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PN concerned about transfers at St Vincent de Paul Home

May 28, 2013, 5:58 am
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The Nationalist Party has expressed concern about staff transfers at St Vincent de Paul Home and their impact on patient care. The party noted that yesterday, relatives of patients cared for in the Home's Activity Centre, which is also a respite centre for people in  the community suffering dementia, were told that the centre was being closed. Later, the staff were told that the centre would not be closed, but they were summoned to the Superintendent's office so that alternative work could be found for them. Now, it appeared that this facility would be run by an Occupational Therapist and other staff, mostly well-known Labour activists, the PN said. These transfers followed other unreasonable transfers in the same Home and cast doubts over the way this sector was being run, the party added.  It asked what had become of the road map for this sector and whether the impact of these transfers had been considered.
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Seven bronze medals for Malta

May 28, 2013, 6:20 am
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The first day of events at the Small Nations Games in Luxembourg saw Malta winning seven bronze medals with Judo winning a total of five medals. Swimmer Andrew Chetcuti won a medal in the 100m freestyle and the last medal of the day came on the track with Giselle Camilleri finishing in third place in the 10,000m women's final.    
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Malta, China agree on mutual recognition of degrees, diplomas

May 28, 2013, 6:27 am
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Malta and China have signed a cooperation agreement for Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees and Diplomas, the Ministry of Education said. The agreement was signed by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, who is currently in China, and his counterpart Minister Yuan Guiren. "This agreement is an important milestone to facilitate and enhance student mobility between China and Malta and to make Malta an attractive destination for Chinese students seeking tertiary education abroad," the ministry said. Mr Bartolo highlighted the importance that Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, is placing on enhanced Sino-EU cooperation in higher education. The Rector of the University of Malta, Professor Juanito Camilleri, who is accompanying the minister, expressed his satisfaction, saying it would lead to an increase in the number of Chinese students in Malta, but also to encourage Maltese students to spend study-abroad periods in China. "The number of world-class universities in China is impressive and the growing number of excellent degree programmes offered in English by Chinese universities provides Maltese students with a wonderful opportunity to study in China. Once...
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European smartphone users face huge price disparities

May 28, 2013, 6:41 am
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Smartphone users in European countries served only by large groups such as Vodafone Group Plc and Telefonica SA pay twice as much for services as consumers in more competitive markets with an independent "challenger" operator, according to research. The wide divergence in prices revealed in the study by Rewheel, an independent Finland-based consultancy, could influence debate among Brussels regulators working on a package of telecommunications reforms expected in June. Rewheel analysed six smartphone tariffs with mobile data allotments of 500 megabytes to 4 gigabytes in the 27 member states of the European Union in the second quarter. In markets like Germany and Spain - which lack what regulators call a "maverick" to discount voice, text, and data - consumers pay an average smartphone tariff of 44 euros a month compared with 22 euros in markets like France and Britain with challengers. "In protected markets, a gigabyte of smartphone data costs an average of 20 euros, while in progressive markets it costs 6 euros," wrote Rewheel in its report published on Wednesday. The study comes as European regulators are debating proposals to foster a more unified market for telecom services in...
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Dalligate: EPP spokeswoman again calls for Kessler's suspension

May 28, 2013, 6:43 am
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A prominent MEP in the EPP Group, Inge Grässle, has called for far-reaching reform of the EU's anti-fraud office and for the European Commission to suspend OLAF Director-General Giovanni Kessler. In comments ahead of a meeting tomorrow of the European Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee, which has summoned Mr Kessler, Grässle said: "The Dalli case has brought to light serious mismanagement of OLAF. Europe's anti-fraud office must stop its navel-gazing and cowboy style and start working again for the interests of Europe's citizens. OLAF needs a fresh start with a new Director-General at the helm. In order to ensure better control, access of the supervisory committee to all closed case files is necessary.” Grässle is the EPP Group spokeswoman on the committee Kessler is under fire for the conduct of OLAF's investigation in the Dalli case. The EPP said figures  provided by OLAF itself showed that in 2012, the anti-fraud office spent a disproportionate part of its manpower on the Dalli case. While 365 out of a total of 465 investigations OLAF led last year did not produce a result, almost 8% of the total number of interviews OLAF investigators conducted with suspects in all of...
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Puttinu Cares nominated for European prize

May 28, 2013, 8:22 am
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Puttinu Cares Children's Cancer Support Group has been joinlty nominated for this year's European Parliament Citizen's Prize by MEPs Joseph Cuschieri and David Casa. The national jury that evalauted the nominee was made up of MEPs Claudette Abela Baldacchino, David Casa, Joseph Cuschieri, Roberta Metsola and Marlene Mizzi. The European Citizen's Prize was launched by the European Parliament in 2008 to recognise exceptional achievements by Europeans, such as activities that facilitate cross-border cooperation within the EU or promote better mutual understanding and closer integration between citizens and member states, or day-to-day activities reflecting the values enshrined in the EU's charter of fundamental rights. Puttinu Cares Children's Cancer Support Group was set up in 2002. As a non-governmental, non-profit making organisation, it aims to represent the needs of children affected by cancer and their families, campaigns for the provision of a coordinated network of care and support, promotes models of good care and practice, supports families, enhances the knowledge and skills of professional carers, and assists affected children by improving the environment in which they are...
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Curia confirms decision to cancel Zejtun feast

May 28, 2013, 8:57 am
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The Church authorities have confirmed their decision to cancel the feast of Zejtun following the death of Archpriest Fr Eric Overend. The decision follows a request by Banda Beland, Banda Żejtun, l-Għaqda tan-Nar and l-Għaqda tal-Armar to the Curia for the feast to be held as usual. Their request followed a proposal by the Church authorities through parish administrator Fr Gino Cauchi for a feast with reduced activities. The proposal was made after the Archbishop was requested to reconsider his decision to cancel the feast and he accepted. Following the organisations insistence for a full blown festa, the Church authorities decided to cancel all celebrations.
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Labour MEP on jobs committee

May 28, 2013, 9:25 am
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Newly elected Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi has been made a member of the 'Jobs contact' working group. The group is chaired by Hannes Swoboda, president of the socialist group of the European Parliament. Its aim is to ensure that Europe is not divided along the lines of employment and unemployment. It discusses issues such as the influence that labour market, energy and regional policies have on the unemployment rate and what measures are appropriate in order to have a fairer society. Ms Mizzi said she felt honoured to be invited to sit on the committee. "The current job situation in Europe is without a doubt the most worrying aspect of this economic crisis and we must do our best in order to come up with sensible and sustainable solutions, with particular focus on youth unemployment," she said.
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Updated - EU not expected to impose spending cuts on Malta - Muscat

May 28, 2013, 10:12 am
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Updated to include two-year period to be granted for Malta to reduce its deficit. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this evening that in its decision tomorrow about placing Malta under an Excessive Deficit Procedure, the European Commission is not expected to impose spending cuts on the Maltese government. Speaking in parliament, Dr Muscat said the crucial element was not whether or not Malta was placed under such a procedure, but whether or not the European Commission actually imposed spending cuts on Malta, as had happened under then Finance Minister  Tonio Fenech, when he was told to cut €40 million from government spending. Subject to ratification tomorrow, the government had negotiated in a way which would not see the European Commission impose spending cuts. Instead, it would give the government the opportunity and the time to get matters on track by reducing the deficit to below 3% of GDP as it thought fit. This was a success, because the government had shown that it would continue to grow the economy and keep finances under control, Dr Muscat said. He argued that it was the performance of the previous government which had brought Malta to this situation. The EU had cast...
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PM refuses to be drawn on ministerial code of ethics waivers

May 28, 2013, 11:01 am
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Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this evening refused to be drawn into an argument with the Opposition about whether the Ministerial Code of Ethics allowed the prime minister to grant waivers. The issue was raised in parliament by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi, who in a supplementary question asked whether the code provided for waivers to allow ministers to continue private practice. Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia, deputising for the prime minister, said the code was simply a guideline, and there had been a number of such waivers during previous Administrations. Several ministers had been allowed to give lectures at the university. Dr Azzopardi asked if lecturing was considered the same as continuing to see patients and getting paid for their services. Dr Farrugia said he knew of no lecturer who was not paid for his or her services. As Dr Muscat entered the House, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil asked if the Prime Minister had any problem with answering the question. Dr Muscat said he would have no problem giving a written reply once all the relevant information had been collected. Dr Busuttil asked if the Prime Minister could at least say if the code held out the...
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Gozo's giant pendulum swing

May 28, 2013, 12:36 pm
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The rock arch at the tip of Wied il-Mielaħ in Gharb, Gozo became one big swing for an adventurer earlier this month, as the footage above shows. The pendulum swing was organised by Gozo Adventures to celebrate their 10th anniversary. 
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New Arriva drivers' roster 'unacceptable' - GWU

May 29, 2013, 2:42 am
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The GWU said today that a new summer roster for drivers, announced by Arriva, is unacceptable and should be withdrawn to avoid industrial action. It also said that a conciliation meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow between the bus operator, the union and the Director of employment and industrial relations in a bid to resolve the issue.  The union condemned Arriva for issuing the roster without any consultations and said that what the company was proposing was inhumane. Drivers who contacted timesofmalta.com also complained that they are being asked to drive for many hours, well beyond the statutory daily eight hours.
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Biker injured in traffic accident

May 29, 2013, 3:01 am
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A 28-year-old man from St Julian’s was grievously injured in a traffic accident in Abate Rigord Street, Ta’ Xbiex at 9.15am. He is not in a critical condition. The police said the man was riding a Daelim VJ125 that was involved in a collision with a Renault Megane. The car was being driven by a 31-year-old woman from Marsascala.
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Jewellery's CCTV footage found in car belonging to missing man

May 29, 2013, 3:02 am
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CCTV footage of a jewellery shop where stolen gold was allegedly sold was found in the car of a man who has been missing since August, a court was told today. The evidence was given during the continuation of the case against George Tabone, owner of Gram Collections, who is pleading not guilty to handling stolen property.  Taking the witness stand, Police Inspector James Grech said that while investigating a theft from a jewellery shop in Valletta on August 8, 2011, he received information that three men were involved, one of them being Glen Debattista. Mr Debattista told the police that he had sold the jewellery to George Tabone. He said that he would go to Mr Tabone's shop and Mr Tabone would switch off the CCTV of the shop and buy the jewellery. The loot included a solitaire worth €30,000. When interrogated under arrest, Mr Tabone categorically denied buying any stolen gold, let alone from Mr Debattista. He was then taken to hospital suffering from chest pains. The inspector said that on  August 11, he was informed that a certain  Matthew Zahra had been reported missing and the CCTV footage of Mr Tabone's shop was in his car. Mr Zahra is still missing and investigations are...
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Man had pencil in his head for 15 years

May 29, 2013, 3:57 am
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A man spent 15 years not knowing he had a pencil stuck in his head following a childhood accident. Doctors in Aachen, Germany said the 24-year-old sought help in 2011 after suffering for years from headaches, constant colds and worsening vision in one eye. A scan showed that a 4-inch pencil was lodged from his sinus to his pharynx and had injured his right eye socket. The unnamed man said he did not know how the pencil got there but recalled that he once fell badly as a child. The German doctors removed the pencil and said the man has recovered.
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Syrian rebels urge EU to send arms

May 29, 2013, 4:00 am
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Syria's main rebel group has urged the EU to supply weapons to rebels fighting president Bashar Assad's forces and and help them overthrow his regime. The call by the Syrian National Coalition followed EU's decision earlier this week to let the Syrian arms embargo expire, paving way for individual countries in the 27-member union to send weapons to Assad's outgunned opponents. However, the EU decision may have little impact on Syria's two-year-old conflict, since no single European country is expected to send lethal weapons to the rebels soon. The Western-backed Syrian opposition coalition urged the EU to back the arms flow and promptly send "specialised weaponry to repel the fierce attacks waged against unarmed civilians" by Assad's regime, its allies in Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group and Iranian backers. "The Coalition recognizes that this decision is part of many serious efforts by the EU to support the Syrian people throughout the hardships in the uprisings," it said. "However, despite the importance of this decision, the words must be solidified by action." There are deep divisions in the EU over ways to end the bloodshed in Syria, and even Britain and France - who want...
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Hooded hunter fined €4,650 for hunting in nature reserve

May 29, 2013, 4:39 am
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A hunter was today fined €4,650 and banned from hunting for three years after being convicted of hunting at the Natura 2000 Nature Reserve in Mellieha. Carl Borg, 30 of Mellieha, had been accompanied by another hunter, Christian Gauci, 27 of Mellieha, when they were filmed hunting within the reserve by a BBC crew. Borg also had his gun confiscated. Gauci had pleaded guilty when the two were arraigned,. He was fined €4,658 and banned for three years and had his gun confiscated. Both men had been hooded while inside the reserve.
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Malta Judo medal upgraded to silver

May 29, 2013, 4:51 am
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A bronze medal awarded yesterday to Maltese judoka Jeremy Saywell in the Small Nations' Games has been upgraded to silver. The decision was taken after officials discovered a mistake in the points calculations made by the jury yesterday with regard to wins by Saywell and a judoka from Monaco.  
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Commission recommends Excessive Deficit Procedure for Malta - seeks pension, healthcare reforms

May 29, 2013, 5:09 am
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The European Commission today recommended that Malta be placed under an Excessive Deficit Procedure. It also called for reforms in pensions and healthcare and sustainable public finances. The Commission recommends to the European Council that Malta should address its excessive deficit situation by 2014. Specifically, Malta should reach a headline deficit target of 3.4% of GDP for 2013 and 2.7% of GDP in 2014, which is consistent with an annual improvement of the structural balance of 0.7% of GDP in 2013, and 0.7% of GDP in 2014. This adjustment path would allow bringing the deficit below the 3% of GDP reference value by 2014 while at the same time ensuring that the debt ratio will approach the 60%-of-GDP reference value at a satisfactory pace. In a statement issued in Brussels, the Commission said: "Malta faces important entrenched challenges that affect the sustainability of its public finances and its potential growth, and it was one of the countries identified by the Commission as experiencing macroeconomic imbalances, pertaining in particular to the financial sector and public finances. "Malta made limited progress in implementing the 2012 country-specific recommendations. On...
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Rediscovered Maltese lyre to be launched at Għanafest

May 29, 2013, 5:14 am
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The Maltese lyre, a musical instrument which only features in 18th century lithographs of Malta, will be launched at this year’s Għanafest, the Mediterranean folk festival which is held annually in June at the Argotti Botanical Gardens. Joining the ranks of Maltese instruments such as the żaqq, żummara and flejguta, it will be the first time that the Maltese lyre or lira has been heard in centuries. In 2010, Malta’s ambassador to Tunisia Vicki Ann Cremona, invited Ruben Zahra – artistic director of Għanafest and leader of the Nafra folk ensemble - to conduct research in Tunisia with the support of the Cultural Diplomacy Fund - Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This research at the Ennajma Ezzahra - Centre for Arab and Mediterranean Music in Sidi Bou Said led to tracing the roots of the Maltese instrument in the Byzantine tradition with an offshoot of the same instrument in Calabria. Ettore Castagna, an Italian ethno-musicologist, musician and expert of the lira collaborated with Mr Zahra on the research and reconstruction of the Maltese lira. The reconstruction of the instrument was entrusted to Pietro Forlani, a master luthier from Calabria. Nafra’s concert at Għanafest on June 8 will...
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