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Hunters' delight at the raptors’ plight - BirdLife

August 12, 2014, 5:53 am
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BirdLife Malta said today that revocation of the 3pm curfew on Autumn season hunting was a case of 'hunters' delights at the raptors' plight'. The society said amendments to Malta’s bird conservation laws were another move by the government to appease the hunting lobby at the expense of rare and protected birds of prey. The amendments, enacted earlier in July permanently set the dates of the autumn hunting season and revoked the 3pm curfew. They were confirmed when the Autumn season dates were announced on Monday. "Since 2007, between the 15th September and 30th September, a 3pm curfew had been enforced to specifically protect migrating birds of prey as they came in to roost. Having completed their breeding season in Europe, birds of prey typically arrive in their masses during this period as they make their way south to winter in Africa. Birds arriving late during the day scour the Maltese countryside flying low in search of suitable roosting sites, making them easy targets," BirdLife said. "In 2013, this curfew was moved by four hours to 7pm despite opposition raised by BirdLife Malta over the inefficacy of the measure. A scientific study carried out at Buskett in 1998, had...
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Family hospitalised after fire

August 13, 2014, 2:54 am
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Almost an entire family was hospitalised this morning after a fire engulfed their house in Lija. Three children and a woman were treated for the smoke they had inhaled when a fire broke out in their residence in Giannikola Buhagiar Street. Investigations into what caused the fire are under way but sources said the fire most probably started because of a candle that remained lit after last night’s blackout. Fortunately, the child in whose bedroom the fire had started had moved to her parents’ bedroom saying she was scared of the total darkness. Members of the Civil Protection Department were called to the house some time before 9am to control the blaze. The police are investigating.
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‘Panicked’ residents are flocking to ironmongers

August 13, 2014, 12:41 am
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Fear caused by a spate of burglaries in Sliema has driven up the sale of door locks, according to local ironmongers. In the first six months of the year, theft from occupied houses in Sliema equalled the number of burglaries for the whole of last year, prompting many residents to review their home security. Paul Schembri, managing director at Alldecor Hardware Supplies, said people of all ages were enquiring about stronger door locks. “The problem is afflicting everyone and people are driving me mad with requests but I hope they do catch the culprits because people have grown fearful here,” Mr Schembri told Times of Malta yesterday. Read more on Times of Malta.
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Bus service: preferred bidder selected

August 13, 2014, 1:53 am
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The preferred bidder for the provision of the bus service on the Maltese islands is the Spanish company Autobuses de Leon, which made the best offer according to established criteria, the government said. It said that negotiations with the company will start in the coming days. Last week, the ministry confirmed that negotiations had started with the preferred bidder leading to Island Malta Buses Ltd, one of the three bidders, to issue a statement raising questions on the manner in which the process was being handled. The Spanish company is a subsidiary of the ALSA Group, which boasts to be a leading Spanish transport company with a fleet of 2,300 buses, carrying more than 183 million passengers per year. Sources said its offer was €20 million cheaper than the Maltese bidder’s, which requested an annual subsidy of some €42 million. Also bidding for the service was Gozo First.
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Mgarr ix-Xini closed for three months from Monday

August 12, 2014, 8:32 am
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Mgarr Ix-Xini Bay and its environs will be closed to the public from next Monday to November 10 because of film shooting. The Home Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Tourism said the film (By the Sea - Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt) would generate millions of euro and have a major economic impact for Gozo and the Gozitans. The media interest which film-shooting in Malta was generating would also have a positive impact on tourism. However this economic benefit and the work it was creating would not be possible without the public’s cooperation, the ministries said. They thanked all concerned. The closure of Mgarr Ix-Xini was initially thought to be shorter, with the prime minister having been reported as saying on July 3 that it would be closed 'for a few days.' He said the film would put Gozo on the map and it will be a very good advert for the island. The Daily Mail had reported that Pitt and Jolie had rented out Rew Rew, a beach shack at the water's edge in Mgarr ix-Xini for the summer, paying the owners thousands to shut up shop. Brangelina wanted unfettered access to the beach while they filmed By The Sea, the newspaper said. Most of the film set has already been built and...
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Hospital helipad still accessible to all

August 12, 2014, 11:24 pm
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A day after the government ordered a magisterial inquiry to find out how a car was allowed to block a hospital helipad, Times of Malta managed to park a vehicle right in the middle of the landing site, completely unhindered. Fresh signs have been put up since Saturday’s incident, indicating that the site, at St Luke’s Hospital, is a helicopter landing area and that motorists should not park their vehicles there or obstruct the entrance. However, there was nobody yesterday to enforce that order in case someone decided to ignore the signs. The St Luke’s helipad site is being temporarily used instead of the one at Mater Dei Hospital because tower cranes there are involved in the construction of a new extension. It abuts a Malta Enterprise car park, which is meant to be guarded by the agency’s own security. Read more in Times of Malta.
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Updated 3.15 pm - Power restored to all localities - Distribution centre damage 'substantial'

August 13, 2014, 1:59 am
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Technicians managed to restore power to all localities this afternoon, some 15 hours after an explosion knocked out Marsa Distribution Centre, causing a nation-wide blackout. While power to most localities was restored overnight, several areas of Zebbug, Qormi, Luqa and Siggiewi had been without power until early this afternoon. Enemalta chairman Frederick Azzopardi said this morning that the damage caused by yesterday evening's explosion was 'substantial'. Addressing a news conference, he said the outage was caused when the cable feeding Marsa distribution centre was damaged. This caused the transformers to explode, even cracking the road surface.  Delimara and Marsa power plants then automatically shut down as a precaution, causing a nation-wide blackout. Mr Azzopardi apologised for the inconvenience and said that electricity was set to return to localities still without power in the coming hours. He ruled out that the outage was the result of a surge in demand saying that just before it occurred, Enemalta had a spare capacity of 60 megawatts. He said that during the outage, Enemalta was in constant communication with Mater Dei Hospital and Malta International Airport to...
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Update 4: Power restored but few localities still without electricity, flights diverted

August 12, 2014, 10:53 am
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Updated Wednesday 6.30am A fault in one of the generating units of Delimara power station caused a nationwide power cut this evening (Tuesday). An explosion took place at the same time at a distribution centre near Marsa Industrial Estate. No one was injured but the explosion produced a fire and thick black smoke. Extensive damage was caused.Enemalta reported the fire extinguished at 11.15pm Power was lost across Malta and Gozo at 7.50pm, setting off burglar alarms as lights and air conditioners went off - as did the street decorations in the towns and villages preparing to celebrate the feast of Sta Marija. Some traffic junctions became dangerous as traffic lights went off. Malta International Airport was forced to temporarily close all activity within the airport as a safety precaution as the runway was closed. Flights diverted to Catania included Vueling flight VY 8744 from Barcelona, Norwegian flight DY 6530 from Copenhagen, Airmalta flight KM 4293 from Glasgow, and Ryanair flight FR 9874 from Bari. Operations at the airport have now resumed as normal. Supply started being restored to some areas at 8.50pm. But power was lost again at 10.40pm. It was restored to most areas...
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MP undergoes surgery

August 13, 2014, 11:42 am
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MP Frederick Azzopardi has successfully undergone surgery at Mater Dei Hospital, the PN said. It wished him well and called for his privacy to be respected.
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Confusing statements on helipad case - PN spokesman

August 13, 2014, 8:20 am
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The Opposition spokesman for health, Claudio Grech, criticised the government today for not having taken effective action to ensure that the St Luke’s Hospital helipad was secure round the clock. In a statement Claudio Grech expressed concern over the different versions of the incident given in a Department of Health press release on Monday morning and a press conference in the afternoon. Such contradictory statements and lack of precise information on who had actually been blocking the helipad could undermine public confidence in the health authorities, Mr Grech said. It was not clear if whoever blocked the helipad had authorised access. Mr Grech said comments by governemnt officials that the case had no impact on a Gozitan patient who was airlifted to Malta and later died prejudiced the Magisterial inquiry. Such premature statements were unacceptable and insensitive. Mr Grech said the helipad was an essential element of the infrastructure, needed in case of a national emergency, and the fact that this incident had happened showed a lack of proper administration and control. Referring to the fact that a Times of Malta reporter was also able to park his car on the helipad...
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Helipad blocked

August 14, 2014, 12:27 am
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Photo: Paul Spiteri Lucas

The authorities have boosted security measures at the entrance to the St Luke’s Hospital helipad, placing metal bollards and a metal chain one day after Times of Malta highlighted how easy it was to park a vehicle in the middle of the landing site without any hindrance. Earlier this week, the government ordered a magisterial inquiry into why a car was allowed to block the helipad last Saturday, preventing an AFM helicopter preparing to evacuate a patient from Gozo from using the site. The Nationalist Party criticised the government for not having taken effective action to ensure that the helipad was secure around the clock. It also expressed concern over the different versions of the incident given in a government statement and a press conference.
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'Missing' delivery man back in court

August 13, 2014, 4:43 am
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The delivery man who practically disappeared while distributing items to customers last Thursday and later admitted in court to selling the goods to buy cocaine was this morning jailed two years for stealing a laptop and other items and being in possession of cocaine last Monday. Brandon Cachia, 27, of Vittoriosa also admitted to committing a crime while on conditional discharge, relapsing and breaching the bail conditions handed down for last Thursday’s incident. Legal aid lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace said her client wanted a jail term to be able to follow a rehabilitation programme because he could not cope on his own. Her remarks were echoed by Police Inspector Robert Said Sarreo who said the accused was willing to do anything to follow a programme. Magistrate Anthony Vella placed the accused on a treatment order and a probation order for three years to come into effect following completion of his jail term and rehabilitation programme.
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Compensation for households without electricity for more than 12 hours considered

August 14, 2014, 2:27 am
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The government is considering ways of compensating families who had to endure more than 12 hours without electricity. Government sources said talks had been held between the Energy Ministry and Enemalta to come up with different options that could be considered. Power was restored to all localities yesterday, some 18 hours after an explosion knocked out Marsa Distribution Centre, causing a nation-wide blackout.
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Woman jailed after fourth theft, ignoring probation order

August 13, 2014, 9:41 am
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A 26-year-old woman from Zurrieq who lives in a car and has been convicted of four cases of theft so far this year has been jailed for 28 months after a court found that she had also ignored a probation order. In her most recent case, Sandra Grixti, 26, was convicted of having stolen sunglasses and soft drinks from a car in Msida last Wednesday. During the proceedings, the court heard how the woman has a drugs problem. Magistrate Aaron Bugeja noted that the woman had pleaded guilty but henceforth had not cooperated with the police. He said that the facts of the case, and also the woman's appearance, showed that she needed help. The court, however, could not ignore the fact that the woman had already so far this year been convicted of three other cases of theft. She had been placed on a three-year probation order and been given the opportunity to reform, but she did not take up the opportunity. She had not even met her probation officer. The court said it was mindful of its duty to protect society, while helping this drug victim. The court found the woman guilty of the theft and of violating the conditions of her probation order. She was  sentenced to a prison term of 28 months...
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Former Chief Justice Hugh Harding passes away, one day after his wife

August 13, 2014, 5:15 am
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Chief Justice Emeritus Hugh Harding died today, aged 88, one day after his wife Marian. Mrs Harding died yesterday, aged 85. Judge Harding accompanied his wife to hospital yesterday and he died at home today. Prof Harding, son of Judge William D. Harding was called to the Bar in 1949.He was appointed lecturer in History of Legislation at the University a year later. He served as Election Commissioner in the 1962, 1966 and 1971 general elections, and as Independence Referendum Commissioner in 1964. Prof Harding was appointed Judge in November 1980 and served as Chief Justice from September 1987 till 1990. In 1991 he was appointed Chairman of the Permanent Law Reform Commission. The government expressed its condolences to the Harding family and praised the former Chief Justice for his seriousness and integrity. It also praised him for his work as a lawyer who assisted shipyard workers and for his research into Malta's legal history.  
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MIA pledges to avoid repeat of power generators problem

August 13, 2014, 5:51 am
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Malta International Airport said this afternoon that it was taking measures to avoid a repeat of yesterday's closure of the runway because of a power failure. It said it suffered technical difficulties with its generators during the nationwide power outage. The airport has a system of generators in place to allow it to provide emergency lighting in the event of a power cut. However, yesterday's nationwide blackout coincided with technical problems and MIA suspended apron and runway operations for 'not more than 25 minutes between 9:30 and 9:55.  Malta Air Traffic Services opted to divert incoming flights to Catania and Palermo for approximately an hour and 45 minutes between 10:45 and 1:30am as a precautionary measure to ensure safety within the aerodrome. The terminal remained operational at all times with acceptable limitations, MIA said. The matter was resolved last night. "We are implementing measures to avoid similar occurrences in the future and apologise for the inconvenience caused," MIA said. Earlier, Alternattivaasked the government to explain how flights were diverted and delayed yesterday as a result of the power cut. In a statement, the party asked how the...
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Updated: Man critical after trailer overturns in Marsa

August 14, 2014, 2:58 am
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A 43-year-old man from San Gwann is in a critical condition after he had to be extricated from a trailor that overturned in Garbaldi Street, Marsa. The man, who was driving the trailer, got trapped and was helped out by Civil Protection personnel after the trailer overturned at around 11.30am. The accident happened when he lost control and crashed into a barrier. The container the trailer was pulling got unhooked and crashed into a low wall. The road was closed to traffic. An inquiry is being held.  
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Erin Tanti case: used pregnancy test taken from victim's bedroom for DNA sampling

August 14, 2014, 2:38 am
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A used pregnancy test was one of the items found on the late Lisa Marie Zahra’s bed by the police during a search of her bedroom at her father’s house, a court heard today. The court was hearing a continuation of the compilation of evidence against drama teacher Erin Tanti, who is pleading not guilty to the murder of Ms Zahra, his 15-year-old drama student, on March 19 and assisting her to commit suicide. The court had heard that Mr Tanti had told police he did not kill Ms Zahra and that he loved her but planned to end their relationship. Her lifeless body was found on the rocks of Dingli cliffs and he “initially” told rescuers that he had fallen. Magistrate Audrey Demicoli had ruled that there was enough evidence for the indictment of Mr Tanti and, in a tense sitting on June 3, an emotional Tony Zahra recounted how he was informed that his daughter was missing when he was abroad. However, when he arrived in Malta, he was told she was dead. Taking the witness stand today, PC  Patrick Farrugia said that he had gone to Mr Zahra’s house to elevate items for DNA sampling from the girl’s bedroom. There he found members of the vice squad carrying out a search. The items he took...
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After the outage, the water cuts

August 13, 2014, 8:08 am
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The Water Services Corporation has warned of a water supply cut in the areas supplied from Pembroke reverse osmosis plant because of yesterday's power outage. It said that Sliema, Gżira, San Ġwann, Msida, Pieta' Ta' Xbiex, St Andrews, Birkirkara, St Julians, Paceville and Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq may be without water. Supply will be resumed as soon as possible. The RO plant supplies some of its consumers directly and not through reservoirs.
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Updated 3.15 pm - Power restored to all localities - Pictures: Distribution centre damage 'substantial'

August 13, 2014, 1:59 am
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Technicians restored power to all localities this afternoon, some 18 hours after an explosion knocked out Marsa Distribution Centre, causing a nation-wide blackout. Pictures of the damage caused to the equipment at the distribution centre were also issued this afternoon. While power to most localities was restored overnight, several areas of Zebbug, Qormi, Luqa and Siggiewi had been without power until early this afternoon. Enemalta chairman Frederick Azzopardi said this morning that the damage caused by yesterday evening's explosion was 'substantial'. Addressing a news conference, he said the outage was caused when the cable feeding Marsa distribution centre was damaged. This caused the transformers to explode, even cracking the road surface.  Delimara and Marsa power plants then automatically shut down as a precaution, causing a nation-wide blackout. Mr Azzopardi apologised for the inconvenience and said that electricity was set to return to localities still without power in the coming hours. He ruled out that the outage was the result of a surge in demand saying that just before it occurred, Enemalta had a spare capacity of 60 megawatts. He said that during the outage,...
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