Civil Protection Mission in Greece

Jul 12 2024

The Civil Protection Department is sending a contingent of officials to Greece to help their Greek colleagues fight fires, which increase in frequency during the summer months. This was announced in a press conference by the Minister for Home Affairs, Security, and Reforms, Byron Camilleri, who explained that this will be the fourth international operation in two years by the Civil Protection Department.

Half of Greece is currently on high alert due to the possibility of fires caused by severe heatwaves and drought. The Civil Protection Department is sending the first contingent of twenty officials to Patras, Greece, next Monday. This group will be replaced by a second contingent of twenty officials, who will be sent at the end of July and return in mid-August. Two volunteers from the NGOs Emergency Fire and Rescue Unit and St John’s Rescue Corps will be accompanying them.

The Civil Protection Department has already sent several marine vessels that will be used by the Maltese firefighters in Greece.

Minister Camilleri stated that there has been unprecedented investment in the Civil Protection Department in terms of equipment, training, and worker conditions, giving Civil Protection the capability to protect and perform rescue operations on and beyond the Maltese islands.

“From a department equipped with second-hand gear, we have transformed it into one of the most efficient and professional departments that provide peace of mind to the Maltese people. This was made possible thanks to the strong investment the government made not only in the equipment and training of the workers but also in the workers themselves, who now enjoy much better conditions and salaries than ever before,” said Minister Camilleri.

He added that this change was reflected in the beneficial and rescue operations that the Maltese Civil Protection carried out over the past year in Greece, Turkey, and even Libya. Therefore, these operations prove that Malta can be in solidarity with neighboring people in times of crisis while Maltese workers gain experiences far more useful than training.

For his part, the General Director of Civil Protection, Peter Paul Coleiro, said that the department will still have enough resources locally to provide local services thanks to the investment made by the government. He appealed to the Maltese public to be more aware of the danger of fires in dry areas in the countryside during these months.

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Malta Selected To Host S. Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition

Jul 11 2024

Malta has been selected to host the esteemed and prestigious S. Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition, which will take place in mid-November 2024.

The Local Jury for the South Europe and Mediterranean Regional Final, tasked with declaring the regional winner, has also been announced with Thanos Feskos from Greece, Iwona Niemczewska from Poland, Alexandru Iacob from Romania, Igor Jagodic from Slovenia and Maltese Victor Borg all suiting up for this important task.

For a chance to compete in the tournament young chefs under the age of 30 need to include a signature and highlighting dish ultimately showcasing their talent, vision and creativity.

The winners of the regional finals held in Malta, will book their place at the Grand Finale to be held in Milan in 2025.

The competition will also feature other awards such as the S. Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award voted for by the Sustainable Restaurant Association which runs the Food Made Good program; the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award, voted for by the Competition mentors; and the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award voted for by Fine Dining Lovers readers.

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Fr. Louis Mallia To Inaugurate 22nd Edition Of Oħloq Tbissima

Jul 11 2024

Fr. Louis Mallia MSSP will inaugurate the 22nd edition of the Oħloq Tbissima broadcast marathon.

Oħloq Tbissima will pause at midnight but will resume on Saturday, July 13, and Sunday, July 14, from 4:00 pm to midnight each day. The marathon will be broadcast at various times on TVM, NET, ONE, and F Living.

For 22 years, Oħloq Tbissima has supported Maltese missionaries who have been working for many years with poor families in Peru, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

Without these brave priests, it would be very difficult for these families to live with dignity, access medical care, send their children to school, or have at least one meal a day.

Each country they help has its own challenges, needs, and stories. For example, in Peru, many families, due to a lack of jobs, have to move from one city to another, from rural mountain areas to cities, in search of work. Often, they don’t even have a room to live in, literally leaving with just the clothes on their backs. They have to start from scratch. Easy? Certainly not, and this is where the missionaries come in to help them start building a new life and livelihood.

Additionally, for the past 25 years, Fr. Joe Cremona MSSP has helped numerous families in Bataan, a village about three hours from Manila. This poor village has seen Fr. Joe working tirelessly to assist the poor not only in finding jobs but also in providing social, psychological, and moral support. Fr. Joe also established a youth orchestra, which today receives professional musical training and has had success in their music exams, aiding them in continuing their studies at university.

All of this is possible thanks to the donations made by the generous people of Malta and Gozo during the Oħloq Tbissima marathon. Maltese and Gozitans recognize the need to help people far from them but who remain close to their hearts.

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Darwin Nunez And Uruguayan Teammates Clash With Fans

Jul 11 2024

Liverpool star Darwin Nunez was involved in a heated clash with Colombian fans after Uruguay’s 1-0 loss to Colombia in the Copa America semi-final.

According to the Uruguayan news outlet El País, disorder and fights erupted in the section where friends and family of the Uruguayan players were seated.

TV cameras and numerous fans captured footage of the Liverpool striker climbing the railings and making his way into the crowded stands at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nunez wasn’t the only player involved in the altercation. Center-back and team leader José María Giménez stated that the players were trying to protect their families, describing the situation in the crowd as a “disaster,” Reuters reported.

“There was no police presence, and we had to defend our families,” Giménez said. “This was caused by two or three individuals who had too much to drink and didn’t know how to handle it.”

The tension was not confined to the stands, as the pitch also saw clashes and tense moments between players and staff before the final whistle.

Colombia will now face Messi’s Argentina in next Monday’s highly anticipated Copa America Final.

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