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David Casa visits Maria Efimova in Greek jail

March 28, 2018, 3:22 am
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European parliamentarian David Casa has travelled to Greece to visit former Pilatus Bank employee Maria Efimova in prison.  In a statement issued through the EPP grouping he forms part of, Mr Casa said that he was in Athens to "make sure Maria knows that she is not alone". Mr Casa praised Ms Efimova for her courage in speaking out, and said that whistleblowers with incriminating evidence about Pilatus Bank and its clients had been made the victims of "cruel, vicious campaigns to discredit and villify them".  Ms Efimova has alleged, in claims first published by murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, that secret Panama company Egrant belongs to the wife of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.  The former Pilatus Bank employee subsequently fled Malta for Greece, saying she feared for her own safety.   READ: Efimova could be deported back to Malta  She is facing fraud charges in Malta following a criminal complaint filed by her former employers. After months under the radar, Ms Efimova subsequently turned herself in to Greek police earlier this month.     "It is not Maria that should be behind bars," Mr Casa said from Athens. "Maria asked me to express her immense gratitude for the...
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Malta recalls its ambassador to Russia 'for political consultations'

March 28, 2018, 5:22 am
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Malta is to recall its ambassador to Russia for political consultations in solidarity with the United Kingdom following the poisoning of a former Russian spy.  "The government of Malta condemns the attack in Salisbury in the strongest possible terms, and agrees with the United Kingdom government’s assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible," the Foreign Ministry said.  Ambassador Carmel Brincat, who assumed the Moscow post in January 2014, will now be called back to the Foreign Affairs Ministry. In its statement announcing his withdrawal, the Ministry said it was "highly likely" that Russia was responsible for the nerve agent attack on former spy and double agent Sergei Skripal. Skripal and his daughter were found slumped over on a bench in Salisbury on  March 5.  The UK government has accused Russia of being behind the attack. On Monday, the US, Canada, Australia and many EU member states announced a series of expulsions of Russian diplomats and condemned Russia for the attack.  Moscow has denied all responsibility and said that it will respond to diplomatic expulsions in kind.  "Without a doubt, Russia, as is diplomatic practice, will...
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Watch: England have World Cup places up for grabs – Southgate

March 28, 2018, 5:23 am
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Gareth Southgate has told England's World Cup hopefuls there are still places up for grabs as he prepares to finalise his squad for the tournament in Russia. Southgate must submit his 23-man squad for the World Cup no later than June 4, but the England manager would ideally prefer to finalise his selection before the friendly against Nigeria on June 2. Southgate wants his final World Cup group together for the warm-up games against Nigeria and Costa Rica, which means Tuesday's friendly against Italy at Wembley represents a significant milestone in the fight to secure a seat on the plane to Russia. After England's solid 1-0 friendly win over Holland on Friday, Southgate is planning to make several changes against Italy, giving his fringe players one of their last chances to stake their claim. "It's not too late for anybody. We will still be monitoring everyone until the end of the season," Southgate told reporters at England's north London training base on Monday. "There are 31 or 32 players that will be in contention and no one knows what will happen over the next few weeks. "In lots of positions we've got really good options, players we know would come in and do well. We have...
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Efforts continuing to turn Għaxaq gem into apartments, conservationists complain

March 28, 2018, 6:05 am
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Developers are still trying to turn a baroque garden in Għaxaq into apartments, despite the development application having been turned down and the property scheduled, conservationists said. Flimkien Ghall Ambjent Ahjar’s Astrid Vella on Wednesday told reporters that the developers had recently resubmitted an application to turn Palazzo Giannin and its sprawling garden into some 30 apartments. “This is an application that was submitted in 2005, it was turned down, and in 2013 the property was scheduled. But in this ‘pro-business, make hay while the sunshines environment, developers still want to turn this heritage gem into a development,” Ms Vella said. Standing in the gardens of Palazzo Giannin’s twin property, Villa Mekech, also in Għaxaq, Ms Vella said the siege on the national heritage was worse today than it had been in the 1970s. “This is the worst destruction of our heritage since the war,” Ms Vella said. The gardens of Villa Mekech, were saved from development following efforts by conservationists to schedule the property back in 2013. It has since been bought by a foreign family that holidays in it. FAA has collected some 1,700 objections to the proposed development of...
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Let’s not believe our own hype, warns Kroos

March 28, 2018, 6:07 am
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Defeat by Brazil in Tuesday’s friendly international highlighted Germany’s need for sharp improvement ahead of the World Cup in June and players would be wise not to believe the hype created around the world champions, midfielder Toni Kroos warned. The Germans, who fielded a second string team, were far from convincing against the five-time world champions, eager to earn back some pride after their 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany in the World Cup four years ago. The hosts showed very little in terms of attacking appetite and littered the pitch with mistakes, prompting the 28-year-old Kroos, a 2014 world champion and the team’s midfield dynamo, to ring alarm bells. “You could see that we are not as good as we are constantly being told we are or even as some of us may think we are,” Kroos told reporters after the 1-0 loss. “We need to improve on many fronts. We made easy mistakes, failed to keep possession up front. “We had some players in the team who had the chance to present themselves (ahead of the World Cup squad announcement in May) but they failed to do that.” Germany have set their sights on a title defence and coach Joachim Loew has some three dozen players to choose from,...
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Watch: France salutes supermarket siege hero in military ceremony

March 28, 2018, 6:20 am
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President Emmanuel Macron led national tributes on Wednesday to a police officer who switched places with a hostage during an attack on a supermarket in southern France last week and was killed by the Islamist militant gunman. Tributes for Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame began with a minute's silence in gendarme barracks across France, before the gendarme's coffin was driven through Paris in heavy rain to Les Invalides, a former military hospital that is a monument to France's heroes. Macron solemnly addressed the audience -- which included former presidents and prime ministers as well as Beltrame's family -- praising his values. During the ceremony, Macron made Beltrame a commander of the Legion of honour, France's highest order of merit.
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Attard seventh in ISSF Junior World Cup

March 28, 2018, 6:36 am
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Skeet shooter Marlon Attard enjoyed an encouraging debut in international competition when he placed seventh overall in the ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney, Australia. Attard managed scores of 22, 21, 24, followed by a perfect straight of 25 before ending his commitments with 23. The young Gozitan shooter was unlucky to make it to the final after missing out on a place by just one clay.  Chinese shooter Dou Xuyang took the gold medal after compiling 58 from 60 in the finals, a world junior record in skeet. Italy’s Matteo Chiti took silver on 52 while Niccolo Sodi, of Italy, completed the podium with 42.  Attard will now travel across Australia to join his Maltese shooting team-mates at the Commonwealth Games which will be held in Gold Coast next month.       
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Archbishop visits young prison inmates

March 28, 2018, 6:59 am
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Archbishop Charles Scicluna paid a visit to the young people's prison in Mtaħleb on Wednesday, where he chatted and had lunch with the inmates and also met the administration and staff. The visit was part of the Archbishop's events in the run-up to Easter, and preparation for the Bishops' Synod on Youth, which will be held in October. 
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Cheap euro transfers across EU move a step closer to reality

March 28, 2018, 7:13 am
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The European Commission is proposing to make cross-border payments in euro cheaper across the entire EU. Under current rules, there is no difference for eurozone residents or businesses if they carry out euro transactions in their own country or with another eurozone member state. However, the proposal made on Wednesday would extend this benefit to people and businesses in non-euro countries. "This will allow all consumers and businesses to fully reap the benefits of the Single Market when they send money, withdraw cash or pay abroad. All intra-EU cross-border payments in euro outside the eurozone will now be priced the same – with small or zero fees - as domestic payments in the local official currency," the Commission said. "For example, a cross-border credit transfer in euro from Bulgaria will be priced the same as a domestic Bulgarian lev credit transfer. This is a major change, as fees for a simple credit transfer can be exorbitant in some non-euro area member states (up to €24 for a transfer of €10!). "Today's hefty fees are an obstacle to the Single Market as they create barriers to cross-border activities of households (buying goods or services in another currency zone)...
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Employers don't want workers getting any more time off

March 28, 2018, 7:35 am
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The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry is against any further expansion of family-friendly measures, its president, Frank Farrugia, told the chamber's annual general meeting. He said employers had had enough of measures that while giving more family time to workers could erode competitiveness. Citing the “scarcity of skilled human resources” as the biggest challenge facing Maltese businessmen, Mr Farrugia said the government should intervene urgently to “avoid further measures that negatively impact the labour market by reducing effective working time for workers”. He cited public holidays and an extension to parental leave as prime examples. Both major political parties, particularly in the run-up to the last general election, pledged measures such as additional leave when public holidays fall on a weekend and more incentives for parents to stay at home when they have young children. READ: Government considers combining maternal and paternal leave The chamber has vociferously opposed some of the measures announced, noting that according to studies, they were eroding Malta’s competitiveness vis-à-vis competitor countries. Mr Farrugia noted that pressure on the...
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Inspector explains how funeral directors bribed care worker to leak information

March 28, 2018, 7:48 am
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A funeral director who posted his business card in the mail box of a deceased patient’s family, even before news of the death had been divulged by hospital authorities, was back in court on Wednesday as criminal proceedings continued in his regard. Mario Lia, 57, was arraigned in February alongside Angelo Vella, 62, another funeral director also from Zabbar, and Anthony Mercieca, a 59-year old care worker who leaked the confidential information about patients at the Mater Dei Oncology Centre. The two undertakers had pleaded not guilty to having bribed the hospital worker who, in turn, was charged (and admitted to) having leaked sensitive personal data, accepted bribes as well as relapsing. As the compilation of evidence continued against Mr Lia, Inspector Anna Marie Xuereb, from the Economic Crimes Unit, testified how on February 17, 2018 she had received a report from Mater Dei CEO Ivan Falzon about a complaint lodged by a distraught man whose father had been receiving palliative treatment at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre. The son alleged that when his father succumbed to his illness, funeral directors had received news of the death even before the patient’s family. One...
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Mapfre MSV Life reports €12.3m pre-tax profit

March 28, 2018, 8:05 am
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MAPFRE MSV Life made a pre-tax profit of €12.3 million for the year ended 31 December 2017, up 6.6% on the previous year. Profit after tax was €10.0 million, up 16.7% on the previous year. The company said operating results were supported by strong inflows of premium revenue across the company’s range of insurance and investment products resulting from stronger customer demand. Gross premiums written for financial year 2017 increased by 6.1% from €272.6 million to €289.2 million. This was mainly due to an increased demand across all products in particular single premium savings contracts and life protection business. Claims decreased to €137.4 million through the year compared to a prior year €144.4 million. During the year the company had a lower mix of maturing medium-term single premium contracts, the large proportion of which has subsequently been re-invested in new medium-term contracts. In aggregate, the balance on the long term business technical account increased to €11.8 million from a prior year €10.7 million as a result of a technical result improvement well supported by strong business growth and underwriting performance. The MAPFRE MSV Group’s total assets increased...
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BOV share price retreats

March 28, 2018, 8:08 am
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The MSE Equity Price Index trended lower for the second consecutive day with a further drop of 0.38% to 4,507.555 points reflecting the declines in six shares which outweighed the gains in four other equities. Meanwhile, Medserv, MIA and PG closed the day unchanged. Trading volumes improved significantly as €0.71 million worth of shares changed hands. Bank of Valletta plc closed 2.7% lower at €1.81 after only partially recovering from an intra-day low of €1.78 (-4.3%). A total of 213,540 shares traded, representing 55% of the total value of equities traded today. On Tuesday, the bank announced that it received notice that the Italian Tribunal has issued a precautionary warrant for €363 million against the bank. In this respect, and after taking legal advice, the bank reiterated that it has a strong case and is firmly rebutting the claims instituted against it. As such, BOV is keeping regulatory authorities continuously updated on developments relating to this case and will also continue to keep this matter under review and take such measures to ensure that its operations are not adversely affected. Also among the large companies by market capitalisation, GO plc eased by 0.6% to...
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Lazio fall for €2 million hacking scam – report

March 28, 2018, 8:47 am
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Lazio have reportedly fallen for an email scam and paid two million euros ($2.4m) of the final instalment for defender Stefan de Vrij's transfer from Dutch club Feyenoord to fraudsters. Italian newspaper Il Tempo reported on Wednesday that hackers with knowledge of the deal tricked the Serie A club into paying the money into the wrong bank account in the Netherlands. Lazio received an email that appeared to be from the Dutch champions asking for the two million euros along with bank account details, and duly sent the money. But Feyenoord never received the cash and claim to have no knowledge of the email. Il Tempo said that the prosecutor looking into the case has tracked down the money to a Dutch bank account, which doesn't belong to Feyenoord. The 26-year-old joined Lazio in 2014 for €7.7 million  after a successful World Cup with the Netherlands but will leave for nothing this summer after failing to extend his contract. De Vrij has reportedly been targeted by six-time defending champions Juventus with interest also from English clubs Manchester City and Manchester United. But Gazzetta dello Sport reported the centre-back is ready to sign for Inter on a free transfer this...
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French half marathon runner pledges support to LifeCycle

March 28, 2018, 9:04 am
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LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation has been selected as the Malta-based charity that French half-marathon runner Wilfred Palcy will be supporting when he will be running his Malta leg in Żurrieq on Saturday at 8.30am. Palcy will join runners from Żurrieq Wolves Athletic Club and other from various clubs in Malta for a half marathon run. Departing from the Żurrieq parish church square, the Running1000+ Malta edition, supported by Holiday Inn Express, will also go through Qrendi, Mqabba, Kirkop, Safi, Ħal Far and back to Żurrieq. A group of cyclists from LifeCycle will accompany the athletes.  The donations that Palcy will be collecting will go towards raising funds to help renal patients in Malta through the LifeCycle Foundation. As part of the Running1000+ challenge, Palcy has set himself the extraordinary target of running 60 half marathons in 60 European cities in 120 days in aid of a charity of his choice in each of the selected 60 cities that are designated European Capitals of Culture. He is both the founder of Mootivaction, a firm that provides corporate coaching and training, and also a certified trainer of an established method called the Process Communication Model (PCM). The...
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Celebrating the Maltese character

March 28, 2018, 10:56 am
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Roderick Vella and Stephen Buhagiar are not only friends and colleagues. They also share a passion – photography. It was just over two years ago that they decided to set up The People of Malta on Facebook. In it they posted pictures of people from Malta and Gozo, and captioned them. “We believe that everybody has a story to tell,” said Mr Vella, adding that they go out once a week, armed with cameras, ready to shoot anyone interesting. Social media offered a good platform to launch their project, which went down quite well following the feedback received. Mr Buhagiar said the captions on Facebook were originally only in Maltese. “However we had so much positive comments, even from Maltese people abroad, that we have had to include a translation in English too,” he said. The two friends have now reached another stepping stone in their project: their photos have been published in a hard-bound book by Miranda Publishers. Over the last three years they have managed over 1,300 photos, so it was quite a task to choose 250 to feature in The People of Malta, ensuring Volume 2 is in the pipeline. “Over our weekly outings we have come to make a lot of new friends. The characters we...
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Appeal from trial by jury's verdict cannot seek harsher sentence, court says

March 28, 2018, 10:58 am
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An appeal from a verdict delivered by a jury in a criminal trial cannot request a harsher punishment, the Superior Court of Appeal declared on Wednesday. This pronouncement was made in a partial judgment delivered during appeal proceedings concerning Allan Galea, who is currently serving a six-year jail term over the murder of Anthony Borg, known as il-Bona. An argument had broken out between the two men outside the PN club in Marsaxlokk on the evening of February 21, 2010, when Mr Galea, brandishing a knife, had allegedly challenged Mr Borg to a fight. The latter had, in turn, fetched a firearm from his car and fired two warning shots to scare off the aggressor. However, a scuffle broke out and il-Bona ended up suffering several stab wounds, dying shortly afterwards on the spot. Five years later, in December 2015, his aggressor underwent a trial by jury which resulted in a verdict whereby Mr Galea was found guilty, by six votes in favour and three against, of excess in legitimate self-defence. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment and a fine of €9,647. An appeal was filed by the Attorney General requesting a variation of the verdict from excess in legitimate self-defence...
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Atlanta held 'hostage' by cyber attackers

March 28, 2018, 11:05 am
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Computers have been turned back on in Atlanta, Georgia, but the city is still struggling with its ability to collect online payments of bills and fees, seven days after a ransomware attack snarled its computer system. Hackers caused outages of services offered through the city's website and broader computer system while demanding a ransom of $51,000 paid in bitcoin to unlock the system. "This is much bigger than a ransomware attack, this really is an attack on our government," Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told a news conference. "We are dealing with a (cyber) hostage situation." She did not say whether Atlanta would pay the ransom. Atlanta officials said they have determined the hackers' identity but declined to elaborate. City representatives were not immediately available for further comment. Bottoms said only that the hackers entered the city's digital system remotely as opposed to having had internal access. Ransomware is a type of malware that infects computers or computer networks and then freezes them, with the attackers demanding a ransom in order to restore services. The initial assault often comes via a phishing link that someone within the network opens on their...
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Maltese language institutes concerned by Education Ministry's plans

March 28, 2018, 11:09 am
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The Akkademja tal-Malti, the University's Department of Maltese and various institutes and prominent lecturers have voiced concerns about proposed changes to the curriculum for the teaching of Maltese in secondary schools, announced by the Ministry of Education. They insisted that the certification of Maltese as a foreign language cannot be pegged at the same level, MQF 3, as the Matsec Maltese O’ level exam taken by students today at the end of their compulsory education. They also disagreed with the introduction of "Applied" Maltese, arguing that a system that has already been set up by the Education authorities already takes into account the situation of students with different levels and skills. READ: Alternative Maltese language exam for vocational students planned They institutes said they disagreed that Maltese citizens may take their Matsec exam in their national language as a foreign or second language. They also disagreed that students with a foreign parent or guardian may take their exam in Maltese as a foreign or second language.   Such distinctions, they said, run counter to what is stated in the Maltese Constitution which establishes Maltese as the sole national...
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Watch: NBA roundup: Heat crush low-scoring Cavs

March 28, 2018, 11:40 am
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The Miami Heat led from the outset and routed the visiting Cavaliers 98-79 on Tuesday, holding Cleveland to its lowest point total of the season. Miami's Kelly Olynyk scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed five rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. James Johnson and Josh Richardson each had 15 points for the Heat. Dwyane Wade had 12 points, four assists and four blocks in just 17 minutes while Goran Dragic added 10 points. LeBron James scored 18 points with six rebounds and seven assists -- but six turnovers -- for Cleveland, and Rodney Hood had 15 points off the bench. Jordan Clarkson and Jose Calderon each scored 11. Cleveland center Kevin Love took an elbow to the face from Miami center Jordan Mickey while trying to draw a charging foul just 1:22 into the first quarter. Love left the game and had a front tooth visibly loose after the collision. He came back to play briefly and scored just one point in seven first-half minutes before sitting out the second half. Trail Blazers 107, Pelicans 103 Damian Lillard scored 28 of his 41 points in the second half as visiting Portland defeated New Orleans. Jusuf Nurkic added 21 points and 10 rebounds, Evan Turner scored 14 and...
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