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Update 3 : Citizenship - EP groups agree on joint motion which criticises Malta

January 14, 2014, 6:34 am
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Update 3 - Adds new Labour Party statement below - The political groups in the European Parliament have agreed on a joint motion on citizenship which will be debated in a plenary sitting of the parliament tomorrow. The text expresses concern over the Maltese citizenship scheme and calls on Malta to bring its scheme in line with European values.  Informed sources indicated that the socialist MEPs on Thursday, while voting for the motion, vote against the clauses in the motion specifically mentioning Malta. Arnold Cassola, leader of Alternattiva Demokratika, said on TimesTalk that it was regrettable that the motion condemned Malta three times, showing the seriousness of this issue. The joint motion follows hours of discussion by the representatives of the various groups. The groups had earlier published their own draft texts. No reference to Malta had been made in the original texts prepared by the socialists and the greens.  PN Deputy leader Mario de Marco said the government's scheme had united European groups in condemnation, and it was giving the mistaken impression abroad that Malta was a bankrupt country, something which discouraged investment. The scheme was also...
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Car chase man jailed for nine months

January 15, 2014, 2:21 am
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File photo

A 21-year-old who led police on a car chase from Rabat to Vittoriosa late last month has been jailed for nine months and fined €3,500 after filing a guilty plea. Dunstan Bugeja, 21 of Vittoriosa, had initially pleaded not guilty to charges that included driving dangerously, ignoring police orders and breaching bail in three cases. He had been driving a Mercedes without registration and with foreign number plates when he was flagged down by a police officer on a motorcycle who saw him driving too fast. Policemen from the traffic branch and the Rapid Intervention Unit followed the car as it headed south, sometimes driving fast against one-way streets, until it was cornered in Vittoriosa. The court was told that the reason he took off was because he knew the car was not registered and he was out when he should have been at home on a curfew under his bail conditions. Lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili appeared for Mr Bugeja.
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Co-education in Forms 1 throughout Malta and Gozo as from September

January 14, 2014, 8:27 am
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The co-education system will be starting from Form 1 in all colleges as from the next scholastic year, following a consultation process, the Education Ministry said. The wide consultation process showed that colleges were in favour of the system and willing to introduce it together with the middle school concept. The decision follows the introduction of co-education at St Claire’s Secondary School, in Pembroke, last September. Following feedback from parents, educators and students, the set-up of the colleges will remain as is.To cater for the imbalance in the college population, the middle-school set-up will not be the same in all colleges. Some colleges will have the middle school on premises within the same secondary school set-up. These include the Mosta Boys’ Secondary School, Mosta Girls’ Secondary School, Zejtun Girls’ Secondary School, Sta Lucia Girls’ Secondary School and Pembroke Secondary School. The other middle schools will be operating from another school as per  below.  College  Current School  Localities Gozo College  Victoria GSS (designated to become a Middle School) All College Primary Schools Maria Reġina College  Mosta BSS (designated to include a...
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Piano's 'awesome' Parliament building

January 15, 2014, 5:48 am
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Renzo Piano’s controversial City Gate and Parliament project has been featured as one of “16 awesome buildings that will be finished in 2014” by the online magazine Complex Art+Design. The magazine says that the project was delayed because of stone supply problems but “the wait will be worth the immaculate construction”. “The building has touches of old world design while simultaneously featuring elements that could be of no other time but the present.” The other 15 buildings are Leadenhall Building in London, Sky City, Shanghai Tower, Wangjing Soho, Harbin Cultural Centre, The Wharf Times Square and Super Market Sanya Lake Park in China, Wadi Rum Desert Resort in Jordan, Mitikah Office Tower in Mexico City, Rotterdam Market Hall in The Netherlands, World One in Mumbai, India, Dream Dubai Marina in the United Arab Emirates, Lamar Towers in Saudi Arabia, Abenobashi Terminal Building in Osaka, Japan, and Kolding Hospital in Denmark.
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Sharing explicit selfies without consent may be made illegal

January 14, 2014, 10:51 pm
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The Social Dialogue Minister is considering amending the law to make it a crime to share explicit photos without the consent of the person depicted, after several selfies of naked young women were circulated on the internet. “The sharing of explicit material without a person’s consent is a clear breach of data protection,” a spokesman for Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli said in reaction to the furore sparked by the uploading of the pictures. “However, as the Data Protection Commissioner highlighted, he has no jurisdiction over websites based in the US. This ministry will, therefore, be looking into the problem with a view to amend the law.” More detail in the Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.
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Citizenship scheme clashes with EU treaties and international law - EU Commissioner

January 15, 2014, 6:33 am
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European Commissioner Viviane Reding issued a stern warning to the Maltese government that the controversial citizenship scheme clashed both with European Treaties as well as with international law. Commenting with the Maltese press in Strasbourg ahead of the afternoon plenary session which would be debating the resolution tabled yesterday, Commissioner Reding expressed herself "shocked" that EU citizenship "was being linked to the wallet". While acknowledging that member states had the right to decide on issues dealing with the national citizenship, she pointed out that as an EU member state Malta was also legally bound to consult with other countries as such a decision would also have repercussions on them. Replying to questions by timesofmalta.com, the EU Commissioner said that she was not consulted by the Maltese government prior to its decision to announce the scheme. Ms Reding said that if the government would forge ahead with its plans there could be negative consequences but did not elaborate further. She reiterated that international law clearly says that citizenship must be linked with residency, and so the Maltese scheme was in breach of this principle. Ms Reding also...
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Citizenship - PN says PM should stop acting like a bully - Muscat: EP resolution is embarrassment for Busuttil

January 15, 2014, 2:50 am
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Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning that it was Simon Busuttil and the Nationalist Party who should be embarrassed by the European Parliament resolution on citizenship since it was they who had insisted that Malta should be singled out and mentioned by name. In a reaction, the PN said the prime minister should stop acting like a bully against those who criticised him or his decisions. Dr Muscat thanked the members of the socialist and green groups, who, he said, would be pushing for Malta's name to be omitted from the resolution. Dr Muscat said 11 mentions of Malta in the original text - written by the PN - had been reduced to two. The socialists and the greens did not wish to see Malta mentioned at all because they did not want to be part of the local political game. The government, would note the debate, he said, but would carry on with the scheme, in the same way as the European Parliament in the past called on Malta to introduce abortion, but Malta decided otherwise. He did not think that today's debate would harm Malta. Asked whether he was happy with the way how Labour MEPs worked within their group to get Malta's name off the resolution, Dr Muscat singled out...
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Mcast assault stemmed from Facebook argument over girl

January 15, 2014, 5:20 am
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Four young men were today conditionally discharged and placed on probation for three years after they admitted to seriously injuring an 18-year-old man from Zabbar when they assaulted him outside Mcast in Paola two days ago. The court was told that the assault followed an exchange on Facebook. Inspector Spiridione Zammit said that the youngest of the group, a 16-year-old, had accused the victim Ryan Vella, 18 of Zabbar, of speaking against him with a foreign girl on Facebook. On the day of the incident, this 16-year-old asked three older friends to accompany him to Mcast. The three were Leslie Pace, 21 of Vittoriosa, David Delia, 19 of Cospicua and Paul Muscat, 18 of Pieta. An argument developed and they assaulted Vella, kicking and punching him even when he was on the ground. He suffered a broken nose and dislocated shoulder, among other injuries. The four admitted seriously injuring Mr Vella and threatening him. Mr Vella's parents, who were in court, exhibited the Facebook exchange in which they said the group had threatened to put their son in a wheelchair. Delia and Muscat had matching tattoos on the right side of their necks which said 'f*** justice'. Magistrate Carol...
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MEPs argue that citizenship should never be sold

January 15, 2014, 2:45 am
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The general trust of a debate on citizenship in the European Parliament  this evening was that citizenship should not be sold. Several MEPS mentioned Malta by name as they gave their views against the Maltese scheme and insisted that citizenship should never be sold. The debate was opened by Greek Deputy Minister for European Affairs Dimitris Kourkoulas who said the European Council had no position on the granting of citizenship but any concerns about citizenship had to be examined carefully. Member states should have the power to lay conditions for loss or gain of nationality, he said. But Commissioner Viviane Reding said that, according to international law, European citizenship should only be granted where there was a genuine link or connection to the country in question. National citizenship was an entry door to the EU, the EU treaty and EU rights and it “must not be up for sale”. It should not depend on the size some’s bank account. “Citizenship cannot be taken lightly and one cannot put price tag on it.” Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola said that the majority of the Maltese were against the Maltese scheme but those who spoke against it were labelled traitors… "But my duty...
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Salina crash driver dies

January 15, 2014, 6:00 am
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Updated 9 p.m. A 37-year-old woman from St Paul's Bay has died after her car was involved in a  head-on crash with a truck in Salina this afternoon. The collision took place close to the junction leading to T'Alla w'Ommu Hill at about 2.40pm. A Civil Protection rescue crew was called to release the woman from the wreckage. The truck driver, a 28-year-old man from Naxxar, was given medical treatment for shock. An inquiry is being held.
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Maltese song competing in France Eurovision final

January 16, 2014, 12:04 am
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A Maltese song will be competing in France's national Eurovision song contest final on January 26. The song, Ma Liberte, the work of Maltese team Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg and Sean Vella, beat several other songs to make it to the final stages of the competition. A 14-member jury consisting of music industry professionals and French television representatives shortlisted three songs and three artists to go head to head in a live national final.  The three finalist songs will be given massive rotation on radios and television channels all over France, giving the French people the possibility to vote for their favourite entry. The winning entry will be revealed on March 2 on the show Les Chansons D’Abord hosted by ex-Eurovision participant Natasha St-Pier. Joanna Lagrave – who five years ago was 1st runner up in France’s Star Academy – will be performing the song by Vella/Borg and hoping to be the one to represent France in the 59th edition of the contest. Borg/Vella will also be competing in the local selections with four songs between them, but should they go ahead and win the national finals in France, it will be giving Malta more than just one chance at this year’s...
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Douglas Kmiec, former US ambassador to Malta, to seek US vice presidency

January 15, 2014, 11:12 pm
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Douglas Kmiec, US ambassador to Malta from 2009 to 2011, has announced he is pursuing the vice presidency of the United States, backing Hillary Clinton. He had resigned his Malta post after a US State Department report rebuked him for spending too much time writing on subjects such as abortion and his Catholic beliefs to the detriment of American diplomacy. In a Facebook post he said: Thanks to my many friends who have asked me whether I intend to seek public office, Yes, I am. After a lifetime of supporting Democratic and Republican candidates, I am taking up the challenges that confront our nation directly. Specifically, and some will no doubt say, quixotically, I am pursuing the vice presidency of United States, but if all goes well that possibility will turn on the judgment of Pres. Hillary Clinton. Of course public office should not be about titles and so I'm really just looking for a spot to do good in my last years while I still have energy and excitement of the ideas of social justice especially as they are now so well articulated by Pope Francis. I suspect that if I emulate with sincerity the holy father's sense of joy and humility possibilities of helping Mrs. Clinton,...
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Microsoft donates almost €4million worth of Office packages to pupils

January 15, 2014, 2:57 am
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Microsoft has donated almost €4million worth of Office packages for use by Maltese schoolchildren. The agreement was announced this morning by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during a visit to Qormi primary school. Dr Muscat saw the children using IT equipment and sat down in a kindergarten classroom and chatted with the children. The agreement will see some 40,000 pupils in government schools, including Mcast, receive a free Office package that would save them some €100 each. Talks would be held on extending the agreement to include students in church and independent schools. Dr Muscat said the pupils will not need to queue to get their software - a jibe to what happened in the past - but they will simply register online and download it over the internet. He said the governemnt would shortly be rolling out its digital strategy. More information and to register for the software is available from www.mita.gov.mt/studentadvantage
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Farrugia Sacco writes to Speaker, questions validity of impeachment motion

January 15, 2014, 10:37 am
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Lawyers representing Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco have written to the Speaker arguing that the impeachment motion presented by then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi (in December 2012) was no longer valid since Malta now had a new parliament and a new prime minister, and Dr Gonzi was no longer even a member of the House. The lawyers also pointed out that proceedings were still pending on a Constitutional application which had called for the withdrawal of two members of the Commission for the Administration of Justice. A decision on this matter could have a bearing on the composition of the Commission and its report on the impeachment motion. The lawyers also complained that the judge had still not received a copy of the report and what he knew came from the media. The lawyers' letter was read out at a meeting of the House Business Committee this evening. The Justice Commission in a report to the Speaker on Monday said it had investigated the allegations made in the impeachment motion presented by Dr Gonzi and found there was prima facie proven misbehaviour. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat immediately declared that the impeachment proceedings would be continued without delay. Speaker...
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Alfred Sant critical of decision on Farrugia Sacco

January 16, 2014, 1:27 am
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Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant has criticised the Commission for the Administration of Justice for its report on Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco. Writing in his blog on inews, the former Labour leader said the commission’s report confirmed his view that the legal system in Malta is arcane. Essentially, he said, the commission had decided that the judge should be censured because he had continued to serve as president of the Malta Olympic Committee. This was considered as misbehaviour. Dr Sant noted that the Bangalore Principles on the judiciary's behaviour, recognised by the United Nations, spoke on the integrity of judges and said, in March 2007, that judges may participate in various not-for-profit organisations in civil society including charitable societies, school and university councils, religious society, hospital boards, social clubs and sports organisations. There were many illustrious judges who had participated in voluntary societies in the past, including Chief Justice Arturo Mercieca, who led the St Vincent de Paule society for many years, and judge Maurice Caruana Curran, who founded and led Din l-Art Helwa. Through its censuring of Justice Farrugia Sacco, the...
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Court told how Kessler called Silvio Zammit a liar during interrogation

January 16, 2014, 6:03 am
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OLAF prosecutor Giovanni Kessler repeatedly called Silvio Zammit a liar when he questioned him in Malta in July last year, a court was told today. A description of the questioning made by the director of the EU's anti-fraud agency was given in court during the continuation of the case against Mr Zammit, who stands accused of trading in influence by having allegedly sought a bribe to bring about changes in the EU's Tobacco Directive. Mr Zammit was a canvasser of John Dalli, who was European Commissioner for Health at the time. Defence lawyer Edward Gatt asked a series of questions to Mario Debono, a former official at the Internal Audit and Investigations Department about his involvement in the OLAF investigation. Mr Debono said he was present for the interrogations, as was his superior, Rita Schembri. He said that Mr Kessler arrived on July 4, 2012 and went to Mr Zammit's restaurant, Peppi's kiosk in Sliema. He interviewed him that afternoon. Dr Gatt asked if Mr Zammit was repeatedly called 'a liar', which Mr Debono confirmed. Mr Debono said Mr Zammit was very cooperative while Mr Kessler had been 'pompous'. Mr Zammit was also interviewed the following day in Valletta. Dr Gatt...
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Oil procurement bribes estimated to total $905,000

January 15, 2014, 9:51 am
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The Public Accounts Committee is this evening continuing its questioning of oil trader George Farrugia as part of its investigations into oil procurement practices.  This is the fourth meeting for which Mr Farrugia has been summoned. Mr Farrugia has admitted his part in the granting of commissions for oil procurement contracts and been granted a presidential pardon to reveal all. At the beginning of today's sitting, Keith Mercieca from the National Audit Office presented his workings of commissions Mr Farrugia had given between 1999 and 2006. He said the total he had arrived to was $905,000, but this was not entirely accurate as it was based on a number of assumptions. When the testimony of Mr Farrugia began, Labour MP Justyne Caruana said she was not convinced that he is saying the whole truth. She asked whether there were any parameters in his presidential pardon. He replied that what he was saying was being misinterpreted. He said the reference to 'the big one' was in an email with the heading Re payments. Dr Caruana asked Mr Farrugia whether he had a say, directly or indirectly, with the presidential pardon he was granted. To this Mr Farrugia replied with a blunt "no". When...
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Maltese investors buy hypermarket in Romania

January 16, 2014, 2:15 am
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A subsidiary of Alf Mizzi & Sons, Western Logistics SRL, has bought the Pic Hypermarket in Oradea, Romania. Quoting liquidators PricewaterhouseCoopers, Romania-Insider.com said the market will be transformed into a logistics centre. Although the value of the deal was not revealed, the liquidators said it was a good outcome for an asset worth several million euros in a difficult market.
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Updated - Man reported missing

January 16, 2014, 8:59 am
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A 50-year-old man, Emmanuel Micallef, has been missing since yesterday, the police said. He was last seen at 10pm in Bahar ic-Caghaq, wearing grey tracksuit trousers and a white t-shirt. Mr Micallef has green eyes and brown hair. Any information should be passed on to the police on 2122 4001 or at a police station. Meanwhile, a 43-year-old woman, Anita (Anna Rita) Miggiani, who had also been missing, was located in the late evening.
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Updated - Busuttil urges the prime minister to stop and listen after strong vote against sale of citizenship

January 16, 2014, 4:24 am
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Updated - Adds new comments by Dr Busuttil Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has called on the prime minister to immediately stop the sale of citizenship scheme after the overwhelming vote against it in the European Parliament. Speaking on Net TV, Dr Busuttil said this was a massive vote of no confidence in the citizenship scheme and a massive vote of no confidence against Dr Muscat. "The prime minister should now stop and listen, especially after the European Parliament spoke with such a strong voice. Everyone, is now telling him that citizenship should not be sold," Dr Busuttil said. "The PN is calling on the government to stop this scheme so that it could show that it is listening to this message." Dr Busuttil also pointed out how the vice president of the European Commission, Viviane Reding, said yesterday that the citizenship scheme breached European and international law. The scheme should be stopped for this reason too, Dr Busuttil said. Malta would not have reached this stage had the prime minister not ignored repeated calls to stop the scheme earlier or modify it in an acceptable manner, he added. REACTION TO PRIME MINISTER'S COMMENTS Later in the afternoon Dr Busuttil...
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