Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1518765
16 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 APRIL 2024 NEWS ACROSS 1) Easy out 6) Pitt with roles 10) "Ha'i" spot on Broadway? 14) NBA milieu 15) Part of MYOB 16) "How can I ___ thank you?" 17) Beef-filled 18) Guy behind Michael Jackson, once 19) Lady of Lisbon 20) Three birds 23) Yale student 24) Banana peel mishap 25) S&L convenience 28) State with confidence 31) Emotional tension 35) They support females? 37) Certain sword 39) Like the old "Night Gal- lery" TV show 40) Three birds 43) Advertiser's promotion 44) Certain 45) Like, likes 46) Awful smell 48) "Sight" or "over" ender 50) Word between a married lady's surnames 51) Pirate's potation 53) "Dear old" guy 55) Three birds 62) Brightly coloured aquari- um fish 63) Bar in the fridge 64) Court event 66) Football great Graham 67) "Hold it right there!" 68) Bride's pathway 69) Sound that gets attention 70) Capital of Norway 71) In the altogether DOWN 1) Legendary actress Grier 2) Popular chocolate cookie 3) Anjou, e.g. 4) Loosen laces 5) Disk-jockey bribe 6) Character in computer- ville 7) Muddy up 8) Jammed idlers? 9) Salivates 10) Sheet cover 11) Claim to be true 12) HBO's Dunham 13) Persia, now 21) "Chopped" meat 22) TNT ingredient 25) Helps out in a criminal act 26) Curly hair or color blind- ness, e.g. 27) "Dirty Dingus ___" (1970 film) 29) Grand-scale poetry 30) Picture puzzle 32) Senator of Watergate fame 33) Relentless attack 34) Have a premonition of 36) Goliath killer 38) Ireland, on coins 41) French pen filler 42) Requires 47) Santa's phrase 49) Wicker material 52) Splashy parties 54) Andrea___(ill-fated liner) 55) Gunk 56) Decides on (with "for") 57) Stable food 58) Groundwater source 59) 13-stringed Japanese zither 60) Board game 61) Cabbage relative 65) Took charge F Solution to last week's crossword The answers to today's crossword will be published in next week's Midweek edition Weather Fine with high clouds becoming rather cloudy by evening Visibility Good Wind West Southwest force 3 to 4 locally force 4 to 5 becoming force 4 to 5 locally force 5 to 6. TOMORROW Crossword WEATHER WINDY 18 0 / 10 0 TODAY WINDY 17 / 11 0 FEELS LIKE 18 0 FEELS LIKE 18 0 MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt THE Office of the Ombudsman has stated that the Planning Authority's lack of action has encouraged offenders to "do as they please" with regards to ta- bles and chairs in front of the Mellieħa sanctuary. In a press release on Tuesday, the Ombudsman detailed their investigation on irregularities by two establishments owned by db Group, as well as a res- taurant named Espiral and a Starbucks franchise. "The Planning Authority did not reply to a request by the Commissioner whether it con- siders the outside catering area as irregular and the services on the roof to run against the con- dition of the permit that states that all services shall not ex- tend beyond the height of the approved parapet wall." After taking note of a recent development application seek- ing approval for an outdoor ca- tering area and a minor amend- ment application intended to regularise roof services, the Commissioner pointed out that the proposed application does not involve formal sanc- tioning. Additionally, the Commis- sioner underscored that any attempt to rectify the roof ser- vices through a minor amend- ment application, "does not in any way overrule the relative permit conditions." After the PA failed to submit an official reply, the Commis- sioner recommended issuing a stop and enforcement notice. This action was prompted by the absence of a sanctioning application for the regularisa- tion of existing illegal devel- opments, namely an outdoor catering area and roof services that exceed the height of the approved parapet wall. "Although the applicant changed the pending applica- tion to sanctioning on the same day that the Commissioner is- sued the recommendations, the Commissioner considers the way the Planning Author- ity acted in this case as an en- couragement for contravenors to do as they please since the Planning Authority will not only take no action but it will also help them in avoiding such action." The case was then referred to the Prime Minister and Parlia- ment. Ombudsman: Planning Authority 'encouraged' catering outlets to 'do as they please' After the Planning Authority failed to submit an official reply, the Commissioner recommended issuing a stop and enforcement notice