headlines
News
Think-tank to map out future of financial services to be set up
A think-tank to come up with ideas to map out the future of financial services in Malta, maintaining the levels of excellence achieved so far is to be set up, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said this morning.
Opening the fifth annual Finance Malta conference, Mr Fenech said:
"We need to continue to think outside the box and identify the ways to ensure a sustainable growth in financial services; whether in terms of fiscal or non-fiscal incentives, policy or regulatory developments and educational and training requirements, amongst others.
"In this manner, financial services can continue to support our economy in achieving better levels of growth, investment and job creation."
Mr Fenech said that Malta had to do its utmost to protect its financial stability, balancing the constraints of fiscal consolidation with the need to foster growth.
Across Europe, he said, there was a growing realisation of the need for policies which promoted growth and jobs and restored full and balanced economic health.
Malta, he said, was pulling its weight even on the European stage. It contributed to the European Stability Fund, and pledged funds to the bailout of Greece.
The European Union was doing a...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 11:56
Increase in wholesale value of fruit and vegetables but lower volume
While the volume of fresh fruit and vegetables declined by 16 per cent in the first quarter, the wholesale value increased by 9.3 per cent, when compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Office.
The NSO said that fresh fruit and vegetables supplied in the first quarter dropped to 8.4 million kilogrammes, from 10 million kilogrammes in the corresponding quarter last year.
On the other hand, the wholesale value rose by 9.3 per cent, from €5.2 million in the first quarter of 2011 to €5.7 million this year.
The volume of fresh vegetables fell by 15.3 per cent to 8 million kilogrammes over the comparative period last year.
Declines were registered in the supply of cauliflowers (-27.8 per cent), marrows (-22 per cent), potatoes (-13.9 per cent), dry onions (-33.5 per cent) and lettuce (-30 per cent).
In contrast, the wholesale value of fresh vegetables advanced by 13.4 per cent to €5.1 million.
During the period under review, the supply of fresh fruit declined by 28 per cent, mainly due to a drop in the supply of oranges (-34.2 per cent), sweet oranges (-29.3 per cent) and strawberries (-28 per cent).
Furthermore, the wholesale value of fresh fruit...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 11:32
Reja resigns
Edy Reja has decided to step down as Lazio coach - despite guiding the club into the Europa League for a second successive season.
The Rome-based club finished fourth, just two points behind Udinese, who have qualified for the Champions League play-off round.
Reja twice tried to walk away from Lazio this season but was persuaded to stay by president Claudio Lotito on both occasions.
But the 66-year-old would not be denied a third time and hinted that he may have stayed at the Stadio Olimpico had he managed to guide Lazio into the Champions League positions.
"My adventure at Lazio ends here," he told Cittaceleste.it. "President Lotito gave me his support and asked me to stay on.
"Even after my refusal, he invited me to reconsider and take a week to reflect. But I had already made my decision.
"It seems as if we have not done anything these past two years, even though we twice qualified for the Europa League.
"Of course, if we had hit our target of qualifying for the Champions League this year, things would have been different.
"We had several injuries, which made the season difficult, but it hurts to think that fourth place seems to be worthless.
"In addition the bid to...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 11:20
Marin makes Chelsea predictionChelsea's German new boy Marko Marin has backed them to beat Bayern Munich in tomorrow's Champions League final.
Marin was confident the Blues' "better players" would expose Bayern's defence at the Allianz Arena.
The 23-year-old playmaker, who will join Chelsea from Werder Bremen this summer, watched Bayern thrashed 5-2 by Borussia Dortmund in last weekend's DFB-Pokal final.
Asked if their defence was weak, he told BBC Sport: "Yes. I watched the German cup final. They made big errors.
"Chelsea have better players and will do well if they play offensively."
Marin added: "I think (Chelsea) will win at the weekend.
"Bayern did a very good job against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, but they did not do well in the cup final."
But Marin was also wary of the attacking threat of Bayern.
"I think the strongest Bayern player is Franck Ribery because of his dribbling and because he's a goal threat," Marin said.
"There's also Mario Gomez. He's scored a lot of goals in the Champions League and is a constant danger. If Chelsea can stop them then they will do well."
Marin admitted he had not expected Chelsea to finish as low as sixth in the Barclays Premier League, which...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 11:07
Spanish stocks fall amid turmoil
Spanish stocks have dropped sharply after ratings agency Moody's downgraded its credit score of 16 Spanish banks in the latest blow to the troubled financial sector.
The Ibex 35 index was off more than two points shortly after trading began Friday. Banks were among the biggest losers.
Moody's acted late yesterday, citing banks' load of non-performing loans amid a recession-plagued economy, their creditworthiness and the government's sovereign debt problems, among other woes.
Those punished included Banco Santander, the eurozone's largest bank by market capitalisation.
Shares in Bankia, a recently nationalised bank, took a roller coaster ride yesterday, ending up sharply lower on reports depositors pulled out a a billion euro in a week.
On the bond market the interest rate on 10-year bonds was unchanged at 6.25 %.
Earlier, Asian stocks plunged after discouraging US economic reports unnerved investors already worried about the stability of the 17-country eurozone.
Japan's Nikkei 225 plummeted 2.4% to 8,660.23, as a strengthening yen battered the country's behemoth export sector.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 2.1% to 18,802.45 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 2.2% to...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 10:23
Brazil's Defence Minister in Malta for talks
Brazil’s Minister of Defence Cleso Luiz Nunes Amorim arrived in Malta this morning for talks with Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and the Armed Forces of Malta.
Mr Amorim was greeted at Malta International Airport by David Agius, parliamentary assistant at the Foreign Ministry.
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 09:52
Sierra Leone: From war to tourist paradise
Weary of being a poster-child for an African war, Sierra Leone is working hard to lure back tourists, but for now getting to enjoy some of Africa's most beautiful scenery is not for the faint-hearted.
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 09:31
Christians rally against Lady Gaga
About 70 Christian youths in the Philippines have chanted "Stop the Lady Gaga concerts" at a rally calling for the singer's shows in Manila next week to be cancelled.
Members of a group called Biblemode Youth Philippines said that they are offended by Lady Gaga's music and videos, in particular her song Judas, which they say mocks Jesus Christ.
Protest leader and former Philippine Congressman Ben Abante says his group plans to file a case against Lady Gaga and concert organisers if she sings Judas at her Manila gigs on Monday and Tuesday.
Former Manila mayor Jose Atienza said the singer and organisers can be punished for offending race or religion.
Lady Gaga scrapped an Indonesia concert following protests there from conservative Muslims.
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 09:20
Our bar dream is now a nightmare
The Dock No. 1 project in Cospicua has blocked access to a couple’s restaurant for nearly 14 months, robbing them of their only income and forcing them to sell their car and jewellery to make ends meet.
Benny and Marisa Bondin’s family of five has been living on practically nothing since then, with Mrs Bondin needing tranquillisers.
“I had to sell all my gold, including my wedding and engagement rings as well as my great-grandmother’s antique coins to be able to continue giving my three children an acceptable standard of living,” Mrs Bondin said, adding that her husband let go of his car.
Seven years ago, the Bondins made a €280,000 investment to turn a disused warehouse into a seaside dining place, The Regatta Bar and Restaurant.
They had to fork out another €75,000 in 2009 after a fire, caused by a short circuit, destroyed equipment in the restaurant.
The family-run business was doing well until Easter Monday last year, when Italian contractor Marinelli Construzioni SpA, which has since been sacked from the job, started working on the Dock 1 project, giving them no forewarning to empty the restaurant, they say.
The restaurant was known in the region for its food, especially...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 09:06
€3.7m centre open to children and athletes
Hundreds of schoolchildren from St Benedict’s College will be able to let off steam in a huge 2,000 square metre, €3.7 million sports complex in Kirkop.
The complex has four multi-purpose halls, a fitness centre and also includes an athletic track and pitch with synthetic turf.
About 15 sports disciplines can be practised there including football, athletics, netball, volleyball, basketball, badminton, futsal, gymnastics and dance, among others. The complex also boasts a shooting simulator that is even used by Maltese champion sharpshooter William Chetcuti for training.
Youth and Sports Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli, who inaugurated the complex with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday, said the simulator would help identify children interested in the sport from a young age.
The complex will also be used by sports organisations after school hours and will be accessible to the community.
Come September, it will be used by young athletes attending the new National Sports School.
Plans have been filed with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to build a similar complex in Ħandaq to be linked with the St Ignatius College.
Dr Gonzi said the government had...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 09:00
‘Let them voice their innocence’
A Syrian living in Malta is appealing for the fair trial of his two brothers who he believes were forced to confess to murdering a prominent Islamic scholar’s son.
Hussein Mallol said that his brothers, Ghassan Mustafa Mallol, 24, and Ahmad Mustafa Mallol, 32, were arrested in Idlib, northern Syria, on November 20. Six months later, they appeared on Syrian TV “confessing” to murder.
Their eight brothers – including four in Malta – believe Ghassan and Ahmad have been threatened to admit something they never did.
Backed by Amnesty International and other groups, they are calling for a fair hearing and an investigation into reports of torture on both men.
According to Syria’s news agency Sana, Saria Hassoun, the son of the country’s Grand Mufti (the highest official of religious law in a Sunni or Ibadi Muslim country), was killed in an ambush on October 2.
During the shoot-out, a history professor from Aleppo University was also killed.
In their video confession, the brothers claimed they were paid some £530 each to kill the two men.
“It is absolutely impossible that my brothers, who have a contracting company of their own, participated in a demonstration as they had no political...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 09:00
Press digest
The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times reports how a couple ended up almost penniless because of the works on the Dock 1 area in Cospicua when their bar was closed. They even had to sell their jewellery and car.
The Malta Independent reports that a €3.5m sports complex was inaugurated in Kirkop yesterday. It also says that people are under-reporting prevalence of obesity.
In-Nazzjon also leads with the opening of the Kirkop sports complex. It also says that 3,000 are working in the cultural sector.
l-orizzont follows up its story about a man who had his wheelchair stolen and says the case is in the hands of the Community Chest Fund. It also says that a Sicilian man committed suicide after losing his job in Malta. He was unable to find a job in Italy.
The overseas press
The euro crisis has spread to Spain as Greece swore in a crisis government and British Prime Minister David Cameron called for decisive action on the uncertainty. The uncertainty pushed shares and the euro down sharply. Markets in Paris, Frankfurt and London all closed down more than one per cent, and the euro hit fresh four-month lows against the US dollar.
Spain was...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 07:17
A taste of glorious Malta, celebrity-style
Forty years after introducing cooking on TV and only three years since the publication of Glorious Food, Gloria Mizzi is back on the bookshelves.
More Glorious Food features more recipes from the veteran TV presenter’s kitchen.
It includes a number of popular Maltese recipes such as baked macaroni, braġjoli , octopus stew and mqaret.
Ms Mizzi, who has been a household name since introducing cooking to TV 40 years ago, said: “I assumed that everyone knew how to prepare Maltese dishes but I missed the fact that the younger generation is very keen on cooking and really appreciates our local fare.”
All of Ms Mizzi’s books feature a collection of traditional and new recipes that she has tasted and prepared over the years. They come from all over the Mediterranean region – with an emphasis on some Maltese dishes that have been included by special request from readers.
The eclectic mix of recipes results from her roaming childhood: Ms Mizzi was born in Tripoli, she spent the war years in Italy and finally moved to Malta.
She learned the art of cooking from her Maltese-born mother and acquired a taste of North African cooking from her paternal grandmother.
She has a proclivity for cooking...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 06:00
1,000 people ask for banAbout 1,000 people have chosen to include their own names in a list of people banned from entering a casino or gambling parlour.
The owners of gambling outlets notoriously police the doors to their establishments through blacklists meant to make sure that known cheats and frauds stay out. However, the 1,000 or so people who volunteered their names on the list of people barred from entering such places make up another category: gambling victims.
The figure emerged yesterday when Finance Minister Tonio Fenech unveiled a proposal to set up a fund promoting responsible gaming.
The Responsible Gaming Fund will enable the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) to run a campaign on responsible gaming and also help people addicted to gaming.
Mr Fenech said the fund still had to be discussed in Cabinet but it was hoped that it would be set up next year. The fund would be partly supported through contributions by the gaming companies as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
He was speaking during a visit to the LGA offices where he underlined the importance of the gaming industry for Malta’s economy.
Revenue from gaming tax rose by 40 per cent since 2007, reaching €47.5 million...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 05:00
Dead lawyer mystery: body released
The body of a lawyer found dead in her car in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq a month ago has been released for burial but investigators are still at a loss on how she died.
Margaret Mifsud’s funeral will be held in Msida today, almost a month to the day her lifeless body was found on April 19.
An autopsy on the 31-year-old mother-of-two indicated that she might not have died of natural causes, as was initially thought. However, the results were deemed to be inconclusive and the police are still waiting for further test results on samples that were sent to the UK.
The investigations have revolved around her former Libyan partner, Nizar El Gadi, the father of her children with whom she had a troubled relationship. For some time he was being treated as the prime suspect but not any longer because the police did not have enough evidence against him.
Dr Mifsud had reported him to the police accusing him of trying to strangle her. Charges had been filed against him by the police and he is expected to appear in court in June accused of Dr Mifsud’s illegal arrest, slightly injuring her and threatening her on March 24.
However, sources said the police did not have enough evidence to link him to Dr...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 04:00
Suspect released after illegal arrest
A man was released yesterday after his arrest, ordered by a magistrate, was declared illegal.
Sean Grima, 24, from Cospicua was picked up by the police on May 10 after he failed to appear in court in the morning and Magistrate Marseann Farrugia ordered his arrest and revoked his bail conditions.
He is facing charges of slightly injuring and harassing his girlfriend.
Defence lawyers Andy Ellul and Vince Micallef argued that, while the magistrate was within her rights to order their client’s re-arrest, she could not revoke his bail without him being given a chance to defend himself.
For their client to have his bail revoked, he would have to undergo “due process” and then arraigned for breaching his bail conditions. It was only after being convicted that his bail could be revoked, they argued.
The fact that the law was not followed breached his human rights, the lawyers added.
They had drawn Magistrate Farrugia’s attention to this during a sitting on Wednesday but she insisted that she was correct, the lawyers said.
She then put off the case, which would have continued 11 days later, meaning that, had they not acted, Mr Grima would have remained behind bars throughout for no...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 00:00
Two on probation over fake moneyTwo young women who conned five people and a charity shop out of €300 after asking them to exchange counterfeit €50 bank notes were yesterday placed on probation because they “needed guidance”.
Friends Anne Antide Calleja, 20 of Għargħur and Grace Calleja, 22 of Gżira, would stop their victims at petrol stations and in the street and ask them to exchange the fake money to be able to buy fuel, Police Inspector Ian Abdilla said.
A third suspect is expected to be arraigned today.
The two women were stopped after one of the victims noted the registration plate of the Peugeot 206 they were driving.
In submissions on punishment, lawyers Andy Ellul and Vince Micallef said Grace Calleja needed guidance in life. She had a two year-old son and had lost her father at a young age and spent most of her life in an institute.
Lawyer Anġlu Farrugia said Anne Calleja was terrified of the third person involved and had committed the crime out of such fear.
Magistrate Neville Camilleri placed them on probation for three years.
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 00:00
Heritage reserves to preserve patrimony
Archaeologically rich sites should be turned into reserves to ensure that heritage is better safeguarded and managed, according to the revised draft National Strategy for Cultural Heritage.
The draft, launched for public consultation yesterday, proposes the setting up of heritage reserves that could include buildings, monuments and archaeological sites.
The Superintendent of Cultural Heritage Anthony Pace, said the draft stressed the importance of participation by the public and the role of local councils in safeguarding cultural heritage.
Although local councils already organise many cultural activities, the draft strategy seeks to get them even more involved.
According to the State of the Heritage Report for 2011, also launched yesterday, out of the 722 cultural activities held last year, 451 were organised by local councils. Culture Minister Mario de Marco spoke about the need to safeguard cultural heritage for future generations. He recalled that the government had launched the first National Strategy for Cultural Heritage in 2006, updating it every five years.
“We must remember that cultural heritage is a non-renewable resource. Any mistake we make can not be reversed,” Dr de...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 00:00
Artistic view of the island
Savio Mizzi, a Gozitan living in East Hampton, New York, is displaying a selection of his art works in watercolour at the art… e gallery, 1, Library Street, Victoria.
The works consist of a study of the life and customs of the people of Gozo. Mr Mizzi’s paintings depict their life and the island’s heritage. It is open daily from 9.30 a.m. to noon until June 1. On the occasion of Lejliet Lapsi Notte Gozitana, this weekend, it will also be open from 7 p.m. till late.
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 00:00
Inflation soars above the EU averageThe inflation rate in April stood at 3.8 per cent, the second-highest in the eurozone and more than one percentage point above the EU average.
Inflation stood at 1.5 per cent last January, rising to 2.4 per cent in February and March before hitting the 3.8 per cent mark last month.
The steady rise means that inflation in Malta is now one of the highest in the EU, with only Estonia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary posting higher rates in April.
But, at 2.4 per cent, the yearly inflation rate between April 2011 and April 2012 remains lower than the eurozone average of 2.7 per cent.
Inflation rose in 10 EU member states when compared to March 2012, falling in 16 others. Average inflation throughout the eurozone fell slightly, to 2.6 per cent. Twelve months ago, eurozone inflation stood at 2.8 per cent.
At one per cent, Sweden boasted the EU’s lowest inflation rate in April. Hungary’s 5.6 per cent was the highest.
According to the National Statistics Office, the largest chunk of the increase was reflected in a 14.5 per cent increase in the restaurant and hotels index due to higher priced accommodation services.
The clothing and footwear index also saw an increase, mainly due to...
timesofmalta.com | 18-May-2012 00:00
Greece credit rating downgraded furtherFitch ratings agency downgraded debt-crippled Greece deeper into junk territory, warning of a "probable" Greek exit from the euro currency union if new national elections next month produce an anti-bailout government.
Fitch said it had cut Greece's rating by one notch, from B- to CCC, the lowest possible grade for a country that is not in default.
"The downgrade of Greece's sovereign ratings reflects the heightened risk that Greece may not be able to sustain its membership of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)," the agency said in a statement.
In addition to its acute financial woes, Greece has entered a protracted political crisis after elections on May 6 left no party with enough seats in parliament to govern alone, and nine days of hectic talks failed to reach a coalition deal.
The country is now headed for a new vote next month, most probably on June 17, and anti-austerity parties which recorded strong gains on May 6 are again expected to do well.
That has raised deep concerns that, if the new government reneges on Greece's austerity pledges, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could cut off the flow of bailout loans. Those rescue funds...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 21:27
Extensive rehabilitation of Villa Rundle Garden completed
Villa Rundle Garden in the heart of Victoria was reopened by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this evening after an extensive rehabilitation project.
In an address, Dr Gonzi noted how this project had benefited from EU funds and said other examples of EU funding could be seen in various aspects of Gozitan life.
Other examples, he said, included the investment on the roads, the Institute for Tourism Studies, incentives for job creation and for businesses, new Mcast facilities, and the new Żewwieqa Waterfront.
Dr Gonzi noted that the number of jobs in Gozo, had, thanks to this investment, increased by 9,100 since 2007.
He also pointed to investment in tourism facilities particularly diving, new waste management processes and incentives for the use of renewable energy sources.
The government, he said wanted to see Gozo as a place where the residents enjoyed a high standard of living, where more jobs were created and a destination which more people would visit.
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 20:00
Olympic flame handed to London
The Olympic Flame was handed over to London today.
David Beckham was at the ancient Panathenaic Stadium to help collect the flame and take it to the British capital.
The historic event took place in a rain-hit sundown ceremony at the stadium in Athens, venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896.
The flame has been handed over to London to host the Games for the third time since the birth of the Olympics - in 1908, 1948 and now 2012. No other city has staged the Games three times.
Despite the buzz triggered by the last-minute news that the LA Galaxy star and former England skipper was flying in specially to be part of the ancient ceremony, the more formal duties came down to the Princess Royal as leader of the British delegation to Athens.
Both she and Karolos Papoulias, the Hellenic Republic president, sat in ancient thrones that are part of the stadium during the hour-long ceremony.
The flame was handed to the Princess, who was watched closely by other members of the official delegation including London 2012 chairman Lord Coe, Olympics minister Hugh Robertson, London mayor Boris Johnson, Beckham and five British sporting teenagers.
Each member of the British VIP...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 19:00
Disco legend Donna Summer dead from cancer
Disco star Donna Summer has died aged 63, her publicist said.
A statement issued on behalf of her family hailed the singer, best known for hits including I Feel Love, as "a woman of many gifts".
She had been battling cancer.
The full statement read: "Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith.
"While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy. Words truly can't express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time."
Summer, who was born Donna Gaines in Boston, US, learned to sing in churchbefore fronting a series of bands and appearing in musicals.
Working as a session singer brought her into contact with producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte and together they established her as one of the biggest acts of the 1970s.
The extended 16-minute version of Love To Love You Baby was a huge hit in the clubs, but was banned from several radio stations because of her suggestive vocal style.
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 18:40
Eurovision: Kurt gets to know the other contestants
Malta's Eurovision star Kurt Calleja met other contestants who had their first rehearsal today, including Loreen, who will be representing Sweden with Euphoria, the representative of Georgia, Anri, who will sing I'm A Joker and Tooji, who will represent Norway with Stay.
As they chatted, Tooji and Kurt taught each other the main parts of the choreography of their respective songs.
Before meeting his competitors at the Press Centre, where he also gave birthday greetings to his greatest Eurovision friend Can Bonomo of Turkey, Kurt had an interview with Cosmopolitan (Azerbaijan).
Kurt is competing in position four during the second semi-final today week.
Besides Kurt, the Maltese Eurovision team also includes DJ and dancer Warren, main backing vocalist Amber, Christian the lead guitarist, Kevin the rhythm guitarist and Rebecca, the drummer and percussionist.
The band was invited to Ictimai TV yesterday evening to take part in a magazine programme. They discussed the Maltese entry and also the role of every member of the band.
Today started with a wardrobe trial for the Eurovision opening ceremony and welcome party, which will take place on May 19 at the Euroclub, a place that was...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 17:48
Prisoners end hunger strike
Prisoners in Division 13 have ended their hunger strike and are now eating again, the Prisons director said.
The prisoners were on a hunger strike because they expected privileges they were not entitled to, he said yesterday.
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 17:03
Court order for re-arrest of accused man found to be illegal
A man who is facing court proceedings for allegedly slightly injuring and harassing his girlfriend was today released from prison after a magistrate ruled that another court was wrong to have ordered his arrest.
Sean Grima, 23 of Cospicua, stands charged with slightly injuring, harassing and threatening his girlfriend.
On Thursday last week Mr Grima failed to turn up in court and once Magistrate Marseann Farrugia established that he had been properly notified, she ordered his re-arrest and the revocation of his bail. He was arrested on the same day in Kalkara and held at Corradino.
Yesterday, when the case continued, lawyers Andy Ellul and Vince Micallef pleaded that the arrest of the accused was illegal. They argued that he had to undergo due process before bail was revoked. He needed to be found guilty, by a separate court, of breaching bail conditions. Magistrate Farrugia, however, insisted that she was correct, and Mr Grima remained under arrest.
His lawyers then filed an application claimed habeas corpus (illegal arrest), which was heard before Magistrate Neville Camilleri this afternoon.
Police Inspector Anna Marie Micallef told the court that she, as...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 17:01
'Political union' call for EuropeGerman Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble today urged a move towards a political union in Europe as he was given an award for his efforts to steer the continent through its debt crisis.
The crisis must be used as a chance to strengthen Europe, including through a directly elected president of the EU's top executive body, the European Commission, to give the bloc a face and more political weight, Mr Schaeuble said.
"Europe's political unity must have a face and that face must represent a legitimate power," he said as he accepted the International Charlemagne Prize in the western German city of Aachen.
"We must now create a political union in Europe," he stressed, calling on policymakers to make the right decisions and think about strengthening the bloc's institutions.
But he warned that such a move cannot be achieved quickly, but must happen through a step-by-step approach.
"Compared to a revolution, evolution has many advantages, not least that it happens voluntarily and peacefully," he said.
Mr Schaeuble, 69, has been key to drafting Europe's response to the debt crisis as the finance minister of the bloc's biggest economy.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 16:51
Greek MPs take power - for one day
The 300 MPs elected in Greece's inconclusive May 6 ballot were sworn in today, including 21 from the right-wing Golden Dawn party.
Golden Dawn vehemently rejects the neo-Nazi label, insisting it is a nationalist patriotic party. But its meteoric rise from a largely marginalised party a few years ago to one that won nearly 7% in recent elections has alarmed many in Greece and in Europe.
The 21 MPs - 20 men and one woman - were the first to enter the main chamber of Parliament for the swearing-in ceremony.
The Golden Dawn ones refused to stand for the separate swearing-in of two Greek Muslim MPs who took their oaths on the Koran instead of on the Bible, remaining seated as the rest of the assembly stood.
"Beginning today Golden Dawn is officially in Parliament to speak the language of truth and to express all Greeks," said MP Ilias Kassidiaris.
The MPs will only be in power for one day. The May 6 election left no party with enough votes to form a government after Greeks furious over the handling of the country's financial crisis deserted the two formerly dominant parties, the socialists and conservatives, and turned instead to smaller groups to the right and...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 16:50
Court order for re-arrest of accused man found to be illegal
A man who is facing court proceedings for allegedly slightly injuring and harassing his girlfriend was today released from prison after a magistrate ruled that another court was wrong to have ordered his arrest.
Sean Grima, 23 of Cospicua, stands charged with slightly injuring, harassing and threatening his girlfriend.
On Thursday last week Mr Grima failed to turn up in court and once Magistrate Marseann Farrugia established that he had been properly notified, she ordered his re-arrest and the revocation of his bail. He was arrested on the same day in Kalkara and held at Corradino.
Yesterday, when the case continued, lawyers Andy Ellul and Vince Micallef pleaded that the arrest of the accused was illegal. They argued that he had to undergo due process before bail was revoked. He needed to be found guilty, by a separate court, of breaching bail conditions. Magistrate Farrugia, however, insisted that she was correct, and Mr Grima remained under arrest.
His lawyers then filed an application claimed haebus corpus (illegal arrest), which was heard before Magistrate Neville Camilleri this afternoon.
Police Inspector Anna Marie Micallef told the court that she, as prosecutor, had not...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 16:48
Libyan accused of the attempted murder of 'friend'
A Libyan man who evaded the police for several months, was taken to court today and accused of the attempted murder of his friend on November 5.
Mohammed Zweit was accused of having stabbed Musa Ali Farag El Tuba after the two had been drinking together.
The victim managed to stagger to Qawra police station, where he lost consciousness.
He managed to pull through after emergency surgery at Mater Dei Hospital, after which he told the police what had happened.
Bail was refused after the court heard how the accused - who is in Malta on an expired visa - had changed his address repeatedly since the incident in an attempt to evade the police. He had also contacted the victim, asking him to drop the case.
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 16:27
Mepa proposes to extend power station IPPC permit as more monitoring is needed
Mepa said today that the IPPC permit for the operation of the Delimara power station using heavy fuel oil needs to be extended by six months to enable independent monitors to carry out their work. It has therefore issued a public consultation document.
In a statement, the Authority explained that it had approved the IPPC permit on December 5, authorising the operation of the Delimara Power Station Extension (DPSE) using heavy fuel oil (HFO).
The permit conditions required Enemalta to carry out ambient air monitoring, and stipulated that this data was to be assessed by an independent air quality consultant appointed by a Monitoring Committee set up for this purpose. The committee was chaired by Mepa and included a representative of the four local councils (Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga, Zejtun and Ghaxaq) and a representative of EneMalta.
It had been proposed that ambient air monitoring data would be analysed before the decided whether HFO could continue to be used, or whether the operation of the power station would be restricted to the use of gasoil. The IPPC permit required this decision to be taken by the Authority by no later than September 2012.
The Air Quality Management Resource...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 16:16
Spain falls into recession amid fears of eurozone bank run
Spain tumbled into recession and European stock markets and the euro fell today as Greece installed a crisis government to tackle its crippling debt, EU leaders prepared for talks and analysts raised the spectre of a run on eurozone banks.
"Markets are worried about eurozone bank deposit runs and an escalating banking crisis," London-based VTB Capital economist Neil MacKinnon told AFP.
Heavy withdrawals of deposits have been reported in Greece and Spain, and top European Union leaders were to hold a videoconference later in the day.
They were initially to discuss an upcoming G8 meeting of industrialised countries but were now faced with a serious deterioration of the situations in Greece and elsewhere across the eurozone.
A caretaker government took office in Athens today to organise its second election in six weeks after an inconclusive May 6 vote as fears over its possible euro exit rocked Spain and Italy.
The election left Greece in limbo and the new poll on June 17 offers no guarantee of a viable government able to implement an EU-IMF bailout which has divided the country.
Meanwhile, Europe's single currency nosedived to a four-month low at $1.2667.
"Confidence in...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 16:06
Wind fans grass fire in Marsascala
A large grass fire at Marsascala valley (Il-Magħluq) kept fire-fighters busy this afternoon.
The alarm was raised at about 1.45 and four fire-engines were deployed by the Civil Protection Department as the flames were fanned by the wind.
Pictures: Aaron Cauchi - mynews@timesofmalta.com
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 15:32
The Mother HoodsCondescending colonialists. Professional narcissists. Phrases that could only come from Erica Jong’s pen, dipped in vitriol, when used to describe, respectively, Angelina Jolie and Madonna, and William and Martha Sears.
Jong forgets that there are some people who do actually adopt children of ethnicity different from their own simply because it was their only option.
And then, of course, there is Liz Hurley, who tries to play Mommy Dearest to Simone Callahan‘s children, and even boasts that they call her Mummy Two - knowing full well that this will be quoted in the press and hurt her new boyfriend’s ex-wife to the quick.
Each family makes the best bread pudding and rabbit stew. And likewise, each family has the best parenting methods that, if emulated by the rest of humanity, would create a perfect world.
It seems that each month, a section of the media concocts a new mountain chain out of an old molehill; in order to generate attention on the way it covers this self-same massif better than the rivals who may follow suit.
Column inches and pseudo-debates run toe-to-heel… until the next topic crops up, and all is – almost – forgotten.
So we have a cover of a newsmagazine...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 15:17
Actual health status worse than people perceive it to be
A European pilot study in which Malta has taken part has exposed a major difference in what people believe to be true about their health to what the actual situation is.
For the respondents of this study did not only answer the questions – they were also examined.
The European Health Examination Survey pilot study 2010 was held in 13 EU countries. The feasibility of carrying it out across the EU will now be considered.
221 people over 18 were interviewed and examined in Malta, where a similar pilot study had been held in 1984.
The participating countries have now issued their reports, which will now be gathered in a comparative one.
The survey looked at the participants' blood pressure, sugar level, body mass index, cholesterol and, in the case of Malta, the amount of lead in the blood, vision and lung function.
Malta's results for body mass index showed that the Maltese are becoming heavier.
The number of people with normal weight dropped from 32.4 per cent in 1984 to 23 per cent in 2010, while those who were overweight increased from 45.5 per cent in 1984 to 47.2 per cent in 2010 and the obese from 22.1 per cent to 29.6 per cent.
Only 21.4 per cent of women admitted they were...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 15:16
11 dogs being used as the prisons - Ministry
Uodated -
The Home Affairs Ministry said this evening that 11 dogs are being used at the prisons, of which six springers and a labrador are used exclusively to detect drugs.
The ministry was replying to remarks by Labour’s home affairs spokesman, Michael Falzon, who said that despite the drugs problem at the prisons, the authorities did not have a single sniffer dog there.
The ministry said Dr Falzon was obviously misinformed about the situation at the prisons.
The dogs, it said were being used effectively to detect attempts by people to take drugs into the prisons, including four who were caught in the past month alone.
Speaking at a press conference today, Dr Falzon said the prison was in a state of "chaos as usual".
He said prisoners were still waiting for the introduction of parole and no structures were in place yet. Meanwhile, prisoners with a known history of drug abuse were being given free rein at the prison once more.
Dr Falzon, who gave a press conference in response to the one given by Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici yesterday, said the drug problem had 'exploded' once again. When asked to provide evidence for his claim, he refused to elaborate.
"Wait till...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 14:46
PM's statement, documents published
The Office of the Prime Minister today published the full text of the statement given by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday before the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.
It also published all other documents mentioned by Dr Gonzi, including a US document leaked by Wikileaks and notes of November 2004 meetings taken by (then) Major Martin Xuereb.
The documents can be read by clicking on the pdf documents below.
The Foreign Affairs Committee was discussing an Opposition motion to censure Ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana for having , it was alleged, held talks on renewing Malta's membership of Partnership for Peace behind Parliament's back, claims which the government rejects.
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 14:38
Share prices of the three local banks declineThe declines in the share prices of all the three local banks this morning sent the MSE Share Index down 0.6% to 2,965.854 points despite the 2.6% rise in the share price of GO plc.
The equity of Lombard Bank Malta plc continued on its downward path for the third consecutive day as the bank's share price shed 2.1% to a new 76-month low of €2.30 on volumes of 5,872 shares.
The recent decline in Lombard's equity is possibly a result of the sharp drop in profits registered at Maltapost plc during the first half of their financial year. MaltaPost is a subsidiary of Lombard Bank.
Increased activity was registered the equity of Bank of Valletta plc as all outstanding bids at the €2.10 level were satisfied. A total of 71,506 shares traded today across 22 deals. The equity of BOV closed the day marginally lower at €2.10.
On the other hand, only 8,910 HSBC Bank Malta plc shares traded with the price dropping back to the 2012 low of €2.50.
Last Friday, HSBC published its interim directors' statement covering the performance since the start of the year. The statement revealed that the HSBC Malta Group returned a solid performance mainly due to the improved profitability in the life insurance...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 14:32
Court rejects claim for rehearing because of bomb hoax
A court today threw out a man's request for his case to be reheard after finding that it was not true that a bomb scare at the courts on January 30 had led to the case being cancelled from the list of case to be heard on that day.
Charles Farrugia had lodged a court case against Mariella Azzopardi last year. He told the court last January 30 he arrived at the Law Courts building at 9am only to be told that there was a bomb scare and that the building had to be evacuated.
According to Mr Farrugia, his case had been called to be heard but, as neither he nor his lawyer were present, the case was cancelled and struck off the list of cases to be heard.
He requested the First Hall of the Civil Court to revoke the decision whereby his case had been cancelled on the basis that there had been a valid reason for his not having been present
Mr Justice Mark Checuti said that the court had cancelled Mr Farrugia's case on the basis of section 199(3) of the Code of Civil Procedure. This stipulated that the court could order the cancellation of a case if the parties to the suit or their lawyers failed to appear after being summoned three times.
The party whose case was cancelled was entitled, on...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 14:04
Wish you were here?
This was the scene as photographed by a reader at Cirkewwa this morning, withthe wind creating a dust storm from the site of the new terminal building, whichis under construction.mynews@timesofmalta.com
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 12:05
GM to build new Astra in the UK
General Motors Co will build the next generation of its Astra compact in Britain after workers at its factory in Ellesmere Port, northwest England, overwhelmingly agreed to a new labour deal, leaving its plant in Bochum, Germany in danger of closure.
The U.S. carmaker said it would invest 125 million pounds ($199 million) in the Ellesmere Port plant, where assembly of the new vehicle will start in 2015.
Britain's Unite union said 94 percent of those balloted voted in favour of changes to working conditions and that some 700 jobs would be created at the plant, securing its future until 2020.
"It's almost certain that one of GM's German plants will now be closed, probably the plant in Bochum," a source close to the negotiations said.
GM, which sells under the Vauxhall brand in Britain, is expected to halt production of the Astra, its most important model, at its main plant in Russelsheim, Germany, making the car only at Ellesmere Port and at Poland's Gliwice plant from 2015.
The source added that some production of GM's Chevrolet marque could be shifted from Asia to Europe, with Russelsheim the likely beneficiary. This would leave the Opel factory at Bochum as the most likely site...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 11:52
Emphasis on local councils in new draft Cultural Heritage Strategy
The government has published the draft of a revised National Cultural Heritage Strategy, with the emphasis being on enhancing the role of local councils in the care and promotion of cultural heritage found in their localities.
Local councils already organise many cultural activities but the draft strategy will seek to improve this even more, explained Superintendent of Cultural Heritage Antony Pace.
The State of the Heritage Report for 2011, showed that out of the 722 cultural activities organised last year, 451 were organised by local councils, deputy Superintendent Nathaniel Cutajar explained.
Both men spoke during the seventh national forum on cultural heritage organised this morning at the Mediterranean Conference Center in Valletta.
Culture Minister Mario de Marco spoke about the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations. He recalled that in 2006 the government had launched the first national strategy for cultural heritage which was to be updated every five years.
Today, the draft of the second version was being launched for consultation.
Dr Borg, who explained the content of the draft, said it stressed on the ...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 11:43
Iran threat to sue Google over nameIran says it will sue Google over dropping the name of the Persian Gulf on Google Maps.
The threat comes after the search engine left the stretch of water between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula nameless on its online map service.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says that if Google does not restore the name of the Persian Gulf, it will face "serious damages".
Tehran has already warned Google of possible legal action, he said.
Iranians are highly sensitive about the name of the body of water, which has historically and internationally been known as the Persian Gulf.
Some Arab states insist on calling it the Arabian Gulf. The issue has stirred up tensions between Iranians and Arabs.
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 11:34
HSBC Group turnaround on target, sees revenue boostThe HSBC group has doubled the annual revenue boost expected from its turnaround plan to $2 billion, as Europe's biggest bank targets emerging markets and cost cuts costs to lead its battle to recover from the financial crisis and cope with new regulations.
Chief executive Stuart Gulliver said today that, one year into the three-year plan, HSBC was on target to meet profitability and cost savings targets.
Gulliver said his biggest external worry "is absolutely how the euro zone plays out and whether Greece stays in ... and, frankly, whether markets take things into their own hands before June 17 (Greek elections)."
HSBC, which makes over three-quarters of its profit outside Europe and north America, coped better in the crisis than many rivals, helped by its strength in fast-growing Asian markets.
It is now facing the same regulatory pressure as competitors to reduce its risks and has conceded it has more work to do to revive its lagging European and U.S. businesses.
"Investors have been sceptical about our ability to get our hands around HSBC. The scepticism was about anybody's ability to move such a large firm and change its direction," Gulliver told reporters on a conference...
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 11:22
Big names in suspense as Spain announces Euros squad
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has announced a preliminary line-up for the Euro 2012 but many big names including injured David Villa remain in suspense.
AFP TV reports
timesofmalta.com | 17-May-2012 11:16