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Man falls through roof skylight

May 13, 2015, 7:09 am
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A 64-year-old man from Zabbar was grievously injured early this afternoon when he fell through a skylight. The police said the incident happened at about 1.45 in a private residence in Capuchins Street, Zabbar. The man fell a height of two storeys.  
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Casino fraudster has jail term reduced

May 13, 2015, 7:14 am
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A man convicted for defrauding the Casino di Venezia in 2006 has had his jail term reduced by a year after a court upheld his submissions that his crimes had a common design and should be taken as a continuous one and that he was an accomplice to money laundering and not the instigator. Fabio Zulian, 49, had been sentencef to seven years imprisonment but this was reduced to six years on appeal. Moreover, Mr Justice David Scicluna, presiding over the Appeals Court, granted permission for Mr Zulian to serve his prison sentence in Torino, Italy. Mr Zulian had originally been charged with two other men – Gaetano Caramazza, 65, and Slovenian Nevio Barut, 50 – in 2006, of defrauding the Casino di Venezia out of some €172,000. Mr Caramazza had committed suicide and Mr Barut filed a guilty plea and was jailed for three years and fined €7,000 in 2007. Earlier this year, Mr Zulian was jailed for seven years and fined €20,000. In 2013, Mr Zulian had to be brought back to Malta on the strength of a European Arrest Warrant after he was granted permission to go to Italy but failed to return for the continuation of his case.
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Amber holds first Eurovision rehearsal

May 13, 2015, 7:26 am
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Amber, Malta’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, held her first rehearsal in Vienna this afternoon. According to initial comments by ESCdaily.com, not only does Amber have the same song title as Georgia (Warrior), but the staging and visuals also look similar. Georgia’s staging is of higher quality though – Malta looks a bit too flat right now, it opined. Amber will be on stage for the second semi-final on May 21.
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CHOGM 4 Youth

May 14, 2015, 12:57 am
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CHOGM 4 Youth

The annual Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting will be held in Malta between 27 and 29 November, 2015. To mark the upcoming event a seminar was held at university campus last week. The Zone went to see what was on the agenda and how CHOGM relates to young people in Malta.
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Updated: GWU claims 68 routes at a standstill but company insists all localities serviced

May 14, 2015, 1:08 am
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Some 300 public transport employees, about half the sector's workforce, stopped work at 8am this morning bringing some 68 bus routes to a complete standstill, according to the General Workers’ Union. The company, however, said that all localities were serviced with some routes being combined to maintain an overall acceptable level of service. General secretary designate Josef Bugeja told Times of Malta that the strike, which had been planned for May 2 had been averted but the company continued to drag its feet to pay employees part of their pay that was cut because they had not worked the hours stipulated in their contract. The company has denied the claim. In a statement this afternoon, it expressed its disappointment with the union and insisted it had honoured the agreement reached in the past weeks. It said that any and all deductions that were made in the payroll before April 30 were given back to employees, it said as it invited the union to verify its records. "Should the Union persist with refusing to accept this invitation and to continue with the strikes, the company will have no alternative but to reverse the agreement," it said. Mr Bugeja said the strike, which ends...
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Euro outlook and investment strategy

May 14, 2015, 1:20 am
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The euro currency on May 13 stood at 1.3715 against the dollar. At the time that this article is being written the EURUSD is trading at 1.1231. Over a one year period the euro fell by over 18 per cent leading to significant gains for US dollar cash, bond and equity holders. In perspective, a holder of Apple stock during the same period gained 48 per cent as the price of the share increased from $85 to $125. Add to this another 18 per cent in currency gains and the total gains shoot up to 66 per cent. The depreciation also mitigates weak performances elsewhere; Schlumberger declined six per cent over a one year period. However, selling the stock and converting into the euro erases this loss and transforms it into a more than acceptable 12 per cent gains. Whether this is the right time to be converting your US dollar investment is debatable and subject to one’s individual investment requirements. However, the following are some arguments that one might consider. Forward marketThe forward exchange rate market constitutes a relatively strong forecast of future exchange rates. Forwards are bought for hedging and for speculative reasons. All global trades are embodied by one market...
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Chamber welcomes Jordanian investment but has reservations on siting

May 14, 2015, 1:47 am
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The Chamber of Commerce has expressed satisfaction at the recent announcement of Jordanian investment but said it shared the reservations expressed in various quarters to plans for the project on pristine agricultural land in an outside development zone. In a statement this morning, the chamber said it believed the project in question could provide the opportunity to retrofit and/or redevelop a disused building or area. This approach would add value to a disused or undervalued area in the south, fulfilling the core aim of the project. It would also underline the value of sustainable use of land. The Chamber said it noted the Opposition’s objections yesterday and agreed that alternative sites be found for the project. It agreed with the suggestion to retrofit and redevelop disused sites as a worthy alternative location, such as the former St Luke’s Hospital, or, if this has been designated for another project, a similar site. However, it said it could not agree with the suggestion to site the development on land designated for industrial purposes since this was in very short supply and should not be considered for any other purpose. The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses...
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Malaysia turns away 800 migrants

May 14, 2015, 1:50 am
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Thousands of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis abandoned at sea by human traffickers have nowhere to go as Malaysia turned away two boats crammed with more than 800 migrants, saying it could not afford to keep being "nice". Indonesia and Thailand also appeared unwilling to provide refuge to desperate men, women and children, despite appeals by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, international aid agencies and rights activists, who warned lives are at risk. Fearing arrests, captains tied to trafficking networks have in recent days abandoned ships in the busy Malacca Strait and surrounding waters, leaving behind their human cargo, in many cases with little food or water, according to survivors. Around 1,600 have been rescued but an estimated 6,000 remain stranded at sea. Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch Asia accused Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia of playing "a three-way game of human ping pong". Malaysian deputy home minister Wan Junaidi Jaafar said about 500 people on a boat found off the coast of northern Penang state - days after more than 1,000 refugees were taken in on nearby Langkawi island - had been given provisions and sent on their way. "What do you expect us to...
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Beatification process of Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi to be launched soon

May 14, 2015, 3:15 am
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The Archbishop will be officially requesting the Vatican to embark on the process for the beatification of Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi, who founded the Dar tal-Providenza in Siggiewi 50 years ago. Yesterday, Mass was said at the home to commemorate the death of Mgr Azzopardi on May 13, 1987 and Archbishop Charles Scicluna blessed a new yard at the home. During an address, Mgr Scicluna, asked the director of the home, Fr Martin Micallef, to write to him so he could make an official request to the Vatican to embark on the beatification process. Fr Martin told Times of Malta that over the years, he had received various reports of miracles taking place through the intercession of Mgr Azzopardi and he would now go through these reports so that they could be further investigated. The initial investigations into whether a person should be considered for sainthood are started by a bishop and if it is determined that the candidate is deemed worthy of further consideration, the postulator has to prove that the candidate lived heroic virtues. When a candidate is approved, he earns the title of venerable. To be beatified, one miracle acquired through the candidate’s intercession is...
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China police find 50 in 6-seater van

May 14, 2015, 3:24 am
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Police discovered a six-seater van with 50 people crammed inside it on Sunday  night in China's southern Guiyang city, state media reported. China's state television CCTV carried the footage filmed by local police showing an officer counting the passengers as they streamed out of the van at midnight. CCTV reported that altogether 50 people were aboard, including the driver. The passengers were workers at a local construction site and the driver is their boss who asked them to cram in to reduce commuting time, CCTV said. The report said police arranged vehicles to transfer the workers and fined the driver. It did not elaborate on the fine the driver received.
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Updated - Former police chief says he was representing himself in court

May 14, 2015, 3:57 am
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Former police chief Peter Paul Zammit insisted this afternoon that he was representing himself this morning when he showed up in a court hearing involving the man against whom he had ordered that charges be dropped. Eyebrows were raised in court when the former commissioner raised several questions during the case against Josmar Agius over an incident at the Zabbar police station in 2013. It was revealed in Parliament earlier this week that Mr Zammit, when serving as police commissioner, had ordered that the case be dropped and no charges be issued. It resulted that Mr Agius was Mr Zammit's client when he served as legal procurator before becoming police commissioner.  Mr Zammit told Times of Malta this afternoon that he was not in court to defend Mr Agius, but as an interested party. This was verified independently with the acts of the case, where he is listed as parte civile lawyer. In court, he asked a series of questions to prosecuting officer Robert Said Sarreo. Inspector Said Sarreo said he had received instructions from his superiors but Mr Zammit was not happy with that reply and demanded names. He even asked whether the instructions were part of the police file in which...
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Gozo Minister's wife transferred 'to remove shadows cast on minister's work'

May 14, 2015, 4:10 am
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Gozo Minister Anton Refalo’s wife has been transferred from the Gozo Ministry to the Gozo General Hospital to remove every shadow that could have been cast on the minister's work, the Gozo Ministry said. Mikelina Refalo, who used to work at the ministry’s customer care department, hit the headlines yesterday after the Opposition flagged her employment during a press conference about ‘works for votes’ allegedly carried out in Gozo. Times of Malta had asked Dr Refalo about his wife’s position last March, when he had defended her employment vehemently. Dr Refalo had said his wife had been working at the Gozo Ministry since 1991 and there was no conflict of interest. Ms Refalo, however, is not the first ministerial spouse to cause a ruckus in the sister isle.  Former minister Giovanna Debono’s husband Anthony has been pushed into the national spotlight after landing himself in the centre of a police investigation. He has since been charged with fraud and misappropriation of funds, which he is pleading not guilty to. The investigation followed a whistleblower’s claims of a scam to provide Gozitan constituents with free construction services. The works allegedly occurred when Mr...
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Clerical abuse compensation case put off indefinitely

May 14, 2015, 4:25 am
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A compensation court case filed by the victims of clerical abuse was today put off indefinitely until a separate case appealing a decision by a judge not to abstain from hearing the case is heard. In a very short sitting today, Mr Justice Joseph Micallef upheld a request for the case to be postponed and put on hold pending a hearing of an appeal against the judge's decision not to abstain from hearing the case. Lawyers Patrick Valentino and Franco Vassallo said this would allow them to also file a request before the Constitutional Court. In March, Mr Justice Micallef ruled that there was no reason why he had to abstain from hearing the compensation court case filed by the victims of clerical abuse led by Lawrence Grech.
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Eight foreigners to be deported

May 14, 2015, 4:47 am
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Five Serbs and three Macedonians were today handed a suspended sentence and their deportation ordered after they admitted to having false stamps on their respective passports. The Serbs Darko Vojinovic Huereb, 30, Mirkovic Zikika, 28, Nenad Dordevic, 35, Ivana Prolic, 26 and Nemanja Jankovic, 34, pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them. In a separate sitting, the police charged Macedonians Stefan Cvetkovski, 26, Petranka Nikolovska, 51 and Nikolche Petrushev, 47, who also pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them. Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit jailed them for 15 months suspended for two years and ordered their deportation. Police Inspector Victor Aquilina prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono and Christopher Chircop appeared for the accused.
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President's Trust set up

May 14, 2015, 5:05 am
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The President’s Trust was set up this morning to encourage vulnerable young people improve their lives through education and training. Specific focus will be given to vulnerable young people in care or out of home care. President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca expressed satisfaction that the Trust would be taking concrete action to help young people change their lives, no matter their life circumstances. The Trust would facilitate the assistance needed to motivate young people who were not in education, training or employed, to ensure they got out of poverty and the risk of social exclusion. The President had held discussions with the Prince’s Trust in the United Kingdom. The Prince's Trust was founded in 1976 by Prince Charles, after he completed his duty in the Royal Navy, and has become the UK's leading youth charity, offering a range of opportunities to disadvantaged young people. It offers several personal development and training [programmes empowering marginalised and disengaged young people facing a range of issues and barriers in their lives. Alastair Da Costa, chief executive officer of the Prince’s Trust International, came to Malta to attend the launch of the President’s...
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Nato foreign ministers sing 'We Are The World' at dinner

May 14, 2015, 5:59 am
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Setting aside for a moment all the world's major problems, Nato foreign ministers let their hair down at the end of a meeting in Antalya, Turkey. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini and Nato's supreme allied commander in Europe General Philip Breedlove led the ministers on stage, locked in arms, as they sang "We Are The World". The crisis in Ukraine, the fight against Islamic State militants and what to do next in Afghanistan were the main topics of discussion during the two-day meeting which began yesterday.
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15 rescue missions underway off Libya, 2000 migrants found in boats

May 14, 2015, 6:26 am
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Fifteen rescue missions are currently underway in the Mediterranean off Libya, with warships from several countries, notably Italy, picking up more than 2,000 migrants. A number of merchant ships are also involved in the rescue, according to sources. Britain yesterday joined the rescue effort, with the assault ship Bulwark using its four landing craft to pick up 400 migrants, who are being taken to Sicily. The Malta-based MOAS rescue ship Phoenix yesterday also transferred 188 migrants it had rescued to HMS Bulwark. More migrants were rescued by MOAS today as more asylum seekers flee Libya with the aim of reaching Europe. An estimated 1,750 migrants are believed to have drowned in the Mediterranean this year. OPPOSITION TO MIGRANTS QUOTA Meanwhile, Hungary today reiterated its opposition to the new quota system for the transfer of in asylum-seekers as proposed by the European Union. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff Janos Lazar told a press conference: "Hungary will under no circumstances receive such refugees based on the EU's decision." "The Hungarian government will do everything to prevent this in Brussels."  NATO ASSISTANCE Italian news agency Ansa also reported...
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Iranian ships fire warning shots at Singapore-flagged vessel

May 14, 2015, 7:01 am
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Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fired warning shots over Singapore-flagged cargo vessel in international waters in the Gulf today, prompting the cargo vessel to flee into United Arab Emirates' territorial waters, a U.S. official told Reuters, saying the account was based on preliminary information. The United Arab Emirates sent Coast Guard vessels toward the cargo ship and at some point the Iranian ships turned away, the official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was unaware of any U.S. Navy involvement.
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Hunters, Archbishop appeal for countryside to be preserved

May 14, 2015, 7:03 am
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Kaccaturi San Ubertu (KSU) has called for the preservation of the countryside amid the growing controversy over the building of a university in Marsascala. KSU underlined the value and need to protect the remaining countryside in Malta. "The proposed University is neither the first nor the last project that under current legislation can erode part of the diminishing pristine countryside. KSU calls on the government, the Opposition and all those that have the conservation of Malta’s countryside at heart to support an initiative aimed at changing the current legislation to one offering protection to all Outside Development Zones. Other than highly regulated purposes related to access and better wise use of this precious resource, no large scale development should be permitted." The hunters' organisation said that considering the number of vacant dwellings, derelict buildings and undeveloped areas within development zones,  "it is inconceivable that our ever shrinking countryside is not given due protection by our legislators and (it is) permitted to be legally developed due to a lower land value benefiting the speculator." ARCHBISHOP'S APPEAL Meanwhile, Archbishop Charles Scicluna...
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Manchester United set to spend to support trophy push

May 14, 2015, 7:21 am
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English Premier League football club Manchester United hinted today at another spending spree this summer after promising to have a squad capable of competing with the best teams in Europe next season. Led by new coach Louis van Gaal, the 20-times champions spent around 150 million pounds last year after slumping to a shock seventh place in 2013/14 when they failed to qualify for the lucrative European Champions League for the first time in 19 years. Fourth in the Premier League with only two games to go, United have effectively secured a return to the elite European competition, boosting fans' spirits and the club's finances. Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward said United were pleased with Van Gaal's performance but that the club would strengthen the squad to challenge for trophies next season. "We expect to be active again during the (transfer) window," Woodward said, having already agreed to sign Dutch forward Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven for around 30 million euros (£21.6 million). "The squad will be absolutely deep enough and ready to challenge on all fronts next year." Owned for the past decade by the American Glazer family, United reported a 17.7 percent fall in...
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