EU slips up with olive oil ban, reverses course
The European Commission has torn up new rules on how restaurants should serve olive oil less than a week after unveiling them, following widespread ridicule and accusations of unwanted interference.
Last week, the Commission said restaurants would be banned from serving oil to diners in refillable glass jugs or dipping bowls from next year. Instead, to protect consumers from fraud, restaurants would have to use sealed, non-refillable bottles that must be disposed of when empty.
Today's u-turn shows how sensitive the EU executive is to accusations of unnecessary meddling in people's lives, at a time when surveys show voters are losing faith in the European Union over its perceived mishandling of the bloc's debt crisis.
At a summit yesterday, the new olive oil rules were firmly criticised by Britain and the Netherlands.
"This is exactly the sort of area that the European Union needs to get right out of, in my view," said British Prime Minister David Cameron, who wants to claw back powers from Brussels ahead of a potential referendum on Britain's EU membership in 2017.
"It shouldn't even be on the table, to make a false pun."
Announcing the climb-down, EU farm commissioner Dacian...
Free information session – Educational Programmes in Gozo
The Malta Institute of Management is organising a ‘Free Information Session’ on Educational Postgraduate Programmes, at the Gozo Business Chamber, 27 Republic Street, Victoria, Gozo. The information session will take place on Friday, the 31at of May, starting at 10.30am. The programmes that will be discussed will be: Doctorate: Doctorate in Business Administration Master of [...]
Read MoreSa Maison Nissen hut on fire for second time in four days
A Nissen hut at Sa Maison Hill was ablaze for the second time in four days this afternoon, emitting thick dark toxic smoke which reached nearby offices.
The fire was put out by Civil Protection Department fire fighters.
(Photo: Joe Morana, mynews@timesofmalta.com)
‘I walk proud and with my head held high up’
On Tuesday afternoon the French far right historian, Dominique Venner, committed suicide on the altar of the Notre Dame cathedral in in the centre of Paris. The 78-year-old man walked up to the altar, placed a sealed envelope and then shot himself in full view of many people who were visiting. The envelope contained the “Declaration of Dominique Venner: reasons for a voluntary death.” Venner paid the ultimate price in defence of his conservative beliefs. His tragic death seem to have been a final protest against the introduction of gay marriage in France and what he considered to be the Islamisation of his country. The reaction of the Femen activist group and other far right protestors is despicable and condemnable in the extreme. Whatever views one holds, the moment of one’s death is a moment that should be respected. This is not the first time that a suicide was committed publicly as an act of protest. On 6 May 1998 Bishop John Joseph of Faisalabad shot himself publicly at the court. His death was an act of protest against the execution of a Christian man who was falsely charge of blasphemy by Muslims in Pakistan. Bishop Joseph had spent all his life fighting for the rights of...
Read MoreLondon attackers identified as mosques targeted by rioters
Two men accused of hacking a soldier to death on a London street in revenge for wars in Muslim countries are British of Nigerian descent, sources say.
Read MoreThe first prime minister who hates politics
Nothing bores people more than politics. That’s what Joseph Muscat realised and that is why he won by an amazing landslide. Lawrence Gonzi and his clique were not just passé, they were obsessed with politics. They spoke and lectured us ad nauseam about the economy, job creation and the way forward. They quoted figures, they digested facts, they explained their policy. And they were thrown out—with a thud. With no if you please: just scram and go hide in the opposition wilderness. Dr Muscat did not use his youth or vigour as his new way. His new way was to be positive, smile and talk about facts and figures as little as possible. He did to politics what true politicians usually hate: he said let’s not talk about politics and policy but just smile and say nice, positive things. Let’s talk in platitudes—let’s leave politics aside and move on to a new era of enlightened no-politicking. He even went so far as to decree—let there be no party, let it all be a free, glorious movement. He asked the party diehards to do away with the party and its old symbols. No need for policy, no need for old ideology. Thanks to this anti-politics stand he won a great following, a great victory. And...
Read MoreJoseph Calleja appointed on cultural board
World famous tenor Joseph Calleja appointed on cultural projects board.
Read MoreMHRA welcomes today’s MEPA decision on height limitations
The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA)said it welcomed the news given today by Parliamentary secretary Michael Farrugia and Minister Karmenu Vella that Hotels in designated tourist areas will be allowed to construct an additional two floors over the present height limitation. MHRA explained that some 24 months ago, it had commenced discussions with the [...]
Read MoreTimetable of examinations for May/June at Gozo Campus
The schedule of Examinations for May-June to be held at the University Gozo Campus in Xewkija has been announced. This time-table is now the final one and can be viewed here.
Read MoreDriver slightly injured in Kappara accident
A young woman was slightly injured when this Daewoo Matiz flipped onto one of its sides in Kappara this afternoon.
The car is believed to have clipped the pavement before crashing.
Cow handbag design offal-y daring
As fashion designs go, some might say it is just offal.
An Edinburgh-based student is certain to divide opinions after creating a handbag line using the stomach lining of a Highland cow.
Jocelyn Mather, a fourth-year design student at Edinburgh Napier University, said: "My lecturer kept saying they would look great on Lady Gaga."
Her four statement bags, which will go on display at the university's Creative Degree Show from tomorrow, were all hand-stitched.
The collection ranges from a formal clutch to a dainty handbag, with tripe either used as a lining or outer material. The fastenings are also made using the animal's horns and bull-ring.
But the 23-year-old student hit a hiccup along the way when her flat was raided by wildlife officers.
"My letting agent had been carrying out an inspection in my flat and had obviously come across a pair of cow horns", she said.
"He had thought they were ivory tusks and called the police. I was terrified but they just laughed when they saw the horns."
Ian Lambert, art design and communication subject group leader, said: "Jocelyn's designs are thought-provoking and like much of the work set to go on show, executed to a high standard."
The show...
Update 2 | Fenech Adami suffers heart attack, undergoes surgery
Former President and Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami admitted to hospital after suffering chest pains.
Read MoreValletta entrance is not suitable location for ‘Il-Monti’ – DLH
Din l-Art Helwa in a statement this afternoon referred to recent reports about the “potential relocation of the Valletta market to Ordinance Street, close to City Gate and its potential spill over across the new Parliament building up to Victory Square.” “This idea lacks vision for the area,” the NGO said “and may be the [...]
Read MoreAntibiotics linked to longer life
Antibiotics could be the key to a longer and more energetic life, scientists have claimed. A team of researchers found that if the drugs are given to worms at certain points in their development, they could increase their lifespan by 60 per cent and gave them superior endurance and energy. They believe the results can be replicated in mice in the lab and theoretically in other mammals including humans. Johan Auwerx, from the Swiss Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, who carried out the study, said: “This research gives us hope not only for increasing longevity, but also for lengthening the period of adult vitality, and doing this with simple drugs such as antibiotics.” The research, published in the Journal Nature, analysed decoded mice genomes and identified a group of three genes which were “suppressed” – producing less of a particular protein – in mice that had lived significantly longer than others. The scientists then replicated this in nematode worms at an early stage in their development, resulting in the average life span leaping from 19 days to more than 30 days. The treated worms were also more energetic, with better muscle tone, the study showed. When they reached...
Read MoreGianluca returns to work – Eurovision ‘perfect ice-breaker’ with patients
Gianluca Bezzina, also dubbed as 'Doctor Feelgood', has returned to work in the surgical wards of Mater Dei Hospital after an exhilarating two weeks in Malmö representing Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest.
He told Kim Dalli that his Eurovision experience has provided him with the perfect ice-breaker when treating patients.
He now looked forward to seeing his singing and medical careers develop and mature although he would focus especially on the latter.
Gianluca placed eighth in last Saturday's festival, Malta's best result since 2005.
F1 – Mercedes stay ahead in second free practice session
Mercedes stayed in front in the second free practice session today ahead of Sunday's Monaco grand prix. As in the first session, Nico Rosberg set the pace, and he was joined in second place by team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Romain Grosjean crashed out in a Lotus during the session. 1. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1:14.759 2. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:15.077 3. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 1:15.196 4. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1:15.278 5. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 1:15.404 6. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus - Renault 1:15.511 7. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus - Renault 1:15.718 8. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1:15.959 9. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull - Renault 1:16.014 10. Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India - Mercedes 1:16.046 11. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India - Mercedes 1:16.349 12. Sergio Perez (Mexico) McLaren 1:16.434 13. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Sauber - Ferrari 1:16.823 14. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams - Renault 1:16.857 15. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Sauber - Ferrari 1:16.935 16. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:17.145 17. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:17.184 18. Valtteri Bottas...
Read MoreBoard members for Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage
The elected members have been announced for the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee and Natural Heritage Advisory Committee. Magistrate Dennis Montebello will serve as Chairman for the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee and appointed members of the Board will be Miriam Cremona, Ray Pitre, Joseph Zrinzo, Carmel Hili and Claude Mallia. The Natural Heritage Advisory Committee Chairman [...]
Read MoreJoseph Calleja on coordinating board for culture
Phyllis Muscat has been appointed chairwoman of a coordinating board for culture projects.
The board is being set up to take stock of the current cultural situation, foster and facilitate coordination between entities working in the field and serve as an incubator for new major cultural initiatives and capital projects.
The board, whose other members are tenor Joseph Calleja, Ruth Bianco, Brian Schembri and Giorgina Portelli, will work towards fully utilising the potential of culture as a catalyst of economic and social restructuring.
It will advice and submit proposals to the Government on all aspects related to this industry, while strengthening existing collaboration and establishing new cooperation with local and international stakeholders.
It will create and manage a cultural roadmap containing strategic milestones for the country in the area. The roadmap will integrate various cultural initiatives while addressing gaps in the cultural scene for an increased valorisation of Malta’s cultural assets as a source of identity and economic growth.
The government said the appointments and the board itself reiterated its commitment to put artists at the heart of the primary decisions...
‘In debt with the country? More like your aunt’ – Tonio Fenech
Tonio Fenech wryly replies to Manuel Mallia’s accusation of being in debt to the country…“More like your aunt”.
Read MoreEddie Fenech Adami undergoes coronary angiogram
Update: President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital this morning. He was reported to be suffering from chest pains at the time. He was admitted under the care of the Cardiology Team and underwent a coronary angiogram. A decision for medical treatment was taken. He is now recovering in the critical [...]
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