timesofmalta.com

Large crowd waits to welcome Gianluca

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:41:00 +0200

A large crowd of people has turned up at the airport to give a hero's welcome to Gianluca Bezzina following his eighth place at the Eurovision Song Contest yesterday. Many are carrying Maltese flags, balloons, pictures of the singer and autograph books. He is due to return accompanied by the Maltese delegation.

Burmarrad apartment damaged in blaze

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:47:00 +0200

An apartment in Burmarrad was badly damaged by a fierce fire this morning. Eyewitnesses said they could see flames from the windows and balcony of the property, which was empty at the time. Much of the furniture inside was destroyed. The blaze happened at the time of a power cut and the restoration of the power supply. The blaze was put out by Civil Protection Department fire-fighters.

North Korea fires short-range missiles for two days in a row

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:37:00 +0200

North Korea fired a short-range missile from its east coast today, a day after launching another three of these missiles, a South Korean news agency said. Launches by the North of short-range missiles are not uncommon but, after recent warnings from the communist state of impending nuclear war, such actions have raised concerns about the region's security. "North Korea fired a short-range missile as it did yesterday into its east sea in the afternoon, " South Korea's news agency Yonhap reported, citing a military official. A South Korean defence ministry official confirmed the Yonhap report, but did not provide any details. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was concerned about North Korea's launch of short-range missiles, urging Pyonyang to refrain from further launches and return to stalled nuclear talks with world powers. Ban, who spoke to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti during a visit to Moscow, called Saturday's launch a "provocative action". Tension on the Korean peninsula has subsided in the past month, having run high for several weeks after the United Nations Security Council imposed tougher sanctions against Pyongyang following its third nuclear test in...

‘I trust everyone and no one’

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:29:00 +0200

He runs a vast portfolio that will be largely responsible for giving the Labour government its visible deliverables. Transport Minister Joe Mizzi tells Kurt Sansone why he is the hands-on type. Soon after becoming minister you said administrative delays had stalled the work on some large projects and EU funds risked being lost. Which are these projects? There were various projects that ran such a risk but we wanted to understand the problems and try to find solutions. We are still in the process of salvaging the EU funds and this is not the right time to identify the affected projects before we have a clearer picture. One such project was the underpass being built on Marsa’s December 13 road. We are going to meet the deadline. Another project is the storm water tunnels. There were problems with this project but we solved most of them. So EU funds will not be lost? If we solved most problems then there will be no massive loss of funds as was going to happen. But I still believe we will deliver on time. Will these projects be also delivered within budget? Our aim is to deliver the projects within budget but with some we will have problems. There are certain capital projects we have...

Maritime Day events include pollution control demonstration

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:28:00 +0200

Several public activities, including an Open Day and re-enactments at the Maritime Museum, are being held today to mark European Maritime Day. Other events included an oil pollution response exercise/demonstration in Grand Harbour which involved Tug Malta and other units. Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth Edward Zammit Lewis officially opened the events at the Upper Barrakka Gardens where he presented prizes to participants in competitions related to European Maritime Day. He said the purpose of Maritime Day was to highlight the importance of the sea for Europe and for Malta. A major conference will be held in Malta this week, bringing together representatives of all European member states and neighbouring countries to discuss maritime issues. Dr Zammit Lewis said Malta is considering the possibility of preparing a National Integrated Maritime Policy through a National Integration Maritime Strategy, with a particular emphasis of increasing the potential for quality jobs and economic growth in the maritime sector.

Calleja: The day will come when a Maltese lifts the Eurovision trophy

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:50:00 +0200

Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja believes the day will come when a Maltese will lift the Eurovision trophy. Writing in his blog, Malta's most successful singer, Calleja said that Malta had a brilliant song yesterday, and it was delivered impeccably, yet Malta did not win. "No doubt there will be many who will cry foul, bring up the unfair issue of neighbourly cross voting and insist on having Malta withdraw from future contests." Whether it is in the office or on stage cross voting is a common and normal factor that has to catered for and dealt with in the long road of realising one's goal, he said. The road to success will be constantly besieged by factions, jealousy, envy, loyalties, nepotism or downright corruption. "Multiple spokes in the wheels are not only the norm but they are to be expected and dealt with. Indeed I view these acts of cheekiness as adding to one's achievement and a sad reminder that human nature can sometimes be petty and small minded." To those who felt that Malta should stop competing in the Eurovision, Mr Calleja said his reply was that form of “tomfoolery” would always be present and could really be avoided. It was the marking of true, real talent to...

Small fire at PN club contained

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:41:00 +0200

A small fire on the balcony of the PN club in San Gwann was extinguished early this morning by fire-fighters. Fire engines were called at about 2 a.m. A barbeque was held there a few hours earlier.

‘PN must learn from its mistakes – including me’

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:30:00 +0200

Nationalist deputy leadership contender Beppe Fenech Adami is unshaken by the party’s decision to split the position. He also tells Christian Peregin the time for absolute truths is over. You announced your intention to become PN deputy leader before the leader was chosen. Was this tactical? No. When Lawrence Gonzi said he would not seek re-election, I was approached by a number of people to contest the leadership. I pondered on the idea but read the times well and realised I would be of more use to the party as deputy leader. Why do you say you read the times well? Why wouldn’t you have made a good leader? I’m not saying that. But at this moment in time I thought I would be utilised better as deputy leader. With great humility, I would say, I could have contested for the post of leadership and probably delivered too. Do you rule out contesting for leadership in the future? In politics you get used to not ruling anything out. At this moment I have decided to contest the deputy leadership. I made my intentions very clear, before the leadership contest or the call for nominations. Did you want to make sure the elected leader could not handpick his own deputy leader? That’s...

Bombers target Benghazi Catholic Church - minister expresses solidarity

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:02:00 +0200

Foreign Minister George Vella has expressed his solidarity with the Catholic community in Benghazi and Maltese priests and diplomats in the region after a bomb exploded outside the main door of the Catholic Church in Benghazi on Friday night. The bomb went off at around 11.30 pm shattering several glass windows on the opposite side of the narrow road and also several windows in the building adjacent to the church, housing the priests. Dr Vella phoned Malta's consul in Benghazi, Joe Pirotta,to offer his support. The Maltese consulate is the only one representing an EU country in Benghazi. Dr Vella thanked all Maltese diplomats for their service, while calling for increased vigilance. Dr Vella also spoke to Fr Alan Castillo, a Filipino priest who assists Maltese Bishop Mgr Sylvester Magro. Mgr Magro was away from the country, attending a conference in Spain, on Friday. Fr Castillo said that Church repair work will be done by a Maltese man who lives near Benghazi. Dr Vella said the situation in Libya was a matter of concern. He said the Maltese government condemned all violence and would redouble its efforts to contribute to peace and stability in the country.

Migrant was ‘severely humiliated’ on a bus

Ivan Martin — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:00:00 +0200

The African man who was dragged off a bus by two Arriva employees was scared and humiliated, a witness has told The Sunday Times of Malta. Malicia Dabrowicz, a 33-year-old Polish expat, was returning home to St Julian’s when she heard the “threatening voice” of an Arriva employee, verbally abusing a passenger in the back compartment of a bendy bus travelling along route 13 towards Paceville. Arriva said last Thursday it was carrying out an internal investigation following media reports that an African man was dragged off a bus and insulted by inspectors. The employee, a stocky man with “an aggressive disposition”, hurled insults at the petrified immigrant, according to the witness. “Everyone on the bus was scared. I saw one controller dragging the man to the front of the bus by his clothes, while the second stared the other passengers down,” the witness told this newspaper. An Arriva spokesman said CCTV footage indicated there was no physical contact between the two parties at any point and the passenger got off the bus of his own accord after being asked to leave. Ms Dabrowicz insisted that although the passenger had not been “punched square in the face” he was threatened and...

Thrilled Gianluca may seek Eurovision return, but not next year

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:34:00 +0200

Gianluca Bezzina was thrilled last night after Malta placed eighth in the Eurovision Song Contest, the best result since 2005 when Chiara came second. He told Eurovision.tv after the show that he just loved the atmosphere on stage. When asked whether he would seek to return he replied that he would, but maybe not as soon as next year. Gianluca, who sang Tomorrow, was fourth in the second semi-final on Thursday. The singer and his band as well as a PBS delegation, return to Malta this afternoon at 3.40 on a flight from Frankfurt. See the reactions of the various singers, including Gianluca, above.

Winning ticket for $590.5 million Powerball lottery sold in Florida

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:25:00 +0200

A single winning ticket for a record U.S. Powerball lottery jackpot worth $590.5 million was sold in Florida, organizers said last night, but there was no immediate word about who won or where in the state the ticket was bought. The winning numbers were: 10, 13, 14, 22 and 52, with a Powerball number of 11, and the odds of winning were put at one in 175 million. The grand prize, accumulated after two months of drawings, surpassed the previous record Powerball payoff of $587.5 million, set in November 2012, but fell short of the $600 million sum lottery officials had been advertising. Organizers had said the final jackpot total could end up slightly higher or lower than expected depending on final sales reported by all 43 participating states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The largest jackpot in U.S. history stands at $656 million, won in the Mega Millions lottery of March 2012. That prize was split between winners in Maryland, Kansas and Illinois. The Multi-State Lottery Association, based in Iowa, announced Saturday's Powerball results in a brief message on its website, saying, "There was one winner sold by the Florida Lottery for the last drawing's...

Iran hangs two spies 'working for Israel and the US'

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:22:00 +0200

Iranian authorities have executed two men convicted of working for Israeli and USspy agencies, Iran's Fars news agency reported. Mohammad Heidari, accused of passing security-related information and secrets to Israeli Mossad agents in exchange for money, and Kourosh Ahmadi, accused of gathering information for the US Central Intelligence Agency, were hanged at dawn, it said. The sentence for their execution was handed down by Tehran's Revolutionary Court and confirmed by the country's Supreme Court. The report did not say when the pair were arrested nor when their trial took place. Iran has in the past said it had successfully detected and dismantled spy networks operating inside the country. It has blamed the assassinations of scientists associated with its disputed nuclear programme on Western spy agencies, especially Mossad. The United States has denied any role in the killings. Israel has not commented.

Press digest

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:16:00 +0200

The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press. The Sunday Times reports that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has defended President Abela in the ongoing controversy over attempts to use charity money to fund the studies of the president’s daughter-in-law’s sister, who serves the Community Chest Fund. The Malta Independent says the PN leader is to refuse a party salary until the PN finances are back on solid ground. Il-mument says representatives of the social partners and constituted bodies have praised the PN’s direction as set by Simon Busuttil. MaltaToday says Libya’s richest man is to move his core business to Malta. Husni Bey is one of the persons behind the Metropolis project in Gzira, which is about to be given the green light. Illum reports that the political parties promised a plot of land in Paola to the Muslim community without knowing that part of it is privately owned. KullHadd says BWSC were paid €8 million for work which was not done. The overseas press Il Tempo reports some 100,000 Italian protesters have rallied in Rome against the policies of the new coalition government, urging the centre-left Prime Minister, Enrico Letta, to scrap austerity...

Seven days through the lens

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:01:00 +0200

An extended slideshow of seven days through the lens will be uploaded weekly on timesofmalta.com

Beatles' guitar auctioned to the tune of $408,000

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:35:00 +0200

A custom-made electric guitar played by the late John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles sold at a New York auction yesterday for $408,000. The semi-hollow-body guitar, manufactured by the VOX company, was sold to an unidentified U.S. buyer at the "Music Icons" event organized by Beverly Hills, California-based Julien's Auctions and held at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manhattan. Julien's said previously it expected the guitar, which was the centerpiece of Saturday's sale, to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000. Harrison played the instrument, distinguished by two symmetrical flared shoulders on the upper body, while practicing "I Am The Walrus," and Lennon used it in a video session for the song "Hello, Goodbye," according to a statement from Julien's Auctions. Both songs were on the Beatles' 1967 album "Magical Mystery Tour." The VOX guitar was a prototype instrument custom-built for Lennon in 1966, said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien's. Lennon gave the VOX guitar as a gift in 1967 to Yanni "Magic Alex" Mardas, who was the electronics engineer for the band's Apple Records label, the auction house said. The instrument, displayed in recent weeks at a museum in Ireland...

Daily Express highlights power billing discrimination against foreigners in Malta

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:29:00 +0200

The mass-selling Daily Express has highlighted the complaints of Britons and other foreigners living in Malta who are being ‘ripped off’ in electricity billing. The charges affect more than 25,000 EU nationals, many of whom retired to the island looking for a better life, the newspaper says. “Patricia Graham has been left almost penniless after receiving water and electricity bills totalling 24,000 euros over three years as Malta’s government charges foreigners 60 per cent more for water and 35 per cent more for electricity than locals. The mother of eight, from Aberdeen, moved to Malta in search of a more gentle way of life. She now works as a foster mother, caring for three Maltese children – she is paid just 210 euros a week or 70 euros a child,” the newspaper reports. She said: “The bills are ridiculous. I had a bill for three years for 24,000 euros for electricity and water, that’s £8,000 a year. When I tell my Maltese neighbours they are incredulous this is going on.” Ms Graham has joined a campaign group, called European Union Against Discrimination, which is demanding an end to the inflated tariffs. The group is taking legal action against the Maltese government to get the...

Update 3 - Many localities briefly without electricity after Delimara power station fault

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:15:00 +0200

Large parts of Malta and Gozo were without electricity for some time this morning after a fault in the old part of the Delimara power station. Power went out at 8.45 a.m. The affected areas were parts of Birżebbuga, Marsaxlokk, Swatar, Msida, Birkirkara, San Gwann, Kappara, Swieqi, Zejtun, Marsascala, Ghaxaq, Marsa, Qormi, Zebbug, Paola, Fgura, Senglea, Cospicua, Pembroke, Mellieha, St Paul's Bay, Mgarr, areas near Rabat, St Julian's, Madliena, Bahar ic-Caghaq, Sliema and Gozo. A spokeswoman for the Energy Ministry said power started being restored after 45 minutes and all areas had power back by about 10 a.m. The spokeswoman said the engineers' priority was to restore power, and the cause of the fault is now being investigated. The old part of the Delimara power station (known as phase one) is to be closed down under the government's energy plan.

Gianluca was fourth in Thursday's semi-final

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:22:00 +0200

Malta's Gianluca Bezzina came fourth in the Eurovision Song Contest second semi-final on Thursday, before coming eighth in the final yesterday. Figures issued by the festival organisers show how Azerbaijan came first in the semi-final, followed by Greece, Norway and Malta. In the semi-final, Malta won 118 points while Azerbaijan got 139. Malta got the maximum 12 points from Azerbaijan, Macedonia and Norway, and 10 points from San Marino. There were no points from Bulgaria and Spain. Gianluca returns to Malta on a flight from Frankfurt today at 3.40 p.m.

V-18 success will answer critics – Jason Micallef

Sarah Carabott — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:12:00 +0200

Jason Micallef believes his team’s success will answer the critics who lashed at his appointment as chairman of the Valletta 2018 foundation. “I have been in the public sphere for a while, and God forbid public figures did not accept criticism because this is part and parcel of our social life,” he told The Sunday Times of Malta. He was accompanying Parliamentary Secretary Jose Herrera, who launched the new V-18 logo as the two toured workshops held at the capital, on the occasion of the official recognition of Valletta as the 2018 European Capital of Culture. Mr Micallef told this newspaper that the work should not stop with Valletta’s official recognition. “We need to show our European counterparts that we mean business and we should work together for a successful adventure... the legacy of Valletta 2018 is important as much as the build-up to 2018.” Asked to respond to widespread disapproval of his appointment to head the V-18 foundation, Mr Micallef noted that public figures should be open to criticism. “I think the reply to any criticism – not just that directed at my appointment – will be the result of the foundation’s work in the coming months and years. “If we work well...