timesofmalta.com

PM suggests European Commission likely to impose excessive deficit procedure on Malta

Mark Micallef, Brussels — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:32:00 +0200

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat strongly suggested this afternoon that the European Commission will likely issue excessive deficit procedures against Malta over its failure to keep its deficit below the EU threshold last year. Whether or not the Commission would be taking the action was now a "matter of semantics", Dr Muscat said at a press conference this afternoon. However, he said that the meetings with the Commission were "realistic and positive" adding that he was confident that with the government's present plan Malta's deficit would be brought back down to below three per cent. Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said yesterday that he had had a phone conversation with the EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olii Rhen on Tuesday and he complained that Malta was not being believed in its arguments - a situation for which he blamed the previous government for not keeping commitments made to the EU. (see http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130521/local/scicluna-says-malta-not-being-believed-in-talks-to-avoid-excessive-deficit-procedure.470677 ) The government had previously said that it was negotiating with the Commission to avoid the procedures, which will mean...

Restored Russian Chapel at San Anton Palace inaugurated

Sarah Carabott — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:30:00 +0200

President George Abela this evening inaugurated the restored Russian Chapel at San Anton Palace in Attard. The chapel has served Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic denominations. Designed by General Sir George Whitmore, the 19th century chapel was constructed for Protestant worship. When Queen Victoria's second son, Alfred Ernest Albert was stationed in Malta with his wife Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, they took up residence at San Anton Palace, and the chapel was adapted for the religious requirements of the Grand Duchess, who was a Russian Orthodox Christian. Nowadays, Catholic mass is celebrated every Sunday at 9am. The restoration of the chapel took more than a year and was supported by Snezhana and Eugene Bodishtianu who have been in Malta for the past 18 years, and manage a Russian boarding school. A series of 16th century Russian icons will be on display for the public for the coming two weeks between 9am and 6pm.

Architect appointed Freeport chairman

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:17:00 +0200

Robert Sarsero, an architect, has been appointed chairman of the Freeport. The other directors are Mario Grima and Ronnie Pellegrini. Mr Pellegrini is a manager at the GWU's printing company and was a former aide to the notorious 1980s Labour Minister Lorry Sant.

Court prohibits developers from building more than two storeys above ground floor

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:59:00 +0200

A court has upheld an application filed by the Augustinians against BCD Projects Ltd and Jesmond Bonello requesting the issue of a warrant of prohibitory injunction against respondents. The court was requested to prohibit respondents from continuing with the construction of a four-storey block and penthouse in Marina Street, Pieta, which would impinge on servitude they enjoyed. BCD Projects and Mr Bonello submitted that no such servitude existed and that the Augustinians were misinterpreting the contract in terms of which they had purchased the property. On examination of the contract, signed in 1965, the court found that the servitude did exist and that it was also mentioned in more recent contracts. The court therefore prohibited respondents from building more than two storeys above the ground floor.

timesofmalta.com service returning to normal

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:28:00 +0200

The possible cyber-attack on the timesofmalta.com's servers yesterday evening has been reported to the Police Cyber Crimes Unit for investigation. A company spokeswoman said: “Our site and servers were never touched and our security was not breached. No data has been compromised. We suffered what is referred to as a distributive denial of service and, due to security protocols, the website was shut down.” The spokeswoman said that the site’s IP address had to be changed to bring the site back. “Times of Malta contacted all local service providers (ISPs) and MITA for them to flush their DNS so as to be able to recognise our new IP address. “Private companies with their own domain name resolution servers will also need to refresh their DNS. All local users, therefore, should be able to enjoy uninterrupted access to our website. “Overseas users may experience some further delays until their ISPs refresh their DNS, something that normally happens at the most within every 48 hours.” Times of Malta thanked its readers for their patience and understanding.

Cloud of fine dust envelops Malta

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:27:00 +0200

A dust cloud enveloped Malta today, significantly reducing visibility. The dust was blown towards Malta from North Africa by a strong south-westerly wind, which, the Met Office said, is expected to get stronger during the night. Flight operations at Malta International Airport were not affected, and an Austrian Airlines flight to Tripoli was diverted to Malta because of a sand storm there. Pictures above and below show the reduced visibility across Grand Harbour. Graph by Maltaweathersite.com.

Gianluca's Tomorrow in BBC's Top 40

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:15:00 +0200

Malta’s Eurovision participant Gianluca Bezzina has made it to the BBC’s Top 40 UK Singles list with his song Tomorrow. Gianluca entered the charts in 37th place, three places ahead of Psy's new single Gentleman. In the contest, the UK awarded Gianluca seven points. Malta placed eighth in last Saturday's event with a total of 120 points, its best result since 2005. The BBC’s Top 40 UK Singles list is led by Naughty Boy with La La La followed by Daft Punk with Get Lucky and Passenger with Let Her Go.

Updated: 10 Gozo Channel employees charged with stealing thousands of euros

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:58:00 +0200

Ten Gozo Channel cafeteria workers were this afternoon charged with stealing thousands of euros in cash from the tills between 2007 and earlier this month, when they were caught. James Joseph Muscat, 35, of Xaghra, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €4,000. The other nine, who pleaded guilty, were placed on probation for three years and ordered to pay the money back once the amount stolen is established. They are Paul Said, 55, of Qala; Anthony Mercieca, 47, of Xewkija; Alexander Cini, 40, of Żebbuġ; Joseph Azzopardi, 35, of Għajnsielem; Herman Mifsud, 35, of Għajnsielem; Lee-Anne Portelli, 34, of Victoria; Sara Buttigieg, 32, of Sannat; Dery Joseph Gauci, 31, of Kercem; and Darren Xerri, 29, of Ghajnsielem. Ms Buttigieg was also charged with breaching the conditions of a previous release. Investigations into how much money was stolen are ongoing.

PN concerned that government is undermining Malta's economic credibility

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:36:00 +0200

The Nationalist Party today expressed concern that the government is undermining Malta's credibility and thus harming the economy. In a statement following comments made by the finance minister at the parliamentary economic affairs committee yesterday (see http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130521/local/scicluna-says-malta-not-being-believed-in-talks-to-avoid-excessive-deficit-procedure.470677 ) the PN noted that Prof Scicluna in his budget speech had expressed confidence that Malta would not be put under an excessive deficit procedure despite the deficit having risen beyond three per cent. But Prof Scicluna beat the retreat yesterday and admitted that the European Commission had reacted negatively to the government's decision to retain the budget while raising the deficit projection, and without taking corrective action. It was especially worrying, the PN said, that the government had no plan to address the country's economic problems. It was this which was undermining Malta's credibility and thus harming the economy, the PN said.

Sleep chore-ing

Press Association — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:30:00 +0200

A mum has developed a bizarre condition in which she cleans and tides the house in her sleep, The Sun reports. Claire Bartlett, 50, of Newport, south Wales, does the dishes, dusts and even shines the windows in a deep slumber. The odd habit started last October but because she does such a good job neither she or her husband Crispin, 63, want to find a cure. She said: "I think it's every housewife's dream and every husband's. I don't feel tired afterwards. If anything, I'm relieved when I wake up and everything is done. This happens about three times a week."

Mario Vella appointed Malta Enterprise chairman

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:16:00 +0200

Dr Mario Vella, an economist and former president of the Labour Party has, as expected, been appointed chairman of Malta Enterprise. He has been effectively running ME since the end of March. William Wait is the deputy chairman while the members are Anton Borg, Michael Grech, Peter Borg, David Marinelli, Victor Carachi and Marlene Seychell. David Curmi is the representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The GRTU still has to make its nomination. The appointments were made by Chris Cardona, minister for the economy, who also appointed Tony Zahra as chairman of the Malta Industrial Parks board. The members are Joshua Zammit, Michael Vella Haber, Anita Mangion and Jeremy Dalli.

Lucky escape as floor caves in at abandoned property

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:51:00 +0200

A section of the ground floor of an abandoned property in St Julian's collapsed into the basement this afternoon. The incident happened at about 3pm at Tal-Kirxa hill. Informed sources said a person who called to check the property was lucky to escape unhurt.

FBI kills Florida man with suspected ties to Boston bomb suspect

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:11:00 +0200

An FBI agent shot and killed a Florida man with suspected links to the Boston Marathon bombings early today, NBC News reported. NBC said the suspect was being questioned and was originally cooperative, but was fatally shot after attacking the agent. The Orlando Sentinel said a friend had identified the dead man as 27-year-old Ibragim Todashev of Orlando. The newspaper quoted the friend, Khusn Taramiv, as saying Todashev was being investigated as part of the Boston bombings and knew bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev because both were mixed martial-arts fighters. Reuters could not immediately reach the FBI for comment. FBI spokesman Dave Couvertier told the Sentinel that "the agent encountered the suspect while conducting official duties," but did not confirm the dead man's identify nor any link to the Boston bombings. Tsarnaev, 26, died in a gunfight with police. His brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was found hiding in a boat in Watertown, Massachusetts, four days after the April 15 blasts, which killed three people and injured 264 others at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, was shot in the throat before his capture and is being held in a prison hospital...

Silver coffee pot could set $6 mln record at auction

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:10:00 +0200

An 18th century silver Rococo coffee pot is expected to become the most valuable piece of English silver ever sold at auction when it goes up for sale in July, auction house Christie's said. The ornate George II pot made in 1738 by one of the greatest silversmiths of his day, Paul de Lamerie, is expected to fetch up to 4.5 million pounds ($6.8 million) when it goes to auction on July 4 in London, Christie's said. That sale would trump the silver wine cistern of 18th century diplomat Thomas Wentworth, which sold for 2.5 million pounds in 2010 but went instead to a British museum which won time to raise funds when the government deferred export approval. "He (Lamerie) is the greatest name in English silver," said James Lomax, retired curator at Temple Newsam House in northern England which eventually bought the Wentworth piece. The fluted three-legged pot is decorated with silver reliefs, including "putti" - cherub-like figures - holding coffee bush branches, a lion's mask, shells and foliage. It has a carved wooden handle. The pot has a history which celebrates the rise of coffee's popularity in England and the Protestant Huguenot exile community who fled to Britain from...

Updated: PL accuses Busuttil of hiding the truth on ministerial pay raise and refunds

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:55:00 +0200

The Nationalist Party this evening insisted that ministers and parliamentary secretaries had paid back all that former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had said they would in Parliament on January 19, 2011. It was replying to a statement issued by the Labour Party earlier today accusing PN leader Simon Busuttil of not having told the truth during the electoral campaign when he knew that the then ministers and parliamentary secretaries had not fully refunded the pay raises they had received. The PL said that during the campaign, Dr Busuttil sought to hide the facts about the 'scandalous raise' the Nationalist ministers had been given. Despite repeated questions, he did not publish information on what had been refunded. Now it had been revealed that the ministers and parliamentary secretaries received a total raise of €1.6m and only refunded €300,000, meaning they pocketed a raise of €1.3 million. This meant that the claim during the campaign that the raise had been refunded was a lie and Dr Busuttil knew this, the PL said. It showed how he had not learnt anything from the way how the raise was given behind the people's back, while power and water tariffs were being raised for the...

Stockholm riots spread to districts

PA — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:35:00 +0200

Gangs of youths have smashed shop windows, set cars ablaze and burnt down a cultural centre as riots that started in one Stockholm suburb after a fatal police shooting spread to other low-income areas of the Swedish capital. Police said seven people were briefly detained and one person was arrested on suspicion of arson of a cultural centre housed in a 19th century building. A spokesman said 30 vehicles were set on fire in six suburbs where mainly immigrants live. Gangs of up to 60 youths also set fire to a school and a nursery and hurled rocks at police and fire fighters. The unrest began on Sunday in response to the May 13 shooting, in which police killed a 69-year-old, knife-wielding man in a north-western suburb.

Octogenarians race in Everest duel

PA — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:33:00 +0200

An 80-year-old Japanese extreme skier who just missed becoming the oldest man to reach the summit of Mount Everest five years ago is back on the mountain to make another attempt at the title. Unfortunately for him, the slightly older man who nabbed the record a day before he could in 2008 is fast on his heels. Today, Yuichiro Miura was already in the oxygen-deficient "death zone" and hoped to reach the 8,848 metres summit tomorrow. His 81-year-old Nepalese rival Min Bahadur Sherchan was at the base camp preparing for his own attempt on the summit later this week. On his expedition's website, Mr Miura says he hopes a successful climb will raise the bar for what is possible.

Ukraine PM bars reporters from government meetings after protest

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:44:00 +0200

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov ordered a dozen local reporters to be barred from covering government meetings after they staged a silent protest on Wednesday over physical attacks on journalists at a rally. "What kind of show is this?" Azarov said when reporters who were attending a cabinet meeting stepped in front of television cameras, turning their backs on Azarov and his colleagues. Signs pinned to their backs read: "Today it's a female journalist (beaten up), tomorrow - your wife, sister, daughter. Do something!" The reporters were members of a journalists' pool that is allowed to attend weekly meetings at government headquarters. Azarov said they should be kicked out of it. "Write down their names and revoke their accreditation," he said to his aides. "We respect journalists' work but please do not turn government meetings into a circus." The reporters were protesting over attacks on two local journalists that took place when supporters and opponents of President Viktor Yanukovich clashed briefly during rallies in Kiev on Saturday. The journalists attacked say they were beaten by Yanukovich's supporters. Police are investigating the allegations but opposition...

Weather stations warn of strong gale, high waves

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:33:00 +0200

The MIA Met Office and maltaweathersite, a private meteorological weather station, have warned of a strong gale and high waves tonight. The MIA Met Office said a Force 6 wind (30 know gusts) is expected for the rest of the day and may rise to Force seven tonight. maltaweathersite said an intense low pressure system over southern Italy and higher pressure over northern Africa is creating a strong airflow over the Maltese Islands. The wind is already a strong Force 6 gusting Force 8 from a south-westerly direction. It said it is expected to increase to a very strong Gale Force 8 gusting Force 9 from a West to WNW direction overnight. The wind will then weaken gradually tomorrow from Force 7 to Force 6. The site warned that the rough sea will be dangerous for boats sailing or berthed along the western coast of Malta and Gozo. The weather over the next 24 hours is expected to be mostly clear to partly cloudy with a high of around 25C today. Tomorrow’s high will be cooler at just 22C.

AG to be involved in votes recount cases

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:00 +0200

A court this morning decided that the Attorney General should be a party in a case instituted by the Nationalist Party where it demanded a recount of the votes cast in the eighth and thirteen districts in the general election. Justice Jacqueline Padovani said the Attorney General should be a party in the case to safeguard state interests. The PN had argued that the Attorney General should not be involved while the Electoral Commission requested that the AG be called into the proceedings. The PN, said its complaint was with the commission and not the Executive, to which the Attorney General was answerable. The issue revolves around two mistakes in the counting process. A packet of 50 votes for PN candidate Claudette Buttigieg (née Pace) was transferred to PN candidate Michael Asciak, who got eliminated resulting in the election of Labour’s Edward Scicluna instead. In another alleged mistake, 10 votes belonging to PN candidate Frederick Azzopardi went missing, helping Labour’s Justyne Caruana get elected. The mistakes, which are not being contested, would not have made a difference as such human errors are taken into account through well-researched mathematical formulae, the...