LESA Employee Accused Of Bribery Has Been Suspended

Lesa Employee Accused Of Bribery Has Been Suspended
Jan 28 2025 Share

Following allegations of bribery, a LESA employee has been suspended.

Local authorities were alerted to claims that the employee had demanded a €50 bribe. After an internal investigation, the case was handed over to the police with relevant evidence.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to addressing any form of misconduct.

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Pasta Could Be The Key To Happiness

Pasta Could Be The Key To Happiness
Jan 28 2025 Share

A new study from IULM University in Milan reveals that eating pasta can trigger powerful positive emotions, sometimes even more than activities like listening to music or watching sports.

The research, which involved participants aged 25 to 55, used advanced neuroscience techniques to measure emotional and cognitive responses. 

Results showed that pasta not only evoked intense feelings of joy but also activated memory and cognitive functions more strongly than other pleasurable activities.

The findings suggest that food could play a key role in emotional well-being and mental health, opening the door to further research on how food impacts our emotions.

For now, it seems that a plate of pasta might be the ultimate mood booster after all.

#MaltaDaily 

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Over 5,000 People Attend Valletta Baroque Festival 2025

Over 5,000 People Attend Valletta Baroque Festival 2025
Jan 28 2025 Share

The Valletta Baroque Festival 2025 concluded successfully, attracting over 5,000 attendees to 32 concerts from January 9 to 25.

The festival, under the artistic direction of Kenneth Zammit Tabona and organised by Festivals Malta, featured a diverse program celebrating Baroque music and showcased renowned artists performing at various locations across Malta.

Minister Owen Bonnici expressed gratitude to all those involved in organising the event, highlighting its success and strong competition.

He emphasised the importance of such festivals in attracting both local and international audiences and positioning Malta as a cultural hub.

The festival opened with La Giuditta by Alessandro Scarlatti, performed by the Valletta Baroque Ensemble, and included other performances like Lachrimae Lyrae by Sokratis Sinopoulos and The Mad Lover by Thomas Dunford and Théotime Langlois de Swarte. The soprano Samuel Mariño also performed with Concerto de’ Cavalieri at Teatru Manoel.

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra presented Bach Violin Concertos, featuring violinists Charlie Siem and Carmine Lauri.

A special concert marked the 80th birthday of William Christie, with his group Les Arts Florissants. Additionally, KorMalta performed Messa Papae Marcelli, and the Sound Explorers concert introduced children to Baroque music.

The concerts took place at notable sites such as St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Lapsi Church, and Verdala Palace.

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EU Commission Recognises ‘Ġbejna Tan-Nagħaġ’ As A Protected Designation of Origin

EU Commission Recognises ‘Ġbejna Tan-Nagħaġ’ As A Protected Designation of Origin
Jan 28 2025 Share

The European Commission has officially granted Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status to Malta’s sheep’s cheese. This milestone comes after years of discussions with the European Commission, ensuring that the production and sale of sheep’s cheese comply with the legal standards expected from European Union Member States.

These negotiations have resulted in the establishment of necessary standards for both the quality of the product and the protection of consumers’ health.

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The Maltese Government, in collaboration with the European Commission, worked diligently to ensure that traditional cheese-making practices were preserved.

As part of this effort, the Maltese authorities committed to providing all relevant information for thorough evaluation according to the criteria set by the European Commission to safeguard the product.

With this recognition, “sheep’s cheese” will now appear on store shelves with labelling that confirms its addition to the European PDO register.

This signifies that the product will be recognised as a quality item not only by EU citizens but also by tourists visiting Malta, as it joins the prestigious list of PDO products across Europe.

The recognition ensures that the product will be acknowledged and protected by EU member countries and featured in global trade agreements.

Minister Anton Refalo was presented with the official PDO certificate by European Commissioner Christophe Hansen during a ceremony in Brussels on the margins of the Agriculture Ministers’ Council.

In a celebration at the Malta House, Minister Refalo praised the work of the Sheep and Goats Producers Association, MCCAA, and other public entities for their role in achieving this status. He also thanked the Maltese and Gozitan farmers for their daily contributions to producing high-quality products.

Minister Refalo highlighted ongoing efforts to secure PDO recognition for Maltese olive oil, aiming to further solidify Malta’s position in Europe’s traditional food product list.

#MaltaDaily