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Malta condemns Copenhagen attacks

February 15, 2015, 7:23 am
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The government strongly condemned the two deadly attacks in Copenhagen over the past hours. Danish police early today shot dead the man who is likely to have been behind the shootings at a free speech event and a synagogue in Copenhagen. Two people died and five police officers were wounded in the attacks. The dramatic events that unfolded in Copenhagen stirred fears that another terror spree was underway in a European capital a month after 17 people were killed in Paris attacks. In a reaction to the events, Foreign Minister George Vella extended his support to the Danish government and underlined Malta's solidarity with the people of Denmark during these difficult moments. He stated that the nature of the attacks came as a further shocking development on European territory and constituted a threat against all who embraced freedom and tolerance. Dr Vella reiterated that the government of Malta categorically condemned all acts of terror irrespective of who the perpetrators were. He added that the international community should look beyond these heinous acts and continue to work towards closer inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue. This, he added, was the most effective and...
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‘My knights would have captured capital’s spirit’

February 16, 2015, 2:07 am
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The quartet of massive knights shot down by the planning authority on Thursday would have acted as a reminder of the capital’s spirit, according to the artist. Gozitan artist John Grima’s sculpture shows four eight-foot-tall knights standing in a row poised as if they’re taking a step forward. “It is not a monument representing a particular person, ruler or historic event, but rather an art piece inspired by the spirit of a city surrounded by bastions,” Mr Grima said. The artist was contacted by this newspaper after the planning authority on Thursday turned down an application from the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation to place the bronze statue opposite the new parliament building just inside City Gate. When 10 board members voted against, critics who said it would have been out of place expressed relief while others insisted it would have commemorated the defenders of the city built by the Knights of the Order of St John. Read more on Times of Malta.
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Business with other Commonwealth countries 20% cheaper - Adrian Hillman

February 16, 2015, 2:00 am
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With a combined population in excess of 2.3 billion, GDP of more than US$10 trillion and an estimated average annual growth of 7.3 per cent for Commonwealth countries over the next five years, intra-Commonwealth trade and investment had the potential for significant growth, Commonwealth Business Forum chairman Adrian Hillman said. Speaking at the launch of the forum at the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Hillman said that while the Commonwealth was not a natural trade bloc, historical ties and familiar legal, banking and commercial practices made it easier to do business between Commonwealth countries. “The so-called Commonwealth Factor makes it up to 20 per cent cheaper to do business with another Commonwealth country. As countries seek to secure an export-led recovery from the global financial crisis, the Commonwealth not only provides a powerful international voice for free and fair trade, but also provides access to free and friendly markets,” he said. Mr Hillman said this was where the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC ) positioned itself. “The purpose of the council is to promote trade and investment by facilitating engagement between the government and the...
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Updated: Teaching grades at Ħamrun boys' secondary to report for work 1 hour late on Friday

February 16, 2015, 3:56 am
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(Adds Education Ministry's statement) All teaching grades at San Gorg Preca Boys Secondary School Ħamrun have been ordered by the Malta Union of Teachers to report to work one hour late on Friday because of continuous disruptions, threats and serious misbehaviour from individuals or groups of students. Declaring a trade dispute with the Education Ministry, the union said it would be expanding the directive if further incidents of violence and threats on teachers were reported. The union said in a statement it had been receiving reports about the unbearable situation faced by members at the school for the past months. It alerted the ministry and the directorates several times and although discussions were held and action was taken by the directorates to support the school, the situation hardly improved. “This situation is also affecting students who are victims of such misbehaviour with incidents of bullying and disruptions to their teaching and learning process,” the union said. MUT president Kevin Bonello told a news conference that the MUT could not accept a situation where teaching grades could not conduct their work in a safe working environment. The MUT, he said, had drawn...
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Citizenship applicants to get their passports

February 15, 2015, 11:01 pm
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The first successful applicants for Maltese citizenship under the investment scheme are due to take their oath of allegiance and receive their passports. The announcement was made yesterday by Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates, which has been receiving applications since the Individual Investor Programme (IIP) was rolled out last March. The applicants have complied with all legal commitments and settled their financial contribution in full, the firm said. The IIP allows non-EU nationals to acquire Maltese citizenship through a contribution of some €1.15 million in cash, bonds, investments and real estate, with an obligatory residency clause of one year. Applicants can also buy citizenship for their dependants at a fee of €25,000. Though no official announcement has been made so far by the government, Identity Malta, which manages the programme, confirmed that a number of applications were close to completing the legal requirements to obtain naturalisation.
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Fifteen arrested following drug finds

February 15, 2015, 10:17 am
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Fifteen people aged between 17 and 31 were arrested in Gozo yesterday following drug finds. Those arrested - 14 men and a 19-year-old woman, are Maltese, English, African and Finnish. They were found in possession of cocaine, ecstasy, and cannabis grass and resin. Three are being investigated on possession of cocaine and ecstasy in amounts denoting the drugs were not for their exclusive use. They were arrested by members of the Drug Squad and Criminal Investigation Department.
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Boy, 6, critical after falling through skylight

February 15, 2015, 11:40 am
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A six-year-old boy is in a critical condition after he fell around two storeys through a skylight. The accident happened at around 5pm when the boy, who was at home with his father in Main Street, Qormi, fell through a skylight when the glass broke. An inquiry is being held.
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Updated: Malta could be point of contact with Libyans in UN-led mission - PM

February 16, 2015, 3:13 am
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(Adds Foreign Ministry statement) Although Malta did not have the necessary resources to send soldiers or equipment to take part in a UN-led mission in Libya, it could serve as a contact point with the Libyan people as it is the European country Libyans trusted the most, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning. Speaking to journalists on the situation in the north African country, he said that, if need be, Malta could also help logistically, something that was allowed by the Constitution. Any action, the Prime Minister said, should be taken under the UN’s umbrella: “We cannot take action unilaterally but there should be a coalition…” Italy, he said, had already expressed its interest to lead a mission and two other EU countries, as well as Arab and Middle Eastern states, had also expressed an interest in taking part. Dr Muscat said it was important to build contact with Libyans as such a mission should be carried out with their support. Asked about fears nationally about a threat for Malta, Dr Muscat said: “We are not informed to date that there is a real threat of attack on Malta but the situation is still of concern because of extremist groups on our doorstep which took...
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‘Healthy hermaphrodite’ is both man and woman

February 16, 2015, 12:39 am
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Tony Briffa was born intersex and welcomes a Maltese draft law that will not allow doctors to change the physical sex of children.

When Tony Briffa was seven years old doctors in Australia made a choice that was never theirs to make – castration. Tony was born with healthy testes, as well as a vagina, and doctors decided it made more sense for Tony to live life as a woman – called Antoinette. But Tony – who was born intersex – never felt comfortable being a woman, or a man for that matter. “Nature – many would say God – made me a healthy hermaphrodite... I tried my best to be a woman but I couldn’t keep up the lie forever. Something was going to give. “At 30 I rejected what the doctors had done to me and started living... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.
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Update 2: Malta assisting in rescue of at least 1,000 migrants

February 15, 2015, 4:56 am
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The Armed Forces are assisting the Italian coastguard in the rescue of at least 1,000 migrants on 12 boats some 110 miles south of Lampedusa. This is the third operation of its kind in as many days. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted: "#Malta @Armed_Forces_MT working with #Italy authorities in major joint operation rescuing migrants on numerous boats leaving from #Libya." The Italian coast guard said it had plucked more than 130 people from two rubber boats about 180 kilometres south of the island of Lampedusa so far, and was working to save eight more vessels. "We are certainly at more than 1,000 migrants" involved in today's rescue operation, a spokesman for the coast guard in Rome told Reuters. Assistance has also been provided to 40 people on board a dinghy just a few miles off Libya. According to Ansa, gunmen threatened an Italian Coast Guard patrol boat that was rescuing a boat with migrants on board, about 50 miles from Tripoli. The gunmen ordered the Italians personnel to leave the migrants boat behind after they rescued the migrants. The Coast Guard personnel, who were not armed, obeyed the order. Better weather since last week has encouraged migrants to make the...
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Nationalist Party condemns IS atrocities

February 16, 2015, 8:32 am
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The Nationalist Party strongly condemns the brutal murder of 21 Coptic Christians by Islamic State (IS) in Libya. In a statement it said this barbaric execution of Egyptian workers would only serve to reinforce the international community's determination to dismantle terrorist networks in Libya and around the globe. "The perpetrators must be brought to justice. "The deteriorating situation in Libya is of concern, the country cannot be allowed to fall further into the chaos. "The Nationalist Party reiterates its support for an international and European response to the situation to ensure security in Libya and the Mediterranean," the PN said.
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Coptic priest invited to Ash Wednesday pilgrimage in solidarity after Isis murders

February 17, 2015, 7:31 am
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A Coptic priest has been invited to take part in tomorrow’s traditional Ash Wednesday pilgrimage as a sign of solidarity by the Church in Malta with the Egyptian Coptic community after 21 Coptics were decapitated by Isis in Libya. The invitation was made by the Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Charles Scicluna, who will lead the pilgrimage from San Girgor church to the parish church of Zejtun. The priest, Abouna Boulos Elsouriany, accepted the invitation. The Church in a circular reminded the faithful of their duty to make sacrifices during lent. Bishop Scicluna urged the faithful to offer prayers for Malta to get a new Archbishop. He also urged prayer within families and acts of charity.  
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Reforming drug addict who caused man's death gets suspended jail term

February 17, 2015, 3:51 am
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A 24-year-old man was given a suspended jail term for involuntarily causing a man's death during a traffic accident - after the victim's family said they were satisfied with the judgment so long as the young man was working to overcome his drug addiction problem. Magistrate Doreen Clarke heard Keith Cassar, of Birkirkara, admit to causing the death of 52-year-old Joseph Portelli, driving recklessly and under the influence on March 26, 2013, at 6.45am in Santa Venera. The accident happened when Mr Portelli was driving his Toyota Vitz along St Joseph High Road in the direction of Fleur-de-Lys. According to people on the scene at the time of the accident, Mr Portelli swerved and crashed into the aqueduct to avoid an oncoming BMW, driven by Mr Cassar, which was overtaking two cars. Two days after the accident Mr Portelli succumbed to his injuries. The magistrate heard Mr Cassar's probation officer explain that, at the time of the accident, he had a drug addiction problem but he was working to overcome his addiction and there had been "positive changes in his life". "The court also took into consideration the submissions made by the parte civile that, once the accused was in...
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UN will be forced to intervene in Libya if no agreement is reached between factions - Bernardino Leon

February 17, 2015, 12:33 am
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The United Nations will be forced to intervene with concrete action in Libya unless an agreement is reached between the different factions and militias, Bernardino Leon, the head of the United Nation’s support mission in Libya said. Contacted by One Radio for his comments this morning, Mr Leon said Libya was on the verge of collapse and although all options were on the table, an agreement with all stakeholders should be a priority. The time had come for the political talks being held to produce results. However, if this failed, the security council would ask the UN to fill the vacuum that would have been created with concrete action and decisions, Mr Leon said. He called on Libyans to recommit to the revolution’s goals of building a democratic state based on human rights and the rule of law and to agree to the formation of a national unity government. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat last week welcomed an announcement by Italy that it would be ready to join a UN-led force to battle an active terrorist threat in Libya. Yesterday he said that Malta could be the contact point with the Libya people in this mission. Following the slaughter of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by Islamic...
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IHI reports strong growth, marred by terrorism in Libya and devaluation of the rouble in Russia - Corinthia Tripoli damage estimated at €1m

February 17, 2015, 3:42 am
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Damage caused to the Corinthia Tripoli Hotel in a terrorist attack last month has been estimated to cost around €1 million, hotel owners International Hotel Investments said today. The property suffered limited damage, mostly glass panes on the façades and repairs are under way. "Going forward, and in the wake of reduced demand for hotel accommodation in Tripoli, we are further downsizing our operational costs at the hotel to a bare minimum," IHI said, while adding that the Commercial Centre was not affected and has continued to operate uninterruptedly, In a statement to the Malta Stock Exchange, IHI said the events in Tripoli came about just as it was putting final touches to a public announcement confirming record performances in its hotels in Malta, Prague, Budapest, Lisbon andLondon. It said Corinthia Hotel Budapest recorded a 17% rise in operating profits in 2014 over the previous year; Corinthia Hotel Lisbon saw its operating profit rise by 31% and Corinthia Hotel Prague's operating profit was up 43% year on year. The best performance was by Corinthia Hotel St George's Bay Malta, where operating profit rose by 90% year on year. This, IHI said, was the result of a...
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Malta International Airport named fourth best in Europe

February 16, 2015, 8:29 am
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Malta International Airport has been ranked the fourth best in Europe, according to the 2014 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. The airport obtained its best score ever, with an overall passenger satisfaction score of 4.22 on a scale from one (poor) to five (excellent). Despite a large increase in participating airports, Malta has ranked in the top five for five years running and this year’s overall performance exceeded results in previous years, even when placing first in 2010 and 2011. This year saw more than 259 airports worldwide surveyed, 96 of them European — an increase of 21 over last year. In total, there was an 81 per cent increase of European airports participating between 2010 and last year. Of the top five European airports, only one other formed part of Malta International Airport’s category of airports, serving between two and five million passengers. Malta International Airport placed fourth after Keflavík (Iceland), Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia) and Porto (Portugal) and was followed by Zurich (Switzerland). The annual ASQ Survey rates an airport’s performance in 34 key service areas and compares results with those of more than 259 airports around the world to...
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Surviving migrants' tales of despair should shock EU into action - Amnesty

February 16, 2015, 8:20 am
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The European Union’s limited search and rescue resources contributed to the migrant tragedy that claimed more than 300 lives a few days ago, Amnesty International said today after a visit to Lampedusa. It said that on that fateful day, four rubber dinghies carrying hundreds of migrants sent out an SOS in stormy weather in the southern Mediterranean. But when the distress call was received on February 8, the main vessel used in the pan-EU border management operation Triton was docked hundreds of kilometres away in Malta for maintenance. The large military vessels used in Italy’s now-defunct Mare Nostrum search and rescue operation were also out of use and docked even farther away in Sicily. An Amnesty International research team carried out interviews, in Rome and Lampedusa, with survivors, members of the Italian coastguard and local authorities.  “Italian coast guard officials responded admirably and with exceptional personal courage to the SOS call, putting in long hours amid incredibly treacherous conditions at sea. It’s impossible to know how many lives they could have saved with better resources, but the death toll would likely be lower,” Amnesty International’s Italy...
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Balconies collapse in Mosta, woman trapped in own house

February 17, 2015, 2:10 am
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A woman was for some time this morning a prisoner in her own Mosta apartment after the front door got blocked with stones and rubble when two balconies collapsed. The incident happened in Constitution Street, Mosta, at around 7am. The police said not one was injured and the woman was eventually helped out by members of the Civil Protection Department and the police. It is believed that the incident was caused by the weather. The rain was also the cause of many traffic jams all around Malta this morning with some drivers reporting they took 1.5 hrs to get to Valletta from Marsascala. A car could also be seen stuck in a massive pothole in Main Street, Lija, where works were carried out in the past weeks. The photo posted on the social media.
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Woman, 75, hit by car in Sliema

February 16, 2015, 11:42 pm
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A 75-year-old woman from Sliema was grievously when she was hit by a car in Dingli Street, Sliema at 8am. The police said the woman was hit by a Citroen Berlingo that was being driven by a 38-year-old Serb who lives in Msida.  
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Cyclist's widow shocked at court ruling

February 17, 2015, 12:00 am
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The widow of cyclist Cliff Micallef, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in 2009, is “shocked and let down” by the Constitutional Court’s decision to declare the driver’s statement during his interrogation inadmissible. “The reasons brought forward were very, very weak,” Shirley Micallef told Times of Malta when contacted for a reaction to last week’s court decision. Her husband died on impact when he was hit by a car at about 5am on July 30, 2009, by Anthony Taliana, who was 18 at the time, about 20 metres from the entrance to the White Rocks Complex on the Coast Road. Last Wednesday, the court ruled Mr Taliana was “a vulnerable person” when he was interrogated by police and his human rights had been breached when he was not given the opportunity to consult a lawyer before questioning. Read more on Times of Malta.
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