15 day memo by PBS called unreasonable by Minister

Oct 6 2021

The 15-day notice expected by PBS management for current affairs programmes is unreasonable, said Minister Carmelo Abela. Speaking to MaltaToday, the minister said that whilst being well within their remit (as stated in the Programme Statement of Intent), a 15 day time frame is exaggerated. A memo sent by chairman Mark Sammut reads that current affairs programmes producers were to obtain approval from the PBS management before proceeding with the topics of their programmes. These topics need to be communicated 15 days in advance.

All the details are also to be sent to TVM’s head of news Norma Saliba. This memo has however opened the public broadcaster to claims of censorship, with Abela, the minister responsible for state broadcasting, stating that the PSI has been in place for years due to the fact that any libel proceedings against any of the programmes aired on TVM will be directed to the editor.

The PBS has to have the right for information before the programme is aired to exercise such responsibility. He the minister revealed he had knowledge of the 15-day minimum notification period, saying that it has to be more reasonable especially in the context of current affairs programmes.

Sammut revealed to Times of Malta that the memo was only sent out in order to have topics included in the schedule and to providers of EPC TV guides. He also said that topics could be subject to change.

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Photo Source: Wikipedia, Carmelo Abela FB

Here are the world’s top five restaurants for 2021

Oct 6 2021

The beloved atmosphere of restaurants was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, putting even the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards to a halt. But it has officially made a comeback as people too get to return to clink their glasses together and dine over delicious meals. The awards for 2021 feature two eateries in Copenhagen taking up the first and second place of what is deemed to be the Oscars of the fine dining experience. The top spot? Well that goes to Noma.

Danish chef René Redzepi’s three Michelin star restaurant opened in Copenhagen back in 2003 and took the first slot of the top 50 ranking back in 2010. Noma now joins Eleven Madison park, the Fat Duck, Osteria Francescana and Mirazur in a separate ‘Best of the Best’ program.

Second place is currently reserved for Noma’s neighbour ‘Geranium’, also in Copenhagen. Head chef Rasmus Kofoed serves adventurous seasonal menu items which reflect his passion for sea-foraging. With melted smoked lard and squid filling up the menu, guests are treated to a wide array of delicacies.

In third place comes Spain’s Asador Etxebarri, where all dishes are flame grilled. Chef Victor Arguinzoniz was voted by his peers as the winner of the Chef’s Choice Award. The top 5 list is rounded up by Central in Lima, Peru, which is also the best restaurant in South America. Last but not least, another Spanish restaurant, this time from Barcelona, Disfrutar, takes 5th place.

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Karol Aquilina to take action against ‘corrupt’ police officer in due time

Oct 6 2021

Nationalist MP Karol Aquilina has stated that he intends to take action against a senior police officer who handed footage to a Labour journalist who in turn manipulated it to come up with charges. The action is set to be taken ‘in due time’, with the case involving an incident which saw the MP end up in the middle of a number of cars which were being escorted by police.

Aquilina had been driving to parliament, with the cars being escorted by police not carrying any passengers. The incident occurred on December 13 Road in Marsa in June of 2019. Speaking in parliament, Aquilina recalled how Labour media went as far as to accuse him of having tried to seriously injure or even kill police officers, reckless driving beyond even a red light, corrupting a police officer and even abusing parliamentary privilege.

Aquilina was however acquitted of all charges as a court threw out the case last Wednesday. The court observed how the footage, despite having been edited, showed that Aquilina’s manner of driving was what one would expect of any prudent driver and thus no laws or regulations were broken. The court expressed incredulity that the case had even been prosecuted.

Aquilina also on his part stated without any doubt that the case was made up as an attempt to silence his questioning about former police commissioner Lawrence Cutajar as well as remarks mad about former chief of staff Keith Schembri and other individuals. Aquilina said that the most corrupt officer in the force acquired the footage and handed it to Karl Stagno Navarra. Aquilina stated that he would take action against said officer in due time because what happened was unacceptable to any person who could end up in similar situations.

Aquilina claimed this was persecution, and not prosecution.

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Photo Source: Malta Police Force FB, Karol Aquilina FB

€200,000 in parking fines contested by scooter firms

Oct 6 2021

Two companies which provide e-scooters rental services are contesting over €200,000 in fines issued in the past five months. The fines concern obstruction and non-observance of traffic regulations which include illegal parking. The companies are insisting that the law is incorrectly treating electric scooters as motor vehicles as they seek to challenge the ‘defective’ laws in court.

The companies in question believe that the issue of abandoned scooters on pavements could be resolved easily if Transport Malta and local councils were to sit with them to provide docking stations at regular intervals. They also said that the demand for the clean mode of transport is exponentially increasing as scooters are being used for short distances by an also increasing number of unique users daily.

Bolt chief executive Klas Johansson stated that his company is busy contesting over €100,000 in fines issued by LESA officers over the past few months. He said that they are attending weekly tribunal sittings with some cases being thrown out because the judges realise that the law is not clear.

Roberto Pestana, a director of Seven Group Malta Limited, operators of Bird scooters, also said that his company provides scooters in 300 cities across Europe. The company was allegedly facing fines only in Malta. Since they began operating in Malta in May, LESA officers have been issuing fines over obstruction, dangerous or illegal parking.

The obstruction fine currently sands at €104.65 whilst all other offences carry a €23.25 fine. Petsona told Times of Malta that in just five months, up to €100,000 in fines have been racked up.

On their part, LESA CEO Svetlick Flores said wardens were simply enforcing the rules governing the use of e-scooters through subsidiary legislation for low-powered vehicles and pedal cycles and micro-mobility regulations. These regulations are specific for these modes of transport, the LESA CEO said, as they are treated differently from motor vehicles governed by the Motor Vehicle Regulations.

Electric kick scooters may, according to rules, be parked on pavements and promenades or on footpaths and in pedestrian zones so long as they do not obstruct pedestrian traffic free flow or their use by people with mobility impairment. On parking, the law states that the e-scooters are to be parked in specifically designated parking spaces such as racks.

Bird’s lawyer states that the law is ‘defective’ as scooters are not motor vehicles and cannot be considered as such. ‘An electric scooter is a stand-up device that has a handlebar, a deck and a small hard wheels powered by an electric motor which also allows for human propulsion and this doe snot make this device a motor vehicle as defined in the law.’

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Photo Source: Bolt FB, Ukrgate