Damascus blasts kill at least 45 as Syria peace talks continue

A triple bombing claimed by the extremist Islamic State group has killed at least 45 people near Damascus, overshadowing an already shaky start to what are meant to be indirect Syria peace talks. Syria's state news agency SANA said that the blasts went off in Sayyda Zeinab, a predominantly Shiite Muslim suburb of the Syrian capital. SANA said attackers detonated a car bomb at a bus stop and that two suicide bombers set off more explosives as rescuers rushed to the area. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 47 people were killed in the explosions, and that the death toll was expected to rise because a number of people were seriously wounded. An IS-affiliated website said the blasts were carried out by members of the extremist group, which controls large areas in both Syria and Iraq. UN-hosted peace talks in Geneva are part of a process outlined in last month's UN resolution that envisions an 18-month timetable for a political transition in Syria, including the drafting of a new constitution and elections. The talks got off to a rocky start on Friday, with UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura meeting only with a Syrian government...

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Hawkers find closed doors

The government is considering doubling the payout to monti hawkers to reduce the number of stalls, enabling it to return to its original plans to relocate the market to Valletta's Ordnance Street, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt. The offer being considered is in the region of €40,000, up from the €23,000 offer made in November last year to entice them to give up their licence. Sources said this was just one of the options being considered by the government to resolve the impasse over the stalls' relocation. An Economy Minister spokesman would not confirm nor deny that it was one of the options being considered. But lawyer Claire Bonello, representing the monti hawkers, said although she had heard such information through the grapevine, the authorities had not made an official offer. "I am reliably informed this is being considered but the offer has not yet been made," Dr Bonello said when contacted. Asked whether they would be prepared to accept such an offer, Dr Bonello said hawkers were not after money but simply wanted to be allowed to work. "It seems the government is intent on reneging on its contractual obligations and preferring to cull the number of hawkers, in...

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Driver flees fight, hits four cars on way to police station

A man who fled a fight in a Mitsubishi early this morning hit four cars on his way to the police station.

The cars were parked in Triq Ghajn Damma, Xaghra.

No one was injured. 

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It's give us a clue GCHQ, with only hours to solve crypto-challenge

Amateur cryptographers have just a few hours to solve GCHQ's head-scratching Christmas puzzle, with the deadline for the festive challenge coming at midnight today. Robert Hannigan, director of GCHQ - one of Britain's intelligence and security agencies - released a festive card last month featuring not reindeer or Father Christmas, but a cryptographic challenge. Participants had to fill in a grid-shading puzzle to unveil a picture, which is the first in a series of increasingly complex challenges. Nearly 30,000 players have reached the final stage - about five per cent of those who started it - but none has successfully completed it, GCHQ said this week. The complete solution to all stages of the puzzle will be published on the GCHQ website in early February after all entries have been received and the competition has closed. GCHQ's website attracted huge visitor levels eager to take the challenge over the Christmas period. Nearly 600,000 people successfully completed the opening stage of the puzzle - a nonogram which when completed correctly, creates a "quick response" code which leads to the next stage of the challenge. The puzzle was designed to amuse recipients of the...

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Dozens killed, 100 injured after suicide bombings in Damascus

At least 45 people killed, 110 wounded after Islamic State bombings hit Damascus suburb location to Syria's holiest Shia shrine

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Venice Carnival goers being asked to lift their masks and show their faces amid security fears

Carnival-goers in Venice are being asked by police to momentarily lift their masks as part of new anti-terrorism measures for the annual festivities.

Police are also examining backpacks and bags and using metal-detecting wands before revellers are allowed into St. Mark's Square, the heart of the Venetian carnival.

Today's main crowd-pleaser known as the Flight of the Angel went off without a hitch. In that event, a costumed young woman, attached by wires, "flies" over the crowd, starting from St. Mark's bell tower and gradually descending to the square.

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Boko Haram 'burned children alive' in Nigeria village attack

Boko Haram extremists have fire-bombed huts, burning people including children to death, in the latest attack by the Nigerian group, according to a survivor. Scores of charred bodies lay on the streets following Saturday night's attack on Dalori village, three miles from Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram and the biggest city in north-east Nigeria. The attack continued for four hours, survivor Alamin Bakura said, adding several members of his family were killed or wounded. The violence continued as three female suicide bombers detonated their devices among people who managed to flee to neighbouring Gamori village, killing many, according to a soldier at the scene. It was not known how many people were killed as bodies were still being collected, including from the surrounding bushes where the insurgents hunted down fleeing villagers, according to security guard Abba Shehus. Boko Haram has taken to attacking soft targets, increasingly with suicide bombers, since the military last year drove them out of towns and villages in north-eastern Nigeria. The six-year Islamic uprising has killed about 20,000 people and driven 2.5 million from their homes.

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Irresistible Juve thump Chievo for 12th league win in a row

Juventus clocked up their 12th successive Serie A win today when they swept aside Chievo 4-0 away in a hopelessly one-sided encounter. Alvaro Morata set Juventus on their way with two first-half goals before Alex Sandro and inspirational midfielder Paul Pogba added two more in the second half. The win left Juventus, who are aiming for a fifth successive title, with 48 points from 22 games, one ahead of Napoli who began the weekend as leaders and are at home to Empoli later today. It also equalled their record number of consecutive league wins in a single season. Juventus needed only six minutes to take the lead when Stephan Lichtsteiner's low cross found Morata at the far post and the Spaniard tapped in from close range. Morata, who scored twice in the Wednesday's 3-0 Italian Cup win over Inter, took his tally to four in a week with another tap-in six minutes before the break after Paulo Dybala and Sami Khedira combined to carve open the Chievo defence. Juve's spluttering start to the season, which included a 1-1 draw at home to Chievo, was a distant memory as they continued to dominate the game after the break. They added a third in the 61st minute when Lichtsteiner played a...

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Driver escapes fight, hits four cars on way to station

A man who escaped from a fight in a Mitsubishi at 4am today hit four cars and drove on to the police station, the police said. The cars were parked in Triq Ghajn Damma, Xaghra. The police said the drivers of the parked cars were inside but no one was injured.

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Malta ‘only EU country to get short end of the stick’ in TTIP deal

Labour MEP Alfred Sant urges national debate on proposed TTIP agreement, as new study predicts that proposed free trade deal will see Malta's economy slump by 0.3% and investment in the country by 0.7% 

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Proposed EU-US trade agreement postivie for all EU states - except Malta

A study by the World Trade Institute and a number of universities commissioned by the EU's American Chamber of Commerce concluded that the impact of the proposed trade agreement between the European Union and the United States would be positive for all EU states - except Malta, former Prime Minister Alfred Sant said today. Addressing the general meeting of the party's Valletta section, Dr Sant referred to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership being negotiated for a free trade zone covering investments between the EU and the USA. The study, which was published this week, assessed in depth the economic impact that TTIP would have on EU states. "In Malta's case, the authors of the study predict that there will be a 0.3 per cent drop in the Maltese economy They also predict that there will be a 0.7 per cent decline in Malta's investment. This is a matter that deserves full debate and study in Malta," Dr Sant said.

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Political rivalry believed to be behind Swieqi stabbing which left 25-year-old Libyan hospitalised

Political rivalry between the Libyan governments of Tobruk and Tripilo is believed to be the reason which led to the Swieqi stabbing of a 25-year-old Libyan man.

The stabbing happened yesterday in a Swieqi residence.

The victim was left in critical condition but is no longer in danger of dying.

Two Libyans involved in the fight were denied bail today after denying involvement in the stabbing.

Zouhir Elfezqa, 31, who lives in Swieqi, was this morning arraigned under arrest and charged with attempted murder and inflicting grievous injuries to  Wadea Al Maghrgi.

Another Libyan man,  21-year-old Mohammed Abdul Hafid Abukem, also from Swieqi, was separately charge, accused of attempting to inflict grievous injuries to  Mr Elfezqa, slightly injuring him, holding him against his will and carrying a knife without a permit.

Police inspectors James Grech and Elton Taliana prosecuted.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri presided. 

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Battle of Malta tunnels open to public this afternoon

People can this afternoon visit the complex of tunnels where the Battle of Malta was plotted and coordinated during the Second World War. The underground tunnels of the War Headquarters, which are beneath the Upper Barrakka, are not usually open to the public, as Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna is still restoring them in a bid to open the doors this summer. The restoration work of the 28,000 square metre complex kicked off in 2009 and has so far cost €1.7 million, but more work needs to be done. People can visit the complex and the Saluting Battery until 5pm for €5.

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Four people arrested in Paceville for cocaine and ecstasy possession

Four people were arrested in Paceville yesterday for the possession of cocaine and ecstasy.

The people caught are between 25 and 26 year old and hail from Fruga, Siggiewi, Santa Venera and Gudja.

Police investigations are ongoing. 

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Three children among 12 people killed in Moscow workshop fire

A fire at a textile workshop in Moscow has killed 12 people, including three children. The blaze erupted late on Saturday in north-eastern Moscow, Russia's Investigative Committee said. It engulfed an area of 3,000 square metres. The Committee said arson is one of the possible causes. Russian children's rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov confirmed three children including a baby were among those who died. He said the victims were migrant workers who lived next to their workplace. It took several dozen fire engines a few hours to extinguish the blaze and investigators are continuing to rummage through the rubble for evidence.

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Parliamentary Secretary for EU funds inaugurates €160,000 ‘Mgarr Heritage Trail’ project

The Parliamentary Secretary for EU funds Ian Borg this morning inaugurated the €160,000 'Mgarr Heritage Trail' project.

The Mgarr local council worked on the project in order to offer a year-round attraction that will draw tourists to the area during the off-peak season.

The project included the construction of new pavements in order to make the area for accessible and secure and maps showing the main areas of interest.

Dr Borg said the project will attract more people to the area and offer insight to Mgarr's history.

The Parliamentary Secretary responsible for local councils Stefan Buontempo hailed the Mgarr council's efforts for striving to improve the area's appeal to tourists.

The heritage trail will help both local and foreign tourists take in all that Mgarr has to offer, Dr Buontempo said.

He praised various local councils in Malta and Gozo for carrying out similar embellishment works with the aim of improving the product offered to tourists. 

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Carmelo Abela, Fenech Adami on Reporter to discuss the police and prisons

Host Saviour Balzan discusses the recent inmate deaths in police custody as well as the influenza outbreak at the Corradino Correctional Facility

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AD leader claims Muscat wants ‘yes-man’ to replace ‘critical’ Toni Abela

Arnold Cassola accuses Prime Minister of 'kicking PL deputy leader Toni Abela upstairs so as to rid himself of a critical voice within the PL executive' 

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Four people arrested in Paceville drug haul

Police arrest four youths who were found in possession of cocaine and ecstacy pills in Paceville 

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Four drug arrests in Paceville

Four people aged between 25 and 26 were arrested in Paceville last night after they were found in possession of cocaine and ecstasy. The arrested people are from Fgura, is-Siġġiewi, Sta Venera and Gudja.

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EU-America trade agreement positive for all EU member states except Malta, Alfred Sant says

A Study carried out by the 'World Trade Institute' and a number of Universities commissioned by the 'American Chamber of Commerce' in the EU, concluded that the impact of  the proposed trade agreement between the European Union and the United States will be positive for all EU member states, except for Malta.

This was revealed today by former Prime Minister and MEP Alfred Sant while addressing the general meeting of the Labour Party's Valletta section.

Dr Sant referred to the agreement  known as Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) being negotiated for a free trade zone covering investments between the EU and the USA. The study, which was published this week, assessed in depth the economic impact that TTIP would have on the member states of the EU.

"In Malta's case, the authors of the study predict that there will be a decrease of  0.3 per cent of the Maltese economy as a result of TTIP, if it is concluded. Also, they predict that there will be a decline of 0.7 per cent in Malta's investment.This is a matter that deserves full debate and study in Malta. People need to be aware of what the stakes are and what a reasonable position on the matter could be, that will enhance Malta's interests in the framework of EU free trade and investment agreements.' said Dr Sant.

TTIP has generated huge controversy in the US and the EU. Among the reasons for this, there has been the fact that negotiations have been carried out in secret and because many believe that the agreement will override national laws. Meanwhile, a huge public relations effort has been unleashed to sell TTIP to EU and US citizens. The same has happened in Malta, said Dr Sant, where we have been assured that TTIP will bring great benefits.

Dr Sant  remarked that decisions being taken at a European level were increasingly having an impact on Maltese society. Very often, this was getting noticed when it had already happened. An essential part of the MEPs' job therefore was to create a greater awareness among the Maltese public regarding important European developments.

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Novak Djokovic beats Murray to win his sixth Australian Open; Murray slumps to five losses

Novak Djokovic has maintained his perfect streak in six Australian Open finals with a 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (3) victory Sunday that consigned Andy Murray to a fifth defeat in championship deciders at Melbourne Park.

Djokovic equaled Roy Emerson's long-standing record of six Australian Open titles and increased his career haul to 11 Grand Slam titles, including four of the last five.

Murray became only the second man to lose five finals at one major - Ivan Lendl lost five and won three US Open finals in the 1980s.

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Swieqi stabbing incident motivated by political rivalry between two Libyan governments

Political rivalry between the two opposing Libyan governments of Tripoli and Tobruk was the reason behind yesterday's Swieqi stabbing incident, which sent a 25-year-old Libyan to hospital, the Times of Malta has learnt.  The incident happened at about 8.30am in a residence in Triq is-Sidra, Swieqi. A towel and a shoe belonging to the victim were found on the blood-stained pavement a short distance away from the scene of the crime. The victim was left in a critical condition but he has since improved and is no longer in danger. Meanwhile, two Libyans involved in this incident have been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to the charges brought against them before Magistrate Neville Camilleri. Zouhir Elfezqa, 31, who lives in Swieqi, was this morning arraigned under arrest and charged with attempted murder and inflicting grievous injuries to  Wadea Al Maghrgi. A second man,  21-year-old Mohammed Abdul Hafid Abukem, also of Swieqi, was separately charge, accused of attempting to inflict grievous injuries to  Mr Elfezqa, slightly injuring him, holding him against his will and carrying an unlicensed knife. While Mr Elfezqa did not request bail, the court turned down Mr...

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Five snowmobilers die in Canadian avalanche

Five people snowmobiling in a group of 17 died when an avalanche struck British Colombia on Friday. Julie Noce reports.

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NAO report on Gaffarena scandal: The beginning of the end of Joseph Muscat - Simon Busuttil

The National Audit report on the Gaffarena scandal proved that this was the beginning of the end of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's government, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this morning. Speaking in Zejtun, Dr Busuttil said the report showed that the Prime Minister's movement's loyalty was not to the country but to himself and the interests of the few. The National Audit Office investigation started after the Times of Malta last May exposed an expropriation scandal involving businessman Mark Gaffarena, who partly owned a building in Old Mint Street, Valletta. The NAO concluded that former Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon had colluded with officials of the Government Property Department and Mr Gaffarena in the expropriation of half the building. "The report is very strong. It is clear proof that this government is in a corruption crisis… that we have the most corrupt government in history…" Dr Busuttil said that while the report used the word collusion, meaning an agreement which led to someone getting something that did not belong to him. The word for this in Maltese was corruption, he said. "There is corruption here…. Joseph Muscat's government is most corrupt...

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Muscat pushing for PL policy change to allow Toni Abela’s successor to be sitting MP

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today announced that he will be pushing for a policy change within the Labour Party that will allow Toni Abela's successor at deputy leader for party affairs to be a sitting MP.

Speaking during a political activity, Dr Muscat spoke of the need to modernise the PL's structures in the wake of Dr Abela's departure to the Court of Auditors.

"One impediment was that the deputy leader for party affairs cannot contest the general election or be a Member of Parliament. I believe the idea served us well in past years, but the time has come to remove the idea that the PL and parliamentary group work separately."

Dr Muscat said he will be meeting with the PL's executive tomorrow ahead of a vote on his proposal during an extraordinary general meeting next week.

"The person filling Toni Abela's shoes has to be ready to modernise the party and its structures," Dr Muscat said.

He called the eventual appointment of Dr Abela's successor a "new chapter" for the Labour Party, saying it is an opportunity for the Party to update its organisational structures in order to better reflect its role as a Party in government.

He called on the Opposition to support Dr Abela's appointment to the Court of Auditors. 

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AUM: Muscat says PN telling Marsascala residents area will be taken over by ‘blacks, Arabs’

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today accused the Opposition leader of running a "xenophobic" campaign against the "American University of Malta" development in Marsascala and Cospicua.

Speaking at a political activity, Dr Muscat said he has received word that the PN is scaremongering and playing on xenophobic sentiments by telling residents in the area that it will be taken over by "blacks and Arabs" thanks to the AUM.

He challenged Simon Busuttil to "be a man" and go speak to residents himself instead of using his agents to spread these xenophobic sentiments.

Dr Muscat said 4,000 students will come to Malta thanks to the 'AUM' project, which will be a great boon to the economy.

The Prime Minister challenged Dr Busuttil's distancing from certain policies adopted by the former PN government.

Dr Muscat said Dr Busuttil was heavily involved in the previous government, therefore "if he was a man he should have resigned" if he did not agree with certain policies.

The Prime Minister defended the government's policy of fuel price stability, saying it is an improvement over past practices which saw constant price fluctuations.

"We do not react to the Opposition leader's insults because he is only harming himself, people do not want politics to be conducted in this manner. He resorts to insults because he has no plans when it comes to a fuel policy."

Dr Muscat fired off a list of government achievements, mentioning free childcare, a reduction in the tax burden, pension increases and improvements in the health service among others.

He welcomed a study conducted by Yale University which ranked Malta as the "ninth greenest" country in the world.

The Prime Minister said that the study did not just look at the amount of building permits issued in Malta, but took a holistic view about air quality, water quality and waste management.

"This is what makes the environment. It is about a holistic vision. We are tackling it head on," Dr Muscat said.

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Simon Busuttil brands this government as the most corrupt one that Malta has ever had to endure

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil dedicated most of his fiery 30 minute speech to the Gaffarena scandal today, while also urging Nationalists to return to the party fold.

In an uncharacteristically loud speech, Dr Busuttil said that it is becoming increasingly clear that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's loyalty is only to himself. "Under this government, you can only make headway if you are close to Muscat. He has lost all sense of direction. He never even mentions the worker any more, even though his party is supposed to be the one where workers feel they belong," he said.

He said that the National Audit Office report clearly showed that Dr Muscat's loyalty is not to the people, or to the country, but to himself and those that are close to him. "This report is clear evidence that this government is in a crisis of corruption," he said.

Raising his voice a few decibels higher, Dr Muscat said that this is the most corrupt government in Malta's history. "You might be able to fool people once. You might even get away with it the second time, but if you try a third time, the Maltese people will shun you. This scandal is the beginning of the end of Joseph Muscat," he said.

Quoting the NAO report, Dr Busuttil said that collusion is not a word that is often used in Malta. "Collusion means that there was an agreement made for someone to get something that they are not entitled to. In Malta, we use the word corruption. The government does not like it one bit when we mention the word, but Muscat's government is corrupt, and the most corrupt one we have ever had," he said.

 

More soon

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China voices anger as US warship skirts Beijing-controlled island

China has strongly condemned the United States after an American warship deliberately sailed near one of its islands in the hotly-contested South China Sea to exercise freedom of navigation and challenge Beijing's vast territorial claims. The missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur sailed within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island in the Paracel chain "to challenge excessive maritime claims of parties that claim the Paracel Islands", without notifying the three claimants beforehand, defence department spokesman Mark Wright said in Washington. China, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping claims in the Paracels and require prior notice from ships transiting what they consider their territorial waters. The latest operation was particularly aimed at China, which has increased tensions with the US and its south-east Asian neighbours by embarking on massive construction of man-made islands and airstrips in contested areas. In October, another US warship sailed in the nearby Spratly Islands near Subi Reef, where China has built one of seven artificial islands. Mr Wright said the attempts to restrict navigational rights by requiring prior notice were inconsistent with international law. US...

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‘Gaffarena scandal the beginning of the end for Muscat’ – Busuttil

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil questions Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's loyalty to Malta in the wake of Gaffarena scandal, says Labour's "mudslining" was all in vain as no PN minister was charged with corruption

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PL to change structures to allow MPs to contest deputy leadership for party affairs

The Labour Party shall be meeting next Friday to modernise its structure and allow MPs to contest for the post of deputy leader for party affairs, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning. Speaking in Lija, Dr Muscat spoke Toni Abela's nomination for the Court of Auditors saying he was "a man of integrity" who, he said, would make Malta proud. The nomination, he said, would open another chapter in the manner the party operated. "We need all hands on deck in the second part this legislature, but at the same time we have to modernise our party structures," he said. An extraordinary general conference is being held on Friday to make the necessary changes, he said. Earlier, Dr Muscat said that the Labour Government would strive to remain the agent of change. "We cannot rest on our laurels," he said. He said that the Labour administration has reversed the negative trend in unemployment with the lowest drop in 25 years, eased the taxation burden and introduced free childcare services. So far, 350 persons had benefitted from incentives through which the government covered the travelling expenses of both parents when their sick children needed treatment abroad. He also referred to...

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Muscat wants PL structure changed to allow MP to succeed Abela as deputy leader

Prime Minister proposes changes in Labour Party's structure that will allow a MP to occupy the post of deputy leader for party affairs, a position currently occupied by Toni Abela 

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Young Maltese mechanical engineer helps rebuild Nepal

Most people flee disaster areas, but one Maltese girl decided to head for one last year, when a devastating earthquake hit Nepal, ripping apart a country with which she had fallen in love during a three‐week holiday in 2014. Michaela Zammit la Rosa, a 24-year-old mechanical engineer, tells Jacob Borg her story.

 

"The Nepal I knew and came to love on visiting it in November 2014 came to a grinding halt for 56 seconds on 25 April last year when an earthquake measuring a staggering 7.8 on the Richter scale shook the country in what was to become the largest natural disaster in Nepal to date. If the Ghorka earthquake wasn't enough, a second and equally disastrous quake, with a magnitude of 7.3, hit east Kathmandu on 12 May", she said.

"The news hit home immediately. It felt as if someone had violated something of mine. It was then that I decided I would return to Nepal to help in post earthquake relief work. Some 600,000 homes were destroyed, over 10,000 people were killed and over 700 of all the heritage sites in and around Kathmandu were damaged. The world initially rushed to help, with millions of dollars flooding into the country and thousands of able hands willing to work.

"Eight months on, there is still a lot of help, but so much left to be done. Nepal is suffering and most of the world has forgotten."

Michaela says she easily put her fears of heading into the unknown behind her. "I was much more compelled to go and help – knowing what large-scale devastation there had been –than I was scared. I'm not one to waste much energy on being scared of things that are out of my control. All I knew is that I wanted to go and be a pair of able hands with time – which was the most that I could possibly offer."

Far from fearing for her own safety, Michaela's initial fear was much closer to home, as it took her a while to tell her parents of her intentions. "It took me months to pluck up the courage to ask them, because I thought they would try and stop me but instead, the news was received with support. They were, of course, worried and they would have preferred me not to go, but they were so, so much more supportive than I expected. My dad had donated money towards the cause and they were proud that I was going."

Michaela headed for Nepal last August and spent five weeks working with an NGO called Volunteer initiative Nepal (VIN) that was dedicated to offering post-earthquake relief work. "I was assigned to work in a small town called Jitpurphedi, just outside Kathmandu, on a mission to declare the town an Open Defecation-Free-Zone. Basically, I was building toilets. These weren't the 21st century toilets that we are used to but they were basically holes dug into the rock that were two metres in diameter by two metres deep.

"These holes acted as a 'tank' and then we built a small room with a hole in the ground and a pipe leading to the hole that had a cover of sorts. So basically it was just simple manual labour towards a better state of sanitation."

Michaela describes the deathly quiet scene that greeted her when she arrived in the Nepalese capital. "On arrival in Kathmandu in the evening, the most noticeable change was the complete lack of tourists: the airport and streets of Kathmandu used to be buzzing with tourists haggling their way through the merchants in the narrow streets of Thamel and queuing up to get a bite to eat in a good eatery. Now it was 9pm and Thamel was quiet, mostly shut even.

"This was not enough to convince me that the Kathmandu I knew had changed, possibly permanently. So bright and early the next morning, I was determined to walk through the narrow streets of the area called Thamel leading to the once-bustling Durbar Square. Horror and tears were, to my surprise, my involuntary reaction on entering Durbar Square. I simply could not believe my eyes. Suffice it to say that what was once revered and respected as the centre of Kathmandu was now nothing more than a danger to everyone who visited.

"An initial glance into Durbar Square revealed a collection of stark red 'Danger' signs and information boards with pictures of what had once proudly stood there. Piles of rubble and pieces of temples were clinging on through the constant tremors, propped up by modest wooden poles while efforts to clear up the clutter trickled on.

"In most places, the damage was acute and localised, with swathes of land razed to the ground, while on neighbouring sites – seemingly untouched – the extremely lucky ones soldiered on, trudging through rubble where their home or business had once thrived, thankful to be alive.

"At first assessment, the situation in the Thamel neighbourhood seemed less dire than in most. Only some streets seemed to have received the brunt of the disaster. With local insight and further observation, it became more clear that the densely populated narrow alleys of Thamel had survived relatively well due to this extreme density.

"Everything seemed to have shifted, causing surface damage but allowing survival. It was a marvel to see that, at the heart of all this, was a people who were grateful to be alive and hopeful for the future. The ground was studded with personal belongings of all kinds as if to form the asphalt on which they drove. Houses had been destroyed and abandoned, schools reminders of the children that once flowed through them, fear in everyone's eyes but smiles constantly fighting to break through."

Michaela was working 40‐hour weeks in difficult conditions doing very physical work. "Here 40-hour weeks were just the beginning. Family time and relaxation were replaced by road repairs, home reconstruction and sanitation improvements – practically another full-time job rebuilding everything that had been taken away. Land transport was a joke at best before the earthquake. Now it was a series of rickety people-carriers making an effort to transport passengers while clinging on to the sides of valleys and mountains. The roads were riddled with debris, and there was a constant threat of landslides.

"Rivers that were once pristine and clear are now dammed in most places and running brown where they aren't. The plush emerald vistas are laden with a somewhat ironic white film of dust and dirt that seemed to echo the country's overall condition. Views of corrugated-iron temporary housing dot these vibrant green valleys, as the sun is reflected off them, while the skeletons of former villages clutter the surrounding areas – serving as a constant reminder of the disaster.

"Today, the country is in a vicious circle of striving to restore Nepal to its former glory, which would increase tourist numbers to what they were, but the restoration requires enormous funding that is usually generated by the tourist economy.

"This is the large-scale plight that the Nepalese are facing on a daily basis, while dealing with the immediate problems related to health, sanitation and survival – all the things we take for granted everyday!

"I am convinced that more people would be moved to take a stand and contribute to this mission if they were only reminded of the dire situation in Nepal today."

 

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University awaits its superhero...

If you have aspirations to become a rector, sit down before reading this piece because as Kurt Sansone discovers the post comes with a very long list of demands. A collection of qualities expected from the university's next commander-in-chief could read like a leaf from a superhero movie called The Rector. He, or she, would have to prioritise research, respect tradition, ensure the University of Malta remains competitive, make it relevant to local communities, ensure a fair promotion system for academics, cut bureaucracy, confront the parking problem on campus, attract more foreign students, be a force for stability and inspire excellence. Moreover, the next rector would have to be a person of stature, inspire trust and ensure the institution's independence. Now this is a very tall order indeed for someone expected to lead a university that has 11,500 students, is spread out over 195,000 square metres and is made up of 14 faculties, institutes and centres. The election for the next rector is expected to take place in March and given the composition of the University Council, the candidate backed by the government is likely to win as has been the case since 1987. This, however,...

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Zika virus infects 20,000 in Colombia, experts warn of epidemic

Ahead of WHO emergency meeting on Zika threat, health experts say epidemic could be bigger global threat than Ebola

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Borg Oliviers get €2.2 million for expropriated national pool land

The land expropriated from the Borg Olivier family in 1993 for the construction of the National Pool in Gzira had been expropriated by the government of the time only after the complex was built and inaugurated – a situation that effectively increased the value of the land from just over €20,000 to over €2.2 million.

Over 30 members of the Borg Olivier family, a name synonymous with the then governing Nationalist Party, were awarded over €2.2 million last Wednesday in compensation for land expropriated for the construction of the National Pool in Gzira by the courts' Land Arbitration Board, presided over by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale.

This windfall for the Borg Oliviers was down to the fact that, in a reversal of the normal practice, the land had been expropriated only after the national pool was inaugurated. As such, the tenement was considered by the Board to have been developable land at the time of its actual expropriation, as opposed to its previous designation as agricultural land.

Had the land been expropriated before the construction of the complex, as per standard practice, its value as agricultural land would have been of just over €20,000, court documents show.

Instead, since the complex had already been inaugurated and was up and running at the time of the actual expropriation order two months later, it was considered by the Board to have been developable land at the time of its expropriation, thus inflating the land's value exponentially.

The facts established by the Board and referred to in this week's ruling are that the tal-Qroqq National Pool complex, which included the 4,921 square metres of land owned by the Borg Oliviers, had been officially opened on 8 May 1993.

But, somewhat strangely, it was two months later, on 13 July 1993, that the government published its intention to expropriate the land in question.

Some 10 years later, on 14 February 2003, the Commissioner for Lands had informed the Borg Oliviers that the competent authorities were ready to pay up for the land expropriated back in 1993, and had set a value on the land of €20,387, an offer the Borg Oliviers flatly refused, and they made a counter offer of €2,282,785.

This situation, the Board heard in submissions from court experts, meant that the land, at the time of the announced intention to expropriate, was no longer agricultural land, the value of which would have been €20,380. Since the pool complex had already been built, it was valued at €2,282,785 at the end of the day by the courts because, since the pool complex had already been developed and inaugurated, it was classified as developable land.

The sleight of hand appears to be all too obvious, and 23 years later the Borg Olivier heirs received their windfall this week.

But given the stark discrepancy between the €20,000 the Commissioner for Lands had originally wanted to pay for the land, based on its previous agricultural designation, and the €2.2 million awarded by the courts by virtue of the fact that its designation had been changed to developable land, it would not be unimaginable for the Commissioner for Lands to appeal the decision.

The Board ruled this week that the land in question was to be considered as developable land; that the date on which possession of the land was transferred to the government was to be established as 8 May 1993 – the date of the pool complex's inauguration; that the compensation was to be of €2,282,785; and that interest on the amount is to be payable as from 8 May 1993.

Read the report by  Land Arbitration Board

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Barack Obama to make first visit to a US mosque

US president Barack Obama is visiting an American mosque for the first time, in a public show of support for the Muslim community. Mr Obama plans to hold talks with Muslim leaders at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, the White House announced. The visit will amount to a public embrace of Muslims by Mr Obama at a time when public sentiment against them seems to be growing, largely fuelled by fears of terrorist acts carried out by extremist groups. Mr Obama has largely put distance between himself and US Muslims, opting against feeding the rampant theories that he is a closet Muslim who was born in Kenya, the country of his late father's birth. He is American by virtue of his birth in Hawaii and has released his birth certificate as proof, and is also Christian, but segments of the US population still believe neither to be true. The visit will come during the final year of Mr Obama's two terms in office. He will go to the Baltimore mosque to "celebrate the contributions Muslim Americans make to our nation and reaffirm the importance of religious freedom to our way of life". In remarks to be delivered at the mosque, Mr Obama "will reiterate the importance of staying true to our...

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Sir Terry Wogan dies aged 77 after battling cancer

Sir Terry Wogan has died aged 77 after suffering from cancer, the BBC has announced. The veteran broadcaster, known for his velvety voice on radio and television, was one of the UK and Ireland's best known stars. A statement from his family said Sir Terry died surrounded by his family. "Sir Terry Wogan died today after a short but brave battle with cancer. He passed away surrounded by his family. While we understand he will be missed by many, the family ask that their privacy is respected at this time," the Wogan family statement said. BBC Director General Tony Hall described Sir Terry, who was born in Limerick, as a "national treasure". He said: "Terry truly was a national treasure. Today we've lost a wonderful friend. He was a lovely, lovely man and our thoughts are with his wife and family. "For 50 years Sir Terry graced our screens and airwaves. His warmth, wit and geniality meant that for millions he was a part of the family. "Wake up to Wogan was for millions of Radio 2 listeners the very best way to start the day. For decades he's been such a huge part of the BBC on television and radio and leaves so many wonderful memories. "At the centre of Children In Need since its...

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‘Six markets, 131 restaurants and 100 million customers’

Premier Capital plc, the Maltese-owned developmental licensee for McDonald's in Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Greece, was last week granted the developmental licence for McDonald's in Romania. Premier Capital chairman Melo Hili speaks to Anthony Manduca about this latest acquisition and the company's priorities and challenges. "The potential for McDonald's in Romania is massive," says Melo Hili. "It has a population of almost 20 million and it has become our biggest market. We have 4,000 employees there, increasing our total workforce from 2,800 to 6,800. In 2016 we are looking at a... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Four heavyweights drag the MSE lower

The Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) index recorded its first weekly decline for the year to close 1.08 per cent lower, at 4,472.26 points. Nevertheless, on a year-to-date basis the index still managed to end in positive territory – up by 0.9 per cent – and significantly outperforming the broader global equity markets. Losses suffered by four equities, namely Bank of Valletta plc, HSBC Bank Malta plc, Malta International Airport plc and International Hotel Investments plc, weighed heavily on the MSE given their larger weighting on the index by market capitalisation. Meanwhile, GO plc and Global... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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US Federal Reserve shifts into wait-and-see mode as global markets tumble

In a statement after its two-day meeting last week, the Federal Reserve (Fed) said that it is "closely monitoring global economic and financial developments" while "assessing their implications for the labour market and inflation, and for the balance of risks to the outlook". The Fed in effect opened the door to a change in its outlook for the economy this year, and possibly a slower pace of interest rate hikes that would make a change in March less likely. The US central bank had to acknowledge diminishing expectations of global growth that have resulted in a sharp stock market sell-off,... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Company briefs

The Phoenicia has won the 2016 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award for Luxury Hotels, having already won multiple TripAdvisor awards. TripAdvisor is the world's largest travel site and offers trusted advice from real travellers on a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools that check hundreds of websites to find the best hotel prices. Phoenicia general manager Charles Azzopardi said: "The management team would like to thank all of the staff at The Phoenicia for their great work to achieve this award. We would like to thank all those clients... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Volatility in the equity market – should investors be worried?

What a start to 2016! Very few would have predicted such a dramatic opening to the year as the global stock markets manifested one of the worst starts to a year in history. A plunge in the Chinese market sparked fears around the world of another stock market meltdown and since then volatility gained momentum. But what was the real cause of this? Should investors be worried? To begin with, China matters more today than before, as it has established itself as the world's second largest economy (after the US). The region is moving from a manufacturing-led to a consumer-led economy and this... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Business offices space

Frank Salt Real Estate has been engaged as sole agent for Business Offices Services International (BOSI), a high-profile office development in Malta. "If one is looking for office space in Malta, the new development's rental options are worth looking into," Frank Salt's commercial property division manager Rita Schembri said. "This development provides contemporary office spaces with immediate occupancy, complemented with meeting and conferencing services and other amenities. We are proud to have been trusted with its promotion." Business Office Services International's office block will... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Much loved presenter of Eurovision fame, Terry Wogan, dies after battle with cancer

Terry Wogan, one of the best-known voices and faces on British television and radio, has died aged 77.

His family said in a statement Wogan died Sunday surrounded by family members "after a short but brave battle with cancer."

The Irish-born disc jockey and presenter was a staple of British broadcasting, best known for his long-running radio morning show and his annual hosting duties for Britain's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest.

His strengths were a deep, buttery voice, dollops of Irish charm and a sly, subversive humor.

Prime Minister David Cameron said "Britain has lost a huge talent - someone millions came to feel was their own special friend."

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Young leaders on EU 2020 targets

The Mini European Assembly debated the EU 2020 targets during a simulation of a plenary session of the European Parliament at Smart City, Kalkara. The programme is organised by the National Student Travel Foundation to provide young people with non-formal training and experiences designed to enhance leadership skills. The targets, designed to create unity and stability as well as increase performance within the EU, were analysed and a resolution focusing on the EU's five headline targets, namely employment, research and development, climate and energy, education, social inclusion and... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Euro term deposit launched

For a limited time only, APS Bank has launched a three per cent euro term deposit account for people aged 60 and over at the time of account opening. Account holders may deposit a minimum of €5,000 up to a maximum of €50,000 in capital for a fixed period of 10 years. The attractive interest rate supplementing the amount deposited is of three per cent per annum gross of tax, which is payable monthly or annually. For more information, visit any of the APS Bank branches, http://ift.tt/1nwfZ8R or call 2122 66 44. This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Another term at to €13,000 a month? - Sai Mizzi’s contract up for renewal

The highly contentious contract of employment between Malta Enterprise and Sai Mizzi Liang, the wife of Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi, which is due to expire on 26 August, is up for renewal at the end of February.

Mrs Mizzi Liang's contract of employment as Malta Enterprise's Envoy for the People's Republic of China was signed on 26 August 2013 and runs for a period of three years – ie until 26 August 2016.

The contract has been a major source of political controversy, especially since it transpired that the minister's wife enjoys a lucrative salary of close to €13,000 a month when all the perks are added up.

Although that contract is due to expire at the end of August, the contract stipulates that six months before it winds up (26 February 2016), Mrs Mizzi Liang will need to inform Malta Enterprise whether she intends to extend the contract for a further period.

Interestingly, if she does intend extending her tenure as Malta Enterprise's woman in China, her terms and conditions can be renegotiated.

The contract states: "Six months prior to the completion of service under this agreement, the employee shall give notice in writing to Malta Enterprise whether he desires to remain in employment, and Malta Enterprise shall thereupon determine whether it will extend his/her engagement under the agreement for a further period, to be agreed between the parties, under the same terms and conditions or under other terms and conditions which would have been mutually agreed upon between the two parties."

Since her appointment, and the frequently-criticised astronomical salary that came with it, Mrs Mizzi Liang's performance and tangible deliverables have been called into question repeatedly.

The government has said she played an important role in the deal struck between Shanghai Electric and Enemalta. She was also said to have been responsible for attracting Chinese multinational telecommunications company Huawei to Malta, where the company is meant to be testing its avant-garde 5G mobile technology. Not much has been heard of this latter deliverable after it was launched with much fanfare last July.

By the end of her contract this August, Mrs Mizzi Liang will have been paid €468,000 for her work for Malta Enterprise.

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Good governance, favours, resignations

Just a week into her new role as Planning Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri speaks to Kurt Sansone about the planning authority, pressures politicians face, the Gaffarena scandal and embryo freezing. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has often been considered a poisoned chalice by past ministers. If you are pro-environment the likeliness is you will face flak from constituents because of Mepa's rigidity; if you relax on development, you will have to contend with criticism from environmentalists. How can you achieve this balance? The secret is finding the right balance. The Mepa demerger will see the environment aspect being strengthened. The environment, as part of the structures of Mepa, was shackled because it could not even appeal a board decision. By hiving off the environmental aspect and creating a separate authority, any planning decision could be challenged. This is good but it does not mean that the planning side – my side – should drop all environmental considerations. But environmentalists have to understand that progress cannot be stalled. Environmentalists are not so convinced of the demerger, which even led to Marlene Farrugia resigning from the...

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Borg Oliviers ‘earn tidy profit’ over delayed expropriation of national pool land

Court orders government to pay €2.2 million to Borg Olivier family in delayed compensation for land expropriated in 1993 to construct the national pool that was originally valued at €20,000 

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Opponents of same-sex unions and gay adoption stage major Rome rally

Hundreds of thousands of Italians staged a mass rally in Rome's Circus Maximus today to urge the government to drop legislation that offers homosexual couples legal recognition and limited adoption rights. The much-contested bill was presented to parliament last week and is due to be voted on in February, but the government itself is deeply divided over the issue and opponents are hopeful they can sink it, as they have done it the past. Trains and buses ferried in protesters from around Italy to take part in the event, staged in Ancient Rome's famed chariot racing stadium. A group of black-clad Roman Catholic priests danced the conga, while children rushed around the grassy arena. "We want the whole law to be withdrawn, no ifs and no buts," said one of the organisers, Simone Pillon, sporting a red bow tie. He took particular offence at a clause in the law which would let gays adopt the biological children of their partner. Critics say this would encourage surrogacy, which is outlawed in Italy. "We cannot let children pay for the desires or caprices of adults. Children need to have a father and a mother," said Pillon. Showing how polarised the nation is, Saturday's rally came a...

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St Andrews make their point at last; Demba Toure gives Naxxar some respite

St ANDREWS-               2

HIBERNIANS -               2

 

St Andrews: J. Galea, E. Beltre, D. Camilleri, B. Che, J. Perez Cuestra, S. Oproiescu (J. Walker), M. Desira Buttigieg (K. Nwoko), J. Farrugia, F. Onwudinjo, S. Wisdom (M. Johnson), E. Nkene

Hibernians: R. Briffa, J. Pearson (J.P. Farrugia), J. Lima, R. Soares, A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, C. Failla, J. Degabriele (D. Dos Santos), J. Mbong (L. Edison), G. Ribeiro, J. Silva

Referee:  M. Spiteri

Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, P. Abela

Additional asst.refs:  E. Azzopardi, E. Mangion

4th official: S. Attard

Scorers: C. Failla 55 pen, J. Farrugia 57 pen, 90+, G. Ribeiro 90

Yellow cards: G. Ribeiro, J. Pearson, E. Beltre, E. Nkene, R. Soares, D. Camilleri

Player of the match: J. Galea (St Andrews)

TMI top 3: 1. B. Kristensen  2. F. Onwudinjo  3. B. Che

 

Bottom team St Andrews had been eager for something to galvanise them after a traumatic period that had them pointless and winless in the previous 19 league matches. It finally arrived yesterday with a dramatic 2-2 draw against champions Hibernians after twice falling behind in the match.

The Saints were solid rather than inventive but they always showed a greater scope to make the difference and can be commended for showing a hearty appetite for the fight that deserved a point.

They only produced two shots on target – one from a penalty, the other from the equalising goal in seven minutes of added time. On both occasions, captain Joseph Farrugia was at the heart of his side's feat.

Winless Saints remained  always  in contention in a somewhat uneventful game, that produced a dramatic finale when the tempo of the game somehow intensified, with both sides going that extra mile.

Hibernians' pursuit of their own more glittering prize took a slight dent in the aftermath of this draw, chiselled from an awkward and irritating match. Twice they surrendered the lead and dropped two points that failed to take them to the top. But the Paolites can have few complaints, after another strangely lacklustre performance as their momentum has been dropping drastically of late.

The champions were again without Andre Agius, Rui Gomes, Marcelo Dias and Jorginho. And with Mbela also suspended, Joseph Mbong played in defence instead. Luis Edison made a susbtitute appearanced for the Paolites upon his return from Korea.

Hibernians enjoyed the expected majority of possesssion in the first half without making it pay.

St Andrews as a whole refused to buckle although the Paolites were toothless in attack, raking balls forward in the direction of Jurgen Degabriele and Jorge Silva to little effect. Midway through the half, Degabriele ran inside the St Andrews area and avoided the onrushing keeper Galea, but put his low effort fractionally wide.

Towards the half hour, Failla tested Galea with a shot from outside the area but that failed to trouble the Saints' shot stopper. However, Galea had to produce his very best on 36 minutes, tipping Degabriele's powerful drive into a corner on Kristensen's pass.

To this point, the Saints had barely threatened and even after five minutes of added time, due to a clash of heads between Soares and Solomon in the opening minutes, the half remained goalless.

The deadlock was broken ten minutes into the second period. Hibernians were awarded a penalty after Oproiescu felled Degabriele inside the St Andrews area and Clayton Failla beat keeper Galea from the spot.

Equilibrium was restored only two minutes later. St Andrews were also awarded a penalty, in what looked a very soft one, when Mbong and Desira Buttigieg clashed inside the area. Joseph Farrugia also tucked it away for the Saints.

Immediately after, Hibernians put in Luis Edison for Mbong and were beginning to show more urgency. Edsion was blocked  by Nkene into a corner as he chased Kristensen's long ball. And when Kristensen played the ball wide for the unmarked Edison, he was blocked by Onwudinjo.

Hibernians added more forwards into the fray, with both Danny Dos Santos and Jean Paul Farrugia going in as substitutes.

Five minutes from time, the referee turned a blind eye, although close to the action, when Soares pushed Wisdom off the ball inside the area.

The pickings had been slim, until Gilmar Ribeiro aroused himself and Hibernians to score with a direct free kick from the left that hit the underside of the bar before going in at top far corner on the 90th minute.

That looked like Hibernians' winner and another defeat for St Andrews but the Saints hit back in seven minutes of added time. Cuestra sent a low cross from the right, that caught the Hibernians defence totally static and Joseph Farrugia could knock the ball over the line past the grounded keeper Briffa to snatch a draw.

This point will perhaps represent a turning point in their miserable season.

 

 

QORMI   -                 0    

NAXXAR LIONS -      5                     

Qormi: A. Vella, A. Cassar (C. Barbara), I. Micallef, R. Micallef, K. Magro, D. Leeflang, C. Gauci, N. Ojuola, O. Sidibe, P. Viggiani (T. Vella), Y. Yankam

Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, A. Scicluna, R. Grech, E. Casado, D. Toure (J. Debono), J. Godar, D. Fenech (M. Fenech), A. Buhagiar, E. Hamutenya, N. Tasic, X. Cekaj

Referee:  C. Pisani

Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, D. Castillo

Additional asst.refs: D. Castillo, P. Farrugia

4th official: S. Spiteri

Scorers: D. Toure' 42, 55 pen, 76, O. Sidibe 63 og, X. Cekaj 87

Yellow cards: A. Buhagiar, R. Micallef

Player of the match: D. Toure' (Naxxar L)

TMI top 3: 1. D. Toure  2. D. Fenech  3. A. Buhagiar

Attendance: 626

 

Naxxar Lions rediscovered their winning ways after seven league defeats on the trot, when beating fellow strugglers Qormi, thanks to a Demba Toure' hatrick, a Cekaj header and a Sidibe own goal.

This was some respite for the Lions, in a one-sided match between two very ordinary teams sitting at the lower end of the table. They now go above the same Qormi to move into tenth place in the standings.

But Qormi's unwanted succession of defeats is extended, and judging on yesterday's  showing, there is little sense of them ending any time soon.

Both coaches wanted to field their most solid side in this direct clash worthy of six points, in their fight for survival.

Following their drubbing against Balzan in midweek, Qormi had Andreas Vella playing in goal, Ryan Micallef and Ousmane Sidibe back after suspension and Clifford Gauci starting in midfield.

Naxxar also tweaked their starting line up with Julian Azzopardi replacing Pecorella in goal and David Fenech starting instead of Darren Falzon.

Qormi's ragged start allowed Naxxar to dictate the pace in the first half. Casado had tested the Qormi keeper with a powerful shot, turned into a corner, after nine minutes.

Past the half hour, Toure' arrived fractionally late on a Buhagiar cross, before the Lions took a deserved lead three minutes from halftime. Demba Toure' rose high to meet a hight ball inside the Qormi area and flicked it over keeper Vella with a glancing header.

Qormi's response in the opening 45 minutes came from a Magro shot going over.

Naxxar made sure in the second period, doubling their advantage on 54 minutes when awarded a debateable penalty after the referee adjudged Cassar to have blocked Fenech's cross with his outstretched arm. Demba Toure' again was the scorer.

Sensing that the points were there for the taking, Naxxar capitalised on Qormi's vulnerable rearguard on 63 minutes. There was some hesitation between the onrushing keeper Vella and defender Sidibe, with the latter miskicking the ball inside his own goal with Casado in attendance.

Qormi could not unduly trouble the Naxxar keeper and suffered further derision on 76 minutes, with Demba Toure' again being the executioner. The Senegalese forward was allowed a free header to beat keeper Vella from close range following a Fenech cross from the left.

There was still time for Naxxar to score their fifth three minutes from time. Xhoesan Cekaj heading in from close range to complete Qormi's misery.

 

Photos Melvyn Degiorgio

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National swimming team in Luxembourg

Members of the Maltese National Swimming Team are currently taking part in EuroMeet 2016 in Luxembourg. This event for many swimmers marks the road to Rio in summer 2016. Andrew Chetcuti is one of those athletes who has set his sights on this goal. Chetcuti broke the long standing Maltese national record in the 50m Fly with an impressive time of 24.47 seconds. This sets him in a strong position to perform in the 50m free in which he has already qualified in the A final (tonight) and 100m free tomorrow.

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FA Cup heroics from Peterborough, Arsenal march on

Third tier Peterborough United produced the performance of the FA Cup fourth round when they twice battled from behind in the dying minutes to earn a 2-2 draw at Premier League West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. On a day when the big guns largely extinguished the hopes of the dreaming underdogs, the League One side proved indomitable after Saido Berahino, given a rare start, had twice put Albion ahead at the Hawthorns. Peterborough's heroes were Shaquile Coulthirst, who equalised Berahino's first half goal in the 79th minute, and Jon Taylor, who then answered what had looked to be a late, late winner from the Albion striker with just four minutes left to earn his side a lucrative replay at their London Road home. Portsmouth, who plunged into the fourth tier of the English game after financial woes, sniffed a sensation at a frantic Fratton Park before Premier League Bournemouth battled from behind to win 2-1. The 2008 winners, now a supporter-owned club, had rekindled memories of the days when they used to be Bournemouth's south coast masters as they went ahead through their 31-year-old journeyman winger, Gary Roberts, just before halftime. But Bournemouth belatedly flexed their...

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Enthusiasts paint the city red as St Paul takes to the streets

Hundreds of people showed up in Valletta this afternoon as the city marks the feast of St Paul. Confetti rained down on enthusiasts and the band played on, amid supporters' chants (and the odd insult at rivals). The splendid weather welcomed the statue of St Paul as it was carried shoulder high along the street named in his honour. This year's festivities were pushed forward since the traditional February 10 date coincides with the beginning of lent.

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Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham reach 5th round of FA Cup

Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham eased into the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, as the English Premier League title contenders showed their strength in depth.

Though many fringe players got a rare chance to start, none made more of the opportunity than teenager Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored a hat trick as City swept past Aston Villa 4-0.

Alexis Sanchez scored one goal and made the other in Arsenal's 2-1 home victory over second-tier side Burnley.

Nacer Chadli scored twice as Tottenham eased to a 4-1 victory in the early kick off at Colchester United, after a clash of heads left one of the home side's defenders in hospital.

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Lions hit five past Qormi

Naxxar Lions ended a four-match losing streak when they hammered relegation rivals Qormi 5-0 at the Tedesco Stadium. Naxxar threatened 10 minutes from half-time when David Fenech sent a curling cross into the path of Demba Toure but the Senegalese forward failed to make contact with the ball in front of a gaping goal. But Toure made amends three minutes from half-time when he connected to David Fenech's cross to send a dipping header past Qormi goalkeeper Andreas Vella.Toure piled more woes on Qormi just after the restart. The clock marked 54 minutes when Qormi wingback Alessio Cassar was judged to have handled Fenech's cross inside the area with referee Clayton Pisani pointing to the spot. Toure stepped up for the kick and sent Cassar the wrong way to double Tarxien's lead. Qormi conceded again when Ousmane Sidibe, in a bid to shield the ball from Vallecillo, inadvertently deflected the ball past Vella to put Naxxar three goals up. Qormi were now dead and buried and Naxxar all but wrapped up the points on 76 minutes when Fenech embarked on another mazy run on the left to send a precise cross towards Toure who headed past Vella. The Lions found time to add a fifth goal three...

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Turkey says another Russian jet violated Turkey's airspace

Turkey's Foreign Ministry says it has summoned the Russian ambassador after a Russian jet violated Turkey's airspace on Friday, despite several warnings.

A Foreign Ministry statement on Saturday said the plane was warned in Russian and in English before entering Turkey's airspace.

The statement accused Russia of escalating tensions and said Russia would be held responsible for any "dire" consequences.

In November Turkey shot down a Russian plane which violated its airspace near Syria, touching off a crisis between the two countries.

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Extra bus trips for Gozo carnival

Extra bus trips will be in service during the Gozo carnival weekend to facilitate travel and increase accessibility to the festivities in Nadur, Malta Public Transport said. A shuttle service will operate between Mgarr and Nadur in line with the boat ferry service, while extra trips will also operate from Victoria to Nadur and from Nadur to various localities around Gozo. "We want to help make the Nadur Carnival a success," said Malta Public Transport Commercial Director Daniel Grech. Mr Grech said that the extra trips will ease parking problems and traffic congestion, and give all those attending a safe way of returning home after a night of festivities. A shuttle service from Mġarr to Nadur will run on Friday and Saturday. Extra trips will operate from Victoria to Nadur between 8pm and midnight on Friday and Saturday, and between 8pm and 11pm on Sunday. In addition, special services will operate from Nadur to all localities in Gozo on Friday at 1am, on Saturday between 1am and 2am, and on Sunday at 11pm. These will go to the following locaties:Xaghra - MarsalformXewkija - Sannat - Munxar- XlendiVictoria - Kercem - St LuciaVictoria, San Lawrenz- Għarb- Għasri-ZebbugGħajnsielem-...

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Main Syrian opposition team heads to Geneva as peace talks open

A delegation from Syria's main opposition group flew to Geneva today to assess whether to join Damascus government officials in United Nations-brokered peace talks, an opposition representative said. The 17-strong team included the head of the Saudi-backed Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC), which includes political and militant opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's five-year civil war. The HNC has said it wants to discuss humanitarian issues including a stop to Russian and Syrian government bombing before engaging in the peace talks that started on Friday in Geneva. Russian air strikes on Syria have killed nearly 1,400 civilians since Moscow started its aerial campaign nearly four months ago, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said on Saturday. "We are going to Geneva to put to the test the seriousness of the international community in its promises to the Syrian people and to also test the seriousness of the regime in implementing its humanitarian obligations," Riyad Naasan Agha said. "We want to show the world our seriousness in moving towards negotiations to find a political solution," he told Reuters. French Foreign...

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Masked mob threatening migrants go on the rampage in Stockholm

A gang of masked, black-clad men rampaged through the streets of Stockholm last night handing out leaflets threatening to attack migrant street youths, "to make a statement", with police saying today two arrests had been made. The incident highlights the growing tensions over immigration in Sweden, a country of 10 million which received 163,000 asylum seekers last year, and comes days after a 22-year old female worker was stabbed to death in a centre for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors in southwestern Sweden. The police said in statement one man had been arrested for punching a plain clothes officer in the face and another for carrying a brass knuckleduster, but the extent of any assaults against immigrants was not clear. Swedish dailies said that according to witnesses a number of people had been attacked by the men who were thought to belong to "firms" of hooligans associated with local soccer teams. The leaflets handed out last night, which were confirmed by police as being the same as were posted on Swedish social media, said, "When Swedish streets are no longer safe for ordinary Swedes it is our DUTY to fix the problem ... Today, therefore, 200 Swedish men gathered to...

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St Andrew’s make their point against Hibs

St Andrew's have picked up their first league point of the season when they surprisingly held champions Hibernians in a 2-2 draw at the Tedesco Stadium. The Paolites made all the early running and their first attempt at goal arrived on six minutes. They were awarded a central free-kick from which Jackson Lima's curling drive flashed wide. Hibs should have taken the lead on 22 minutes when Jurgen Degabriele sped into the area, rounded goalkeeper Jake Galea but his shot was deflected off target by Sorin Oproiescu. The Paolites continued to pile up the pressure and eight minutes from the break Kristensen released Degabriele whose rising shot just missed the bar. Hibs took the lead on 56 minutes when Jurgen Degabriele was brought down in the area by Sorin Opriescu with referee Malcolm Spiteri pointed to the spot.Failla stepped up for the kick and drilled the ball past Galea. But Hibs' joy was shortlived as the Saints were awarded a penalty a minute later when Mbong was harshly adjudged to have pushed Matteo Desira Buttigieg in the box and Joseph Farrugia sent Rudy Briffa the wrong way to level matters. Luis Edison, making his first appearance for Hibs after coming as a second-half...

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Players spend much time with national teams - Juve president

Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has criticised the amount of time players spend with their national teams and said that FIFA's rules are far away from the interests of European clubs. Agnelli's comments were the latest indication that Europe's powerful clubs are unhappy at way the sport is run and turned up the heat on soccer's scandal-plagued governing body FIFA. "We see our best talents taken away by the national teams for 60 days a year," Agnelli said in Milan in comments widely reported by Italian media. "Try to imagine the same thing in a private business where the best managers are loaned out for a 'public venture' like a World Cup or European Championship. "FIFA is the holder of the rules of the game of football but they are also far away from the interests of the clubs." Agnelli sits on the executive board of the European Club Association (ECA), which represents more than 200 clubs including top sides like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Juventus are Italy's most successful club in domestic terms with 31 Serie A titles. FIFA and ECA could not immediately be reached for comment. In December, ECA angrily criticised a package of proposed reforms aimed at...

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Nurse involved in traffic accident dies; family donates her organs

A 52-year-old woman who was injured in a traffic accident in Pembroke last week has died, the police said.  Marthese Zarb succumbed to the injuries following the accident in Triq Sant' Andrija last Saturday. The victim and her 18-year-old son were passengers in her husband's car when it crashed into another vehicle driven by a 41-year-old man from Zabba State broadcaster TVM said her family had agreed to donate her organ and the transplants are expected to take place in the coming hours. Ms Zarb, her son, and the other driver all sustained grievous injuries while her husband escaped with slight injuries.  

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Toni Abela to replace Louis Galea in European Court of Auditors

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is nominating Dr Toni Abela as a member of the European Court of Auditors, an OPM statement said this afternoon. 

Dr Abela is Malta's third nominee since Malta joined the European Union in 2004. He is expected to succeed Dr Louis Galea, who served as a member of the European Court of Auditors for the last five years, after Prof Josef Bonnici who served as the first Maltese member in the same institution.

Dr Abela read law at the University of Malta and has been practising at the bar for 33 years. He has mainly dealt with Constitutional and Administrative issues. In 1989, Dr Abela co-founded a new political party, Alternattiva Demokratika. In 1996 he was appointed to the Employment Commission, which is a Constitutional body, where he served as one of the Commissioners for three years.

In 2008 he was elected to the post of Deputy Leader of Labour Party and among other duties he monitored the management of Labour councillors and local councils with a Labour Party majority. 

Dr Abela is married to Marisa and they have three children, Estelle, Fleur and Aaron.

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Labour's Toni Abela to replace Louis Galea at European Court of Auditors

Labour Party deputy leader Toni Abela is Malta's nominee for the European Court of Auditors. The 59-year-old lawyer will be replacing Louis Galea, whose five-year term will end in the coming months. Dr Abela was expelled from the Labour Party in 1989 after taking a stand against corruption inside the party.  He was one of the founders of Alternattiva Demokratika. He later rejoined the party and became deputy leader in 2008. Dr Abela's move to Luxembourg will open up a contest for the PL's deputy leadership for party affairs.  

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Woman injured a week ago in St Andrews traffic accident dies

The 52-year-old woman who was injured in a traffic accident in St Andrew's last week has died, the police said today.

Two passengers were in critical condition after the cars they were in were involved in a traffic accident in St Andrews last Saturday.

The accident took place at 8.45pm. A Fiat Punto driven by a 41-year-old of Zabbar and a Mazda 121 driven by a 53-year-old of Pembroke were involved in the crash.

Two passengers in the Fiat, a 52-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man, were seriously injured and were found to be in critical condition.

The Punto driver was slightly injured while the other driver was seriously hurt.

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Toni Abela nominated to European Court of Auditors

Labour deputy leader will take up post in European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg  

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Nurse involved in Pembroke traffic accident succumbs to injuries

53-year-old Marthese Zarb succumbs to injuries sustained in traffic accident, family agrees to donate her organs 

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UN chief says child sexual abuse allegations deeply horrifying

The U.N. secretary-general expresses horror over allegations U.N. peacekeepers and foreign troops sexually abused children in violence-plagued Central African Republic.

In remarks before African leaders, Ban Ki-moon said the U.N. is ashamed and horrified over the damage by peacekeepers who exploited vulnerable people. Ban was addressing an African Union summit Saturday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The U.N. human rights office said Friday that it had turned up six more cases of alleged sexual abuse against children by European troops in Central African Republic. The U.N. also announced new allegations against U.N. peacekeepers from Bangladesh, Congo, Niger and Senegal.

The U.N. said there are likely to be 69 confirmed allegations of sexual abuse in its peacekeeping missions in 2015, including 22 in Central African Republic.

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Netted after trying to import drugs through post

A British man has been arrested in connection with drug importation, the police said. The 24-year-old was arrested after he tried to import the cannabis drug through the postal service. A police search at his residence yielded illicit substances, especially ecstasy tablets. The police also found other items which indicated that the drugs were going to be trafficked. He was intercepted following a joint operation between the drug squad and the Customs Department. The man is expected in court later today.

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Man arrested after trying to buy cannabis through the mail

24-year-old Englishman arrested after trying to import cannabis through the mail, possession of ecstacy pills that police believe he had intended to traffic 

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39 refugees, including children, drown off Turkish coast

At least 39 refugees drown near the Turkish resort of Ayvacik, Turkish police arrest man suspected of being the smuggler who organised the trip  

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Briton arrested after he was caught importing cannabis via post

A 24-year-old Briton was arrested by the police after he was caught trying to import cannabis via post, the police said in a statement.

The operation carried out jointly by the Police Vice Squad and Customs Department officers.

A search in the man's residence also yielded other illicit substances, including ecstasy pills. The police lifted other items that indicate that the drug was to be trafficked.

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Should terminally-ill prisoners be shown clemency? Does parole work?

The family of a terminally-ill prison was stunned to learn that a parole request has been turned down. The controversy has prompted discussion over whether clemency should be shown towards prisoners with fading health. Should the parole law be updated? Why are there objections to releasing prisoners temporarily or permanently before the completion of a sentence? Presented by Herman Grech and Mark Micallef, Times Talk is aired on TVM on Tuesday at 10.05pm, with a repeat on TVM2 on Wednesday at 1.30pm. The programme will be uploaded on timesofmalta.com on Wednesday. What are your views about the matter? Email timestalk@timesofmalta.com or post in the comments section below.

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Almost 40 dead after migrant boat sinks

Almost 40 people drowned and 75 were rescued after a boat carrying migrants to Greece sank off Turkey's western coast, according to local officials and the Turkish Dogan news agency. More than one million refugees and migrants arrived in the European Union last year and some 3,600 died or went missing, forcing the EU to mull suspending its Schengen open-borders area for up to two years. The Turkish coast guard was continuing search and rescue efforts where the 17-metre boat carrying at least 120 people sank off the coast of Ayvacik, a town across from the Greek island of Lesvos, the Dogan news agency reported. "I am afraid the numbers will rise as divers continue the search," Mehmet Unal Sahin, the mayor of Ayvacik, told the CNNTurk news channel by phone. "Local people woke up to the sound of screaming migrants and we have been carrying out rescue work since dawn. We have an 80-kilometre-long coast just across from Lesvos, which is very hard to keep under control." At least five of those who died were children, Dogan reported, while rescued migrants were hospitalised with hypothermia symptoms. It said the migrants were of Syrian, Afghan and Myanmar origin. GREEK...

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Victor Axiaq to head environment board

Former Church Environment Commission chairman Victor Axiak will be heading the new Environment and Resources Authority board, the government said today. The board is tasked with facilitating the operations and functions of the same authority. Carmen Buttigieg is vice-chairperson, Alan Deidun is the representative for NGOs and Alan Pulis is the public official. The five independent members are Alfred Vella, Jason Bonnici, Ruben Abela, Louise Spiteri and Alexia Pisani. Maria Attard is the Opposition's representative.  

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Victor Axiak appointed chairman of environment authority

Former chairman of Church's environment commission to head new ERA

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Carnival activities will not be limited to Valletta

Carnival activities this year, will not be limited to Valletta but will also be organised in other towns and villages.  In particular, a Carnival Band Parade will take place in Main Street Ħamrun on Sunday 7th February in the morning. Starting at 10:00, this parade will involve the participation of three carnival floats including King Carnival, five bands, the Ħamrun Scouts Group, satiric grotesque masks and dance companies. 

There will also be an entertainment stage and a costume competition.  Fourteen colourful floats and several grotesque masks will then proceed to Valletta to take part in the parade, which will leave Castille Square and proceed along Merchants Street, St George's Square and Republic Street.  An elevated platform is being set up at Castille Square; this will be accessible to all and will enable wheelchair users and parents with young children in pushchairs to enjoy the festivities with ease.  This was revealed earlier today, when the programme for this year's carnival events was launched during a press conference addressed by the Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Dr Owen Bonnici, the Executive Chair of Arts Council Malta Mr Albert Marshall,  Festivals Director Ms Annabelle Stivala Attard, Carnival Artistic Director Mr Jason Busuttil and the Chair of the Valletta 2018 Foundation Mr Jason Micallef.

Once again, this year's activities will include the recently revived qarċilla – a carnival farce going back to at least 1760 – which is led by a notary together with a bride and groom, their parents and witnesses. The qarċilla makes fun of contemporary society, using humorous suggestive verse.  In this year's qarċilla written by Immanuel Mifsud, a well-known Maltese author who has just won the National Book Prize with his novel Jutta Heim, the notary will proclaim the marriage between two men.

Festivities which have become an essential and popular part of the Carnival calendar of events will be taking place as usual in the streets of Floriana and Valletta, with St George's Square being the main focus of activity.  These events include the grand défilé as well as competitions for floats and dancing companies.  Audiences can also expect new elements which will be introduced in this year's calendar.  One such event will take place on Sunday afternoon at 14:30, when the show which will take place in St George's Square will be accompanied by a live marching band.  This event is being re-introduced to the festivities after an absence of 20 years.  On Saturday evening, festivities will also continue into the night, giving merry-makers the opportunity to keep on celebrating.  On Tuesday, the grand défilé will come to a close at 21:30.  Other events linked to this national celebration will include an exhibition of miniature candy floats, which will also be the subject of a competition between confectioners and hotels.  This exhibition can be viewed at Pjazza Teatru Rjal from the 4th to the 9th February. 

Seating will be available for events at St George's Square.  Tickets can be purchased online  from http://ift.tt/HU21ci  The event will also be covered live on TVM on Saturday morning, Sunday afternoon and Tuesday evening, giving  those who cannot make it to Valletta the opportunity to get a glimpse of the festive and colourful atmosphere from home. 

Calendar of Events

Thursday 4th February, 18:00
Opening Ceremony of Malta Carnival 2016 activities at Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta.

Friday 5th February, 17:30
Costume Parade along Republic Street, Valletta followed by Dancing Competitons in St George's Square and carnival défilé consisting of the King Carnival float, Valletta 18 float, satiric floats and Section A Companies in Costumes on Floats.

Saturday 6th February, 9:30
Children's Carnival at St. George's Square, Valletta.

Saturday 6th February, 17:30
Dancing Competition together with the Grand Défilé  performance at St George's Square, Valletta.

Various activities will be held in Valletta throughout the day including the Qarċilla representation in St John's Square, Valletta.

Sunday 7th February, 10:00 
Carnival Band Parade in High Street, Ħamrun.

Sunday 7th February, 13:00
Carnival Floats Parade at Castille Place, Valletta.  Parade will proceed along Merchants Street to St. George's Square and then along Republic Street.

Sunday 7th February, 15:00
Special Sunday afternoon Carnival Grand Show at St. George's Square, Valletta.

Monday 8th February, 10:00
Dancing Schools Carnival Parade followed by a Dancing Show at St George's Square, Valletta.

Monday 8th February, 16:00
Dancing Competion Programme followed by the Grand Défilé at St George's Square, Valletta.

Tuesday 9th February, 10:00
Dancing Schools Carnival Parade followed by a Dancing Show at  Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta.

Tuesday  9th Februay, 18.00
Grand Finale in St Anne's Street with the participation of Carnival Bands, floats and general merriment.

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Prof. Victor Axiak named chairperson of Environment and Resources Authority

Prof. Victor Axiak has been named by the government as the chairperson of the Environment and Resources Authority.

Ms. Carmen Buttigieg is vice-chairperson; Prof. Alan Deidun represents environment NGOs, Alan Pulis is a public officer in the sector, while Prof. Alfred Vella, Dr Jason Bonnici , Perit Ruben Abela, Louise Spiteri and Alexia Pisani are independent members. Prof. Maria Attard represents the Opposition.

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Gozo sheep to be culled after appeal thrown out

A farmer has lost a case to save his flock of sheep from being culled after he failed to comply with a legal requirement to register them. The decision was handed down yesterday by an Appeals Court which upheld a previous ruling delivered by a magistrate in July 2014, paving the way for the 200 animals to be culled. The magistrate had ruled that a previous culling of about the same number of the farmers' sheep, carried out in 2012, was justified on the grounds of safeguarding public health. The decision by the veterinary authorities was lawful because failing to register the animals triggered an automatic suspicion that they were ill, the magistrate had ruled. The Appeals Court, presided over by Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri, Judge Giannino Caruana Demajo and Judge Noel Cuschieri, agreed that the lack of proper traceability of food-producing animals meant that the Director of Veterinary Services had reasonable cause for suspicion and therefore acted lawfully when he had ordered the culling. The case dates back to November 2012, when farmer Gianni Attard took court action against the Department of Veterinary Services in an attempt to stop it from slaughtering more of his sheep...

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Park renovation includes open-air urinal

A popular San Francisco park that re-opened after years of construction is drawing attention for an unusual new feature: an open-air public urinal. The urinal, located right next to the train tracks, was installed as part of the park's $20.5 million renovations due to the city Parks and Recreation Department's ongoing problems with public urination on buildings and bushes. "The more options we can give them to relieve themselves the better for the park-goers," San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener told KNTV. "The better it is for neighbors." The new feature was welcomed by park-goers. "Honestly, we were ready to go pee anywhere," park visitor Aaron Cutler said after trying out the urinal. "So any facility is better than none." The park's other renovations include more indoor toilets, a skyline overlook area and off-leash dog play areas.

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Data Commissioner dismisses Enemalta workers’ complaints against Busuttil

Data Protection Commissioner rules that PN leader was justified in mailing personalized political letters to the homes of Enemalta employees 

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Enemalta employees' objection to Busuttil letter rejected

Simon Busuttil has welcomed the Data Protection Commissioner's decision to reject a complaint made by 11 Enemalta employees after they received a letter by the Opposition leader. In a democratic society, the Opposition leader should not face any obstacles to relay his message, the commissioner concluded. The issue was raised after last year Dr Busuttil had written to Enemalta employees about the situation at the corporation. He tackled issues like privatisation, the sale of the BWSC plant as well as what he had described as the lack of government transparency. Eleven employees, however, took exception to the letter, and filed a complaint with the Data Protection Commissioner. The commissioner decided that the Opposition leader had every right to send the letter because it was made with good intentions since it tackled the developments in the energy sector at the time. He concluded that the letter did not breach their privacy. While thanking the commissioner, Dr Busuttil said he would abide by the recommendations given to erase the details of those workers who objected to the letter.  

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Major upset as Kerber stuns Williams to win Australian Open title

Angelique Kerber upset world number one Serena Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4 to clinch the Australian Open and become the first German to win a grand slam title since her childhood idol Steffi Graf in 1999. The 34-year-old American had been seeking her seventh Melbourne Park title and 22nd overall, which would have moved her into a tie with Graf for the most grand slam singles titles in the Open era. The seventh seeded Kerber, however, was not overawed by the occasion of her first grand slam final, breaking twice in the first set as Williams made 23 unforced errors. Williams cut down on the errors to send it into a third, which Kerber, who had the opportunity to serve it out while leading 5-3 only for the American to battle back, clinched when Williams hit a volley long in the next game. "When I played here the first round I was match point down and playing with one leg on the plane to Germany," an emotional Kerber said in a courtside interview. "I took my second chance to play the final against Serena. To win it is my dream come true. "Now I can say I'm a grand slam champion and it sounds really crazy." The opening salvo had looked ominous as Williams raced through the first game to...

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