A man charged in connection with the death of Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala in a light aircraft crash in 2019 will go on trial in Cardiff on Monday. David Henderson was charged last year for endangering the safety of an aircraft and attempting to discharge a passenger without valid permission or authorisation. Henderson, who denies the charges, is alleged to have arranged the flight to bring the former Nantes striker from France to Cardiff, where he was due to begin training with the Welsh club, which was then in the Premier League. The plane crashed into the sea near the Channel island of Guernsey, killing Sala, 28, and pilot David Ibbotson. At a previous court hearing, it was alleged that Ibbotson was not licensed to fly an aircraft commercially, and that he was no longer certified to fly the Piper Malibu aircraft involved. Sala had become Cardiff's record signing after a fee of £15 million was agreed with Nantes during the January transfer window. After travelling to Cardiff to complete the deal, Sala returned to France to collect belongings and bid farewell to his Nantes teammates. It was on his return flight to the Welsh capital on January 21, to take part in his...

See more work by Seb Tanti Burlò.

Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti’s final episode of Rewind: Great Exhibitions Revisited has been recently released. The video series has examined some of the organisation’s past major exhibitions, including Jewellery in Malta, Costume in Malta and the Edward Caruana Dingli exhibition. The series is ending by recalling The Devil of the Brush: Speed as Artistic Virtue, guest curated by Keith Sciberras. Held at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum in 2018, the exhibition was a first of its kind for Patrimonju. It moved away from the examination of objects for their type and function and explored the concept of speed and its manifestation in art. The chosen works displayed the exciting dynamics between artistic invention and technical brilliance through paintings, statu­ary, drawings, modelli and bozzetti executed by the major protagonists of Maltese art bet­ween 1650 and 2000. In the episode, Sciberras examines the concept of speed and details how the exhibition pieces were chosen for the show. Francesca Balzan, exhibition coordinator, and Michael Lowell, CEO of FPM, share some behind-the-scenes stories from the set-up of the exhibition. To watch the whole series, log on to...

Athletics Malta president Andy Grech was handed a prestigious appointment during the European Athletics Congress that was held this weekend in Lausanne when he was elected as vice-president of the Athletic Association of Small States of Europe (AASSE). For Grech, this was his first major appointment on the international scene since his appointment as Athletics Malta president. The Athletic Association of Small States of Europe (AASSE) is a transnational organization representing the athletic interests of smaller European nations. It was created following a proposal by the Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg delegations at the Congress of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in Barcelona in 1989. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

One of the first concepts we master as we leave infancy and enter childhood is that of money. Children soon realise that, without money, they cannot get many of the things they would like to have: a favourite toy, sweets and buying a small gift for mum on her birthday. While we all understand how important having money is, many still do not have sufficient financial literacy to ensure that money becomes a good servant. I have still not seen any local research on how many of us are considered financially literate, i.e. having the right skills and knowledge to plan their finance and manage the risks associated with insufficient financial resources. I rely on research done in other European countries to describe how so many of us suffer from poor financial literacy. In the UK, half of the population has low confidence in making decisions to do with money, according to research by the Financial Conduct Authority. Other studies link high levels of economic deprivation with low levels of financial understanding.   Groups with the least know-how include those on low incomes, young people, women and ethnic minorities. But there are other more traditionally educated professionals who...

Part of a stand at NEC Nijmegen’s ground collapsed as visiting Vitesse Arnhem supporters celebrated their 1-0 victory on Sunday, but no injuries were reported according to local media. The lower section of the stand buckled as away fans jumped up and down in unison in front of the players after the final whistle. “There are no injuries to my knowledge,” Nijmegen president Wilco van Schaik told Dutch public broadcaster NOS. “I’m speechless. There are all sorts of things that go through your mind.” Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

Campus Hub, Malta’s first student village offering accommodation on campus, has welcomed its first students to kick off the new scholastic year.  Lectures are being held in the first block, while the underground car park, which offers 500 car spaces, has been in operation since June. In December the hub will also be welcoming students at the University’s Malta University Language School. The new year will be welcoming students in the resi­dential blocks with the first 400 beds being made available – half the project’s capacity. Campus Hub has teamed up with some well-known brands with eateries such as The Cake Box, Starbucks, Café Cuba, Amami, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Ottoman by Posh Turkish, Boost Juice as well as Welbee’s Express. Students will also be able to make use of the stationery on campus, as Papier will also be opening along with Intercomp for all techno­logy-related goods. Portughes will be offering laundry services and plans for a car wash are in the pipeline too.  Gym facilities will also be available as Warehouse fitness studio will be setting up on campus. The project will also feature the latest pharmacy by Remedies. The project, which forms part of the Vassallo...

These are the leading news articles in local newspapers this Monday. Times of Malta leads with an article about how former PN candidate Frank Psaila was promised a job at Tumas Group if his bid for a seat in the European Parliament failed. The newspaper also reports that Lamin Jaiteh, the migrant worker who was seriously injured on a construction site and then abandoned on a Mellieha road, has been discharged from hospital. The Malta Independent reports that an application for an Attard garden centre on 7,500 square metres of ODZ land will be heard on Tuesday. The newspaper also makes reference to Jaiteh's discharge from hospital on Sunday. L-Orizzont leads its front page with an article on how the number of people serving a life sentence in prison has increased to 12. In-Nazzjon publishes two articles on its front page with both news items referring to Opposition Leader Bernard Grech's reaction to the government's budget, which is set for today at 6.30pm

The Nicola from Bizerte to Algeciras, the Atlantic Silver from Koper to Bejaia, the Ruth from Naples to Annaba (all CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd), the MV Eurocargo Palermo from Catania to Catania, the MV Eco Catania from Genoa to Catania (both Sullivan Maritime Ltd), the MV Elisabeth Russ from Genoa to Genoa (Gollcher Co. Ltd), the MSC Edith from Aliaga to Venice (John Ripard and Son Ltd) and the Alpha Legacy from Port Said East to Misurata (Thomas Smith and Co. Ltd) today. The CMA CGM Iskenderun from Le Havre to El Dekheila, the APL Phoenix from Gioia Tauro to Singapore (both CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd), the MSC Athos from Valencia to Genoa and the MSC Bianca from Cristobal to Gioia Tauro (both John Ripard and Son Ltd) tomorrow. The As Freya from Thessaloniki to Misurata, the Skyview from Le Havre to Algeciras, the CMA CGM Concorde from Algeciras to Singapore (all CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd) and the MV Caroline Russ from Genoa to Genoa (Gollcher Co. Ltd) on Wednesday. The Kreta S from Marseille to Algiers (CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd) and the MV Eco Livorno from Catania to Catania (Sullivan Maritime Ltd) on Thursday.

The Qala mayor has expressed his frustration at construction magnate Joseph Portelli’s audacity as he persists in carrying out illegal excavations and development in an area known as Ta’ Kassja. “Residents are increasingly becoming irritated with the lack of respect for Qala’s natural beauty and identity. This has to stop,” Paul Buttigieg said. On Tuesday, Moviment Graffitti flagged the illegal works on ODZ land, publishing a picture showing two excavators carrying out work next to an extensive apartment block project, which Portelli owns in Qala. “How long will the authorities be servile to Portelli’s arrogance?” the NGO asked. “It is totally unacceptable that people like Portelli continue destroying our environment and quality of life. We expect immediate action to be taken.” Shortly afterwards, the planning authority halted the illegal works it said were ongoing beyond the permissible area. A PA spokesperson told Times of Malta that excavation works on adjacent ODZ are partly approved, however, the excavations proceeded beyond the permit. The PA said all works on this part of the development were stopped last Tuesday morning as soon as the authority was alerted. A warning...

Elton John might be 74 and struggling with a dodgy hip, but his musical taste remains far cooler than most guys half his age.  While most ageing rockstars are happy to rehash the sounds of their glory days, Sir Elton is more likely to be found in a studio with the likes of Young Thug, Nicki Minaj and Lil Nas X.  Admittedly, many of the collaborations for The Lockdown Sessions, his new album out Friday, had to happen over Zoom due to the pandemic, but it remains a testament to his omnivorous taste for new sounds.  "If you're my age and still learning from other musicians, that's the greatest gift of all," said John. He was speaking in a press call last month ahead of a hip operation that has forced him to postpone several dates from his long-running farewell tour. "If you shut your mind off and say you can't learn anything more... that's the dead end," he said.  "I'm more excited about music now than I've ever been." 'A thrill' The new album spans the generations, featuring everyone from Stevie Wonder to Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder to his latest hit Cold Heart with Dua Lipa. That approach is why the Rocketman has achieved the unparalleled feat of at least one single in the British...

Unilever, Ikea and Nestlé are among the few industry heavy-hitters using their corporate clout to push for the ambitious policies needed to stop disastrous climate change, according to industry analysis published last Friday.  While large firms are increasingly eager to tout their environmental credentials, this has led to concerns that some companies are “greenwashing” their images while failing to fundamentally change their behaviour.   The InfluenceMap ‘A-List’ assessed hundreds of companies to see how many were lobbying for action in line with global warming limits set out by the Paris climate deal. Not many, according to the London-based think tank, which listed 15 companies it said demonstrate sufficient “support for ambitious climate policy, strategic levels of engagement with climate policy, and leadership in its sector”. These also included utility firms like Italy’s Enel, Spain’s Iberdrola and France’s EDF, as well as the clothing firm H&M and, perhaps least surprisingly, the electric carmaker Tesla.  “As the scientific consensus has sharpened on what next steps are needed to deal with the climate crisis, so too has the ambition from a core group of corporate leaders,”...

The budgetary measure that offers free public transport to all by October next year is more of a social than an environmental one. It will mainly benefit current bus users, often at the lower end of salary scales or on social benefits. The measure will be unlikely to pull many people out of their cars and reduce traffic congestion unless the efficiency of the bus service is greatly improved. There is nothing wrong at all in adding another social measure to the several announced in Budget 2022.  However, it is misleading to file this one under the budgetary chapter related to the environment and to sustainable development. It currently costs residents only a few euros a week at most to travel on the buses. For others, such as those over 60, the cost is capped at €2 a week. Other commuters go free of charge: the over 70s, teenagers of 14 and over, full-time students and people with a disability. The government is targeting the wrong obstacle to the use of public transport: cost instead of efficiency. Free public transport can be very helpful for those who cannot or do not use a car, whether for financial, environmental or other reasons. But the incentive is unlikely to prove...

Facebook on Monday announced plans to hire 10,000 people in the European Union to build the “metaverse”, a virtual reality version of the internet that the tech giant sees as the future. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been a leading voice in Silicon Valley hype around the idea of the metaverse, which would blur the lines between the physical world and the digital one. The technology might, for example, allow someone to don virtual reality glasses that make it feel as if they’re face-to-face with a friend – when in fact they are thousands of miles apart and connected via the internet.  “The metaverse has the potential to help unlock access to new creative, social, and economic opportunities. And Europeans will be shaping it right from the start,” Facebook said in a blog post.  Facebook chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg “Today, we are announcing a plan to create 10,000 new high skilled jobs within the European Union over the next five years.” The European hires will include “highly specialised engineers”, but the company otherwise gave few details of its plans for the new metaverse team.   “The EU has a number of advantages that make it a great place for tech companies to invest...

Lamin* was just 15-years-old when he was charged with hijacking a ship in 2019. The controversy surrounding his case has left the teen feel like he has been used as a political "weapon" in an unfair battle.  An international commission will this week come to his defence, demanding freedom for him and two other youths who have spent the past two-and-a-half years facing the threat of 30 years in prison over their role in the El Hiblu case. For Lamin, the time he has spent in Malta is “the most difficult” in his life. “I was taught back home that Europe is one of the fair continents where injustice doesn’t exist,” Lamin*, who landed in Malta when he was just 15, told Times of Malta. “But it was all lies. I also feel like I have been used as a weapon to fight their political battles and my rights were ignored because of my social status.” The three stand charged with hijacking the merchant vessel El Hiblu, which had been instructed to take 108 people aboard to Libya, an unsafe port. But on March 28, 2019, it entered Malta. The Armed Forces of Malta boarded the ship as it approached local waters, following reports that migrants had seized control of the vessel and forced it to head...

Two Tunisian fishing boats caught in Maltese waters off Gozo’s west coast were intercepted by the Armed Forces of Malta on Sunday evening and brought to Valletta for further investigation. In a brief statement on Monday morning, the AFM said that it had escorted the two vessels to the Grand Harbour overnight. The fisheries department and police are now investigating, it said. An AFM official looks on as the two boats are intercepted. Photo: AFM Both fishing boats were caught fishing in Malta’s Fisheries Conservation and Management Zone. Tensions between the two countries over illegal fishing date back decades and flared up once again last year, prompting the fisheries department to urge local fishermen to document any illegal fishing they came across, using video and photos. The AFM subsequently started maritime patrols in an attempt to keep the illegal practice in check. At the time, the AFM had said that its boats would be on the lookout for Fishing Aggregated Devices (FADs) in international waters. FADs are manmade objects used to lure fish and catch them.

Luxol St Andrews and Valletta started the season brightly as they scored high-scoring victories on Match Day One of the Enemed National Futsal League. Both teams are considered as firm favourites for the championship. Luxol didn’t find any difficulty to see off Naxxar Futsal 10-0. Mark Zammit, Andy Mangion and Maicon helped themselves to a hat-trick while Carl Azzopardi, Celino Alves, Melvin Borg and Hebberth Bolt also put their names on the scoresheet. Valletta too had a dominant 11-0 win over Marsaskala. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

Senior citizens are a vulnerable population, and as such, they need to be protected from the dangers of living alone. One way to ensure this protection is through medical alert systems for seniors. There are many different types of these devices on the market, so it can be difficult to choose which one is right for you. What kind of medical assistance do you need? Is it vital that help comes immediately? Are there specific times when you want to be contacted, like during certain hours or on weekends? Would a system with GPS capability give your family peace of mind knowing they can locate you if necessary? These are all things to consider before purchasing one for yourself, and most devices will allow customization based on your needs, like fall alert systems. Then again, some may not have these capabilities at all. For example, pendants that simply connect users directly with an operator are useful in case of emergencies where immediate response is needed but cannot provide additional services such as tracking location or contacting other people besides dispatchers (such as friends or family). Be aware of the monthly fees associated with using a device Some devices have monthly...

The plastic recycling system is broken – here’s how we can fix it The investor Warren Buffett once remarked that “only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked”. For the plastics recycling industry, the pandemic was a bit like the tide going out, exposing its deep-rooted structural problems. Specifically, COVID-19 exposed the plastics recycling sector’s vulnerability to oil-price changes. Economic shutdown driven by the pandemic led to reduced global oil demand, which in turn caused oil prices to plunge. This shifted manufacturers’ preference towards making new plastic, increasing the cost of recycling plastics in the first place. Changes like this are leading to increasing pollution from new plastic production, with negative consequences for the health of our planet. In the short term, it could also threaten the livelihoods of those working in plastic waste management across the world. And in the long term, it could result in lower investment in the recycling sector, as companies may be wary of risking financial loss. Since before the pandemic, governments worldwide have shown a tendency to seek quick-fix solutions to plastic pollution in order to signal...

In the fourth episode of the ‘Ganado Meets Tech’ podcast, Ganado Advocates’ IP/TMT partner Paul Micallef Grimaud speaks with Joshua Ellul and Max Ganado about the impact digital ledger technology (DLT) is having on economic sectors, its risks, benefits and the regulatory approach to this technology. DLT, or as it is more commonly known, blockchain, is a protocol that enables a transaction or system between two people to persist without the need for any third-party authorisation or interference, for example a bank or authority – thus the concept of decentralisation. The authenticity of the data stored on the system is guaranteed through the use of keys and cryptographic signatures and the peer-to-peer authentication system. As DLT continues to gain ground in common day applications, it is expected that central banks will soon be adopting blockchain technology (albeit not decentralised) through the issuance of digital currencies. In the eyes of lawyer Max Ganado, who is synonymous with a number of legislative projects that have helped develop Malta’s main sectors over the past years, it was evident from the start that this technology had many more commonalities to public registers...