Новости за 07.09.2021

A magistrates’ court has found there is sufficient evidence for Yorgen Fenech to be indicted over money laundering and fraud to the detriment of Glimmer Ltd, a company he partly owned.  Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech decreed there was a 'case to answer' on Tuesday morning - a day after the defence raised doubts over the prosecution's case against the businessman.  Nicholas Cachia, 46 alongside his father Joseph Cachia, 67, also implicated in the alleged “system” to launder company funds through fictitious wagers... Читать дальше...

Health Minister Chris Fearne has signalled a shift in the focus from COVID-19 daily case numbers to hospitalisation rates. He said the "main emphasis" of the daily COVID-19 update will be placed on the number of people being treated in hospital and in intensive care (ITU). At 12.30pm every day, the ministry's Facebook page, Saħħa, shares a graphic detailing statistics such as daily cases, recoveries, deaths and vaccine numbers. Until now the focus has been on the daily case numbers, with the hospitalisations added as a footnote. Читать дальше...

Schools will retain most of the COVID-19 rules in place, but P.E., lab work, and even classroom birthday parties are to be allowed when class resumes later this month.    Education Minister Justyne Caruana announced the new rules during a press conference on Tuesday morning.  She said that students in Year 8 and under will have to sit 1.5metres apart. Those in Year 9 and over will have to keep their desks 1metre apart.   School assemblies can be held but social distancing and the principle of bubbles must be respected, she said. Читать дальше...

It was 100 years ago, on September 7, 1921, that the Legion of Mary, a Catholic lay movement, came into being; in a short time it spread to all countries across the globe. Its origins were humble enough. A group of young people led by Frank Duff met without any inkling of the momentous circumstance. On that day, the eve of the feast of Our Lady’s Nativity, they discussed how best to instil the love of God in the world. The gathering was held around a simple altar with the statue of the Immaculate Conception... Читать дальше...

Educators says they are in the dark over what classes they will be teaching when schools open later this month.   In a statement on Tuesday, the Union of Professional Educators said its members were complaining they had not yet been contacted by the Education Ministry to assign them a class for the coming scholastic year. Schools are set to open on September 28. The authorities are expected to announce how schools will reopen later on Tuesday, in a press conference to explain new COVID-19 rules in class. Читать дальше...

Heritage Malta is celebrating the autumn equinox with guided tours at Mnajdra on September 21 and 22. Opposite the main entrance of the prehistoric World Heritage site, a doorway flanked by two large blocks covered in small drilled holes marks the place where a curious occurrence happens at the start of every new season. As the sun rises on the first day of spring and autumn (the equinoxes) and the first day of summer and winter (the solstices), its rays align perfectly and light up specific parts of this passageway. Читать дальше...

Former prime minister Joseph Muscat on Tuesday insisted he has already apologised to the family of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and is not expecting one back. In a letter to the editor on Times of Malta, Muscat takes umbrage with a letter written by Peter Caruana Galizia, the late journalist’s widower. Caruana Galizia had written on September 1: "Joseph Muscat has nearly apologised, conditional on the ridiculous demand that we first apologise to him." Muscat writes that he had not put any conditions to his apology... Читать дальше...

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.

Malta coach Devis Mangia said that his team’s physical fitness was his main concern as the national team takes on group leaders Russia in a 2022 World Cup qualifier in Moscow on Tuesday (kick-off: 20.45). The Malta national team are heading into the match after a highly-encouraging week of international football which saw the side register an impressive 3-0 win over Cyprus at the National Stadium and then were unlucky to suffer a 1-0 defeat to Slovenia in Ljubljana, courtesy of a highly-dubious penalty. Читать дальше...

It’s a common saying in football and in all sports that you’re only as good as your last performance, and that is one of the key elements that Malta Under-21 coach Gilbert Agius is trying to instil in his players ahead of this evening’s tough encounter against Russia in Khimki on Tuesday (kick-off: 18.00). The Malta U-21 youngsters head into the match against the Russians in high spirits following their impressive 4-1 win over the Northern Ireland on Friday with Mattia Veselji netting a brace... Читать дальше...

Over the last few years, there have been endless stories of how a culture of impunity has encouraged certain people in high places, in both politics and business, to commit wrongdoing in the certainty that the arm of the law would never reach them.  Amid scandal after scandal, both main political parties have tried to occupy the moral high ground, promising that they would not tolerate abuse motivated by monetary gain. Unfortunately, those who react cynically to the holier-than-thou posturing... Читать дальше...

The following are the top stories in Malta's newspapers on Tuesday. Times of Malta leads its front page with news that former European commissioner John Dalli is to face court action over an alleged attempt by his top aide to solicit a €60million bribe from to help over turn an EU-wide ban on snus, a type of smokeless tobacco.   In a separate article, the paper reports how bodies that represent business have complained about the “preferential treatment” being given to political parties by the tax authorities. Читать дальше...

“I never defended Pilatus”. This was our former minister and current Central Bank of Malta governor, Edward Scicluna. His memory must be fading fast. And needs some help. In July 2018, the very same Scicluna declared: “The bank was given a warning. Pilatus engaged two consultants – KPMG and Camilleri-Preziosi – and asked them how to conform with regulations. Which they did.” Malta’s minister of finance was doing precisely what he told us he never did. He wasn’t just defending the bank. He was defending its chairman, Ali Sadr Hasheminejad. Читать дальше...

ECB monetary operations On August 30, the European Central Bank announced the seven-day main refinancing operation (MRO). The operation was conducted on August 31 and attracted bids from euro area eligible counterparties of €16 million, €96 million less than the previous week. The amount was allotted in full at a fixed rate equivalent to the prevailing MRO rate of zero per cent, in accordance with current ECB policy.  On September 1, the ECB conducted the seven-day US dollar funding operation... Читать дальше...

Awarding the capital of culture title to Marsa is the push the locality needs to encourage more investment after decades of “abandonment”, mayor Josef Azzopardi told Times of Malta.  On Friday, the locality was named the first ever local ‘capital of culture’, which will see Marsa hosting a programme of activities throughout 2022 and allocated a budget of €200,000. Having throughout the years been associated with heavy industry and a bustling migrant community, reaction to the news was met largely with scepticism and irony... Читать дальше...

Obituary  GRECH. On September 5, COLIN, aged 53, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife Graziella née Sammut-Lucia, his beloved daughter Maria, his mother Pat Mahoney, his sister Lisa and her partner Steve, his sister-in-law Angela, other relatives and friends. The funeral leaves Mater Dei Hospital tomorrow, Wednesday, September 8, for the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish church, Ibraġ, where Mass præsente cadavere will be said at 10am... Читать дальше...

Except for a few obscure political warps caught in the wilderness, the welfare state is no longer taboo and different ideologies acknowledge both its usefulness and success as against the old lore of it being some form of ‘extreme’ doctrine.  Based upon the principles of equal opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth and public responsibility for citizens unable to avail themselves of the minimal provision for a good life, the welfare state in most modern countries is a reality that works... Читать дальше...