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Prince Charles makes 'generous' donation for Valletta Anglican cathedral restoration

August 14, 2017, 6:27 am
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Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales has signalled his support for the St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral Save Valletta’s Skyline Restoration Appeal by making a generous personal donation. Prince Charles first worshipped at the cathedral while still a Cambridge University undergraduate on two unofficial holiday visits to Malta in 1968 and 1970, when he stayed with the then governor-general’s family. The amount he donated was not disclosed. “This valuable endorsement by The Prince of Wales has given the appeal a great fillip and reinforces the strong connections that the cathedral has with the Royal Family,” said Martin Scicluna, co-chairman of the appeal. The St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral Save Valletta’s Skyline Restoration Appeal was launched with some fanfare on February 9, the eve of the Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck in Malta. The cathedral is a universally recognised Valletta landmark but the fabric is in dire need of restoration. Architectural inspections have identified severe problems threatening the tower, the spire and the external and internal stonework. The appeal has set itself the target of raising €3 million by November 2019, which will be the 175th anniversary of...
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Man turned violent after being kicked out of house, court told

August 13, 2017, 4:01 am
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A 29-year-old who allegedly turned violent when evicted from his Luqa apartment early this morning stands accused of slightly injuring a police officer and the apartment's owner.  Police were called to the residence at 6am this morning, where prosecutors allege that Mohamed Al Khelfawi threatened and then attacked another man, slightly injuring him.  A court heard that an argument broke out between the two men after the owner kicked Mr Al Khelfawi out of the house and told him not to return.  Mr Al Khelfawi was taken to Luqa police station, where he allegedly failed to comply with police orders and slightly injured an officer.  The 29-year-old also faces charges of using obscene language in public and disturbing the peace. He pleaded not guilty to charges against him.  The court heard that Mr Al Khelfawi has no family and had just started a new job. It urged him to focus on work and agreed to grant him bail, on condition that he sign the bail book at Birkirkara police station every day and find a place to live within a week.  Josette Sultana was legal aid. Inspector Chantelle Casha prosecuted. 
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Six accused of savage Paceville assault

August 14, 2017, 4:55 am
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Six men were accused in court today of involvement in the savage beating of two foreign men, the footage of which was captured on CCTV and went viral on social media. Inspector Trevor Micallef accused Simon Cassar of Swatar, William Briguglio of Valletta, Carmelo Zammit of Valletta, Carmel Sghendo and Jurghen Sghendo of Msida and Ezekiel George Mintoff of St Venera of causing grievous injuries to a Syrian and a Jordanian, with instigating a fight and with disturbing the peace by shouting and fighting. The ages of the accused range from 23 to 53. The incident occurred two months ago outside Clique in Paceville. Mahmoud Ahmad Al Smadi and Ali Alhasan suffered grievous injuries as a result of the attack and one of them may lose his sight. Ali Alhasan was escorted to court from Corradino prison, where he has been held since Sunday afternoon when he was charged with the rape of a 12-year-old girl. All but one of the accused did not have the licence required to work as security guards, Magistrate Joe Mifsud heard. Inspector Micallef told the court that CCTV footage did not capture the attack in its entirety and that the victims had recalled different numbers of assailants, varying...
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Blind man wins battle for an independent life

August 14, 2017, 11:54 am
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Natalino Cristiano was 45 years old when he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic disorder that breaks down retina cells. There was nothing the doctors could do, and in time, he gradually lost his eyesight. Today a pensioner, Mr Cristiano is surprisingly active. Although blind, he has a trained guide dog, Glen – which was brought over from Slovakia in 2013 by the Malta Guide Dogs Foundation – and together they run errands and go walking around his hometown of Gżira. Once a week, they catch a bus to Valletta, where Mr Cristiano attends Mass at the Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul’s Shipwreck. The two also regularly tour schools and businesses to make presentations on what it means to be blind and highlight the independence a guide dog brings. “Thanks to Glen and the Malta Guide Dogs Foundation, I have regained my freedom and am no longer a burden on my family,” Mr Cristiano said. “So I feel that the least I can do is reach out to members of the community to make them aware of what these highly intelligent dogs can do.” The foundation has been active for just a decade, but in that short period of time, it has ensured that 16 guide dogs – black, tan and white...
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Marsaxlokk's Il-Ballut area being ravaged by arson

August 14, 2017, 3:25 am
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The Environment Resources Authority is going to take steps to protect the Natura 2000 site at Il-Ballut in Marsaxlokk, but Nature Trust-FEE is pleading for immediate action, saying recent fires show how urgent the situation has become. “Malta has already lost too much natural area and it is time we truly protect what is left,” it said, noting that recent fires seem to have been caused by vandals. The site houses an important habitat – a salt marsh environment – which used to host the endemic killifish (buzaq) until the 1990s. “However, despite various reports to the relevant environment authorities on uncontrolled pollution for nearby pig farms at that time, no action was ever taken and the killifish population in this area all died out,” the NGO said. “In the late ‘80s, the site witnessed the dumping of rubble waste from the construction of the Delimara Power station. Later the dredging of the Marsaxlokk port for the construction of the Freeport continued to change the water currents in the bay so much so that today the area and coastline is being eroded away. Part of the embankment that existed together with parts of the site have been eaten up by coastal erosion. This has...
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Watch: A breathtaking trip between the Maltese islands

August 14, 2017, 10:01 am
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A new helicopter service between Malta and Gozo allows people to reach every point on the two islands in just 10 minutes. Operated by HeliFly Limited, the idea of launching the service came from Italian lawyer Elio Blasio who has been living in Malta together with his family for over a year. Before becoming a lawyer, Dr Blasio was flight department commander of the Guardia di Finanza in Rome. Apart from the Malta-Gozo transport service, HeliFly will also offer tours around the islands as well as trips to Sicily, Panarea and North Africa. “When you fly by helicopter over Malta, you can admire its beauty,” Dr Blasio said. “On board a helicopter, you can take your time and enj­­­­oy the spectacle of the Dingli cliffs, the old and new capital of Mdina and Valletta, Gozo and Comino.” HeliFly is also teaming up with the European Pilot Academy and Eurotech-Ariane and Falcon Alliance to set up the first helicopter training school in the country. The company operates different types of helicopters, including a Robinson R-22 and an Agusta A-109. HeliFly will also cater for all kinds of customers, from tourists to VIPs and business people. More information available from the company’s...
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Gentlemen’s club owner rejects prostitution link

August 14, 2017, 10:14 pm
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An owner of two gentlemen’s clubs in Paceville is rejecting claims by women’s groups that outlets like his are hubs for prostitution. Ronald Axisa, who owns Stiletto and White Palace, said the unjust criticism was based on perception. He was reacting to claims by women’s organisations that lap-dancing clubs, known in the industry as gentlemen’s clubs, served as a facade for prostitution and human trafficking. Watch: Gentlemen's clubs are 'prostitution establishments' “I only speak for my outlets, but one of the main drawbacks of women’s organisations when it comes to criticising such establishments is that their arguments are based on their perception of what these clubs are rather than what actually goes on inside,” Mr Axisa said. Lap-dancing outlets made it to the national agenda after Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi spoke of the government’s intention to regularise them. The clubs have mushroomed in Paceville over the past decade, operating in a legal lacuna. Inside, scantily clad women are supposed to provide tantalising dances for paying clients. New regulations are expected to classify these outlets as adult entertainment clubs, imposing a code of conduct on performers and...
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'It was a nightmare, we were cold, hungry...' How teens survived the cliffs ordeal

August 14, 2017, 9:15 pm
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The two young men who were rescued after a two-day search said yesterday they thought they were going to die before a fisherman spotted them hanging off a cliff face. Nick Johnson and Mark Petric, both 19, were lying in two adjacent hospital beds at Mater Dei surrounded by friends and family and “feeling lucky to be alive” yesterday evening, shortly after spending more than two days fearing for their lives. Mr Johnson told the Times of Malta how their harrowing ordeal had seen them both dragged out to sea by rough currents in Mtaħleb when they jumped in for a swim to cool off after a long bike ride and hike. The strong waves pulled them under the surface a number of times as they fought against the current for more than an hour, he said. They eventually managed to pull themselves ashore and sought refuge in a dark and dank cave, where they spent an uncertain stretch huddling together for warmth. READ: "They kept encouraging each other to stay alive" - missing men found after two days “In there it was terrible, it was cold and the rocks were sharp, and there was only a small patch where we could stay safe. I was so dehydrated, I was having hallucinations,” Mr Johnson said. The...
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Plan for free gender reassignment for transgender people is ‘needed’

August 14, 2017, 11:13 pm
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Lauren Salerno has given up on simple things such as putting her hair in a ponytail, afraid it will reveal her receding hairline. The 53-year-old transgender woman was put on hormone treatment in the UK some years back, but unfortunately, this is not yet provided by Malta’s public healthcare services and she cannot afford it on her salary. As she puts her treatment on hold, Ms Salerno continues with life, feeling that people are all the time judging her. Ms Salerno moved to Malta last year, as recommended by her therapist, and soon after settling down here and even finding employment, the depression and anxiety that she had been experiencing dissipated. However, she was informed that her gender reassignment treatment and hormone regime could not be provided by the public sector. She decided to challenge the decision and submitted an official complaint with the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality. The NCPE decided in her favour, calling on the Health Department to implement a concrete plan enabling free access to gender reassignment services. The decision brings new hope for her, but the delay in her treatment also means that those things that remind her of her male...
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At least two flights delayed because of... fireworks

August 15, 2017, 3:25 am
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Holidaymakers taking advantage of Santa Marija have had to wait a little longer to start their trips, as at least two flights out of Malta International Airport have been delayed due to nearby fireworks. The Easyjet flight to Manchester was delayed by 90 minutes while the flight to Gatwick was pushed back by 30 minutes with frustrated passengers stranded on the runway. A Ryanair flight to Birmingham was delayed by half an hour while several other flights may be facing similar delays, according to passengers who spoke to the Times of Malta. “We were sitting on the plane and the doors had been shut when the pilot told us that the main runway was shut because of the fireworks,” a passenger on the Manchester flight said.  “Air traffic control gave clearance to take off from the second runway but apparently the plane is too heavy.” A Malta International Airport spokeswoman said that as a safeguarding measure due to Santa Marija fireworks in Gudja, one of the airport’s two runways was being used solely for departures and the other for arrivals. The spokeswoman said similar measures were taken every year and were not expected to significantly impact operations. 
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Man beats up wife two days after he attacked her for not preparing food, court hears

August 15, 2017, 2:50 am
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A man punched his wife and kicked her in the stomach, rupturing her spleen, two days after he attacked her for failing to prepare food for him after she felt sick, a court heard this morning. The 32-year-old father of four, whose name cannot be published by court order to protect the identity of the children, was also accused of causing grievous bodily harm, permanent debility, and disfigurement in the face, neck or hands of his wife. Before Magistrate Monica Vella, he pleaded not guilty to attempted murder but was denied bail. The incident happened last Sunday at about 9pm. Initial investigations point towards domestic violence. Police inspector Elliot Magro, who prosecuted, told the court that they had been alerted about the case on Sunday at around 10pm when the victim, together with her husband's brother, went to the Rabat police station to file a report. Trouble started brewing on Friday night when the man was allegedly upset that his wife did not prepare food before he left for work. The victim had said she felt sick and did not have time as she had to feed their animals at their farm. The situation escalated on Sunday evening when the incident happened. The prosecution...
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Customs officials seize excess cash from Maltese man on way to Kiev

August 15, 2017, 2:10 am
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Customs officials stationed at the airport this morning seized cash in excess of €10,000 found on a Maltese man travelling to Kiev via Istanbul. In a statement, the Customs Department said the passenger had €13,650 which he said was travelling money. The police Economic Crimes Unit was informed and the man was allowed to travel and will be taken to court on his return. According to European law, passengers travelling with more than €10,000 in cash to or from any EU country are obliged to submit a declaration to customs.
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‘I hope it doesn’t happen when we have 400 migrants’

August 14, 2017, 3:30 am
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The head of mission on board the rescue vessel left stranded in the open sea in the midst of a diplomatic standoff between Malta and Italy fears it could happen again when the boat is teeming with migrants. “We only had three on board, and they were all healthy. But what happens when the boat is full? When there are sanitary and health concerns? When it becomes a real humanitarian situation?” Ricardo Gatti told The Sunday Times of Malta yesterday. He and his crew spent two days floating in international waters between Malta and Italy after both governments refused to allow the ship entry into their ports.  Operated by Barcelona-based NGO Proactiva Open Arms, the ship was carrying three migrants rescued some 100 kilometres off the Libyan coast.  The boat was eventually allowed to enter Italy after it started experiencing engine trouble, with the authorities there eventually accepting taking charge of the three migrants. “This was a diplomatic issue, that much was clear. It reminded me of what happened in 2011 when people let these matters come in the way,” he said, as his ship was preparing to leave from Valletta for a new 15-day search and rescue mission. The 2011 migrant...
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'A sense of jubiliation spread as the convoy entered Grand Harbour'

August 15, 2017, 12:29 am
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Major Henry Gatt, 94, spoke to the Times of Malta before the 75th anniversary of the convoy. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

For 94-year-old war veteran Major Henry Gatt, the day the SS Ohio tanker and its escort made it to Malta, August 15, 1942, reminds him of one thing – the widespread jubilation among the Maltese. Speaking to this newspaper ahead of the 75th anniversary of Operation Pedestal, which brought to Malta the Santa Marija convoy and is being celebrated today, Mr Gatt recalled the sense of jubilation that quickly spread throughout the island when the convoy, barely making it, entered the Grand Harbour. Although he was on duty working anti-aircraft searchlights that day and not present to watch the convoy arrive, Mr Gatt said he had vivid recollections of the sense of joy and relief that the vessels with supplies brought with them. The convoy’s arrival is considered to be a pivotal moment in World War II. It saved Malta by delivering food and other essential supplies when the island was under heavy attack from the enemy. “That was a big joy for everybody, with people from all walks of life celebrating. “I was in the Rabat area at the time… but the news spread very quickly,” Mr Gatt explained. He added that before the battered SS Ohio made it to Malta, morale was down and most people were...
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Maltese-designed London kiosk shortlisted for five international awards

August 15, 2017, 7:07 am
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A kiosk at the entrance to a London mall designed by a Maltese architectural firm is in the running for four awards at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.  The copper leaf-shaped kiosk at the entrance to Westfield Stratford City, for Italian café brand Colicci, is the work of Mizzi Studio, a firm founded by 35-year-old Jonathan Mizzi.  The café’s sculptural roof is clad with 542 individual laser cut copper sections fixed utilising traditional handcraft over a fibreglass shell with some 20,000 rivets. It was unveiled in February of this year. Its unique design has caught the eye of judges for the Restaurant & Bar Awards, who have shortlisted the kiosk in international award categories for outside design, ceiling design and leisure, as well as a UK award for best fast & casual restaurant design.  The Maltese-designed kiosk will compete against entries from all across the globe, from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi, Moscow, Shanghai and New York.  'Very exciting' Speaking to Times of Malta, Mr Mizzi said the project presented several design challenges.  "We're very excited to see the project nominated for these awards," Mr Mizzi said "it involved a lot of hard work and I think we did a good...
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Żabbar hairdresser sold contraband cigarettes between cuts

August 15, 2017, 8:06 am
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A hairdressing salon in Żabbar, band club in Rabat and confectionery in Valletta were among the sites exposed as contraband cigarette hotspots by authorities this week. Almost 9,000 contraband cigarettes and 126 litres of smuggled wine were seized over the past week, as Customs kept the pressure on smugglers.  Officials seized 5,940 cigarettes branded Business Royals, Richman, Tradition and American Legend from shops, garages, cars and other sites used by black market sellers. Another 2,920 cigarettes were seized as smugglers tried to bring them into the country at the airport.  In Żabbar, officials caught a hairdresser who had a side trade in contraband cigarette sales. Aside from breaking Customs laws, the shop is not licenced to sell tobacco products and has been reported to licensing authorities.  Police also caught a man selling contraband cigarettes from his car in Qormi at 1am last Friday. He was arrested and his car impounded.  Contraband cigarettes were also found inside a garage in Qormi, band club in Rabat and Valletta confectionery.  Customs began a crackdown on illicit trading in cigarettes two weeks ago, and officials have seized tens of thousands of cigarettes...
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PN pushes for judge Mizzi to recuse himself from Panama Papers case

August 16, 2017, 4:46 am
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Opposition leader Simon Busuttil today insisted that a judge married to a Labour Party MEP should recuse himself from hearing appeals linked to Panama Papers-related charges.  Dr Busuttil wants Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi to recuse himself in a case concerning seven appeals filed against Magistrate Ian Farrugia's decision to launch an inquiry into whether Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi broke money laundering laws.  Mr Justice Mizzi is married to Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi.  In a tweet, Dr Busuttil said that the "suspects insisted that [the] appeal should be decided by a judge who is married to a PL MEP." He ended the tweet with a "#justice?" Dr Busuttil tweeted after a court of appeal hearing during which the Nationalist Party formally asked for a different judge to take charge of proceedings.  READ: Judge married to Labour MEP should not hear appeals - PN The hearing was held behind closed doors after Mr Justice Mizzi ordered media out. In comments to the media after the hearing, Dr Busuttil reiterated that the recusal request should not be construed as an attack on Mr Justice Mizzi's integrity.  "While nobody is attacking the judge's integrity, the simple fact that his wife is a...
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Spectacular fireworks light up the skies over Mqabba

August 15, 2017, 1:53 am
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A spectacle of fireworks the skies over Mqabba last night as the village's pyro-musical display got underway. The main attraction was the Tower of Light, a display fired from a 30-metre high steel structure creating unique effects. The display, by the St Mary Fireworks Factory, continued with the traditional Maltese single shot shells known as beraq pront and multi-break coloured shells murtali tal-kulur. It ended with a grand finale again with various types of fireworks synchronised to music.
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PD wants 70 valleys listed as public domain

August 16, 2017, 2:18 am
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The Democratic Party today said it wants 70 valleys added to a list of sites to be considered as being in the public domain. Addressing a press conference at Wied Qirda in Żebbuġ, PD MP Godfrey Farrugia highlighted the importance of valleys when it came to water flows around the Maltese islands.  He said PD would be dedicating its resources towards researching, planning and submitting applications for these valleys to be included for the protection afforded under public domain laws. Last year, parliament passed new laws offering special protection to areas declared as public domain. Applications for sites nominated for inclusion must first be assessed by the Planning Authority before being forwarded to parliament, which has the final say on the matter. Dr Farrugia said the party would conduct the research and procedures necessary for each valley to be proposed for protection. He said PD would welcome all NGOs interested in contributing to this initiative. Dr Farrugia said valleys needed to be protected due to their ecological value, including biodiversity, as well as their value to the water table, which was becoming increasingly saline. The PD MP said the party would also be...
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ERA objects to plans for massive Marsascala complex

August 15, 2017, 9:41 pm
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The Environment and Resources Authority says urban-type developments are more appropriate in areas already designated for such use. Photo: Jonathan Borg

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has restated its objections to the development of a massive commercial complex in a disused quarry close to the Marsascala family park. An application for the development was first submitted in October last year but was later withdrawn by the developer. The application was then resubmitted in June and was published by the PA for public consultation last week. The development includes a basement car park, a 3,080 square metre commercial outlet, as well as a restaurant and drive-through at ground level, 2,080 square metres of offices at the first floor level and a landscaped roof. Objecting to the new application, the ERA said the development would introduce further commercial and urban development in a quarry “which should preferably be reinstated back to agriculture use, considering its location along an urban fringe”. The authority said urban-type developments were more appropriate in areas already designated for such use, and should not be encouraged in other areas, in this case a spent quarry outside development zones. While the site itself was not environmentally sensitive, since it is located adjacent to an existing arterial...
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