A 20-year-old cashier was slightly injured in an armed robbery in Żebbuġ on Thursday evening, the police said, as the thief remains on the run.  In a statement on Friday morning, the police said they were informed about a robbery from a shop on Vjal il-Ħelsien at around 7pm on Thursday.  Preliminary investigations revealed a man armed with a knife entered the shop which was being manned by a 20-year-old cashier from Birkirkara. The man escaped after stealing some items from the shop, the police said.  The cashier was later treated at a healthcare centre for slight injuries he sustained in the robbery.  Magistrate Lara Lanfranco was informed about the case and an inquiry was launched as investigations by the police continue. 

The Malta darts team will face an Austrian selection in an international meet over the next weekend. The matches will be played as singles, pairs and team competitions between Saturday and Sunday at Kirkop, where the Malta Open will be held as well. The pairs competition will launch the international meet on Saturday at 10am while the teams competition will follow at 3pm. Click here for full story.

Veteran hawk Benjamin Netanyahu launched negotiations Friday with his ultra-Orthodox and far-right allies on forming what could be the most right-wing government in Israel's history, raising concerns at home and abroad. Netanyahu's Likud party won 32 seats in Israel's 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, according to the latest official results of the election released on Thursday night. That combined with 18 for two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties and 14 for the rising extreme-right alliance called Religious Zionism gave the right-wing bloc supporting Netanyahu 64 seats. The centrist bloc of outgoing caretaker prime minister Yair Lapid won 51 seats, marking a definitive win for Netanyahu and an end to Israel's unprecedented era of political deadlock, which forced five elections in less than four years. That will likely mean prominent roles for the co-leaders of far-right Religious Zionism, which doubled its representation at Tuesday's election. "Where are they headed?" said the headline of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper with pictures of Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir, an extreme-right figure who looks set to be a major player in the new administration. "It's going to be an...

Houston rookie Jeremy Pena had a home run and a run-scoring single and star pitcher Justin Verlander battled through five innings as the Astros edged the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 to move to the brink of another World Series title on Thursday. The Astros took a 3-2 lead in Major League Baseball’s Championship showcase and could close it out at home when the series shifts to Houston for game six on Saturday. “We’re just trying to stay grounded,” Pena said. “We’re going to just lock back in and play our game.” Click here for full story. 

Twitter said it will start laying off employees on Friday, according to a memo sent to staff, with several workers filing a lawsuit alleging the move by new owner billionaire Elon Musk violates US labour law. A company-wide email seen by AFP says Twitter employees will receive word via email at the start of business Friday, California time, as to what their fate is. It does not give a number but the Washington Post and New York Times reported that about half of Twitter's 7,500 employees will be let go. "In an effort to place Twitter on a healthy path, we will go through the difficult process of reducing our global workforce," the email said. Elon Musk completed his acquisition of Twitter last month. Photo: AFP Twitter employees have been bracing for this kind of bad news since Musk completed his mammoth $44 billion acquisition late last week and quickly set about dissolving its board and firing its chief executive and top managers. Late on Thursday, a group of five Twitter employees who had already been fired filed a class action complaint against the company on the grounds that they had not been given the required 60-day notice period as required under US federal and California...

Porsche has revealed the new 911 Carrera T as the lightest and purest ‘Carrera’ version yet of this latest generation sports car. Based on the ‘entry-level’ Carrera, the T – standing for ‘touring’ – is the more driver-focused choice, and follows on from a previous generation of Carrera T that was widely applauded. On this new ‘T’, it gets the standard Carrera’s 380bhp 3.0-litre biturbo petrol engine, but – unlike the Carrera – it comes with a seven-speed manual gearbox, which makes it 35kg lighter than the standard car, weighing 1,470kg in total. A PDK automatic gearbox is offered, too. This engine is able to take the 911 from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 181mph. Read the full story at timesmotors.com 

Napoli have the chance to further extend their lead at the top of Serie A on Saturday when they travel to Bergamo for a top-of-the-table clash with Atalanta in a bumper weekend in Italy’s top flight. An all-competitions winning streak for Luciano Spalletti’s side ended at 13 matches with Tuesday’s defeat at Liverpool which didn’t change their position as Champions League Group A winners. But Napoli remain unbeaten after 12 fixtures in Italy and have a five-point lead on Atalanta as Serie A enters its final rush before the World Cup, with a weekend full of top-tier fixtures including the Rome derby and Juventus hosting arch-rivals Inter Milan. Click here for full story. 

Contractors in the construction industry will soon require a licence to operate that will specify the work they are authorised to take on, the government said on Friday.  A public consultation will kick off in the coming weeks. Planning and public works minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi announced this as he outlined his ministry’s plan of action for the upcoming year. A similar pledge to licence contractors was made almost two years ago, in January 2021, by then-parliamentary secretary for construction Chris Agius who had said the setting up of the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) would lead to the licencing of contractors.  The government had similarly given itself a deadline to set up a licencing regime for contractors in 2019.   “If you do not have a licence, you cannot operate in the industry. This should happen by the end of the year,” Ian Borg, the minister responsible at the time said in 2019. Zrinzo Azzopardi reiterated the proposal on Friday among other proposals he said aim to increase safety and sustainability in construction and planning.  “We are approaching the end of discussions on a system that will introduce licensing for all contractors who are involved...

A 43-year-old construction worker was grievously injured when he fell while working at a construction site in Msida.  The police said they were called to the site on Triq Victor Denaro at around 11am. The man, who is Turkish but lives in Msida, was found to have fallen a height of more than one storey while carrying out works.  He was rushed to Mater Dei in ambulance where he was found to be suffering grievous injuries. Magistrate Astrid May Grime was informed of the case and an inquiry was launched.  Police investigations are ongoing. 

A man, charged with holding up two persons at a Luqa convenience store and making off with cash in October, was remanded in custody upon his arraignment on Friday. Charles Farrugia, 44, was escorted to court from the Corradino Correctional Facility where he is currently detained over separate proceedings, facing fresh charges over the violent robbery which allegedly took place last month. The incident took place on October 14 at around 9:45pm and the victims were allegedly held up at knifepoint. Investigations ultimately led to the identification of the suspect. The man was charged with aggravated theft, holding his victims against their will as well as being in possession of a knife without a police licence or permit. He was also charged with allegedly breaching three separate bail decrees, the latest dated May 2022, and also with relapsing. The accused pleaded not guilty. His defence lawyer did not request bail at this stage and explained that any concerns regarding the accused’s situation were already being addressed while in custody. Inspectors Lydon Zammit, Stephen Gulia and Antonello Magri prosecuted. Lawyer Roberta Bonello Felice was defence counsel.

Student enrolments in post-secondary and tertiary institutions during the academic year 2020-2021 increased by 3.3 per cent over the preceding academic year, totalling 27,944, the NSO said in a statement. According to official data, the number of post-secondary students enrolled in sixth forms and other post-secondary institutions totalled 9,608 during the 2020-2021 academic year. This marked a decrease of 0.1 per cent over the previous academic year. The largest proportion of post-secondary students (88.4 per cent) were aged 19 years and under while foreign students enrolled in such institutions amounted to 1,150, accounting for 12.0 per cent of the total number of students. The vast majority of students at the post-secondary level were enrolled in state-run institutions (85.8 per cent). Half of the students were enrolled in general orientation, whereas the other half in vocational orientation. The most popular field of study among vocational students was ‘Services’ (22.7 per cent), followed by ‘Engineering, manufacturing and construction (16.3 per cent) and ‘Business, administration and law’ (14.6 per cent). Tertiary students Students enrolled in tertiary level courses...

Stock markets and oil prices rallied on Friday on hopes China would roll back some of its economically-painful policies surrounding COVID. The dollar dropped as investors awaited the release of US jobs data later in the day, seeking fresh insight into the state of the world's top economy and the outlook for interest rates. "Stocks jumped in anticipation that the Chinese government would relax its zero-COVID policy from March next year," noted Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell. The optimism also lifted oil prices as traders eyed rising demand for crude on the news out of China. In foreign exchange, the pound won back some ground against the dollar, a day after tumbling as the Bank of England said the UK economy could face a two-year-long recession that it believes has already begun. The BoE on Thursday also lifted its main interest rate by 0.75 percentage points, the most in 33 years in efforts to contain runaway inflation. The week also saw the Federal Reserve hike its key rate by the same amount, as central banks try to cool decades-high inflation. With the Fed pointing to a still-strong labour market as a key reason for not shifting from aggressive rate-tightening,...

A teenage youth got more than he bargained for when he threw a firecracker at the façade of the Qawra police station, sparking an incident that landed him in trouble with the law. The incident took place on Sunday morning shortly before 10:00am when Marcellino Mamo, an 18-year old from Birzebbugia, flung the firecracker at the open door of the police station located in Triq it-Turisti. It landed between the front door and the antiporta, going off with a bang. But when a policeman spotted the suspected prankster and told him to wait until he was questioned over the incident, the youth just left, ignoring police orders. He was subsequently arrested and escorted to court on Friday, charged with violently resisting arrest, insulting and threatening the officer, causing him slight injuries and failing to obey legitimate orders. He was also charged with wilfully breaching the peace and letting off the firecracker, causing an explosion which could prove potentially dangerous and without the necessary police licence. The teen, who explained that he was currently “looking for a job,” was also charged with breaching previous bail conditions. He pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Mario...

Dozens of angry students turned up to the Campus Hub building on Friday, protesting what they call the hyper-commercialisation of campus life at the University of Malta.  Saying that parking was “the straw that broke the camel’s back”, the students lambasted the university for selling off the land it bought in 2013 for profit without consulting students and failed to use it as an opportunity to bring better facilities that encourage student participation on campus. The issue came to a head last week when the newly minted Campus Hub tripled its parking fees overnight, going from a €2 flat rate to €6.50 for anytime between five and 13 hours, sparking outrage among the student body.  Vassallo Group, the company that runs Campus Hub, initially said that the €2 flat rate was a heavily subsidised one that they had introduced while the building was still under construction and that a limited number of discounted parking cards would go on sale. After students announced they were protesting the parking price hike, the company backtracked and announced that students will be able to park for the day at a €3 flat rate. However, the damage was already done and student organisations announced...

Three-time NBA scoring champion James Harden is expected to miss the next month of the season with a tendon strain in his right foot, according to multiple reports on Thursday. ESPN and the Philadelphia Inquirer reported the injury to the 33-year-old guard, the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player. Harden is averaging 22.0 points, 10.0 assists and 7.0 rebounds a game for the 76ers this season -- and he is the only player in the young NBA campaign with over 20 points and 10 rebounds per contest. Click here for full story. 

The hilarious Christmas comedy A Kick in the Baubles by Gordon Steel will take to the stage from Friday, November 25, for two weekends at the MADC Playhouse. The play features a top cast led by John Montanaro, Maxine Aquilina, Francesca Briffa and Stephen Oliver. Directed by new MADC Chairman Steve Casaletto, the play tells the story of another peaceful Christmas in the Bauble household. However, chestnuts aren’t roasting on an open fire – and while a Silent Night would be welcome, all is neither calm nor bright for Frank, who most certainly does not wish it could be Christmas every day. In fact, he’s dreading the arrival of snobbish in-laws who only ever bring a single bottle of wine for the entire festivities. Throw in a couple of larger-than-life neighbours, let the drink flow merrily, and the stage is set for a car-crash Christmas. Maxine Aquilina and John Montanaro “The script is very, very funny, and had us in fits from the first read-through and in almost every rehearsal thereafter,” says Casaletto. “The relationships between the families and family members are so relatable and most people will easily identify with the characters. Plus, there are some superb lines,...

Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica on Friday confirmed its forecast for 2022 after posting better-than-expected earnings during the third quarter despite global economic uncertainty. Telefonica said it booked a net profit of €460 million in the period from July to September, above the €384 million expected by analysts polled by FactSet. It is down, however, from the net profit of €706 million posted in the third quarter of 2021 when results were inflated by the proceeds of the sale of phone masts in Europe and Latin America to American Tower Corporation for €7.7 billion. "In a context of global macroeconomic uncertainty, the company has continued to grow, strengthening its position in its main markets and exploiting new opportunities," Telefonica said. Third-quarter revenue was up 11.6 per cent at €10.34 billion, driven by double-digit increases in Latin America. The company said the results make it possible to confirm its financial targets for 2022, which it raised during the previous quarter. Telefonica reiterated that it expects its core earnings growth to be "mid-to-high-end of the low single-digit" and revenue growth in the "high end of the low single digit". Previously it...

Organised by Bruce Micallef Eynaud, Video Nasties was a night to remember as many talented filmmakers of all levels got to share some jump scares, a few laughs and celebrate film the only way we can: by having fun. To quote Mean Girls, “In the real world, Halloween is when kids dress up in costumes and beg for candy.” In cinephile world, Halloween is when we can celebrate the horror genre without nit-picking the million and one jump scares that add nothing but an immediate burst of petrified adrenaline. It’s when we can look back through our favourite corny tropes and clichés – during the spooky season, I tend to find myself seeking out the goofy B-horror movies that terrified me as a child with outdated visual effects that still hit the mark thanks to their practical simplicities. To me, Halloween is when horror isn’t about the quality, nor the scare factor that so many seem to seek; it is about jumping in your seat as your friends do the same, sharing a giggle a moment later. This Halloween I found myself at Video Nasties, a horror short film challenge organised by local filmmaker (and friend) Bruce Micallef Eynaud. The event featured five original films, a music video made by...

Vladimir Putin on Friday said civilians should be taken out of Moscow-occupied Kherson in southern Ukraine, where Russian forces have been leading evacuations since mid-October as Kyiv's forces advance. "Those who live in Kherson should be removed from zones of dangerous fighting," the Russian president told young volunteers from the occupied Ukrainian territories on Red Square as Moscow celebrated Unity Day.  "The civilian population should not suffer from shelling, an offensive, a counter-offensive or other such things," he said. The Russian army later said it was evacuating "more than 5,000 civilians" from the Kherson region each day.  Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to representatives of national public associations, youth and volunteer organizations after a flower-laying ceremony on National Unity Day on Red Square, in M Moscow's occupation authorities in Kherson say they have helped tens of thousands leave the region and have vowed to turn Kherson city into a "fortress".  Kyiv has likened Moscow's efforts to remove the civilian population from Kherson to Soviet-like "deportations" of its people.  Putin was speaking to volunteers involved in helping people leave...

The PN has filed a parliamentary motion to amend two legal notices published last month that will see consumers receive revised utility bills to make up for overcharging. According to these legal notices, the "adjustment" will only date to January of this year. The PN is proposing that compensation should be backdated to January 2014, when the current bimonthly billing system had been introduced.  Last month Energy Minister Miriam Dalli said that on average, 80% of families will receive an adjustment of between €0 to €8, with the figure varying depending on their consumption patterns. Just three months before, a court had ruled that ARMS, the company that bills consumers for water and electricity, breached the law when it issued bills for Darren Cordina and Melvin Polidano on a pro-rata basis rather than on an annual cumulative consumption basis. For years, ARMS has been issuing bi-monthly bills using a staggered calculation system. The first 2,000 units of electricity are charged at one rate and further consumption at higher rates. For every kWh of the first 2,000kWh consumed in a year, residents should be charged 10.47c and then pay 12.98c for every kWh for the next 4,000kWh,...