10 years ago - The Times
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Cathedral museum project dropped
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday pulled the plug on the controversial underground extension of the St John’s Co-Cathedral museum, just hours before the project was to be debated in Parliament at the request of the Opposition.
In a joint statement with the Archbishop, Dr Gonzi said the project should be scrapped because it was “dividing the Maltese public”. The surprise announcement happened just before Parliament was due to debate an Opposition motion urging the government to withdraw its support for the €16 million project, €14 million of which were to come from the EU.
Thieves use truck to steal from sports shop
Three men allegedly stole €10,000 worth of sports wear after slowly reversing a truck against the main door of an outlet in order to gain entry.
The outlet, a Puma store, is situated right opposite the Addolorata Cemetery. The only person to be arraigned so far, 19-year-old Carl Ciantar, yesterday pleaded not guilty to the theft which took place on January 20.
25 years ago - The Times
Saturday, February 12, 1994
Tourist arrivals in January up 10%
British tourist arrivals for the first time ever last year dropped to below 50 per cent of total arrivals in Malta, Tourism Parliamentary Secretary said yesterday, seeing successful diversification policies.
Tourist arrivals in 1993 exceeded arrivals in the previous year by six per cent. And indications this winter, from November to end of this month, were that the industry would register a 10 per cent increase over the same period in 1992/93.
Dr Refalo said the total number of arrivals in 1993 was 1,063,069 compared to 1,002,381 the previous year.
Carnival floats battered
Carnival float makers in Valletta were left picking up the pieces yesterday after high winds battered their prized masterpieces.
“It’s even worse than last year. We’ve had a whole week of heavy winds and rain!” exclaimed one frustrated float maker.
All 10 floats parked near St Elmo suffered some sort of damage as a result of the strong winds which lashed Malta early yesterday morning and throughout the day. At least two are ruined beyond repair.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Wednesday, February 12, 1969
Port strike called off
Port workers will return to work this morning after a four-day general strike which paralysed the port.
The decision to call off the strike was taken by the Council of the General Workers’ Union at a meeting held yesterday evening. In a statement above the signature of Mr J. Attard Kingswell, general secretary, it was stated that the union did not wish the strike to spread and affect other parties. Therefore the union was suspending the general strike in the port but warned it would again take similar action if it became necessary in the interests of its members.
Night club presenting “bigger, better acts”
Today, the Hotel Madalena – the St Andrew’s nightspot – will put into practice an experiment which, it is hoped, will be the start of bigger and better cabaret acts to come.
Acrobat’s ‘tight rope’ act
Joe Falzon of Żejtun who is director of F.A. Productions, has developed a tight rope act which he will present during “The Magnificent Seven Show” at the Pandora Theatre, Żejtun, in April. Joe, who is the father of a family of acrobats, said he trained tight rope walking on water pipes during his free time at Malta Drydocks.