A 20-year-old man who lives in Żabbar was grievously injured on Friday when he fell into a shaft after being hit by a falling boulder at a construction site. The police said the accident happened in Triq Danny Cremona, Ħamrun, at 10.20 am. The victim was given first aid by a medical team on-site and then taken to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance. The police are investigating.

A string of car thefts allegedly committed over a span of 14 months landed a tow truck driver in court on Friday where he pleaded not guilty to aggravated theft and was denied bail. Carmelo Butler, a 58-year-old Birkirkara resident, was targeted as the suspected thief following a joint operation by Mosta, Qawra and Rabat police, triggered by a number of vehicles thefts, the earliest of which dated back to November 2020.  On that November morning, a Hyundai was stolen from St Paul’s Bay. The second theft involving a Mercedes vehicle, took place at Mosta in March, followed by a BMW theft that was reported missing from a St Paul’s Bay parking area in April. Another two cars were stolen earlier this week - a Kia in St Paul’s Bay and a Mini, parked at Ċirkewwa.  Prosecutors explained in court that the vehicles had been towed away and then sold by the suspected thief for parts and scrap metal.  Butler pleaded not guilty to the various aggravated thefts, committing the crimes while under a suspended sentence and relapsing.  A request for bail was strongly objected to in view of the fact that civilian witnesses are still to testify and also because of the risk of tampering with...

Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof will miss Saturday’s Premier League clash with West Ham after his wife and children had to hide from burglars while the Swedish international played in a 3-1 win at Brentford on Wednesday. United interim boss Ralf Rangnick said he had given the player permission to miss training on Friday after the “traumatic” incident. “He told me what had actually happened and that this was really a traumatic event, especially for his wife and even the three-year-old son,” said Rangnick. “He said to me that he right now needs to stay at home.  Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

On his first solo outing, Joel Coen captures Shakespeare’s Scottish play carefully. As stylistic as the Coen’s are, Joel is ready to relinquish some of his own vision to fit the Bard’s, successfully achieving a riveting adaptation that cannot be topped.   In 2015, I was studying Macbeth. Although I do remember writing my essays somewhat begrudgingly, I still reminisce about that time: studying Shakespeare may not be as glamourous as teenagers want him to be, but there is a reason why everyone can relate to forcibly memorising quotes half an hour before the exam. I didn’t want to read through a script, I wanted to be engaged, immersed, and coincidently Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth had just been released. Kurzel created a historical epic that enthralled me yet I still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing, and I couldn’t put my finger on it; maybe the Scottish play is simply too theatrical to ever be truly cinematic. According to Joel Coen, it isn’t. Directing without the aid of his brother, Ethan, The Tragedy of Macbeth is more than a store-bought adaptation but a stylistic remediation. Combining the austere direction that has brought the Coens fame and accolades with...

The MSE Equity Price Index trended in positive for the first time in three days as it rebounded by 0.32% to 3,774.892 points. The uplift was mostly driven by the gains in BOV and HSBC which, coupled with the positive performances of MPC and LifeStar Insurance, offset the declines in PG and RS2. Meanwhile, GO, FIMBank, IHI and Hili Properties ended the day unchanged as overall trading activity in equities contracted to €0.09 million. HSBC Bank Malta plc rallied by 4.5% to regain the €0.93 level across 12,000 shares. Also in the retail banking segment, Bank of Valletta plc advanced by 1.2% to the €0.83 level on 25,393 shares. LifeStar Insurance plc added 2.3% to the €0.45 level albeit on trivial volumes. The other positive performing equity today was Malta Properties Company plc with an uplift of 3.8% to the €0.54 level across 4,591 shares. Within the same segment, Hili Properties plc stayed at the €0.272 level on insignificant volumes. Yesterday, Hili Properties announced that it concluded the acquisition of a 50,000 sqm land plot in Lithuania’s largest free economic zone for €20.9 million. The property houses a 19,000 sqm factory leased to REHAU Production which is a leading...

After the success of ŻiguŻajg Festival 2021, Spazju Kreattiv launches its third edition of ŻiguŻajg Season 2021/2022 of events for children and young people, organised throughout this year. This edition of ŻiguŻajg Season brings together all forms of creative arts including music, film, theatre, digital animation, dance and storytelling - 15 different projects in total, engaging over 40 artists. Rupert Cefai, chairperson of 'Fondazzjoni Kreattività'. Rupert Cefai, chairperson of Fondazzjoni Kreattività, spoke about the Fondazzjoni’s role and the importance of ŻiguŻajg in the local cultural sphere. “One way we like to look at the Fondazzjoni is that of a parent and our projects as ‘children’ born from our love and commitment to the sector; one of these children being ŻiguŻajg, which grew up to become the mainstay in the local community, a pillar in high-quality productions targeting families and young audiences,” he said. Cefai stated that after a successful run of a two-week festival that continues to spread in its reach, it’s, without a doubt, a necessity to foster enthusiasm and creativity throughout the season. Spazju Kreattiv’s artistic director, Daniel Azzopardi, outlined...

Defending champion Naomi Osaka was dumped out of the Australian Open in the third round on Friday by unseeded American Amanda Anisimova to open up the draw for title favourite Ashleigh Barty. Anisimova, ranked 60th in the world, saved two match points to stun the former world number one 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10/5) and will now face Barty in the last 16. It was a hugely disappointing end for Osaka in Melbourne, having also gone out at the same stage at the US Open in September, after which she took a break from tennis. In the men’s draw, Rafael Nadal underlined his status as one of the favourites with a four-set victory over Russian 28th seed Karen Khachanov. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

Malta’s national space strategy, which will dictate the government’s approach to exploring the space industry as an economic niche, has been opened for feedback from the public. In a press conference on Friday, chair of the space task force Omar Cutajar explained that, rather than seeking to launch rockets into space, the strategy looks at ways in which the government can open up the economy in sectors where it already had a solid foundation. “This strategy is very much grounded in reality and much of it involves assessment exercises to determine the viability of investing in the sector,” he said. This included setting up a framework to provide established services, such as legal or financial work, for space companies and exploring the possibility of opening a hub to entice those companies to operate from Malta. The strategy outlines 13 goals it hopes to attain on five principal themes - achieving sustainable economic growth through space activities; supporting the research community; developing human capital; enhancing societal wellbeing; and improving the regulatory and legislative framework.  Among its goals, the strategy is also looking to build a stronger relationship with...

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Friday urged Poles to work from home as daily COVID-19 infections reached their highest ever level. Morawiecki also said Poles can receive free lateral flow tests in pharmacies starting next week and doctors will do home visits for elderly COVID patients. “The fifth wave is now a fact... We are seeing record numbers of infections and we are therefore dealing with a new situation,” Morawiecki told reporters. Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki arrives to attend an European Union Summit with all 27 EU leaders at The European Council Building in Brussels on December 16, 2021. Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard / POOL / AFPAFP “We recommend working remotely. The public administration will switch to remote work as soon as possible. I appeal to employers to do the same.” Poland, where less than two-thirds of the adult population is fully vaccinated against COVID, on Friday reported 36,665 infections – a new daily record since the start of the pandemic – as well as 248 deaths. The government has been heavily criticised by the opposition for not doing enough to combat the crisis, including through vaccine certificates. Thirteen of the...

Ansu Fati suffered a thigh injury in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey defeat by Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, the club have confirmed. Fati looked visibily upset when he was forced off in the second half and the 19-year-old will undergo further tests on Friday. “Ansu Fati has a left thigh injury. Further tests are pending to find out the exact extent of the injury,” a Barcelona statement read. Any absence for Fati would be a considerable blow to Barcelona, who play Napoli next month in the Europa League and are battling to finish in La Liga’s top four.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

The Authority on the Responsible Use of Cannabis should maintain an active dialogue with critics of the law, President George Vella said on Friday during a meeting with authority members. Malta is the first country in Europe to permit restricted use of cannabis for recreational use. Cannabis users can carry up to 7g of the substance on them without fear of prosecution and grow four plants at home. Users who in the past were convicted of cannabis possession offences can apply to have their criminal records expunged. Vella, who was accompanied by Innovation Minister Owen Bonnici, stressed the importance of professionalism for those working in this field and expressed satisfaction that all members of the authority have broad qualifications, knowledge and experience in the fields of medicine, psychology and other health-related professions. He urged members to work in “a diligent, autonomous and independent manner”. The President also spoke about the need for youths to find an environment that spurs them to engage in activities that will boost their physical and mental strength and that will, in no way, promote cannabis use.  He stressed the need for a broad education on the...

A magistrate has ruled that LESA cannot enforce quarantine regulations, in a case where he revoked hefty fines issued to two individuals. Magistrate Victor Axiaq ruled that no local council, regional committee or agency for local enforcement has the power to enforce or bring proceedings against any person accused of breaching COVID-19 quarantine rules. He was deciding on separate appeals filed by a man and a woman who were fined by officers from the Local Enforcement Systems Agency. Peter Paul Micallef was slapped with a fine of €10,000 after he was caught breaching quarantine rules on October 30, 2020 at 1.15pm in Ta’ Xbiex. Pavla Stejskalova was fined €3,000 after failing to appear before the Commissioner for Justice over a fine issued by a LESA officer on November 16, 2020 in Kirkop, when she was alleged to have breached one or more of the conditions relating to quarantine. The magistrate noted that although the quarantine regulations fell within the competence of the Commissioners for Justice, they were not listed among offences community officers could enforce. “Given that such power is not expressly provided for in the law… then the Local Enforcement System Agency cannot...

Tottenham announced on Friday that France international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has signed a new contract at the Premier League club. The 35-year-old, who joined Spurs in 2012, was free to talk to foreign clubs from the start of this month but has committed his future to Tottenham in a deal that runs until 2024. It was widely reported on Thursday that the World Cup winner had agreed a new contract with the London club and they made an official announcement early on Friday.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

The NBA has fined Brooklyn assistant coach David Vanterpool $10,000 for deflecting a Washington Wizards pass in the fourth quarter of the Nets’ 119-118 victory on Wednesday. The Nets were also fined $25,000 by the league for the bizarre infraction, which was not caught by officials during the close finish to the game. The Nets were leading 109-103 with 5:42 remaining in the game when Washington’s Spencer Dinwiddie attempted a pass to teammate Kyle Kuzma, who was in front of the Nets bench.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

EU commissioner Ylva Johansson said Friday that migrant pushbacks were illegal, speaking before a conference in Lithuania, where authorities have been criticised for the practice by human rights groups. "Pushbacks are clearly illegal. People have the right to apply for asylum," said Johansson, the EU's home affairs commissioner. Thousands of migrants - mainly from the Middle East - have crossed or tried to cross the eastern border of the European Union into Latvia, Lithuania or Poland since last summer. In Lithuania alone, almost 8,200 people have been denied entry in what aid groups describe as illegal pushbacks. Governments in the region have defended the tactic, saying it is the only way to stop the influx, which the West blames on the Belarusian regime. "We must not stick to bureaucracy. We must act, especially when we are attacked," Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said after the conference on migration in Vilnius. Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite said the country will further "defend itself and the European Union's external border" despite the criticism, but called for the bloc to find common ground on migration. "To protect ourselves effectively, we...

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Friday he hopes France defenders Lucas Hernandez and Dayot Upamecano will start this weekend’s match at Hertha Berlin with the pair poised to return after contracting coronavirus. Upamecano and Hernandez are two of the nine Bayern players who were sidelined by the virus at the start of January and Nagelsmann believes the Frenchmen will make their first appearances of 2022 on Sunday. That would free up Germany’s Joshua Kimmich to move from right-back, where he has played the last two games, to defensive midfield.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

Rafael Nadal said on Friday that his foot injury last year was so bad he thought he might never play tennis again. The Spanish great is chasing a men’s record 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open, where he steamed into the fourth round with a four-set victory over Russian 28th seed Karen Khachanov. Speaking after his 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory in a late-night match on Rod Laver Arena, the 35-year-old Spaniard laid bare the extent of the foot problem that ended his year on the tour in August.    Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

One long-standing rule of evidence, applicable not limitedly to criminal proceedings, but to all contentious judicial actions, is the so-called ‘best evidence’ rule. It has its roots in the 18th-century English case ‘Omychund vs Barker’ (1780) where Lord Harwicke had remarked that one ought not to admit evidence unless it is “the best that the nature of the case will allow”. It eventually infiltrated the Maltese legal order during colonial times when Malta was under British rule. Simply put, this evidentiary rule denotes that a party wanting to admit proof is expected to produce the best (or ‘the most satisfactory’ – as article 638 of the Criminal Code puts it) evidence reasonably obtainable. The term ‘best’ connotes that when a ‘superior’ piece of evidence is available, one ought to refrain from producing an ‘inferior’ or a ‘second-best’ alternative, especially in criminal proceedings where the prosecution bears the onerous responsibility to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. A classic example would be a party to a case who submits a non-original or an outdated version of a document when the original or the updated version is itself available and readily accessible. In...

Airbus has taken the extraordinary step of cancelling a multi-billion-dollar order of 50 planes from Qatar Airways, a major customer, in an escalating feud over the airline's grounding of A350 aircraft. The Qatari company, one of the Gulf region's "big three" carriers, has grounded nearly half of its 53-plane A350 fleet over degradation of exterior fuselage surfaces. The airline has taken the dispute to the High Court in London and stopped accepting further deliveries of the wide-body aircraft from the European firm until the problem is resolved. An Airbus spokesman told AFP on Friday that the aircraft maker has "terminated" a contract with Qatar Airways for 50 single-aisle A321neo aircraft, "in accordance with our rights". It is usually airlines that cancel orders when they no longer need them or cannot afford them anymore. The order was worth more than $6 billion at catalogue prices, though airlines are usually charged less for large purchases. Qatar Airways said in a statement that it had been adhering to all of its contractual obligations with Airbus. "It is therefore a matter of considerable regret and frustration that Airbus has taken the apparent decision to expand and...

Malta has moved from having the most concerning COVID situation in Europe towards the end of the year to being rated second lowest a month later. The sharp improvement comes as the initial surge of infections largely caused by the Omicron variant has now declined substantially. At one point in mid-December, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control had given Malta a score of nine, the highest across the continent at the time. Scores between 8.2 and 10 mean a country is deemed of “very high” concern in terms of the pandemic. In its latest review, however, Malta has scored 6.5, with only Austria scoring lower at 5.8. Countries that score between 6.4 and 8.2 are still considered of “high” concern. But the latest score is the lowest given to Malta in five weeks. The scoring is worked out on the basis of several indicators: case notification rates, testing rates and test positivity, rates of hospitalisation and intensive care admission, occupancy and mortality. Bulgaria’s situation is currently of the highest concern, with the country given a score of 9.5. Ten countries are still in the “very high” concern category while none are deemed as having “low” or “very low”...