Malta’s first Stroke rehabilitation ward has been set up at Karin Grech Hospital by Vitals Global Healthcare. Stroke affects some 700 patients a year in Malta and Gozo.  “In Malta patients having suffered a stroke are admitted to Mater Dei Hospital for acute care management. What the patient will then need is dedicated rehabilitation care to start relearning some of the skills lost when suffering a stroke,” explained Karin Grech Hospital CEO Stephen Zammit. Studies show how patients who receive specially designed stroke care in a specialized unit are more likely to recover from the stroke and regain their independence, Dr Zammit continued. Rehabilitation helps stroke survivors re-learn skills lost when part of the brain is damaged. These can include basic movements like coordinating leg movements to walk or a complex activity like getting dressed. The new ward has a dedicated interdisciplinary team of professionals, a fully equipped gym and the latest medical innovative technologies.  Health Minister Chris Fearne attended the opening of the ward.  

Malta Freeport Terminals has introduced a new advanced Terminal Operating System (TOS), revolutionising the container handling process.  It said the move will help it consolidate its standing as one the leading hubs in the Mediterranean. The new Navis N4 system controls the entire logistical operation of each container ship, determining what containers are on board as well as identifying which have to be loaded and those that have to be unloaded. It also produces an accurate model of each ship to enable operations staff to work with a live image in real time. Navis N4 also maximises efficiency within the terminal area, where some 45,000 containers can be stored at any one time, automatically calculating where each should be located and directing trucks to the nearest one to ensure the loading operation is carried out as quickly as possible. Malta Freeport Terminals CEO Alex Montebello said: “Around 2,000 to 3,500 containers are typically loaded or unloaded when a mainliner berths, so getting this right and ensuring the vessel leaves as early as possible is absolutely essential for a major terminal like ours. “Navis N4 will significantly enhance our ability to do this and...

Melita has announced plans to introduce gigabit internet speeds. «This will further improve reliability of the internet connection and deliver faster speeds. In real-life scenarios this progression will improve streaming experiences across multiple devices in the home via Wi-Fi, significantly speed up large file downloads and uploads, and improve TV products, as increasingly more TV services are transported over IP (Internet Protocol),» the operator said. It also announced that as from September 5 its analogue reception service will be reduced to six channels, namely TVM, TVM2, Net TV, One TV, Rai 1 and Channel 5. Subsequently, early next year, the analogue service will be discontinued. All those subscribed to Melita’s analogue reception service, (TV transmission without box) whether for their main TV set or an additional one, are being invited to contact the company for a digital box at no additional cost. Users will enjoy more than 40 channels including all RAI and Mediaset Channels as well as all time favourites: LA 5, Discovery, and kids’ channel Boomerang. 

Welcome to the Times of Malta Live Transfer News and Rumours. We will try and keep you up to date on the latest gossip and news from the European market as it happens. 3.15pm Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi is not interested in leaving to join Lille, according to the London Evening Standard. The Ligue 1 side have been linked with a move for Batshuayi, but it is reported he wants to «stay and fight for his place». 3.00pm Rumours are rife in Italy that Monaco could be targeting Andrea Belotti to fill the void Kylian Mbappe is set to leave following his expected departure to Paris SG. 2.20pm Barcelona are one step closer to signing Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri, reports RAC-1. The Ivory Coast international’s agent is already in Barcelona negotiating the player’s contract with the Catalans. The two parties have all but finalised an agreement over a four-year deal. Barca must now look to strike a deal with Nice, who are expected to part ways with the 26-year-old for a fee of €40m. 1.50pm Brighton are preparing a move for Inter forward Stevan Jovetic, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The 27-year-old, who previously played for Manchester City, has struggled for regular game time...

The 250g packets of Buitoni semolina has been found to contain traces of soya and could therefore be dangerous for those allergic to it. The Environmental Health Directorate said the product has been recalled from retail outlets, but some has already has been sold and should be returned to the directorate. For further information, contact the Health Inspectorate Services between 8am and 2.30pm on tel. 2133 7333, by calling personally at its offices at Continental Business Centre, Old Railway Track, Santa Venera or by email mhi@gov.mt. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Environmental-Health-Directorate-Malta/145027878928626?ref=hl http://health.gov.mt/en/environmental/Pages/Home-Page.aspx 

Buitoni Semolina in 250g packets must not be consumed by people allergic to soya, since it contains undeclared traces of soya, the Environmental Health Directorate said. The lot numbers are 7058085022 and 70580850 with durability dates 01/02/2019 and 28/02/2019.

Outdoor cafes and restaurants may fit into the Mediterranean lifestyle, but serious concerns are being ignored, from the way pedestrian access is being blocked to the health impact of eating metres away from exhaust fumes. The Commissioner for Environment and Planning, part of the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, has issued a strong complaint at having all his suggestions ignored by the authorities. David Pace said that one of the first complaints he dealt with on his appointment five years ago concerned the inconvenience of having to weave through tables and chairs on pavements. However, the situation has if anything worsened and recommendations have been ignored. READ: Unlicensed tables and chairs are taking over public spaces “Judging from the complaints still being received and regular press coverage, the situation remains very much the same, and given the large number of permits issued for such development it has clearly worsened,” he wrote. He also stressed the urgency of doing something about it, saying that the siting of some outlets was “nothing but an accident waiting to happen”, since they lie on major thoroughfares. He also lamented that there was no control...

  The Bassijs are a militia of voluntary citizens. The photographer Sina Shiri followed the daily life of these young volunteers for several weeks. In spite of austere living conditions, he found himself getting attached to these young militants, who meet their hardships face on with humour and energy. Instagram: @sinashirii

We have all heard about the risk-reward trade-off or risk-adjusted returns. Understanding and managing portfolio and investment risks within an investor’s basket of investments is paramount in ensuring returns commensurate with the risks being undertaken. One of the crucial factors within portfolio risk management is grasping the concept of diversification, and the correlation of returns between underlying securities. Balancing risk and expected return is burdensome for any investor considering any array of investment choices and decisions. Portfolio diversification could , in essence, reduce risk; the lower the correlation between returns from different securities in a portfolio, the greater is the added benefit from the diversification within a portfolio. The importance of viewing a portfolio of investments in its totality rather than focusing on individual holdings is vital. Since diversification can help reduce risk without affecting the portfolio’s expected return, an important consideration an investor must make is the assessment of assets and their contribution to the risk and return of the overall portfolio. An American economist most famous for his work in Modern...

Integrating trade promotion into our country’s foreign affairs ministry for the very first time, after the last general election victory, was logical. The last term in government saw our missions overseas, plus non-resident ambassadors build on their solid diplomatic relationships and increase business interactions to help Malta’s economy become one of the fastest-growing in Europe: GDP growth is expected to increase by 4.6 per cent this year and 4.4 per cent next year (the Central Bank of Malta). But we have only just begun. With the help of TradeMalta – an agency dedicated to helping Malta-based businesses extend their operations into international markets, promote Malta and attract foreign investment – now housed in our Ministry, we are finding new ways to develop existing markets and open new ones in non-traditional destinations. Even in countries where we don’t have diplomatic representation, yet. We are doing this by restructuring and bolstering our ministry resources, and leading exploratory trade missions. The first of these missions was to Ghana, which I joined just six weeks after becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion. We chose Ghana due to the...

An argument between flatmates landed a Sicilian man in court charged with drug trafficking after the police allegedly discovered an undisclosed amount of cocaine and cannabis resin at a flat in St Paul’s Bay. Antonino Tuzza, 43, from Sicily, appeared before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli charged with trafficking cannabis and aggravated possession of cannabis plants, cannabis resin and cocaine in circumstances indicating they were not intended for his personal use. The accused, who works in the construction industry here, was arrested when the police responded to a report about a disturbance. Lawyer Christopher Chircop was appointed as legal aid after the court was told the accused had insufficient means to pay for a lawyer to represent him. Mr Tuzza pleaded not guilty to the charges. Bail was not requested and he was remanded in custody. Police Inspectors Malcolm Bondin and Godwin Scerri were the prosecutors.

Total is buying Maersk’s oil and gas business in a $7.45 billion deal which the French energy major said would strengthen its operations in the North Sea and boost earnings and cash flow. For Danish company A.P. Moller Maersk, the sale of Maersk Oil, with reserves equivalent to around one billion barrels of oil, fits with a strategy of focusing on its shipping business and other activities announced last year. The world’s top oil companies have been back on the takeover trail over the last year, helped by signs of a recovery in the oil market. Total expects its biggest oil deal since it acquired Elf in 2000 to generate financial synergies of more than $400 million per year, in particular by combining assets in the North Sea. Total has been betting on new rather than mature fields in the North Sea and the acquisition gives it further economies of scale by making it the second largest player in the region. The deal illustrates Total’s strategy of using a strong balance sheet to acquire attractive assets from competitors having emerged from the prolonged oil downturn stronger than some of its rivals. “It was time for us to do what a real oil and gas company would do in a period...

After an absence of over 35 years from Malta’s top-flight, Senglea Athletic graced the Premier League’s field when they shared four goals with FA Trophy finalists Sliema Wanderers at the Centenary Stadium. Facing one of the most established sides in the Premier League division, the odds were heavily stacked against the Cottonera outfit who took the field with a completely revamped team from the one that won the Division One championship last season. Steve D’Amato’s men showed no signs of nervousness as they managed to take the lead through Nicolas Palmieri midway through the first half. The Wanderers soon rediscovered their touch and two-quick fire goals in the space of three minutes scored by Gabriel Aquilina and John Mintoff seemed to have turned the tide in the Wanderers favour. However, Senglea showed a great dose of resilience and a fine solo goal from Matias Garcia ensured that the Yellow Reds would return home with a point in the bag. D’Amato was delighted with the effort put in by his players and said that the great commitment showed by the players was a key factor in opening their league campaign on a positive note.  “I am really pleased with the team’s performance,”...

Renee Laiviera, Commissioner of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, discusses the barriers that keep women from entering the political sphere. She maintains that gender quotas are one of the most effective ways to spur real change. The current national debate on gender quotas in the political sphere is bringing to the fore the question of having a balanced representation of women and men within our decision-making institutions. The fact that this issue is being widely discussed is already a positive development as it points to an increased awareness that policy and legislative decisions in this area will have a significant bearing on the future of our country. In this discussion, we should always keep in mind that gender-balanced representation in politics concerns two fundamental aspirations essential to a just society and a healthy democracy: the aspiration to gender equality in practice and in every sphere of society, as well as the aspiration to a political system which fully respects democratic principles and which adopts effective decision-making processes. What are gender quotas? Gender quotas in politics establish a fixed percentage for the nomination...

Chinese investment in London commercial property has more than trebled since before Britain voted to leave the European Union, most of it channelled through Hong Kong at a time of heightened political uncertainty in the former British colony. While others have pulled back from British property following last year’s Brexit referendum, investors largely from Hong Kong are snapping up the British capital’s best-known skyscrapers including the “Cheesegrater” and “Walkie Talkie”. In the first six months of 2017 Chinese investors spent £3.96 billion on London commercial property according to data from the CBRE real estate group, the highest amount on record and outpacing the £2.69 billion spent in the whole of 2016. Hong Kong accounted for 92 per cent of the Chinese investment, according to the Knight Frank agency. Hong Kong food conglomerate Lee Kum Kee is set to pay £1.28 billion later this month for 20 Fenchurch Street – the 34 storey skyscraper known as the Walkie Talkie – a record for an office building in Britain. With Beijing cracking down on foreign deals by mainland companies, investors there are instead using Hong Kong as a conduit for overseas deals. China’s state planner...

Considerable national concern was expressed when news broke in January that the fabric of St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Valletta was in dire need of restoration and that severe problems had been identified which threatened the stability of the tower, the spire and the external stonework. The cathedral is a universally-recognised landmark and its spire is an iconic feature of the capital’s skyline. The St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral Save Valletta’s Skyline Restoration Appeal was launched on the eve of the feast of St Paul and, six months later, first reports have been announced of the initiative’s encouraging progress. The restoration appeal has just received a generous donation from Prince Charles, who used to worship at the cathedral as a child and, later, as a young undergraduate on holiday in Malta in the 1960s. Still, the royal donation, though most helpful, is not the only fillip to the fund-raising initiative. Already €500,000 have been received, not an inconsiderable amount in just a matter of months. The money came from charities, foundations, individuals and corporate bodies in Malta – including one from the Diocese of Gozo in a clear gesture of ecumenical...

Birkirkara will represent Malta in the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the fifth time in their history when this week they will be in action in the preliminary round tournament in Ljubljana, Slovenia.   The Stripes were drawn in Group Six and will kick off their commitments when they face FC Minsk of Belarus this evening. Next up for Birkirkara will be a match against group favourites FC Zurich, of Switzerland, on Friday. They will wrap up their  commitments on August 28 when they face home side ZNK Olimpija Ljubljana.  The Stripes will be under the charge of coach Melania Bajada. The former Birkirkara player was handed the job this summer following the departure of championship winning coach Shawn Meilak.  Bajada said that the team has worked hard in the last few weeks to arrive for this tournament in the best possible shape. “Our preparations for this tournament have been ongoing for the past two months and our main objective was to ensure the players reach a good physical condition and at the same time get their match rhythm back,” Bajada told Times of Malta. “We have kept the same core of the team from last season and the players have shown good application in training and...

The coalition deal between the Nationalist Party and the Democratic Party (PD) can only be described as being a historical milestone in local politics. For the first time since independence in 1964, a major political party formed a coalition with a smaller party. The move, even if by all accounts and measures controversial, showed bravery and courage by all those involved in both parties. The fact that the electoral result did not go the coalition’s way in itself does not signify a failure by the coalition. Indeed, in other European countries, such as Germany, it is normal for coalitions to suffer defeat at the polls in one election and then be swept to power in the next. It is, however, concerning when uncertainty starts to appear as to the nature of the coalition itself. In her interview with the Times of Malta, outgoing PD leader Marlene Farrugia did not categorically exclude running for PN leader in the future. I do not feel I should delve into the issue on whether the PN statute is fair or not with regard to her unique position as, legally speaking, a Nationalist MP but a de facto leader of another political party. That issue is more legalistic in nature and makes no...

China’s Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd is interested in bidding for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, a company official said yesterday, confirming reports it is pursuing all or part of the owner of the Jeep and Ram truck brands. There has been speculation over Chinese interest in FCA since Automotive News reported last week that an unidentified “well-known Chinese automaker” made an offer earlier this month, triggering a jump in FCA’s Milan-listed shares. “With respect to this case, we currently have an intention to acquire. We are interested in,” an official at Great Wall Motor’s press relations department told Reuters by phone. He declined to give his name and gave no further details. FCA chief executive Sergio Marchionne is seeking a partner or buyer for the world’s seventh-largest automaker to help it manage rising costs, comply with emissions regulations and develop technology for electric and self-driving cars. In a statement, Fiat Chrysler said it had not been approached by Great Wall Motor, and was busy with implementing its current five-year business plan. A move for FCA by Great Wall Motor, China’s largest sport utility vehicle and pick-up manufacturer, would be audacious, however.

I recently spent a morning in the ornithology section of the Natural History Museum, in Mdina. Basically, it is a room full of stuffed birds. Visiting was both a great joy and a great sadness. It was a joy because one could see in one room the extraordinary variety of birdlife that Malta is blessed with. One has the chance to look at these birds at close quarters from different angles without them flying away. You get a far better idea of comparative size than through any book and, indeed, through much field observation. How much bigger is a raven than a crow, or a curlew than a dunlin? In nature, one cannot generally judge the size of a solitary bird species accurately unless one has an object of familiar dimensions to serve as a yardstick in the vicinity. And yet, of course, it is a room of great sadness. It is an avian mausoleum, a room of the dead. “Vagrant – recorded once”, reads the caption of the stuffed glaucous gull. The bird on display was that very bird. This was the fate met by this unique visitor when it graced us with its glorious presence. A note in the first display case says that “most” stuffed birds are historical specimens, not recent. Some specimens show...

As is so evident from his writings (‘Rental value’, August 11), Nicky Bianchi, too, can now be placed in the ranks of those property owners who, judging by their reactions, have long vacant and unutilised property who simply continue to insist that they allow their, again, long vacant and unutilised property, to continue to go to the dogs on (a) the ‘altar’ of ‘private property’ and (b) the hope that either the government (us taxpayers) bails them out by doing whatever needs to be done to get their property useful in a property mainstream sense or waiting for the eventual property developer, or ‘investor’, who will take it off them at a killing price. It is simply puerile to talk of “rental values” and “market values” in such a context. And any implication that I am advocating a return to rent controls – even though they would not be such a bad thing if viewed from the standpoint of so many families who are being fleeced alive at this moment – is equally puerile. Indeed, if rents are, by law, made to relate to workers’ incomes, would that be such a bad thing from a sociological viewpoint? Bianchi mentions European Court of Justice decisions. If he reads these carefully he will...

There are just two more weeks to visit De Valette’s dagger exhibition, being held by Heritage Malta in collaboration with the Louvre Museum of Paris. The dagger was returned to Malta for the first time since 1798. The exhibition forms part of the events marking Malta’s 2017 EU presidency (which ended in June) and Valletta as Capital City of Culture in 2018. It is divided in three sections with the main part focusing solely on the dagger. Complementing the dagger is the sword which, along with the dagger, was gifted to Grandmaster Jean Parisot de Valette after the victory of the Great Siege. Although de Valette’s sword could not travel without causing permanent damage, visitors are able to view a 3D model of it suspended in mid-air. A selected number of other related exhibits from the national collection are featured in this exhibition and a fully-illustrated catalogue has also been published to accompany the display. The exhibition, at the National Museum of Archaeology, is open from 9am to 6pm, last admission at 5.30pm. Admission to the exhibition is included in the museum’s regular ticket price.

A 22-year-old man from Mali was recently sentenced to three months in prison after trying to travel to Italy while using false documents. A Dominican priest – the former director of the Kerygma Movement – was sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for a year, after being found guilty of violent indecent assault on a vulnerable woman who had mental health problems. The law is a spider’s web that catches the little flies and lets the big bugs escape.

World stocks struggled at a five-and-a-half-week low yesterday, though metals dazzled with zinc at its highest in a decade, copper hitting a nearly three-year high and iron ore’s gains in the last three sessions stretching to nearly 15 per cent. Traders were digesting the latest departure from Donald Trump’s White House team, watching tensions around North Korea and waiting to see what the world’s top central bankers would signal at the annual Jackson Hole gathering later this week. European stocks clawed back most of an early 0.2 per cent dip, as M&A activity helped shipping giant Maersk jump and the rally in metals sent Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Anglo American higher. Zinc had hit its highest since October 2007 at $3,180.50 a tonne, bellwether industrial metal copper rallied to $6,593 a tonne, its highest since November 2014, and nickel, used in stainless steel, gained over two per cent as it reached a 2017 peak. In the currency market, the dollar remained hampered by Friday’s latest departure from Mr Trump’s top team. This time it was chief strategist Steve Bannon, a driving force behind his nationalist and anti-globalisation agenda. Mr Trump is due to address a problem...

The Malta Society of Arts (MSA) will be offering about 40 different courses covering all the areas of the visual, applied and performing arts. Applications are open for the courses starting at the beginning of October and they can be collected and submitted at MSA’s seat, the Palazzo de La Salle in Valletta. Founded in 1852, the Malta Society of Arts is Malta’s oldest arts organisation, and for a long time it was the only one that helped artists by providing financial support and creating a community where they could meet and exchange ideas. Today, it still strives to be a hub for artistic activity and its role will be strengthened as the renovations at the Palazzo de La Salle are finalised in the coming months and the upstairs spaces start to be populated by performances, exhibitions, concerts and other artistic events. The winter courses falling under the visual arts umbrella will include history of art, art for juniors (varying ages), preparation for art O level, art for adults, art for mature students, clay modelling, nude human figure art, wood sculpture, art workshops and photography, which this year will also include a photo editing unit. The vast applied arts section...

On July 12, my car was parked in front of the Birkirkara Ta’ Paris school gate where a CCTV camera is installed. It was hit on the right side by a white vehicle but the driver did not stop. It was, therefore, a hit and run criminal case. I reported this incident at the Birkirkara police station. Yet, for some reason, they were not capable of retrieving the video. No surprise, therefore, that the majority of the Maltese people do not trust the police.

The St Paul’s Bay council was being forced to remove the bulky refuse that was dumped illegally by residents, said mayor Graziella Galea. She noted that, despite the council offering free bulky refuse collection, many were still resorting to simply disposing of waste by placing it on the pavement. To make matters worse, some were even dumping unwanted goods outside neighbours’ doors, away from their own homes. “We have to deal with this every day. We offer free services, setting up appointments with residents so that trucks can pick up their bulky refuse, and still, many resort to these practices,” she said. The problem escalates in the summer months, when the St Paul’s Bay population peaks due to many families moving to the seaside village. Ms Galea noted that the practice not only added unnecessary hassle, as the council had to verify the items being picked up by the trucks, but it also made the area look shabby. “We’ve had people take so much bulky waste outdoors it seemed as though everything inside their flat was dumped outside. “The service we offer is free, and we pick up the items ourselves, so there can be no reason whatsoever that they do not make use of it,” Ms...

Twelve writers from different countries will read at the 12th edition of the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival, which opens on Thursday. Event organisers Inizjamed said the festival would also feature Maltese and foreign poetry, films, music and a well-stocked book stall. A book-binding service will be available for those with a manuscript handy, a service being offered by binding company Kotba Calleja. The festival is the recipient of the prestigious EFFE – Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe – label. The organisers said that the authors participating in this year’s edition were Asja Bakić (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Mourid Barghouti (Palestine), Lilia Ben Romdhane (Tunisia), Jean Portante (Luxembourg), Zoë Skoulding (Wales), Ma Thida (Myanmar), Arvis Viguls (Latvia), Gjoko Zdraveski (Republic of Macedonia) and John Aquilina, Mark Camilleri, Immanuel Mifsud and former prime minister turned MEP Alfred Sant from Malta. Readings will mostly be held in Maltese and English, but some short works will also be read in their original language. The 2017 edition of the festival and the Malta LAF translation workshop are being held in partnership with Arts Council Malta and...

Social housing should not just be about putting a roof over people’s heads but also equipping them with basic skills to manage their lives better, according to experts who have the pulse of the poor in different towns and villages. “While it seems that the housing issue is being taken seriously, we need to introduce the concept of social architecture, a cheesy catchy phrase that has a lot of meaning,” said Andrè Bonello, secretary of the Anti-Poverty Forum and manager of Caritas’ community outreach programme. “This is an innovative way of supporting people with social issues,” he explained. Caritas is one of the 13 NGOs that make up the forum. Mr Bonello’s role with the Church charity includes travelling to different villages across the island and taking account of residents’ means and needs. He then drafts a report about each locality’s challenges, which helps Caritas make specific recommendations to alleviate poverty in those areas. The forum recently sounded its concern about housing issues and rising rents. Read: Government publicity brochure reveals rental rates New finance and gaming companies have attracted a large number of employees to Malta while the opening of new...

The Valletta 2018 Foundation has moved into new headquarters to accommodate its growing organising team before the city assumes its role as European Capital of Culture in January. Culture minister Owen Bonnici, together with parliamentary secretary for V18 Deo Debattista and Foundation chairman Jason Micallef, yesterday toured the new office, adjoining the Chamber of Commerce in Republic Street, which he said would allow the different V18 departments to better work together. The foundation also maintains separate premises in Old Bakery Street housing the organising team for ‘flagship events’ including the opening ceremony and Pageant of the Seas, led by artistic director Mario Philip Azzopardi. “Our investment in the foundation is part of a strategic investment exercise to achieve three pillars in the cultural sector: bringing culture to the people, increasing employment within the cultural sector and having this sector actively contributing to our GDP,” Dr Bonnici said. Dr Debattista stressed that the work done for V18 would not stop at the end of the event, with the government committed to continuing and strengthening the Capital of Culture legacy. “We will continue to...

An armed group is stopping migrant boats from setting off across the Mediterranean from a city west of Tripoli that has been a springboard for people smugglers, causing a sudden drop in departures over the past month, sources in the area said. The revelation throws new light on the sharp reduction in migrant arrivals from Italy, which took over from the Aegean route as the main focus of European concerns in the crisis. Arrivals in Italy from North Africa, the main route for migration to Europe this year, dropped by more than 50% in July from a year earlier, and August arrivals so far are down even further. July and August are peak months for migrant boats because of favourable sea conditions. Sources in Sabratha, 70 km west of the capital, said the sudden drop had been caused by a new force in the seaside city, which is preventing migrants from leaving, often by locking them up. The group in Sabratha «works on the ground, the beach, to prevent the migrants leaving on boats towards Italy,» said a civil society organiser from the city, speaking on condition of anonymity. The group is made up of several hundred «civilians, policemen, army figures,» he said. It is conducting a "very...

Pet owners in China are turning to acupuncture to help soothe the aches and pains of their beloved cats and dogs. «China is famous for acupuncture. I took the cat here immediately to have a try,» said Wang Xijuan, 74, holding the paw of her feline friend during a session at a Shanghai clinic. After four treatments, Wang said her cat can «walk now, jump and even fight with other cats». Traditional practitioners believe acupuncture, which involves inserting long, fine needles at specific places, known as meridians, of the body, can stimulate blood circulation to promote healing and relieve some aches and pains. On its website, the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society said acupuncture has been used in veterinary practice in China «for thousands of years to treat many ailments». Jin Rishan, a specialist at the Shanghai TCM Neurology and Acupuncture Animal Health Center, said they have treated more than 2,000 cats and dogs since the clinic opened four years ago. A single session costs 260 yuan ($39) and last for about 45 minutes. Jin said about 80% of their patients have shown some improvement after treatment. "Making a paralysed and dependent dog stand up is our ultimate...

Rental prices for residential dwellings have gone up significantly over the past four years, spurred by a booming economy. Unwittingly, it was government’s own publicity material as part of the bid to attract the European Medicines Agency to Malta that laid bare the average rental prices in different regions of the island. According to the glossy booklet distributed to the media recently, as expected, rental prices are the highest in the central area, which comprises Sliema, St Julian’s, Gżira and Valletta. This is a highly sought after area by gaming company foreign employees who want to live close to their place of work and the entertainment hotspot of Paceville. Renting a three-bedroomed flat in these localities is a third more expensive than a similar apartment in the northern area comprising Mellieħa and St Paul’s Bay. Rents in the north are on average 10% higher than those in the Three Cities and Marsascala in the south. Although the advertising booklet does not indicate the source of the information, the classification used is similar to that adopted by the Central Bank of Malta in its annual report for 2016. In that report, the CBM noted that over a 10-year span, rents...

The MSE Share Index closed today’s session marginally higher at 4,692.754 points as the positive performances in BOV, HSBC and Tigné Mall were mostly offset by declines in another six equities including IHI and PG. Meanwhile, a further four equities ended the session unchanged. Most of today’s trading activity took place in the equity of Malta International Airport plc which maintained the €4.20 level on high volumes totalling 84,316 shares having a market value of €0.35 million and representing 67.5% of the total value of equities traded. Tomorrow, the equity will start trading without the entitlement to the recently declared net interim dividend of €0.03 per share. Also among the large companies by market capitalisation, GO plc finished unchanged at the €3.599 level after recovering from an intra-day low of €3.50 (-2.8%). A total of 5,500 shares changed hands. RS2 Software plc also retained the €1.789 level across 16,000 shares. RS2 is expected to publish its 2017 interim results by the end of this month. Similarly, a single deal of just 1,200 shares left the equity of Lombard Bank Malta plc unchanged at the €2.36 level. Lombard is due to release its six-month financial...

Birżebbuġa’s container port is a noisy neighbour but its direct impact on the economy will hit the €107 million mark this year, according to new research. The study, by economist Gordon Cordina’s firm E-Cubed Consultants, found that the economic injection increased to €171 million when indirect effects were considered. The study was commissioned by Malta Freeport Terminals to coincide with the renewal of its operating licence by the government last week. The container port, which is the third largest transhipment facility in the Mediterranean, is also expected to generate 954 jobs by the end of this year, according to the study. This rises to 1,747 jobs when indirect jobs, such as those of stevedores, are considered. The report noted that in 2015, the Freeport’s direct and indirect economic effect was valued at €158 million, equivalent to 2.1% of GDP. This economic injection was almost one-tenth of all tourism activity in Malta. Malta Freeport Terminals was granted a 30-year extension to its concession, which would have expired in 2039, after it fulfilled conditions set out in the licence agreement of 2008. The agreement stipulated that the terminal operator would be granted an...