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Advertising agency ordered to pay Transport Malta €490,000

May 29, 2013, 5:32 am
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Advertising agency MPS Ltd has been ordered to pay Transport Malta almost half a million euros in terms of a contract for the organisation and management of display advertisements on route buses. The authority told the court that, in 1995, it had issued a call for tenders for the organisation and management of display of advertisements on route buses. MPS had tendered for this contract, which it was awarded in September 1995. The contract provided for the payments due by MPS and the authority said that when it filed its court case, in 1999, MPS owed it Lm211,650 (€493,046.82). MPS denied TM's claims and said it had submitted for the tender on the basis that advertisements could be carried on both sides of the buses. However, only 100 of the 508 buses that existed at the time could carry such double advertisements. Many bus owners did not co-operate with MPS and eventually only 112 buses actually carried advertisements. But the court found that MPS had entered into a contract with TM and that the terms of the contract had to be observed.
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BOV shares well supported, Island Hotels hit new low

May 29, 2013, 5:41 am
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BOV shares were once again well supported on volumes exceeding 26,000 shares during trading on the Stock Exchange this morning. Trades were executed within a tight range of €2.25 and €2.25,4 as fresh supply was met by relatively constant demand at this price. On the buy side, there remain substantial unsatisfied orders at the €2.20 level whereas outstanding sales are pitched at the €2.30 level. On the losing end today, shares in Island Hotels Group Holdings plc hit fresh lows on relatively high volumes for this stock. A total 53,000 shares traded across three deals, down 6c9 at 52c. Shares in GO plc also shed some recent gains and broke through key support levels although volumes in this case were very low at just 5,000 shares which traded at €1.54. Elsewhere, trading levels were relatively low and spread across just three other listed equities. FIM traded back up to $1.02, RS2 eased minimally lower €1.16 and Medserv closed unchanged at €3.90. In the bond market, Malta Government Stocks gave up some recent gains although volumes were relatively low whereas corporate bonds continue to remain generally very strongly supported with outstanding unsatisfied buyers very evident across...
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Malta tells EU it sees no urgency to further raise retirement age

May 29, 2013, 6:05 am
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The European Commission in its recommendations to Malta under the excessive deficit procedure said this afternoon that the country needs to reform the pension system to curb the projected increase in expenditure, including by accelerating the increase in the statutory retirement age, by introducing a link between the statutory retirement age and life expectancy and by encouraging private pension savings.   But Malta in its National Reform Programme, also published by the EU today said that the gradual increase in retirement age adopted in the 2006 Pension Reform remains valid. “Thus the parametric changes to the First Pension introduced in 2006 are deemed to have fulfilled their role as they braked what was an accelerated degeneration of the average pension replacement rate. Therefore, pending the current ongoing discussions taking place at national level on further pension reforms, we do not think that there is any particular urgency in further accelerating the progressive increase in the retirement age as suggested the first part of the recommendation.”  The government said the long term sustainability of the pension system in Malta remains a priority, but overtly prescriptive...
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Update 2: EU calls for changes to COLA mechanism removed from Commission's recommendations

May 29, 2013, 7:09 am
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The government this afternoon reacted to the European Commission's decision to place Malta under an Excessive Deficit Procedure by reiterating its commitment to get the deficit down below 3% by the end of this year. The government said it welcomed the Commission's decision to not impose additional measures on the country's budget. "This shows that the European Commission is confident in the new Government's plan, which is a positive sign for the future of the Maltese economy." It said it is committed to ending 2013 with a deficit below the 3% threshold despite the Commission's decision to allow Malta the freedom to do so by the end of 2014. "The Government is committed to meeting these targets, while also carefully addressing inefficiencies and introducing incentives aimed at boosting the country's revenue." It was also noted that in its country specific recommendations, the Commission had removed any reference to changes to the cost of living adjustment mechanism. "This is thanks to the strong defence mounted by the Maltese Government in this regard," the government said. PL STATEMENT In a statement, the Labour Party said the European Commission had given a clear sign of...
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Update 2: Malta wins silver, bronze in table tennis, silver in 100m fly

May 29, 2013, 8:26 am
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Malta had to settle for a silver medal in the Small Nations' Games table tennis women's team event today after losing to Luxembourg in a top of the table match. Andrew Chetcuti also won silver in the 100 metres butterfly swim event. The men’s table tennis team won bronze earlier this afternoon finishing behind Luxembourg and Monaco. In the first men's team game today, Malta lost 3-2 to Monaco but were reprieved after being awarded victory over San Marino. Marco Vannucci did not turn up for his game against Simon Gerada after the judges ordered the match to be replayed following a protest by the Maltese Olympic Committee against the decision of the judges to overturn Gerada's 3-1 win over his San Marino opponent yesterday due to an alleged racquet irregularity. San Marino's appeal against the decision was not upheld.
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Police warning about computer virus using force logo

May 29, 2013, 8:42 am
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A computer malware variant is using Malta Police Force and Malta Police Association logos, the police warned. They said in a statement that infected computer systems display a warning message claiming that the user’s computer had been “suspended on the grounds of unauthorised cyber activity” and that a fine has to be paid for the computer to be unblocked. The computer may seize and documents may no longer be accessible. In almost all cases, paying the ransom does not restore the computer to its original state, the police warned. They said that no law enforcement agency, including the police, collected fines in this manner. “Such computer messages claiming to be from the Malta Police Force are fraudulent. Users targeted by police ransomware should not pay any money,” the police said. They said that anyone deceived into paying the ransom money should lodge a police report providing as much information as possible – including a screenshot of the ransom message presented, payment information, details of the activity being undertaken on the computer when the ransom message appeared as well as the date and time when this happened. The police said they have not received any reports of...
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Why our law courts can’t cope

May 29, 2013, 8:46 am
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There are many things and reasons why our judicial system is up to its neck in a colossal mess. One of them is because we keep burdening it with useless and victimless cases that should be thrown out before they reach the first step of our law courts. If you walk into any court room, on any given day, all you’ll see is chaos, people tearing their hair out in despair or boredom, and lawyers rushing from one room to another with very little reverence towards the crucifix-kissing ritual that our whole judicial system is supposedly based on. If you’re ever unlucky enough to get enthralled in a legal battle, there’s a high chance that you won’t live long enough to see the end of it. And yet, despite this very sad situation that has been the status quo for as long as I can remember, we seem hell-bent to want to waste more of the courts’ time with silly cases and the persecution of victimless crimes. The latest one that caught my eye was about a Fillipino woman whom the police accused of bigamy. They dragged her to court based on an anonymous tip and after two years failed to provide the evidence and lost. Evangeline Cauchi (57) has been happily married to Ronald Cauchi for over ten...
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PN leadership contestant to head party commission

May 29, 2013, 9:07 am
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Raymond Bugeja, who a few days ago contested the election for a new PN leader, will be heading a commission which will focus on the party's finances and commercial entities. Party leader Simon Busuttil set up the commission this afternoon saying it would be analysing the party’s finances, its operations and the financial situation of entities in which the PN is a shareholder. The other members are Tonio Fenech, Claudio Grech, Lawrence Zammit, Chris Sciclcuna and Mark Portelli. Dr Busuttil said he hoped the commission would be able carry out its task in the shortest time possible so that the financial situation of the party and its entities could recover.
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Man charged with raping minor

May 29, 2013, 9:23 am
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A 21-year-old man from Ivory Coast who lives in Victoria was remanded in custody today  after he pleaded not guilty to violently raping a minor at a private residence in Victoria. Isaac Abdala also pleaded not guilty to holding the girl against her will, violently and indecently assaulting her and committing immoral acts in public on a separate occasion. Both cases took place last month.
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Virus is a 'threat to the entire world'

May 29, 2013, 10:37 am
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The new Sars-like respiratory illness which has killed half of the people who have been infected with it is a "threat to the entire world", the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned. Experts raised concerns that the disease is "emerging faster than our understanding". The WHO says that since September last year there have been 44 laboratory confirmed cases across eight countries which have resulted in 22 deaths, including two people in the UK, but reports suggest that the figure could be higher. Earlier this week, WHO's director general said that the novel virus, which has been called Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus - or MERS-CoV, is her "greatest concern". Addressing the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Dr Margaret Chan said: "Looking at the overall global situation, my greatest concern right now is the novel coronavirus. "We understand too little about this virus when viewed against the magnitude of its potential threat. "Any new disease that is emerging faster than our understanding is never under control. "These are alarm bells and we must respond. The novel coronavirus is not a problem that any single affected country can keep to itself or manage all by...
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'Sewer baby' recovering

May 29, 2013, 11:46 am
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A baby rescued from a sewage pipe in China yesterday is recovering well, state media reported. The infant was abandoned in  Zhejiang province's Jinhua city. Unable to remove the 2.3 kilogram baby safely, firefighters brought the child to a hospital, where doctors carefully cut away the pipe. The infant is in healthy condition, the doctors said, aside from scrapes to its head, arms and legs. Some reports said the baby's mother had claimed that she had given birth over the toilet bowl and the baby dropped accidentally. China witnesses frequent reports of parents abandoning babies, often shortly after birth.
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Chris Said, Ann Fenech are uncontested

May 30, 2013, 3:11 am
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Only two places in the administration of the PN, those of treasurer and international secretary, are being contested. The call for nominations closed today at Noon. The PN said the following nominations were submittedGeneral Secretary - Chris Said. Assistant General Secretary - Jean Pierre Debono. President of the Executive - Ann Fenech President of the Administrative Council - Karol Aquilina. International Secretary - Trevor De Giorgio and Victor Scerri. Treasurer - Hermann Schiavone and  Alex Perici Calascione. The members of the party executive will vote on the posts next week.  
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Woolwich murder accused appears in court

May 30, 2013, 3:39 am
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A man appeared in handcuffs in a London court today charged with the killing of a British soldier on a busy London street last week. Michael Adebowale, 22, was charged with the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, a 25-year-old serving soldier. Adebowale was arrested at the scene of the attack along with another man after being shot and detained by police. He was also charged with possession of a firearm. Looking dazed and limping slightly, Adebowale made his first court appearance wearing white trousers and a light grey sweatshirt. Asked to confirm his name and address in London, he only said "yes". The charges were then read out to him during the brief hearing. He was remanded in custody to appear at Britain's central criminal court, the Old Bailey, on Monday. Rigby, a veteran of the Afghan war, was killed in broad daylight by two men in southeastern London on May 22. A second man, Michael Adebolajo, remains under arrest and in a stable condition in hospital.
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Association says feast cancellation was decided without real consultation

May 30, 2013, 4:23 am
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The Band Clubs’ Association has criticised the Curia’s decision to cancel the Zejtun feast (in mourning for the death of the parish priest) saying the decision was taken without real consultation. The association said the feasts are a religious, cultural and social legacy and they are organised by the bands and the fireworks enthusiasts together with the parish priests. It was unfair, it said, that after months of hard work and sacrifice by many volunteers, a decision to cancel the feast was taken without proper consultation with the parties concerned. The association recalled that in 2012 it proposed a Board of Direction on Feasts representing all sectors involved in the feasts to regulate this sector and so that decisions could be taken by consensus. The proposal was made in the context of a proposed agreement on the feasts. Unfortunately, however, the draft agreement had been rejected by the Church, the association said.
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French woman who was assaulted by police in 2007 is accused of assaulting policeman

May 30, 2013, 4:51 am
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A French woman resident in Malta, Catherine Sophie Pernot Sprangers, was accused in court today of having hit a policeman on the head with a camera, slightly injuring him. The incident happened as the officer tried to arrest her at her home yesterday. Police Inspector Luke Bonello told the court that the police had gone to her home to carry out a warrant of arrest issued by Magistrate Francesco Depasquele because she had not turned up for a St Julian's district sitting. The magistrate had also said that the police could resort to forced entry if necessary. As a policeman was trying to arrest her, she hit him on the head. She was then arrested, the inspector said. Ms Pernot Sprangers pleaded not guilty and was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000. She had been undergoing proceedings before the St Julian's District sitting for swearing in public, swearing at her neighbours and disturbing the peace. She missed four sittings but appeared today, where she pleaded guilty and was fined €100 after the parties concerned forgave each other. SECOND INCIDENT WITH THE POLICE This was Ms Pernot Sprangers's second incident involving the police. In 2007 a police sergeant had, on...
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International appointment for Paul Pace

May 30, 2013, 5:38 am
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MUMN president Paul Pace has been elected to the board of the International Council of Nurses. The election was held in Melbourne during a conference hosted by the council. Representatives of 138 countries attended. 
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Hand, foot and mouth disease affects 19 children

May 30, 2013, 6:03 am
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Photo: James Heilman, MD

Nineteen schoolchildren have contracted the hand, foot and mouth disease, a common viral illness, since the beginning of the year. The disease has nothing to do with the infamous foot and mouth disease, which affects cattle, sheep and pigs. Only the pupils who catch the virus need to stay away from school. A Health Ministry spokesman said that the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate had received reports of 19 cases since the beginning of January and these were spread throughout the Maltese islands. He said that when a case was identified, the affected student would have to stay home for about a week but there was no need to send the other children home. The directorate also distributes information on the disease to parents of children in the same class. Most common in children aged 10 and younger, the disease is a viral infection that does not usually pose a serious threat to health. It is not fatal and does not usually have long-lasting effects. Symptoms, which are usually over within a week, include lack of appetite, coughing, a moderately high temperature of about 38˚C or 39˚C, a non-itchy red rash on the hands and the feet, which could develop into painful...
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Nisevic named Hibs coach

May 30, 2013, 6:06 am
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Branko Nisevic has been confirmed as the new coach of Hibernians. The Premier League club said in a statement that its Executive Committee has reached agreement with Nisevic, a former Hibernias defender, to lead the team next season. Nisevic, who has been in charge of the Malta U-19 squad and also acted as assistant to national coach Pietro Ghedin in the last two years, will replace Michael Woods. Hibs have decided not to offer Woods a contract extension despite winning the U*Bet FA Trophy under the former Floriana coach.Silvio Vella, another former Hibs stalwart, is expected to take over from Nisevic as Malta U-19 coach and Ghedin's first-team assistant.
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Approval for shareholding change in FIMBank

May 30, 2013, 6:08 am
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Trading activity on the Malta Stock Exchange was mild during this morning’s session with few active equities and generally low volumes. The most noteworthy development was the announcement by FIMBank plc noting that it was informed that the Malta Financial Services Authority has confirmed on 29 May 2013 that it has no objection in terms of the Banking Act to the change in shareholding in FIMBank. FIMBank also stated that it was informed that a share purchase agreement has been entered into between Massaleh Investments K.S.C.C. and Kuwaiti Interests for Development Holding Co. on the one hand and Burgan Bank and UGB on the other hand. In terms of the share purchase agreement and subject to the terms and conditions set out therein, upon completion, Burgan Bank will acquire 35,000,000 FIMBank shares and UGB will acquire 17,948,867 FIMBank shares. The total amount of 52,948,867 shares are currently held by Massaleh. There was no reaction in the market this morning with buyers remaining unsatisfied at US$1.00 and below and sellers at the US$1.02 level. The equities of the two large banks saw low activity and mild losses. Bank of Valletta plc eased back to the €2.25 level on a single...
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Worker suffers loss of part of hand

May 30, 2013, 6:12 am
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A worker suffered the loss of the fingers and part of his left hand when it got trapped in a granulating machine this morning. The worker, a 58-year-old man from Msida, was working in a scrap metal warehouse in Kirkop when the accident happened at about 11.30 a.m. The police said his injuries were serious but not life-threatening. Magistrate Audrey Demicoli is leading an inquiry. 
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