International Football Set To Introduce Orange Card

Nov 29 2023

In an effort to address behaviour issues in high-level football matches, there’s a plan to introduce “orange cards” for temporary player dismissals, inspired by a concept from rugby.

This idea, proposed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), may be tested in elite leagues like the Premier League as early as the upcoming season.

The goal is to tackle the increasing number of disciplinary problems during games. Since 2019, England has successfully implemented ten-minute temporary player dismissals, known as sin-bins, to handle dissent from grassroots to academy levels.

When a player displays dissent through words or actions, they not only receive a yellow card but are also temporarily taken off the field for ten minutes. The proposed trial may extend this rule to penalise tactical fouls.

This trial also aims to address contentious incidents, like the one in the Euro 2020 final where Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini received only a yellow card for a cynical foul on England’s Bukayo Saka, much to the dismay of fans. If the new measure is implemented, such fouls could be punished with an “orange card.”

However, spectators won’t physically see these orange cards on the field; they will only be displayed on electronic boards when a player is temporarily dismissed.

This rule seeks to impose more significant penalties for offences that warrant more than a standard booking but fall short of a complete sending-off. Additionally, IFAB has mandated a rule change to show a red card for “deliberate” handballs in the penalty box, starting from the next season.

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Works Commence On New Garden For Hospice Patients

Nov 29 2023

The works on a new garden for Hospice Malta patients and their families are underway, providing a safe, therapeutic green space.

The Hospice Garden next to Hospice Malta’s new palliative care centre in Santa Venera, is one of 16 community open spaces across Malta and Gozo that Project Green is funding through its €10 million Community Greening Grant scheme.

Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli met Hospice Malta and Project Green during a visit at this garden comprising of 2,700 square metres of open space, amid one of the locality’s built-up areas.

The Hospice Garden encapsulates the vision of the Community Greening Grant, as it combines the environmental and communal needs of the community to establish an innovative and sustainable green area. Designed with attention to inclusivity, the Garden will be a tranquil space for vulnerable patients who cannot visit public places due to risks to their health. It integrates water features and patches of vegetation to stimulate sensory experiences, as well as relaxation spaces for patients’ families, including play areas for children.

The project also includes a new reservoir to harvest rainwater for the Garden’s irrigation.

Minister Dalli commended Hospice Malta and Project Green for transforming land originally earmarked for development into a new garden. “This oasis of greenery will offer a serene environment for patients and their families, while helping Hospice Malta in its mission to support the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of its patients,” Miriam Dalli said.

Hospice Malta Chairperson Bernadette Bonnici Kind, said how this new garden offers serenity and tranquillity, as well as a therapeutic environment which is needed by Hospice patients. She explained that in this garden, St. Michael Hospice patients can spend some quality time with their family in such difficult times.

The Minister also explained that a few months ago, Project Green invited local councils, NGOs and other organisations to propose green projects in their community. “In less than a year, the most sustainable proposals were identified and today we are here to follow the first works of these community-led initiatives. The other 15 projects are underway as we announced in the 2024 Budget. Our vision is to continue empowering our communities to create a better environment in their localities.”

Steve Ellul, CEO of Project Green, explained that the Community Greening Grant scheme is giving organisations such as Hospice Malta the required financial resources to invest in sustainability. It is funding the creation of 80,000 square metres of green open spaces in 16 different localities. “As it nears its first anniversary, Project Green has already invested in 40,000 square meters of new and regenerated green spaces. This is just the beginning of our commitment to continue investing in new and existing parks and gardens in Malta and Gozo,” Ellul concluded.

For more information on Project Green and the Community Greening Grant scheme, visit project.green or follow the Project Green and Sostenibilita socials.

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Heavy Traffic Reported All Across Malta This Morning

Nov 29 2023

According to various reports by Facebook page Maltese Roads Traffic Updates, heavy traffic is being reported all across Malta in various areas.

Heavy vehicle breakdown at the Marsa/Hamrun bypass direction south led to persisting heavy traffic, with the vehicle having been successfully removed.

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Meanwhile, the road from Mellieha, direction Salmon, as well as Burmarrad Road, were closed for traffic. Longer delays are being expected for all aforementioned areas.

Reports sent to this newsroom report commuting times of more than an hour, with Triq Dicembru 13 and Blata L-Bajda direction Valletta having been reopened for normal traffic use.

Drive safely and carefully.

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France To Ban Smoking On Beaches, In Parks, Near Schools

Nov 29 2023

France is set to implement a comprehensive strategy to curb smoking, with Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau announcing a ban on smoking in beaches, public parks, forests, and certain public spaces near schools.

This initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to prevent 75,000 tobacco-related deaths annually and create a “tobacco-free generation by 2032.”

During a press conference on Tuesday, Minister Rousseau emphasized the need to cease trivializing smoking and eliminate the leisure aspect associated with it.

He did not specify an exact timeline for the ban but hinted at potential fines as early as next year. Additionally, Rousseau disclosed plans for a gradual increase in cigarette prices, projecting a cost of 12 euros ($13) per pack in 2025 and 13 euros ($14) in 2027.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the minister stressed that the nation should not become accustomed to the alarming statistic of 200 preventable tobacco-related deaths each day. In line with previous announcements, France had already committed to prohibiting disposable e-cigarettes in September.

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