It took a while for Max Verstappen’s Red Bull to be cleared off the Silverstone track at Sunday’s British Grand Prix, but the fallout from his crash with Lewis Hamilton will linger for the rest of the Formula One season. “It always takes two to tango, and these two are not giving each other an inch,” said Toto Wolff, Hamilton’s boss at Mercedes. The stewards agreed, judging Hamilton “predominantly” rather than “wholly” responsible and imposing a relatively light 10-second penalty.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

Residents living close to two fireworks factories close to Għargħur, one of which exploded in 2007 killing five men, are putting up a legal fight to stop the renewal of a licence they fear would put their lives in danger again. They are seeking to enforce an out-of-court agreement signed by former police commissioner Laurence Cutajar binding the police from reissuing a permit to the St Helen’s Fireworks Factory, situated on the village outskirts. The facility had been flattened in 2007 when a series of explosions claimed the lives of five people, including the licencee, Vincent Galea. Sunny Borg, Richard Cardona, Paul Bonnici and Carmel Farrugia also lost their lives. The first blast, which hurled stones and debris hundreds of metres away and, in some cases, breaking windows and shutters in villas in the surrounding area at Xwieki, was followed by a second one almost 30 minutes later and a third shortly after. Following the accident, residents got together and obtained a temporary court order blocking the renewal of the licence for the factory and an adjacent one belonging to Charles Briffa. People living close to the factories also sued the government over the matter. The...

Britain will administer coronavirus vaccines to clinically vulnerable youngsters, the government said Monday, but not to all children due to an ongoing review into potential side effects. Young people aged 12 to 15 with severe neuro-disabilities, Down's Syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities will be eligible for vaccination, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said. He told parliament the move follows advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he had accepted the recommendations "and I have asked the NHS (National Health Service) to prepare to vaccinate those eligible as soon as possible". Britain's medicines regulator has already approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for youngsters aged 12 and over, noted Javid - who is currently self-isolating after contracting COVID. "Today's advice does not recommend vaccinating under-18s without underlying health conditions at this point in time," he said in a statement. "But the JCVI will continue to review new data, and consider whether to recommend vaccinating under-18s without underlying health conditions at a future date," he...

Illegalities and environmental crime are still rampant in Aħrax and other rural recreational areas like Miżieb and Imġiebaħ, in Mellieħa, despite the promise of more patrolling rangers to control dumping. Volunteers who visit Aħrax regularly to clear litter are constantly finding mounds of rubbish strewn across the idyllic Mellieħa countryside, with mounds of plastic litter and remnants of food waste accumulating in spots popular with picnic-goers and camping enthusiasts, Mellieħa councillor Gabriel Micallef told Times of Malta. Last week, a volunteer clean-up of the picnic sites in Aħrax yielded 17 bulging black bags full of litter, apart from the discovery of other illegalities such as fire pits and felled tree branches, likely used to fuel fires on the arid topsoil. The hunter’s federation, FKNK was last year handed over management of the Aħrax and Miżieb woodlands in a controversial agreement, which was set to include the training and engagement of patrolling environmental rangers to monitor the site. Sites kept clean by volunteers In December, three rangers trained by the Environment and Resource Authority began patrolling Natura 2000 sites under the direction of Ambjent...

Nightclubbers in Britain will have to prove they are fully vaccinated against coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday, as the government also announced shots for clinically vulnerable children.  "We're planning to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather. Proof of a negative test will no longer be enough," Johnson said Monday as legal restrictions in England were lifted. The policy will be implemented from late September. As another virus wave mounts, Britain has yet to decide which venues and events will be affected, although Johnson is reluctant to hit pubs with the checks. Around 70% of adults in Britain are fully inoculated, but the rollout has slowed in recent weeks, with younger people more hesitant. Johnson said Monday that around 35% of 18 to 30-year-olds were unvaccinated, warning that "some of life's most important pleasures and opportunities are likely to be increasingly dependent on vaccination". Cases are hitting levels not seen since winter, although deaths and hospitalisations remain relatively low. Vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi warned "these numbers will get worse before they get...

Real Madrid’s Spain midfielder Brahim Diaz has signed a two-year loan deal with AC Milan, both clubs announced on Monday. “AC Milan are delighted to announce the signing of Brahim Abdelkader Diaz from Real Madrid on a temporary basis for two years,” the Serie A runners-up confirmed.  “The contract ties the football player to the Rossoneri Club until 30 June 2023.” Diaz spent three seasons with Manchester City before joining Madrid in June 2019 for 17 million euros ($20 million).  Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

Loyal customers are feeling “let down” when their bank accounts are closed, particularly when they are not given a valid reason, a financial watchdog has highlighted. Financial arbiter Reno Borg says in his annual report that certain customers, however, fail to realise that more stringent anti-money laundering rules need their cooperation in providing more personal details and added information about the use of their accounts. In this regard, the arbiter suggests that banks and regulatory bodies should discuss how to balance compliance with anti-money laundering laws with lessening “unnecessary” bureaucracy that may make life difficult for customers and may hinder investment in financial services. Moreover, bankers should also embark on an educational campaign to explain the new rules and why clients are expected to conform. “The lack of proper communication between bankers and their clients gives rise to unnecessary disputes which can be avoided only through a simple and adequate line of communication”, the financial arbiter said. The financial arbiter dealt with a number of cases last year involving either the closure of accounts or the refusal to open a new basic bank...

The French government approved a draft law Monday that is intended to pressure non-vaccinated people to get a jab against COVID-19 as the country faces a surge in new cases. The law, which is expected to be presented to parliament at the end of the week, was approved at a cabinet meeting on Monday, said government spokesman Gabriel Attal.  It will massively extend a "health pass" system that will require people to produce evidence of vaccination or a negative test when they visit public venues such as restaurants, bars or shopping centres.  The government has said the legislation is intended to incite people to take up the offer of jabs, and more than three million people have booked appointments since it was outlined by President Emmanuel Macron last Monday. The proposals have led to mass protests and accusations from some politicians that Macron is abusing his powers and even running a "dictatorship". A former member of Macron's parliamentary party, Martine Wonner, urged protesters at the weekend to "go lay siege to lawmakers, go invade their headquarters, to tell them you do not agree." Around 114,000 people rallied around France on Saturday to protest the system, with some...

Updated 10.15pm Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg's profile on Wikipedia was edited on Monday for his name to include a nickname. The minister became, for a short time, Ian ‘Konkos’ Borg. His name was changed back to Ian Borg by 10.15pm. All the other details seemed to be unchanged. The edit was made on Monday by an anonymous user. Wikipedia is a free online encyclopaedia that is maintained by volunteers around the world. Anyone can edit Wikipedia pages, with edits tracked and publicly visible through its system.  In January last year, the Education Ministry terminated contracts of a person who used a ministry PC to change the Wikipedia profile of Dutch MP Pieter Omtzigt.  The official had been working with the ministry as a consultant for the past five years.

ECB monetary operations On July 12, the European Central Bank announced the seven-day main refinancing operation (MRO).  The operation was conducted on July 13 and attracted bids from euro area eligible counterparties of €42 million, €30 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 July 14, the ECB conducted the seven-day US dollar funding operation through collateralised lending in conjunction with the US Federal Reserve. This operation attracted bids of $131.80 million, which was allotted in full at a fixed rate of 0.34 per cent. Domestic Treasury bill market In the domestic primary market for Treasury bills, the Treasury invited tenders for 91-day bills and 182-day bills for settlement value July 15, maturing on October 14, 2021, and January 13, 2022, respectively. Bids of €16 million and €6 million were submitted for the 91-day bills and 182-day bills, respectively, with the Treasury accepting all submitted bids. Since €50 million worth of bills matured during the week, the outstanding balance of Treasury bills decreased by €28 million,...

The feast of St Mary Magdalene will be celebrated at the church dedicated to her in Merchants Street, Valletta, on Thursday. The recitation of the rosary will held at 6.30pm, followed by sung Mass celebrated by Dominican parish priest and rector Michael Camilleri at 7pm. After Mass, the saint’s antiphon will be sung, followed by Holy Eucharist Benediction. For a long number of years the church, one of the only surviving parts of the Magdalene convent that was destroyed in World War II, was used as a warehouse. It was reopened a couple of years ago after the church, run by the Dominican community of Valletta, underwent extensive restoration work. The church was blessed again by Archbishop Charles Scicluna on February 25, 2015.

Finally seeing the truth I never thought I’d see the day in which Desmond Zammit Marmarà attacks the former Labour leader in front of whom he had wafted clouds and clouds of incense. Well, truth has a habit of penetrating even the densest clouds. Carmel Sciberras – Naxxar E-scooters need to be brought in line The scourge of the e-scooter has now reached Malta in a very big way and they are now seriously out of control and an inherent danger to both pedestrians and vehicles. A few days ago, at the ‘public square’ near the Malta National Aquarium, there was a number of young foreign students who were hiring Bolt scooters, now available from just outside the aquarium play area. They were using/abusing them at high speeds on the pedestrian zone where it was once, and still should be, a ‘safe haven’ for all, especially parents, kids and the elderly. Research on these e-scooters shows that, in England, they are banned from public roads and can only be sold to be used on private roads/land, while in Malta they have been welcomed with open arms and are adding to the unruly driving of the kamikaze delivery bike drivers who will literally break their necks to get in front of any vehicle...

Dozens of companies are considering requiring their unvaccinated employees to take weekly novel coronavirus tests, according to the head of the Malta Employers’ Association (MEA). Joseph Farrugia said employers have been contacting the association for guidance on how to put the plan in place in a bid to encourage their workforce to get the jab. It follows APS Bank’s controversial decision to require its employees to be vaccinated or undergo a weekly PCR test every Friday or Saturday, with any office hours used to be deducted from a staff member’s vacation leave. Farrugia explained that APS was not alone in drawing up such a policy and that many others had sought advice on how and whether they can implement similar rules, to which his reply has always been “yes”. “It’s not a punishment on individual employees... the intention rather is to minimise the risk,” he said. The MEA advocated that employers protect their staff and the public by encouraging vaccination or tests, he added. “It’s in the interest of the health of all employees,” Farrugia said. “The employer and employees all have the right to know the health risks to which they are exposed. “So it’s reasonable to ask the...

Two teenage students were rushed to hospital with food poisoning on Saturday after being served undercooked chicken while in quarantine at a Pembroke residential facility run by a language school. The Slovakian girls, both 17 years old, were taken to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance where they were diagnosed with gastroenteritis. One of them, who later tested positive for COVID-19, was then separated from her 14-year-old sister, who is now quarantining on her own. Their distressed mother says she is so worried she cannot sleep or eat as her daughters call her every night in tears. The food poisoning case is the latest incident that raises questions about how underage foreigners are being cared for in Malta as they are held for two weeks far from their parents. One of the teenagers, Luisa Ticha, told Times of Malta she only ate the breaded chicken because she was hungry “and it was the only thing they gave us”. The language school, Sprachcaffe Languages Plus, admitted there was “an issue with the food”. Luisa and her younger sister Laura, who is 14 years old, are among an undisclosed number of language students stuck in quarantine in Malta. “I’m sad and disappointed at this truly...

Obituaries ATTARD. On July 18, at St James Hospital, Sliema, CONNIE, aged 69, passed away peacefully. She leaves to mourn her loss her siblings Antoinette and her husband Stephen Muscat, Josette and her husband Stephen Rausi, Pierre and his wife Marisa née Cutugno, Stefan and his wife Pia née Yeon, her nephews and nieces Ivan and his wife Lorna, Francesca, Alexia and her husband Andrew, Michela and her husband Albert, Simon and his wife Emma, Louisa and Michael, Paul and his wife Ninia, Sacha and Barrylee and Elisa, her grand-nephews and grand-nieces, her carer Marili, other relatives and friends. The funeral cortege leaves St James Hospital, Sliema, today, Tuesday, July 20, for Stella Maris parish church, Sliema, where Mass præsente cadavere will be said at 9.30am, followed by interment at Santa Maria Addolorata cemetery. No flowers by request but dona-tions to the Salesians of Don Bosco, will be appreciated. Lord, grant her eternal rest. SCICLUNA. On July 18, Sr CATHERINE, aged 80, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss the congregation of the Sisters of St Dorothy, her brothers and sisters Carmel and his wife Tessie, Sr...

At least three rockets landed Tuesday in the Afghan capital ahead of a speech by President Ashraf Ghani marking the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, the interior ministry said. The rockets, fired at around 8:00 am (0330 GMT), were heard across the heavily fortified Green Zone that houses the presidential palace and several embassies, including the US mission. "Today the enemies of Afghanistan launched rocket attacks in different parts of Kabul city," said interior ministry spokesman Mirwais Stanikzai. "All the rockets hit three different parts. Based on our initial information, we have no casualties. Our team is investigating." Minutes after the attack, Ghani began an address to the nation in the presence of some of his top officials. Rockets have been aimed at the palace several times in the past, the last being in December. The attack coincides with a sweeping Taliban offensive across the country as foreign forces wind up a troop withdrawal scheduled to be complete by August 31.                   

Eyeing huge economic potential in the coming years, not just for fisheries but also from artificial islands, wind farms, solar farms, wave-generated electricity and revenue from shipping movements, Malta has started a process that will lead to the declaration of an exclusive economic zone in the central Mediterranean. This has the potential of extending Malta’s responsibilities by as much as 71,446 square kilometres beyond its territorial waters. By doing this, will Malta be going far beyond the original intention and aims of the International Law of the Sea? This law was intended to protect the common heritage of mankind rather than to derive economic benefit from it. Undoubtedly, any declaration we make will have to emerge from a cautious and well-studied exercise. We must have the capacity to monitor any areas that fall within the zone. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, has been the main international agreement related to maritime issues for 40 years. It gives states jurisdictional rights and duties. However, specific rules and regulations apply to exclusive economic zones and they differ substantially from those pertaining to other areas. Article 56...

The following are the top stories in Malta's newspapers on Tuesday. Times of Malta reports that dozens of companies are considering requiring their unvaccinated employees to take weekly novel coronavirus tests. The head of the Employers' Association explains why. The newspaper also reports that two teenage students were rushed to hospital with food poisoning on Saturday after being served undercooked chicken while in quarantine at a Pembroke residential facility run by a language school. The Malta Independent reports that the Corinthia group has submitted plans for a residential-tourism complex at the former Ħal-Ferħ site.  It also says Moviment Graffitti is calling for an investigation into the way Infrastructure Malta carries out land expropriation. In-Nazzjon says there were long queues of Maltese and foreigners for the COVID-19 jab when walk-in clinics opened on Monday.  l-orizzont reports how the European Commission proposed (some days ago) to stop the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035.

Data shows that bee populations are dwindling more and more each year. Malta is no exception. Urbanisation leading to loss of habitat is one of the reasons for the decline. This is one of the many reasons why creating new green spaces is important. We have embarked on numerous projects and initiatives to convert grey areas into sustainable public spaces in the heart of our towns. We have launched the Green Your Building Scheme for residents, to green their house façades. We have set up GreenServ, an implementation arm within WasteServ aimed at giving a new lease of life to dense urban areas, with projects planned in Ħamrun, Qormi, Żabbar and Mosta. And we have recently converted an old, abandoned landfill into an open green space in Żurrieq. Wied Fulija, in Żurrieq had long been an eyesore and an environmental scar. This area, bigger than 12 football pitches, was used as a landfill for 42 years. It contained about 1.85 billion kilograms of waste that was piled up in two slopes. These have been stabilised without increasing the height of the landfill, compacted and capped. By capping these slopes, we put a stop to unpleasant smells, addressed the problem of pests and blocked...

Strategic plans are not difficult to put together so long as one has the creative vision that extends beyond the immediate obstacles. What makes a strategic plan credible is not so much the eloquence of the narration or the clarity of the concepts on which it is based. It is the honest and often cruel acknowledgement of the weaknesses and threats that need to be overcome to achieve the stated objectives. The Gozo Regional Development Authority has proposed, for public consultation, a 40-page strategic docu­ment entitled ‘A Shared Vision for Gozo’. It is intended to define the island’s development priorities over the next 10 years. The eight priority areas span from spatial planning and sustainable urban development to sustainable tourism and social development. The narrative of this document can hardly be faulted. It is a concise and well-written paper that abounds in buzz­words like “sustainable”, “excellence”, “innovation” and “creativity”. It rehashes a utopian though elusive vision of Gozo that has existed for decades. Unfortunately, the various high-level proposals are arguably in conflict with making Gozo the ideal region many of its residents want it to be. Gozo’s major...