MaltaMedia.com

Caravan squatters to be removed

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:44:38 PST

Over a 100 letters were distributed on Monday afternoon warning caravan squatters in Bahar ic-Caghaq to remove their caravans within 48 hours or else face consequences.

Hundreds of caravan owners have occupied public land illegally and some have even audaciously built permanent structures around their claimed territory. These will be removed by government officials at the caravan owners expense if they are not removed by the squatters themselves.

AEGEE Valletta begin new semester on campus

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:41:24 PST

AEGEE-Valletta, the local antenna within AEGEE's European Network, is present at Fresher's Week at the University Campus.

AEGEE-Valletta teamed up with KSU to organise a 'Welcome Party' for the international students who will be visiting our islands to study for either a semester or a year. Organised at Q-Bar on Sunday many students joined in for an opportunity to get to know each other in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

'More Four Play' at the Manoel

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:35:15 PST

The plays and musical numbers will be played at break-neck speed by just four actors. But these are not just any old actors... MADC has roped in four of the island's leading comics to pull off this festival of laughs - Alan Montanaro, Isabel Warrington, Louiselle Vassallo and newcomer (to the troupe) Alan Paris.

The sketches have been devised by Alan Montanaro, James Calvert, Nanette Brimmer Malcolm Galea with a couple of British comedy classics thrown in for good measure.

Bird guard operations extended

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:30:40 PST

The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) has announced that its Bird Guard operations against illegal bird hunting on Malta have been extended.

“As a result of the massive scale of birds shot in the past two weeks part of the group have volunteered to stay on and have taken extra unpaid leave from their jobs” the CABS president Heinz Schwarze said.

Opposition Leader Mangion submits resignation

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:11:52 PST

Opposition Leader, Charles Mangion, has submitted his resignation to make way for Labour Leader Joseph Muscat who will be sworn in on October 1st.

On Monday, Labour MP Joseph Cuschieri submitted his own resignation as he gave up his post to Muscat who was co-opted to parliament after resigning his post as Member of the European Parliament.

Birkirkara man accused of hit and run accident

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:09:13 PST

Emanuel Sammut was granted bail after being accused of causing the hit and run accident at the Birkirkara Bypass on Sunday late afternoon.

Sammut, 38, of Birkirkara was also accused of negligent driving, injuring Eleno Zarb, damaging his Maruti, failing to stop to give his particulars, driving under the influence of drink, being in unlawful possession of a harpoon, lodging a false report and relapsing.

University lecturers risk losing pay increase

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:38:40 PST

University lecturers are risking the withdrawal of a packet of pay increases that was offered to trade unions representing the University’s academic staff in recent weeks if it continues to be refused by the unions.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance issued the warning to the unions insisting that the official proposals currently on the table represent a substantial improvement in the salaries of University academic staff.

Educative martial art course on TV

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:34:34 PST

For the first time in Malta an educative martial art course will be screened on local Television. “Jien qed nitghallem l-Aikido” is a series of eight half an hour lessons that demonstrate the classical martial of Aikido from basics to complicated defences from multiple attacks.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art that encompasses mainly self defence, meditation and weaponry study.

New Parish dedicated to Malta's first saint

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:11:00 PST

Swatar has been declared the first parish dedicated to Malta’s first saint, St Ġorġ Preca under the responsibility of the young parish priest Fr Gordon Refalo.

Fr Refalo was ordained in 1991 and has already served as vice parish priest at St Cajetan’s Parish Church in Ħamrun and as parish priest of Sta Luċija and Ibraġ. He was also rector of the Swatar zone since 2005.

Inbound tourism increases by 1.2%

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:05:23 PST

Inbound tourists in August 2008 are estimated to have increased by 1.2 % when compared to the same month in 2007. Year on year, total nights spent decreased by 0.4% according to statistics published by the National Statistics Office.

According to the ongoing frontier survey, tourist departures in August are estimated at 178,570, implying an increase of 1.2 % over the same month in 2007.

Lecturers boycott opening of academic year

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:46:58 PST

The academic staff at the University and the Junior College are presently holding a protest rally instead of attending the opening ceremony of the academic year 2008/09 after the UMASA and MUT said the financial package offered them by government was unacceptable.

The rally is being held in Gateway Hall E and it is expected that further actions will be given by the unions by the end of the rally.

Joseph Cuschieri sacrifices parliamentary seat for Leader

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:16:39 PST

On Monday night, Labour MP Joseph Cuschieri resigned his parliamentary post so that MLP leader Joseph Muscat can be co-opted to parliament on October 1st.

Cuschieri, 40, said his resignation is an expression of loyalty and love to the country and that it is merely a pause in his political career. He also stated that he was honoured to be able to give up his seat and to serve the party and the country in this way.

Payments Deficit stands at €169.2 in Q2

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:41:42 PST

The current account balance in the Balance of Payments Statement of Malta for the second quarter of 2008 stood at a net deficit of €169.2 million, according to estimates published by the National Statistics Office on Monday.

A provisional Balance of Payments statement for the second quarter of 2008 shows a deterioration in the current account balance of €123.3 million, from a net deficit of €46.0 million during the June 2007 quarter to one of €169.2 million during the June quarter this year.

Maltese most cautious in sexual relationships

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:48:57 PST

Maltese females have their first sexual relationship at 20 years of age, making them the most reflective, Adnkronos reported.

Perception on the right time to make love with a new partner varies from country to country. While 50% of Greeks would go for sexual intimacy within a week, 30% of Maltese think that it is right to wait until marriage. Meanwhile, 22% declare they are still virgins at the altar.

Enforcement officials descend on Qawra establishments

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:30:54 PST

On Saturday evening, officials of the Government Property Division (GPD), accompanied by police officers, descended on catering establishments in Qawra to enforce the limitations of their encroachment permits.

Earlier this week, 23 owners were asked to regularise their positions.

Muscat asks PM not to sign Immigration pact

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:52:48 PST

Updated 1800 CEST: MLP party leader Dr Joseph Muscat has called on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to refrain from signing the EU Immigration Pact. Speaking at a political activity on Sunday, Dr Muscat said that the Labour Party will not back the Prime Minister if he signs the agreement.

In response to Dr Muscat, a DOI press release stated that the Immigration Pact is a crucial and enormous step which can aid EU member states to share the burden of illegal immigration.

Over 100 illegal immigrants being escorted to Malta

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:16:25 PST

Over 100 illegal immigrants are being escorted to Maltese shores by an Italian Navy Warship, the AFM said in a press release on Sunday afternoon. The group consists of 87 males, ten females and four children.

Meanwhile, the AFM rescued the sole passenger of a cabin cruiser which sank on Sunday at around 0835 CEST some 1.5 nautical miles off the Marsaxlokk Harbour.

38 year-old Marsa man found dead

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:29:49 PST

A 38 year-old man from Marsa was found dead in a residence in his home town. The police discovered his lifeless body in Racecourse Street Sunday morning at around 1000CEST.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman is leading an inquiry while further police investigations are under way.

Survey says actions do not match public concerns

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:51:47 PST

The results of an opinion poll published Sunday by the Malta Independent on Sunday suggests that there is a substantial and possibly increasing gap between public preoccupations and government actions.

Asked without any prompting what their present major concerns are, the respondents pointed at the water and electricity surcharge as being their most pressing concern. 61.3% of the adult population spontaneously mentioned this concern as its most pressing one.

28 immigrants land in Ghar Lapsi area

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:31:23 PST

A group of 28 illegal immigrants landed in the area between Ghar Lapsi and Hagar Qim on Sunday at around 0700CEST.

According to a police report, the group made up of 24 men and four women was apprehended by the Police mobile squad.