timesofmalta.com newsletter - 11 Mar 2016

Copyright © 2016 timesofmalta.com Newsletter for Friday, 11 Mar 2016 [Times of Malta] [Musical Instruments of the Maltese Islands] National - [Family evacuated after fire breaks out at home] A family in Pembroke was evacuated from its home this morning after a fierce fire which is believed to have started in the washroom. Three fire-engines were deployed to the maisonette, in Walter Ganado Street, and firemen stopped the flames from... - [Hailstorm hits Malta, nothing unusual, except for this year] A brief hailstorm struck Malta and Gozo this morning, nothing unusual for this time of year, except that it was the heaviest burst of rain for months. Just yesterday the Met Office said February was the warmest and driest since records started... - [Malta newspapers review] The following are the top stories in the Maltese newspapers. Times of Malta reports that Health and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi will be audited by a foreign, as yet unnamed firm. In-Nazzjon says Joseph Muscat has continued to defend Konrad Mizzi... - [Panama advisers get government direct order...for public conveniences study] The financial advisers behind the setting up of Panama-based companies for Minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri have been given a new €17,000 direct order – to draw up a study on public conveniences. The... - [Popular Good Friday night walk to be held again] The 13th edition of the hugely popular Good Friday night walk will be held on the night of Maundy Thursday-Good Friday between the sanctuaries of Our Lady in Mellieha and Senglea. Some 10,000 people participated last year when more than €100,000... World news - [Trump's Islam comments draw attacks as Republicans discover civility] U.S. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has come under fire from his rivals for saying Muslims hate the United States at a debate where the gut-punching attacks of earlier forums gave way to a suddenly civil tone with a serious... - [Two U.S. soldiers in South America contracted Zika] Two U.S. soldiers serving in South America contracted Zika but have fully recovered and returned to duty, while a third, pregnant service member left the region early for fear of contracting the virus, a top U.S. commander said on Thursday. Zika... - [Islamic State greatly expands control in Libya - UN report] Islamic State has greatly expanded its control over territory in Libya and the militants are claiming to be the key defence for the North African state against foreign military intervention, United Nations sanctions monitors said. In their annual... - [Germany obtains files on Islamic State members] Police in Germany are in possession of files containing personal data on members of the extremist Islamic State group and believe them to be authentic.The announcement by federal criminal police came after Sky News in Britain reported it had... - [Iranian commander says, "We need to have offensive weapons"] A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander has told state TV Iran's ballistic missile program won't stop under any circumstances. His comments come after a series of ballistic missile tests by guard units that drew international concern and... Opinion - [Economically-feasible activity] Apart from providing us with fresh produce, farmers conserve the countryside through proper upkeep such as the maintaining of rubble walls. - [Labour’s been betrayed] The worst scandal to ever hit the Maltese islands has left us all baffled at the extent to which greed has crept into the top echelons of... - [That vital, blessed water] A recent edition of Times Talk stressed the importance of water preservation. What makes water so important? Why does it invite whole... - [Addressing root causes] Has early school leaving (ESL) become a political issue that attracts attention or is there really political will to reduce it? Malta has... - [Basque secession revival] After six and a half years imprisoned, Basque separatist leader Arnaldo Otegi was released on March 1. His penitentiary discharge comes... Letters - [There is an alternative] In a chaotic situation characterised by a focus on the accumulation of wealth as the highest purpose of the ones at the very top, there... - [Cunning plan to make us walk!] I am recently experiencing some very outlandish feelings towards Malta’s public transport service, especially since the introduction of... - [Disgruntled supporters] I met a Labour friend (I have friends on that side too) who is angry, very angry at the way top Labour ministers (and aides) have... - [New monstrosity in Balluta Valley] After several months away from Malta, I recently visited the Balluta Bay area and could not help but notice a new monstrosity rising over... - [Traffickers amass huge wealth] Under the headline ‘Racists need to be educated’ (March 5), the Times of Malta gave a brief report of the lecture given by the president... Sport - [Van Gaal: Manchester United could not cope with Liverpool] Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admits his players failed to cope with the pressure Liverpool put them under at Anfield. A... - [Ivanovic defends under-fire Hazard after fans’ jeers] Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has defended team-mate Eden Hazard who was jeered off the pitch by a small section of fans in... - [ATP chief Kermode appointed for second term, focus on integrity] Protecting the integrity of tennis in the wake of the recent match-fixing and doping scandals is the biggest challenge facing the sport... - [Tuilagi named on England bench for Wales showdown] England plan to unleash Manu Tuilagi in the second half of tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations title showdown at Twickenham after selecting him on... - [Waterpolo] This weekend’s fixtures from the BOV Winter League at the National Pool, Tal-Qroqq: Today First Division: 18.15 Otters Nivea vs... Business News - [Persons that changed the business environment] When we speak of the big names in IT, we tend to speak of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. We tend to ignore many others,... - [China firms push for multibillion dollar Iran rail and ship deals] Two Chinese firms are pushing for multibillion dollar deals with Iran to build a high-speed railway and modernise its shipping fleet... - [ECB couldn’t ‘tolerate’ London grip on euro trading post-Brexit ­– France’s Noyer] European authorities could not allow London to remain the trading centre for the euro if Britain left the European Union, former Bank of... - [EU watchdog may expand criteria to initiate companies merger reviews] EU regulators are considering expanding the criteria that requires companies to seek merger approval in an effort to ensure deals... - [ECB pulls out all stops with rate cuts, stimulus boost] The European Central Bank unleashed some of its last remaining stimulus weapons yesterday, cutting all three of its interest rates and... Social - [Announcements] CACHIA CARUANA. On March 9, at Mater Dei Hospital, MARION, aged 87, widow of Maurice Pace and most beloved mother, passed away peacefully... - [Passion play at Catholic Institute] Bronk Productions will be presenting a Passion play, Xmun Bin Ä ona, by Pierre Bonello at the Catholic Institute, Floriana, tomorrow at... - [Malta Cultural Institute sixth concert of season] The Malta Cultural Institute is presenting its sixth concert for the season 2015/2016 in the ballroom of the Imperial Hotel in Rudolphe... - [Announcements] CACHIA CARUANA. On March 9, at Mater Dei Hospital, MARION, aged 87, widow of Maurice Pace and most beloved mother, passed peacefully away... - [Verba Misericordiae: words of Mercy] The Leone Philharmonic Society is presenting an evening of sacred music and reflection entitled: Verba Misericordiae, words of mercy, at... Blogs - [#‎quickfindmeamarine] Premier Smell The Coffee Muscat said he will sack Panama Hats if an audit of his Panamanian company finds hidden assets inside the... - [Paqpaqli għall-Istrina trial – where does the buck stop?] I have long been researching the shocking Paqpali Għall-Istrina accident, which saw 23 spectators hit by a speeding car during what must... - [Of women, chattel and our law courts] Yesterday we celebrated Women's Day, a useless pandering to the gods of commerce that's only rivalled by Valentine's Day. Yesterday, in... - [Focus on what is important] In my Sunday Times commentary of October 20, 2013 I wrote: “With a rapidity close to that of the speed of light, Malta will soon become... - [#‎timetogo] I confess that when I heard that minister the Hon. Owen Bonnici was having a dalliance with “a lady not his wife”, I was slightly... 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