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Health fears at France migrant camp

August 6, 2015, 2:36 am
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A medical charity warns of growing health problems among migrants camping out at Calais hoping to reach Britain. Paul Chapman reports.
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Fiduciary companies under the spotlight

August 6, 2015, 2:57 am
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A review of the existing regulatory regime for Maltese-registered gaming and fiduciary companies is underway. Photo: Shutterstock

Allegations of Mafia links with Maltese gaming companies have put fiduciary companies under the spotlight and raised a number of concerns but experts who spoke to Keith Micallef and Kurt Sansone warn against blowing the incident out of proportion. The level of due diligence done by fiduciary companies has been one major concern raised, with many suggesting this was too lax, risking jeopardising Malta’s reputation in the financial services industry. Alternattiva Demokratika even suggested ditching fiduciary services legislation, claiming it was a means through which foreign companies could... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.
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China orders homemade sex videos removed from social media

August 6, 2015, 3:08 am
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China's anti-pornography office has announced a campaign to remove amateur sex videos from social media. Long intolerant of obscenity online, Beijing authorities are trying to keep China's cyberspace clean at a time when it has become easier for people to use mobile phones to make sex videos and use social media and cloud storage to share their content. Last month, a sex video taken with a mobile phone inside a fitting room of the clothing retailer Uniqlo in Beijing spread quickly over China's social media. Police have detained four people on suspicion of spreading the content. On Wednesday, sexual scenes were somehow aired on a giant display screen at a shopping mall in the eastern city of Lishui, and clips of the footage spread online, prompting police to investigate who was spreading the content, according to media reports. Meanwhile, a homemade video of sexual acts in the south-western city of Chengdu spread on China's Twitter-like Weibo, and police have detained one suspect on suspicion of spreading the video, local authorities said. Citing these three incidents, the Office Against Pornography and Illegal Publications said it is demanding that government authorities at all...
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Elderly man given suspended jail term for Gozo shopping mall stabbing

August 6, 2015, 3:21 am
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A 79-year-old man has been handed a suspended sentence after admitting to seriously injuring a 29-year-old supermarket employee when he stabbed him at a shopping complex in November 2013.  Antonio Borg, from Zebbug, Gozo, pleaded guilty to stabbing Josef Galea who had intervened during an argument between Mr Borg and the manager of the shopping complex. The manager had stopped the elderly man from entering the premises holding bags.  Magistrate Joseph Mifsud heard how the elderly man was "lonely" and had no one to look after him because all his relatives had emigrated to Australia. He jailed him for six months but suspended the jail term for a period of two years.  Mr Borg had been arrested on November 25, 2013, after he slashed the man with a knife at The Duke's shopping complex in Victoria.  Mr Borg also pleaded guilty to seriously injuring Mr Galea, assaulting him and manager Walter Michael Farrugia, threatening them, causing them to fear that violence will be used against them, breaching the peace and to being in possession of a knife during the commission of a crime.  The court heard how the man lives at the long-stay ward at the Gozo General Hospital and had no one to look...
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Migration tragedy proves European Commission's actions still ineffective - Marlene Mizzi

August 6, 2015, 3:32 am
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MEP Marlene Mizzi has called on the European Commission to indicate what kind of concrete urgent actions it was willing to provide to stop migrant tragedies in the Mediterranean and to assist countries bordering union that wanted a dignified solution to this problem. In a statement today, she referred to a reply to a parliamentary question she had tabled and which was answered by European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos yesterday, the day when another migrant tragedy leaving some 200 people dead took place. Commissioner Avramopoulos referred Ms Mizzi to the package of initiatives covering several aspects of the migration debate on May 27, part of a comprehensive migration strategy developed in response to migratory pressures and to better manage migration through solidarity mechanisms and in a structural way. Ms Mizzi said that in light of yesterday's tragedy, the actions taken by the Commission were still unsustainable and ineffective to the current needs. “Without the right combination of EU tools and cooperation between member states, Europe will continue to firefight with little hope, no solutions and more deaths," she said.
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Blast from Israeli ordnance left over from war kills four in Gaza

August 6, 2015, 3:37 am
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At least four Palestinians from the same family have been killed and 13 people injured in the Gaza Strip by an explosion of Israeli military ordnance left over from last summer's war, Palestinian officials said. Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said the ordnance exploded as Palestinian workers were helping family members remove rubble from a house destroyed in the 50-day war between Israel and the Hamas militants who rule the coastal territory. The ordnance is believed to have been dropped in an air strike on the house during the war. Last year, six people, including an Associated Press video journalist and his Palestinian translator, were killed as Gaza police engineers tried to defuse unexploded Israeli ordnance. Three people, including a press photographer, were badly injured.
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Swimming at dog friendly bay in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq prohibited

August 6, 2015, 4:14 am
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Swimming at the dog friendly bay in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq has been prohibited until further notice due to sewage overflow, the Environmental Health Directorate said. It said that information signs have been put up in the area.
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Valletta chef jailed for 28 months

August 6, 2015, 4:18 am
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A Valletta repeat offender was today jailed for 28 months after pleading guilty to snatching necklaces off three elderly women between May and July. Christopher Ryan, 21, who works as a chef, admitted to the thefts and to relapsing. He had already served time in jail over the same crime committed in the past. Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera told Mr Ryan that he had started his career as a criminal at the age of 17. "You are far too young to be in court. You need to do something with your life and reform as you'll land yourself in more trouble," she told him. Defence lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili told the magistrate that their client had a drug addiction problem and asked the court to recommend that he starts and successfully concludes a drug rehabilitation programme. Police inspectors Fabian Fleri and Kurt Zahra charged Mr Ryan with stealing a necklace from a woman walking through Eldorado Street in Hamrun on May 27. He also snatched another necklace worn by a woman as she walked through Anton Buttigieg Street in Hamrun on June 14 and snatched yet another necklace worn by a woman walking through Canon Road in Santa Venera. The total value of the three necklaces was...
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Islamic State fighters seize key Syrian town

August 6, 2015, 4:38 am
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Islamic State militants have seized a key town in central Syria after clashes with president Bashar Assad's forces, according to activists. The town of Qaryatain lies south west of the historic site of Palmyra, which the extremist group seized in May. The capture of Qaryatain, a heavily populated town, allows IS to link up areas under its control in and around Palmyra with areas in the eastern countryside of Qalamoun, north of Damascus. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the IS group seized the town after three suicide bombers targeted army checkpoints at the entrance, setting off a fierce battle. Websites affiliated with IS confirmed the militants had taken over Qaryatain.
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Charged with conspiring to deal in drugs

August 6, 2015, 5:18 am
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A man was this afternoon granted bail after pleading guilty to several drug charges, including conspiracy to deal in drugs as well as possession of cannabis, mephadrone and cocaine found in circumstances denoting they were not for his personal use. Luke Joseph Galea, an unemployed man from Birzebbuga, pleaded guilty to conspiring to deal in cannabis, trafficking the drug and possession of three drugs which were not for his exclusive use. He, however, denied several money laundering charges which were issued after a considerable amount of cash was found at his house. Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera upheld the prosecution's request and ordered the freezing of all the man's assets. She also upheld a request for bail against a €3,000 deposit and a €2,500 personal guarantee. Police Inspectors Justine Grech and Malcolm Bondin prosecuted while lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for the accused.
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1,400 new medicines approved in two years

August 6, 2015, 5:22 am
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Some 1,400 new medicines were approved in the last two years making up two out every seven medicines on the market, according to Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli. Addressing a press conference at the newest pharmacy to open its doors, Crux Pharmacy in Qajjenza, Dr Dalli said the medicines authority was working tirelessly to improve patients' choices. Many of these medicines were generics and, therefore, cheaper. One such medicine, approved earlier this year, was 87 per cent cheaper than its brand name counterpart, she said. Dr Dalli said the authority was also working to make it less bureaucratic for new pharmacies to open. While it took an average of 90 days in the EU for a new pharmacy to open, the latest pharmacy to open in Malta had been given approval after just a few days.
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Egypt to unveil Suez Canal extension amid nationalist fervour

August 6, 2015, 5:39 am
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Egypt will unveil a major extension of the Suez Canal that President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has billed as an historic achievement needed to boost the country's ailing economy after years of unrest. The president will host an elaborate ceremony in the canal city of Ismailia attended by foreign dignitaries amid tight security measures following a series of attacks by Islamic militants in the Sinai Peninsula and the capital. The unveiling of the 8.5 billion dollar (£5.5 billion) extension has been trumpeted as a historic achievement by pro-government media and has revived the nationalistic personality cult built around the 60-year-old Mr el-Sissi, who as army chief led the overthrow of an Islamist president in 2013 and was elected to office last year. Egypt's black, white and red flag now adorns streets across much of the nation, along with banners declaring support for Mr el-Sissi and hailing his latest achievement. The government declared Thursday a national holiday, and banks and most businesses were closed. The new extension involved digging and dredging along 72 kilometres of the 193-kilometre canal, making a parallel waterway at its middle that will facilitate two-way...
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Another 40 new buses arrive from Turkey

August 6, 2015, 5:59 am
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Another 40 new buses arrived from Turkey today and will be put in service this weekend, Malta Public Transport said. The new buses are 9.6 metres long and slightly narrower than the majority of the previous fleet, which was now being replaced. The new length was aimed at improving the flexibility for the operation to enable the buses to manoeuvre roads better on certain routes. They are low floor and have a capacity of 60 passengers. They are equipped with Euro 6 engines. The first batch of 40 new buses arrived in July. The remaining 62 new buses will arrive next month bringing the total number of new buses to 142 buses. So far, the company has imported 115 buses. The company said it would be immediately returning 23 of the temporary buses it leased from the UK last year. It said these buses had a problem as the air conditioning system was not suitable for Malta, particularly in recent weeks, as the temperatures soared. Malta Public Transport said the new buses were built specifically built for Malta by Turkish company Otokar with technical personnel from Malta inspecting these vehicles rigorously throughout the manufacturing process.
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Decision on extension of St John's Co-Cathedral museum suspended

August 6, 2015, 6:07 am
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(Adds statement from St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation) A planning authority decision for the extension and refurbishment of the St John's Co-Cathedral museum has been suspended after the International Council on Monuments and Sites expressed concerns about the project. The St John’s Cathedral Foundation applied to expand its museum onto the Great Siege cemetery, which is dominated by the communal grave where the remains of the heroes of the Great Siege are buried. The aim was to use the hall to exhibit all the Flemish tapestries together. The proposed project had been met with disapproval from Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar which said that while the proposed Caravaggio Centre and Cappella Ardente hall were well-conceived, blocking the view of the cathedral by a massive new structure on Merchants’ Street was far from acceptable. FAA argued that creating exhibition space could neither be considered restoration nor rehabilitation of the building and the hall changed the area from a cemetery for the heroes who fell to defend Malta and Europe, into a lobby where a museum made money from the sale of tickets and gifts. The authority's heritage advisory committee said its website that it...
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Romanian man fractures neighbour's ribs

August 6, 2015, 6:25 am
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A Romanian man who assaulted a neighbour who threatened him with a knife during a BBQ the day before admitted to causing the injuries but denied criminal responsibility for his actions. The fight broke out on Monday in St George's Street, St Julian's. The alleged victim, Romanian national Mircea Lucian Gheorghe, sustained fractured ribs. Castel Popovici, 25, from St Julian's admitted to causing the injuries but defence lawyer Roberto Montalto said his client was denying criminal responsibility as he had been threatened by the same person twice before.  Dr Montalto said his client had organised a BBQ on the roof on Sunday. At some point, Mr Gheorghe went to the roof brandishing a knife, complaining that they were being noisy. The situation quickly calmed down and Mr Gheorghe went back to his apartment.  The following day, Mr Popovici knocked at his neighbour's door to clear the air as he never had any problems with his neighbours before. It was then that Mr Gheorghe assaulted Mr Popovici and a fight ensued, with Mr Gheorghe ending up in hospital with fractured ribs.  Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard Mr Popovici denying the charges brought against him. After providing a...
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Saudi Arabia mosque bombing kills 'at least 13'

August 6, 2015, 6:40 am
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A suicide bomber has struck a mosque in Saudi Arabia used by interior ministry special forces in the south-western city of Abha, killing at least 13 people. Ten of those killed were members of the security forces, an interior ministry statement said. The state-owned Al-Ekhbariya news channel earlier gave a higher death toll, reporting that 17 had been killed in the attack. Nine other people were wounded in the attack, three of them seriously, said interior ministry spokesman Major General Mansour al-Turki. He said initial findings point to the attack being carried out by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest. The bomb targeted police trainees as they were in the middle of prayer, an official said. He could not immediately confirm if the mosque was inside an interior ministry compound. State media reported that the mosque belongs to an interior ministry emergency services post in Abha, which is the provincial capital of Asir. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but blame is likely to fall on Islamic State (IS), whose local affiliate has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in recent months, including various deadly shootings and smaller attacks against...
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Rolex Yacht-Master is now in Malta, exclusively available at Edwards Lowell Co. Ltd

August 6, 2015, 7:30 am
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Rolex recently unveiled its latest show-stopping timepiece: the new black and 18 ct Everose gold version of its celebrated nautical Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master. The Yacht-Master, which was first introduced in 1992, is considered a reference among nautical watches, and it embodies the long-term ties between Rolex and the world of sailing. This latest version was unveiled in Basel and is fitted exclusively with Rolex’s innovative and patented Oysterflex bracelet. It is also equipped with a rotatable 60-minute graduated bezel, raised numerals, the Chroma light display, self-winding mechanical movements, and a robust Oyster case. The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master is exclusively available at the Edwards Lowell boutiques in Valletta and St Julian’s. Call 2138 4503 or 2124 7447  
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Update 2: Widespread power cuts reported as interconnector transmission is halted

August 6, 2015, 7:48 am
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A widespread power outage has been reported as the interconnector stopped receiving electricity. The outage is widespread but not nationwide. Areas without power include Rabat, Sliema, San Gwann, Naxxar, Iklin, Birkirkara and Valletta. A reader reported that lights at Mater Dei also dimmed for a second before the generators took over. Traffic lights in several parts of the island are also out of order. A spokesman for Enemalta said the power cut was triggered off following a fault in the interconnector. However, the Delimara plant was still working and machines on stand-by were being put back on. Power was already back in some areas, including Marsascala, but it was not yet known when it would be back nationwide. The spokesman said Enemalta personnel were also at the interconnector site to inspect what had halted the transmission of electricity.  
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Man jumps into sea to flee arrest

August 6, 2015, 8:29 am
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A man who has been on the wanted list since he escaped from police custody on July 30 escaped again on Tuesday and jumped into the sea to prevent his arrest, the court heard this afternoon.  Andrea Busuttil, 27, from Sliema, pleaded not guilty to escaping from police custody on July 30, when the police went to his house armed with a search warrant over his alleged involvement in a robbery.   But while the search was under way, Mr Busuttil escaped and could not be found. He was spotted again on Tuesday evening but when he realised he was surrounded by the police, he escaped again. After a long run, he jumped into the sea at Manoel Island.   Police Inspector Kurt Zahra, who was chasing Mr Busuttil, jumped into the sea, and Mr Busuttil was arrested, despite his resistance.   Before Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, Mr Busuttil was charged with escaping from custody, assaulting and resisting Inspector Zahra, slightly injuring him, disobeying police orders, breaching the conditions of a previous release and relapsing.    Defence lawyer Jason Azzopardi told the court he was not requesting bail at this stage. He, however, asked the court for his client to be held at the Forensic...
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Virtu Ferries' Jean de La Vallette temporarily out of service following collision with pier

August 6, 2015, 8:37 am
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Ferry services to Pozzallo have been rescheduled following a collision by the MV Jean de La Vallette into the pier at Pozzallo during berthing this morning. The company said the ferry made slight contact with the quay and until repair works on it were complete, the service with MV San Gwann, which was being deployed as a substitute vessel, would be a passenger only service.   All voyages as from this evening's Pozzallo to Malta  voyage would be performed as per schedule by the San Gwann, until further notice. All passengers booked to travel were being contacted by the company. It apologized for the inconvenience and said it would issue regular statements to keep the public informed.
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