Malta. It is reinventing itself, making sure that little flourishes that is not certifiably dreadful. Yes, it has seen the erection of the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary and the rebirth of the Cittadella. Good. But the first symptoms of the philistine malaise were perhaps the deliberate shattering of the Xagħra Circle and the planned demolition...
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What happened on... June 8

June 7, 2020, 11:12 pm
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The front pages of Times of Malta from 25 and 10 years ago.  Become a Times of Malta premium member to gain full access to our archive dating back to January 1930.
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Watch: Gżira United confirm Steve Borg signing

June 7, 2020, 11:14 pm
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Gżira United confirmed the signing of defender Steve Borg from Valletta. The major transfer deal was all but announced last week when the Citizens had announced that they had reach an agreement with Gżira United for the transfer of Malta defender Borg to the Maroons. [attach id=884190 type="video"][/attach] The 32-year-old defender has put pen to paper on a five-year contract. The signing of Borg has been seen as a major transfer coup for Gżira United as the veteran defender had established himself as a key member of the Valletta side that had won two of the last three championships. Added to that the former Mosta defender is also a key member of the national team. The arrival of Borg is likely the start of another hectic transfer campaign for Gżira United who are looking to bolster their squad in a bid to make up for a disappointing league campaign which saw them fail to qualify for European football after finishing sixth in the Premier League.
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Saving for a rainy day

June 7, 2020, 11:32 pm
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One golden rule young families are often advised to adopt is to accumulate enough savings for at least six months of expenses. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Pandemic crises are rare. Economic downturns are not. Yet we see individuals, families, local and national governments, small and large businesses struggling to cope with a partial economic shutdown that has so far lasted for a few months. One cannot help feeling a bit of déjà vu. The 2008 economic downturn had a significant impact on many businesses and individuals. Governments had to use taxpayers’ money to save banks as the alternative was more businesses failing and workers made redundant. This time around, I see little evidence that the vast majority have learned the lesson of the importance of saving for a rainy day. Most of those affected expect the government to rescue them from poverty. One golden rule young families are often advised to adopt is to accumulate enough savings for at least six months of expenses. The reality is that many still live from pay cheque to pay cheque. Those who are employed in precarious work understandably struggle to follow this rule. But others relatively better off prefer to consume more rather than put some money aside for emergencies. This most recent economic crisis has even impacted many who could usually be described as thrifty. These...
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Racism 'only disease right now,' says Sterling

June 7, 2020, 11:43 pm
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Manchester City and England footballer Raheem Sterling on Sunday insisted that racism is "the only disease right now". The 25-year-old, who has often and powerfully spoken out on discrimination, admitted his remarks may appear ill-chosen as the globe fights the coronavirus pandemic. "I know this might sound a little bit cheesy but the only disease right now is the racism that we are fighting," said Sterling in a BBC TV interview to be broadcast on Monday. Sterling is the latest sports star to voice support for protests against racism in the United States and across the world following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. "This is the most important thing at this moment in time because this is something that is happening for years and years. Just like the pandemic, we want to find a solution to stop it," he added. "At the same time, this is what all these protesters are doing. They are trying to find a solution and a way to stop the injustice they are seeing, and they are fighting for their cause. "As long as they are doing it peacefully and safely and not hurting anybody and not breaking into any stores, they continue to protest in this peaceful way." Sterling...
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Live blog: Daphne murder middleman testifying in Yorgen Fenech compilation

June 7, 2020, 11:54 pm
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The spot in Bidnija where Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed. Photo: Jonathan Borg

The compilation of evidence against alleged Daphne Caruana Galizia murder mastermind Yorgen Fenech resumes on Monday.  Caruana Galizia had been killed for over six months when the self-confessed middleman in her murder, Melvin Theuma, began recording conversations he was having with the prominent businessman.  Fenech enters court room 9.10am Yorgen Fenech has just walked into the court room, accompanied by four guards. He is approached by two of his lawyers, Gianluca Caruana Curran and Charles Mercieca. The trio are having a private chat, standing outside the dock. The witness stand today gas been equipped with a Perspex shield, box-like, separating the witness from those seated close by. [attach id=884196 size="large" align="left" type="image"]Yorgen Fenech outside court in November. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina[/attach] Welcome 8.55am Welcome to our live blog from the court room. We are expected to hear more of the secret recordings made by Theuma. The magistrate said she would like to bring to an end Theuma's testimony in this particular compilation. So this could be a long one.  The victim's relatives Matthew Caruana Galizia and Helene Asciak are in the courtroom.  The...
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Refreshed Hyundai Santa Fe gets hybrid powertrains

June 8, 2020, 12:18 am
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Hyundai has overhauled its Santa Fe SUV, which sits on a new platform with electrified powertrains for the first time. This will be the first of the firm’s vehicles in Europe to use the company’s new vehicle platform, which Hyundai says provides improved performance, handling, fuel efficiency and safety. The key news is the hybrid powertrains, which follow on from the firm’s well-received Kona Electric and Hybrid. In another European first, the Santa Fe will get Hyundai’s latest ‘Smartstream’ hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, though full details of this and other propulsion options will be released at a later date. [attach id=883257 size="large" align="left" type="image"][/attach] It also gets a smart new look, with the front dominated by a massive grille that has the main headlights integrated into it, with slim daytime running lights sitting higher up. Other changes include wider wheel arch cladding and new alloy wheel designs, with the redesign’s aim to give a more premium and sophisticated appearance. Inside, the premium angle continues with ‘every component finished in soft-touch materials’, a redesigned centre console, a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system...
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Stressed bond market a boon to credit pickers

June 8, 2020, 12:33 am
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A mix of corporate and sovereign issuers tapped credit markets around the globe in order to survive during the pandemic shock. Funding cost and capital structures for corporates were placed on the back burner as the very existence of companies came into question. The uncertainty that gripped credit markets during the lockdown period meant that funding costs shot up as willing investors became ever more averse to lending during a period upon which visibility was opaque at best. Intuitevely, the hardest hit were corporates on the lower end of the credit ladder. The common practice in the funding world has always been centred on credit risk; that is, what is the probability of default? Naturally, the higher the risk of default, the higher the expected cost of capital. Indeed, in a matter of weeks, observed yields for sub-investment grade debt went from a low point at 2.60 per cent during the end of February which then shot up to the highest at c. 9.60 per cent by the end of March. The jump of seven per cent over a month shows the jaw dropping scale of the problem that credit markets were envisioning at that point. Prudent investors tapping creditworthy issuers with solid business...
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MIDI lashes out at db Group over ground rent claims

June 8, 2020, 12:47 am
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The Manoel Island masterplan.

Property development firm MIDI plc has hit out at db Group's CEO for claiming the company is behind on its concession payments. On Sunday, db Group CEO Arthur Gauci said in an interview that MIDI had not been investigated despite having halted concession payments to the government in 2012. “MIDI were given 23 years to pay, they only developed the real estate part, and have been not paying since 2012. Why did the NAO not investigate this?” he asked. MIDI is the company behind major developments at Manoel Island and Tigne' Point.  Gauci argued that db Group, which has faced staunch opposition over its City Centre development project plans for St George's Bay, had been "unfairly singled out" for criticism. He drew comparisons with other major land concessions and said that the company's St George's Bay project was the only one which the government had sought an independent price evaluation for.  But MIDI hit back, claiming Gauci's statement about the company being behind on its payments was "false and misleading". “All payments of ground rent and cash premia due by MIDI PLC up to end 2019 have been settled in full in line with the terms detailed in the deed," it said in a statement...
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Drivers won't operate buses when temperatures top 30 degrees - UĦM

June 8, 2020, 12:58 am
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File photo

On Monday the UĦM Voice of the Workers ordered its members to refuse to drive buses when the temperature aboard soared over 30 degrees Celsius.  Temperatures higher than 39 degrees have been recorded on buses that have had to switch off their air-conditioning system to help curb the COVID-19 spread, the union is claiming. It said it has been flagging the "unbearable heat" aboard buses for the past three weeks.  High temperaturs put at risk the health and safety of bus drivers and passengers, it said in a statement on Monday. It has been proven that long-term exposure to high temperatures led to several health problems, it added. The permanent opening of hatches in buses to allow for ventilation had barely impacted the high temperatures on buses, the union said. Over the past weeks several precautions have been taken when it comes to public transport, considering that route buses are the only means of commuting for some people. In March the Malta Public Transport had said buses were being fumigated during the night. Then in May Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci said passengers have to wear masks on buses.
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Iran scientist back home from US after prisoner swap

June 8, 2020, 1:31 am
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Iranian doctor Majid Taheri (L), who had been detained in the United States for 16 months, is welcomed by his wife and an Iranian Foreign Ministry official upon his arrival at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on June 8, 2020. Photo: AFP

An Iranian scientist returned home Monday after his release from a US jail in what state media said was a prisoner exchange Tehran hopes can be repeated between the arch-foes. Majid Taheri - an Iranian-American who had been working at a clinic in Tampa, Florida - had been detained in the United States for 16 months. He was freed on Thursday as Iran released US Navy veteran Michael White, who had been detained in the Islamic republic since his arrest in July 2018. Upon his arrival at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport, Taheri was greeted by deputy foreign minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari. State media published pictures of the pair speaking to journalists. "I hope to see the release of (other Iranians imprisoned abroad) in the near future," Ansari was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency, adding his ministry would do its best to achieve this. Ansari said the scientist was freed after months of efforts by the ministry in coordination with Switzerland, whose embassy in Tehran handles US interests. Taheri for his part thanked Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. "I thank the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and dear officials, including Mr. Zarif, who...
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