UK current account deficit balloons

Britain's current account deficit widened much more than expected to hit a record high, highlighting one of the economy's weak spots that is coming under sharper focus ahead of the EU membership referendum. The Office for National Statistics said yesterday that the deficit in the current account widened to £32.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015, shooting up to the equivalent to seven per cent of gross domestic product. The deficit had stood at 4.3 per cent of GDP in the third quarter. Economists taking part in a Reuters poll had expected the shortfall to widen to £21.1 billion in the October-December period. For 2015 as a whole, the current account deficit stood at £96.2 billion or 5.2 per cent of GDP, also the biggest since records began in 1948. The Bank of England has said it will watch for signs that the EU membership referendum, due to take place on June 23, might make it harder for the country to finance the shortfall in its balance of payments. The value of sterling has weakened sharply since the start of year on concerns about the outcome of the EU referendum and BoE governor Mark Carney has said a vote to leave the bloc would test the "kindness...

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Sporting briefs

Dnipro: Last season's Europa League runners-up Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk were among three teams banned from European competition for one season by UEFA yesterday for breaching financial regulations. Azeri club Inter Baku and Romania's Targu Mures were also given one-season suspensions. UEFA said the bans would apply to the next season in which the clubs qualify for European competition and would be in force for the next three campaigns. Biting ban: Leeds United striker Souleymane Doukara has been banned for eight matches for biting an opponent. The 24-year-old forward was found guilty of biting Fulham defender Fernando Amorebieta in their 1-1 draw on Feb. 23. Amorebieta was booked for his reaction to the bite. Mathieu: Barcelona and France defender Jeremy Mathieu is set to be sidelined for up to two months after undergoing knee surgery, leaving his Euro 2016 hopes in serious doubt. Mathieu suffered a torn meniscus during France's friendly win over Russia on Tuesday and went under the knife yesterday. Schaaf: Hannover have confirmed that Thomas Schaaf will not be their coach next season if he is unable to save the club from relegation. Schaaf was appointed as a replacement for...

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Debono making up for lost time

Regardless of the sport, coaches fear athletes reaching their mid-teen years like nothing else. It is during this period, when the study-related stress starts to pile up – and other attractions begin to dominate their attention – that most give up the sport. For those who do press ahead, the next hurdle is work… where the reduction in leisure time results in a decline to put in the hard training needed. Charlton Debono fell into this latter group. "I was always interested in sports," he said. "Over the years I tried many disciplines such as tennis and martial arts. I also spent a few years... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Libya urges United Nations to act to protect sovereign wealth fund

Libya pressed the United Nations Security Council on Thursday to take urgent action to allow the managers of its sovereign wealth fund to move money between frozen accounts so the value can be protected and returns can be maximized.

Libya's U.N. Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi told the council that he was "surprised" there had been no response to the government's request last week for an exemption from U.N. sanctions for the Libyan Investment Authority so it can manage frozen assets while they remain under U.N. sanctions.

Without an exemption, Dabbashi said, the council will be responsible "for all the losses recorded by the Libyan body."

"These are profits that we could have collected to the tune of $2 billion a year," he said.

In a letter to the council last week, Dabbashi said the Libyan Investment Authority estimates that in 2014 alone, "instead of increasing the value of its assets base, it had real losses of $721 million."

"Furthermore, it lost an additional $1.6 billion to $2.3 billion in what would have been returns on investments if its assets had been properly invested in conservative investments with competitive interest rates," the letter said.

Dabbashi's letter said the Investment Authority had no access to its equity portfolio, and therefore "cannot respond to market changes or currency fluctuations." He added that most of the authority's bonds have matured "and the proceeds are in frozen accounts, where they are earning zero or negative interest rates."

Dabbashi noted in the letter that experts monitoring sanctions against Libya acknowledged the problem in a March 3 report to the Security Council. It said the council's aim wasn't to diminish the value of the investments and the council should clarify the matter "preferably by including an explicit exemption for fund management in a future resolution."

The Libyan ambassador spoke after the council unanimously adopted a resolution extending sanctions against the country until July 31, 2017.

The resolution requested Libya's new Government of National Accord, whose leader arrived in the country by ship on Wednesday, to confirm to the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against the country "as soon as it exercises sole and effective oversight over the National Oil Corportation, the Central Bank of Libya, and the Libyan Investment Authority."

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Harrison Ford uses the Force for good

The battered leather jacket worn by Harrison Ford in the latest Star Wars movie has now been put up for auction in New York to help a cause dear to the actor's heart. Ford, 73, signed and donated Han Solo's  Star Wars: The Force Awakens jacket to help raise money for research into epilepsy – a condition he recently revealed that his adult daughter Georgia Ford suffers from. Harrison said he was impressed with the work done by the FACES (Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures) unit at New York University's Langone Medical Centre. "I hope this jacket will provide some means to further that exploration. This is  a cause that is near and dear to me and unlike the cynical Han Solo, I've got a good feeling about this," he said. Harrison told reporters earlier in March that his daughter Georgia, 26, had suffered seizures since she was a child and that doctors at the Langone Medical Centre had finally diagnosed epilepsy as the cause some eight years ago. Bidding for the leather jacket stood at $33,000 on Wednesday and the online auction continues until April 11 on the website.

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Probe of two former officials confirmed at Vatican-owned hospital

The Vatican said Thursday that its prosecutor is investigating two former officials of a Vatican-owned children's hospital over renovations at the penthouse apartment of the city-state's former secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Bertone denied that he had authorized any such payments related to his apartment, said his lawyer, Michele Gentiloni Silverj.

The Vatican statement confirmed a report in Espresso magazine that Giuseppe Profiti, the Bambino Gesu hospital's former president, and Massimo Spina, its ex-treasurer, were under investigation. The Vatican said the investigation was ongoing but did not say when it began.

The report by journalist Emiliano Fittipaldi, among five defendants on trial at the Vatican in a leaked documents case, said the renovations totaled 422,000 euros ($480,000) — more than twice the 200,000-euro sum that Fittipaldi revealed previously in a book that led to the leaked document charges.

Bertone's lawyer issued a statement saying that the cardinal never "gave indications or authorized" the hospital foundation to make any payments relating to his apartment.

Bertone, who has insisted he paid for the renovations himself, has already sought to make amends with a 150,000-euro donation to the hospital for medical research. Bertone stressed the donation was voluntary and not a repayment.

Bertone was formerly the secretary of state, the Vatican's No. 2 official, under Pope Benedict XVI and for the first months of Francis' papacy. Now 81, he no longer holds any top Vatican post.

The trial against Fittipaldi, another journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, two former officials of a papal reform commission and another defendant is set to resume next week.

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Argentina’s debt deal approved

Argentina's Senate gave the green light to a landmark deal to repay creditors holding defaulted debt in the early hours yesterday, marking the end of a 14-year legal battle. The deal is the cornerstone of new President Mauricio Macri's plan for revitalising an economy hobbled by low investment, high inflation and precarious central bank reserves. Senators across the political divide voted by a 54 to 16 margin in favour of the deal. Cash-strapped provincial governors who see it as key to regaining access to financing had lobbied hard in favour of the package. Now, Macri must simply sign the deal into law. "What we are doing is resolving the topic of debt, we are not increasing debt, we are closing a judicial question," said Miguel Pichetto, head of the opposition Victory Front party in the Senate, who voted in favour of the deal despite coming under attack from some members of his own party. The country has until April 14 to pay $4.65 billion to the main hedge funds that fought for and won an advantageous settlement after balking at steep payment reductions offered in Argentina's 2005 and 2010 bond revamps. A US court ordered Argentina to negotiate a settlement, which should set...

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Azarenka to face Kuznetsova in Miami Open final

When Serena Williams made an early exit at the Miami Open, the next generation of women's tennis wasn't quite ready to fill the void.

Instead it will be former champions Svetlana Kuznetsova and Victoria Azarenka in the final Saturday.

Eight-time champion Williams was beaten by Kuznetsova in the fourth round, and then the Russian just kept winning. In the semifinals Thursday, she erased 12 of the 14 break points she faced in a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Timea Bacsinszky.

Kuznetsova, 30, is back in the final 10 years after she won the tournament.

"It means I've been a lot of times out here in front of you guys," she told the crowd with a laugh.

Kuznetsova hadn't enjoyed much success at Key Biscayne in recent years, but she won four consecutive three-setters to reach the semifinals. At No. 19, she is the lowest-ranked women's finalist in the event since No. 38 Kim Clijsters earned the 2005 championship.

"I'm happy I could hang in there," Kuznetsova said. "I haven't been feeling my best, but I've been fighting with every ball and trying to run as much as I could."

Azarenka advanced by beating No. 2-seeded Angelique Kerber, 6-2, 7-5. Azarenka, who won the tournament in 2009 and 2011, has yet to drop a set in this year's tourney and is bidding to become only the third woman to win Indian Wells and Key Biscayne in the same year.

Against Kerber, Azarenka broke serve seven times, hit 29 winners and committed only 16 unforced errors.

"I stayed very strong in the end," Azarenka said. "She's such an amazing player. She got to so many balls; sometimes I just had to watch them. But I'm glad I kept pushing."

In men's play, No. 6-seeded Kei Nishikori overcame five match points and beat No. 16 Gael Monfils 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3). Next up for Nishikori is a Friday night match against No. 24 Nick Kyrgios, who reached his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal by beating No. 12 Milos Raonic in a matchup of big servers, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Monfils became soaked with sweat on a steamy afternoon but rallied from a break down in the final set. Nishikori fell behind 0-40 serving at 4-5 but erased those match points and another in that game, and overcame one more match point serving in the 12th game.

"I thought I almost gave up the match," Nishikori said. "It was tough conditions. Especially the last couple of games, I don't know what I was thinking."

Kyrgios erased all five break points he faced and earned the only service break in the opening game.

"To be honest I didn't think I was going to break during the match," Kyrgios said. "I came out really energetic and got pretty lucky. That definitely made me more relaxed."

Five-time champion Novak Djokovic will face David Goffin in the other semifinal.

American twins Bob and Mike Bryan, who turned 38 this week, lost in the semifinals of doubles to Pierre-Hughes Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, 6-3, 6-3. The Bryans hold a record 16 Grand Slam titles but haven't won a tournament since August.

Kuznetsova earned the first break of her semifinal in the 10th game of the grueling, 65-minute first set. She broke three consecutive times in the second set to pull away from the No. 19-seeded Bacsinszky.

"I was playing to finish it in two sets so I have a little bit of time to rest," Kuznetsova said.

If Kuznetsova wins the title, she'll return to the top 10 for the first time since 2010. She's already assured of surpassing $20 million in career prize money.

Speaking of which: The 15-year veteran weighed in on the recent debate about prize money, saying women on tour deserve the same pay as men.

"My thing is, guys that travel can have kids. They can have a family, right?" she said. "We cannot. Since 16, I am a professional. I gave up everything — friends, home. We give more than 100 percent. ... We're not taking their money. We just want to earn the same."

However, Kuznetsova said she's opposed to women playing best-of-five matches in major tournaments, as the men do.

"I don't think it makes sense," she said. "You will see us struggling, cramping, squeezing and yelling. It's going to look weird."

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Is the scheme transparent?

The PN have announced a scheme through which investors who wish to help the PN raise money to pay its very considerable debts running into millions, can do this by lending €10,000 to the PN at an annual compounded interest of four per cent. Both the capital and interest accrued is supposed to be paid back when the 10-year periodis up. I believe that this scheme is an attempt to circumvent the party financing law which has been passed in Parliament very recently. The reason being that under this law only "donations" of a certain amount of money (above €7,000) must be registered and the names... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Xterra Malta returns to Golden Bay this Sunday

The second edition of Xterra Malta Triathlon has lured around 195 endurance triathletes who will be pushing to muster the challenging off-road terrain in Golden Bay this Sunday. Xterra, an international series with races held around the globe, is essentially an off-road triathlon. Sunday's race starts at 9.30am. Competitors will be undertaking a 1.5km swim in Golden Bay, a mountain bike course of 30km around Majjistral and Miżieb, and an 11km run around the Ġnejna plateau. "The main aim of the event is to encourage sports in nature, combining discipline, self-discovery and competition in an environment that is both beautiful and demanding," the organisers said. "The race in Malta has attracted over 25 elite professionals and 170 age-groupers from 21 countries." Professional athletes will be vying for the $7,500 prize fund while the top amateurs will secure a slot at the coveted World Xterra Championships, held every year in Hawaii. This year sees the return of Hungarian Brigitta Poor, winner of the women's race in 2015, as well as three of the top-five placed athletes in the men's race. Also taking part in this Sunday's race is upcoming Karl Shaw, fresh from his success in...

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What is happening?

What is going on at MaltaPost? When I was in Malta as a tourist in January last year and sent a number of postcards to my friends and relatives in different countries – not a single card delivered was postmarked by MaltaPost! I was again in Malta this March and the same thing happened – no postmarks on beautiful Maltese stamps. Some of my friends are stamp collectors and very interested in postmarks of different countries. The other problem is that non-postmarked stamps can be used again and may mean a financial loss for this company. This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Roller-coaster first quarter ends with dollar under pressure and stocks flat

Equity markets worldwide fell for the first time in four days yesterday, the final day of a roller-coaster first quarter that has hammered the dollar and the pound but has proven the best in decades for gold and bonds. March was closing out on a subdued note after a volatile quarter that saw investors vacillate between calm and panic. Oil prices, the source of much concern throughout the quarter, were a touch higher as investors looked for clarity over a possible agreement by major oil-producing nations to reduce supply. The dollar hovered near seven-week lows against the euro. It has fallen this week on reduced expectations for near-term interest rate hikes from the US Federal Reserve, particularly after comments from Fed Chair Janet Yellen. US oil futures rose 1.3 per cent to $38.82 a barrel, rebounding somewhat after another report of record US stockpiles, while China was put on a downgrade warning by S&P. Wall Street was sleepy one day ahead of key monthly labour market data. In the span of three months, the S&P 500 erased a 11 per cent fall – one of its worst-ever starts to a year – and is now set to end the quarter with modest gains. The S&P 500 gained 0.11 per cent, to...

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Demanuele tops Preliminaries

Veteran Alfred Demanuele completed one of the most extraordinary results in local chess by winning all seven games to secure top spot in the Preliminaries. Demanuele, 85, played each game with intensity, grinding down every opponent with his original opening sequence. Luke Buhagiar, yet unrated, took second place on five points. His opponents were all rated, so Buhagiar will achieve an International Rating in the next update. Ian Refalo was third, also on five points but behind Buhagiar having lost the direct encounter. Alex Farrugia, Filipina Thornton, George Caruana, Matthew Conti, Matthew Saliba, Ron Sammut and Matthew Grech also booked their place in the National Championship cycle. Newcomer Tony Ray Camilleri just missed the cut on four points in 11th place. He will be the first on the waiting list should any of the qualifiers withdraw. Jamie Farrugia, Claude Licari, Ayman Ibrahim and John Sammut, another newcomer, followed Camilleri in that order. For many youngsters, this was their first experience at this level. Eight-year-old twins Matthew and Luke Fleri showed great promise and U-12 champion, Matteo Stagno, continued to gain experience when playing against older...

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On the right track

I refer to Robert Busuttil's article 'Church's uncertain future' (March 16). In his bestseller book The triumph of faith, Rodney Stark, one of the best sociologists in the world, categorically denies that the Catholic Church is facing an uncertain future. The Catholic population is on the increase. Statistics released by the Vatican press office show that the world's Catholic population rose from 1.115 billion (17.3 per cent of the world's population) to 1.72 billion (17.8 per cent). In particular, there has been a stunning awakening of faith in Latin America. Perhaps the visits there by... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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The first self-opening wine bottle

Avrilpuleg 1.4 is a revolutionary wine bottle closure that is self-opening. No corkscrew or other gadget is required since, as soon as a wine glass is waved in front of it – as if it were a magic wand – the wine bottle opens itself without the need to even touch it. Unveiling the wine to much excitement at a press conference, the company's CEO, Hugo Ebrill, showed the first case of wine bottles sealed with the new stopper. He said the new closure is "powered by an imploding mechanism hidden in the bottle's punt or base" – think opposite of explosion. "It proposes a ground-breaking trigger... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Announcements

ABELA. On March 31, JOHN, of Balzan, at St Vincent De Paul Residence, passed away peacefully, aged 66, comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to mourn his loss his sisters Eileen and her husband Herbert Conrad and Doreen, widow of Joe Bartolo, his brother Anthony and his wife Gertrude, his nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends. The funeral cortege leaves St Vincent De Paul Residence tomorrow at 8am for Marija Annunzjata parish church, Balzan where a Mass præsente cadavere will be said at 8.30am followed by interment at Balzan Cemetery. Donations to Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Siġġiewi, will be appreciated. Lord, grant him eternal rest. AQUILINA. On March 31, at Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, ANITA, aged 38, went to meet the Risen Lord surrounded by her family and comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss her mother Noemi and her father Manuel, her brother Abel Joseph and his girlfriend Brunella, her sister Aloisia and her husband Silvio Camilleri, their children Alice, Stella and Samuel, her grandfather Abel, aunties, uncles, cousins and friends. The funeral leaves Mater Dei Hospital tomorrow at 3pm for St Sebastian parish church,...

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Really good films

Instead of the trash of unrelenting and senseless violence and sex that are being shown to the cinema public, especially impressionable young people, let's have some good wholesome films like Risen, to feed our thirsty public. Then, we can go to the cinema more often to relax and be entertained. When I was a boy, western films were screened regularly, with a little violence, but not too much. They had much quiet dialogue and good action. Not the over-excited fare we are being shown today. Foolish and crazy. This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Annual scale model exhibition

The Malta Society of Model Makers (MSMM) is holding its most important event of the year – the annual exhibition which runs at the Catholic Institute in Floriana until Sunday, April 10. The aim of the exhibition is to promote the work and talent of MSMM members and to give an insight of the society to the public. The exhibition is open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm, on weekends from 9am to 8pm and on Sunday, April 10, from 9am to 5pm. Keeping in mind its main role, that is to enhance scale modelling within Maltese society, MSMM holds regular weekly meeting at the Ċentru Kultura Franġiskana in Floriana, from 6 to 8pm every Thursday. During these meetings, the members have the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and discuss modelling techniques. The committee also organises lectures, visits to museums, historical places, dinners and other social events. Non-members are welcome to attend. If you are a beginner, experienced scale modeller, or a modeller visiting Malta and would like to discover the satisfaction of scale models, contact MSMM by sending an e-mail to maltamodellers@gmail.com or calling 9909 5022. http://ift.tt/1VWTNCv

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Mercedes expect more of a fight from Ferrari

Formula One champions Mercedes can rack up their eighth successive victory on Sunday but even if they do, a winning streak must end for either Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg in Bahrain. Nico Rosberg is chasing his fifth win in a row after starting the season triumphantly in Australia to follow the three victories he racked up at the end of 2015. Lewis Hamilton, the triple world champion who finds himself behind his German team-mate in the standings for the first time since 2014, is on for a hat-trick after winning in Bahrain for the past two years. The Briton is the favourite at a circuit that has yet to witness a Rosberg victory but Ferrari, who roared into the lead at the start in Melbourne with Sebastian Vettel followed by Kimi Raikkonen, also fancy their chances. Had the race not been halted by Fernando Alonso's massive crash, Ferrari might have won and they certainly narrowed the gap to the champions. In Melbourne last year, Mercedes finished one-two with Vettel third and 34 seconds off the pace. This time, Vettel was just 9.6 seconds behind Rosberg and 1.5 adrift of Hamilton. Sunday's race at the Sakhir circuit, in the desert sands south of Manama, could be even...

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Happy sojourn

I feel I should comment on John Homer's letter about Transport Malta and Tallinja card (March 23). I am an English guy who has been here for just over three years. I am 61 years old, do not work and own a flat close to Homer's residence. However, I have little sympathy for his complaint. There's as much bureaucracy in Malta as many other places. A retired BT worker engaged in administration, I can fully understand if there's some clerical error or even maybe an incompetent office procedure. But discrimination is something else. Through my own fault of (mental) illness, I only succeeded in... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Gourmet dinner at Waterbiscuit

Gourmands may want to pen the evening of April 29 in their diaries. The Waterbiscuit restaurant at the InterContinental Malta, St George's Bay, is hosting a delightful dinner experience showcasing specially designed dishes accompanied by a curated list of Malta-grown wines. This event is one in a series of wine-themed dinners prepared by some of the finest chefs on the Maltese islands. This sumptuous dinner is prepared using Maltese quality ingredients and features four courses which have been unashamedly paired with boutique wines from Malta and Gozo. Dinner is served from 7.30pm onwards and the kitchen brigade promises a truly authentic dining experience, using their creative culinary talents and nature's locally sourced bounties. The menu is complemented with hand-selected quality home-grown and hand-crafted Maltese and Gozitan wines from the Frizzante, Classic Collection, Grand Vin de Hauteville and Gran Cavalier ranges produced by Delicata. All wines, as well as mineral water and coffee, are included in the price of €60 per person and with three hours free parking. Seats are limited and reservations are recommended. For details contact malta.fnb@ihg.com or 2137 7600.

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Bazaar day at Island Sanctuary

Animals, both at home or in shelters, are entirely dependent upon humans to provide the conditions that will meet their basic needs. The Island Sanctuary in Marsaxlokk is aware of all its stray dogs' daily needs. Therefore it is holding its monthly bazaar on Sunday from 9am till 12pm. Lots of interesting books will be available at very good prices, as well as bric-a-brac, soft toys, plants and a small pet shop with brand-new items for your pets. As we all know, our dear dogs depend on us. In its last bazaar, the sanctuary raised the sum of €599.20. Help them match and even beat this figure. All proceeds will go towards the daily running of the sanctuary. More information may be obtained by phone on 2165 9895, e-mail: info@islandsanctuary.com.mt or on Facebook: The Island Sanctuary Malta.

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Relentless Djokovic rolls into semi-finals

World number one Novak Djokovic rolled into the Miami Open semi-finals with a 6-3 6-3 romp over Tomas Berdych on Wednesday as he continued his pursuit of a fifth title in six years on Key Biscayne. Djokovic did not face the difficulty that he had in his fourth round match, when he was forced to fend off 14-of-15 break points, while he also attacked Berdych's second serve to advance to a clash with Belgium's David Goffin after 99 minutes. Goffin beat France's Gilles Simon 3-6 6-2 6-1 in the day's other quarter-final. Djokovic's triumph over Berdych continued a trend of domination with the Serb clocking up his 10th consecutive victory over the Czech. "Obviously it does have a certain effect," Djokovic told reporters of the lopsided record. "Maybe (it) factors in the mental side coming into the match." Berdych was coming off a marathon win against Richard Gasquet on Tuesday and did not have enough left to challenge Djokovic. He won just six of his 23 second service points and was broken four times. The match began with Berdych nearly breaking Djokovic's opening service game and then successfully stealing the third game but he quickly lost momentum en route to committing 45 unforced...

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Union work

In his Facebook comments, Noel Abela, the Education and Employment Ministry's chief of staff, said (about the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin), among other things: "Now they speak up, these cowards." He said the union members should be ashamed of themselves for failing to speak for 25 long years, referring to the previous Nationalist administrations. I think he should be reminded that the UĦM did not interfere in the General Workers' Union work at the time. The GWU was doing such a good job. This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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A charity walk in aid of Kalkara children

A charity walk in aid of children suffering various chronic conditions in Kalkara is being held on Sunday from 10.30am onwards. Starting point: local council offices, Saviour Street, Rinella Street, Water Mill Street, Giovanni Ricasoli Street, Ganni Raimondo Street, St Lawrence Street, Capuchins Road. Finish point: Archbishop Gonzi Square. Applications may be collected from the Kalkara local council. Any donations are appreciated.

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Cycling great Hoy to race at Le Mans

Six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy will fulfil a lifelong dream by competing in the Le Mans 24 Hour race in June. The 40-year-old, Britain's most successful Olympian after retiring following two gold medals in the velodrome at London 2012, will compete in the prestigious race, which was first run in 1923 and takes place overnight from June 18 to 19. Hoy will drive a Nissan-powered Ligier JS P2 chassis at Le Mans' Circuit de la Sarthe, in the second tier of racing, with two team-mates. Hoy, who first raced with Nissan in 2014 after his retirement from cycling, said: "I remember getting a Scalextric track when I was five or six. One of the cars had headlights on it. "I remember asking my dad why and he said 'that's for the Le Mans 24 Hour race – they race through the night'. "I didn't do this to replace my cycling, but in many ways I get to carry on some of the really enjoyable parts of my cycling career into motor sport. "It's exactly the same feeling you have when you're about to race, doesn't matter whether it's on a bike, in a car or even when I was younger, racing BMXs. There's still that excitement, the nervousness, the adrenaline. "I never thought I'd feel that...

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Flames and fireworks displays

The fireworks factory within Our Lady of the Lily Band Club of Mqabba will tomorrow be participating in Festa ta' Nar Tradizzjonali Malti – pyrotechnic displays organised by the Northern Region, in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Local Government. With the participation of 19 fireworks factories from the south, the event is being held at the Siġġiewi bypassat 9pm. The Lily Fireworks Factory will present traditional pyrotechincs. A ground firework display will follow at Siġġiewi's main square. Family entertainment will be provided during a Maltese soiree at the same venue.

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Yesterday's results

GFA Div. One Knock-Out final: Xewkija Tigers vs Kerċem Ajax 0-3. IASC League: Mosta Gunners vs Ħamrun Liberty 1-0; Mġarr Falcons vs Rovers United 2-1; Żurrieq Wolves vs Gżira United 0-4. GIDA Cup QFs: Comino vs AD2000 3-0; Scandinavia vs La Famiglia 2-1 (aet); Birnapa vs Club 33 4-5. Basketball Division Two: Play-off final (Game 2) Gżira Athleta vs Mellieħa Mr Green 61-71 (best-of-three series level at 1-1). Women's U-19 final: Hibernians vs Luxol 73-45. Men's U-19 final: Starlites vs Hibernians 60-56.

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11 arrested on board Ryanair flight from Malta to Edinburgh

Eleven members of a stag party were arrested on board a Ryanair flight from Malta to Edinburgh after police with sniffer dogs were called to investigate the 'rowdy' group, British media report.

Other passengers were stuck in the airport after police and sniffer dogs boarded the plane that had arrived from Edinburgh that day.

It is believed Ryanair crew alerted the authorities to the on board behaviour, which saw the stag party escorted off the plane before 11 were arrested.

One witness said: "Unfortunately our inbound flight has seemingly several drunken passengers heading to a 'rave' in Malta this weekend. Police and police dogs were on the plane, however Ryanair are giving us no information except to say flight is delayed due to security checks."

Due to the delay, and restrictions in the hours a pilot and crew can spend in the air, they were unable to make the four-hour flight back to Edinburgh.

Ryanair had to get another entire crew to staff the flight back to Scotland - resulting in the delay, the British media report.

A spokeswoman for Ryanair said: "The crew of this flight from Edinburgh to Malta (31 Mar) requested police assistance upon arrival after a number of passengers became disruptive in-flight.

"The aircraft landed normally and police removed and detained these individuals at Malta Airport. As a result, the return flight departed to Edinburgh with a delay of two hours.

"We sincerely apologise to affected customers, but we will not tolerate unruly or disruptive behaviour at any time and the safety and comfort of our customers, crew and aircraft is our number one priority. This is now a matter for local police."

 

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Mqabba gathering

The Youth Section within Our Lady of the Lily Musical Society of Mqabba, in collaboration with the club's bartenders, is organising a great gathering at the Lily Band Club in Church Square, Mqabba on Sunday. Entitled The Sunday Afternoon Two Months to Go Gathering, this will be one of a series of events in preparation for the feast of Our Lady of the Lily, being celebrated on June 19. Doors open at 11am. Entrance is free. • For more information on both events visit www.talgilju.com.

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11 arrested at MIA following rowdy behaviour on Ryanair, return flight delayed 2 hours

A Ryanair flight from Malta was delayed for a number of hours today because of several drunken passengers, British media reported. The web portals said that scores of people, including families with young children, were stuck at Malta International Airport when the flight they were supposed to get on was held up by stag party revellers. The Scots were supposed to get on a flight which arrived in Malta from Edinburgh earlier in the day. But they were left in the terminal building for over three hours after police with sniffer dogs stormed the plane from Edinburgh as it sat on the tarmac. According to the newspaper, the Ryanair crew alerted the authorities to the rowdy behaviour on board and 11 were eventually arrested. Quoting a Ryanair spokeswoman, the newspaper said the crew requested police assistance upon arrival after a number of passengers became disruptive in-flight. "The aircraft landed normally and police removed and detained these individuals at Malta Airport. As a result, the return flight departed to Edinburgh with a delay of two hours. "We sincerely apologise to affected customers, but we will not tolerate unruly or disruptive behaviour at any time and the safety and...

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Vatican children's hospital officials probed over 'cash for cardinal's home'

The Vatican said today that its prosecutor is investigating two former officials of a Vatican-owned children's hospital over renovations at the penthouse apartment of the city-state's former secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. The cardinal denied that he had authorised any such payments related to his apartment, said his lawyer, Michele Gentiloni Silverj. The Vatican statement confirmed a report in Espresso magazine that Giuseppe Profiti, the Bambino Gesu hospital's former president, and Massimo Spina, its ex-treasurer, were under investigation. The Vatican said the investigation was ongoing but did not say when it began. The report by journalist Emiliano Fittipaldi, among five defendants on trial at the Vatican in a leaked documents case, said the renovations totalled €422,000  - more than twice the €200,000 sum that Mr Fittipaldi revealed previously in a book that led to the leaked document charges. The cardinals lawyer issued a statement saying the cleric never "gave indications or authorised" the hospital foundation to make any payments relating to his apartment. The cardinal, who has insisted he paid for the renovations himself, has already sought to make amends...

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Seven police officers killed in explosion in Turkish city

Seven police officers have been killed in an explosion caused by a bomb-laden car in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir in south-east Turkey. Twenty-seven people were injured, including 13 police officers, the local governor's office and police force said in a joint statement. The statement said separatist "terrorists", a government designation for Kurdish militants, targeted an armoured vehicle transporting police personnel who had been temporarily deployed to the city. The blast damaged several cars and shattered almost all the windows of a high-rise building in the area. At least six ambulances deployed to collect casualties and security forces rushed to seal off the area. The attack comes one day before Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is due to visit the city, including the historic Sur district where a some neighbourhoods are under curfew. Turkey has been imposing curfews in several districts of the south-east since August to flush out militants linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. The Kurdish rebels have set up barricades, dug trenches and planted explosives to keep security forces at bay. The military operations have raised concerns over...

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UN-backed Libyan Unity Government threatens rival leaders with terror charges

Libya's UN-brokered unity government threatened on Thursday to send the names of 17 of the country's rival politicians, militia leaders and religious figures to the international police organisation Interpol and the UN Security Council for "supporting terrorism" if they continue to "impede democratic transition". The prime minister-designate of the UN-backed government, Fayez Serraj- who landed by sea in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Wednesday- is slowly taking steps to consolidate his grip on power in a country already split between two rival governments, two parliaments, and militias in eastern and western Libya. One of Libya's rival governments is based in Tripoli. It is led by Khalifa Ghweil and its source of power is a loose set of Islamist-led militias. The second camp is based in the east, made up of Libya's last elected House of Representatives and it is supported by army units led by strongman Khalifa Hifter, and eastern militias and tribes. The two rival camps have created a power struggle and a security vacuum, enabling the extremist Islamic State group to find a foothold in Libya. The group has taken over the central city of Sirte and carried deadly attacks across...

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Progress cargo craft blasts off for International Space Station

A Progress cargo craft blasted off on a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The Progress 63 spaceship launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, lighting up the night sky as its engine started. Carrying food, fuel and supplies, Progress 63 is expected to dock at the space station on Saturday. Progress 63 replaces the resupply ship Progress 61, which undocked from the ISS loaded with trash. Progress 61 is set to burn up over the Pacific Ocean tomorrow.

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Turkey's refugee deal with EU to begin on Monday

Turkey's prime minister says a deal with the European Union stipulating that refugees who arrive on Greek islands from the Turkish coast will be sent back will go into effect as scheduled on Monday. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the method will not increase the number of refugees now in Turkey, because others will be sent to the EU. He also said "there will be no reason for the loss of life of people who hope and desire to cross the Aegean Sea to Europe". The deal stipulates that for every Syrian returned, another Syrian in Turkey will be relocated to a European country. It aims to interrupt the smuggling of refugees from Turkey to Greece in what has become a lucrative business for criminal gangs and an often deadly journey for the migrants.

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Motorcyclist grievously injured in Gozo accident

A 48-year-old man was grievously injured this afternoon in a traffic accident in Triq ir-Rabat, Nadur. He is not in a critical condition. The police said the man was riding a motorbike when he lost control and crashed into a wall. The accident happened at 5pm.

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Malta's Indian community heralds spring with colour

The Indian community in Malta heralded the beginning of spring today celebrating the festival of colours. Holi, as the festival is known, is celebrated all over India and in some places the festival can last three days. The date varies every year but it usually falls in March. Primarily a Hindu religious festival, it has spread across Europe and North America as a celebration of love and colour, when friends and strangers alike pelt and smear each other with dry powder and water. Some families hold religious ceremonies but for many Holi is a time of fun.

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Highest asylum-seeker acceptance in EU

Malta had the highest rate of acceptance of asylum seekers in the final quarter of last year, according to a report by The Economist. In the report issued earlier this week, Malta had the highest rate of acceptance, at 33 percentage points above the European average of 60 per cent. According to the report, the reason behind the increase in acceptance rates was that applications from asylum seekers coming from countries which were more likely to be accepted had soared. "Many countries show unusual sympathy for migrants from specific countries to which they have historic ties," the report said, adding that this phenomenon was also evident in Malta, where all 770 applications from asylum seekers arriving from Libya or the vicinity had been accepted. In the majority of countries across Europe, Syrians, Eritreans and Iraqis are approved more than 90 per cent of the time, up from about a quarter during the previous year, The Economist said. Those migrants coming from Syria had a 97 per cent chance of being accepted as refugees, followed by those from Iraq (90 per cent) and Eritrea (86 per cent). The acceptance rate for migrants coming from other countries stood at 28 per cent. The...

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Motorcyclist injured in Nadur traffic accident

A 48-year-old motorcyclist was injured this afternoon when he lost control of the bike he was riding and crashed into a wall in Nadur, the police said.

The man was taken to hospital where he was found to have suffered grievous injuries but is not in critical condition.

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Cospicua win Freedom Day regatta

Cospicua are the winners of the Freedom Day regatta as the Cottonera outfit won the last two races in the Open Class to overhaul early leaders Marsa in the final standings. Cospicua trailed Marsa by 12 points after the opening three races but victory in the Kajjiki and the crucial 'Dgħajjes B Tal-Pass' races enabled them to leapfrog their rivals in the overall standings as they amassed 72 points. Favourites Marsa had to settle with second place when totaling 56 points while Senglea placed third with 34 points. In the 'B' Category, reserved for young rowers, Birżebbuġa were the runaway winners as they cruised to victory with an overall score of 72 points. Marsa placed second on 42 points ahead of Cospicua (32) and Senglea (26).

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Brussels gives green light to extradition of suspect Abdeslam

Belgian judicial authorities have approved in principle the extradition of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam to France.

After two court sessions on Thursday, the federal prosecutor's office said "the transfer is allowed," and added that French and Belgian authorities will "jointly discuss and decide on the further steps of the transfer."

The statement said Abdeslam gave the "clear consent" for the transfer.

Abdeslam was captured March 18 in a massive police raid in Brussels. The Nov. 13 attacks in Paris left 130 people dead.

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Watch: Dramatic moment flyover collapses in India, killing 21, trapping others

A long section of an overpass under construction collapsed Thursday in a crowded Kolkata neighborhood and sent tons of concrete and steel slamming onto midday traffic, killing at least 21 people and leaving scores of others injured, police said.

More people were feared trapped in the debris, and rescuers used saws, small cranes and their bare hands to search for survivors. Smashed yellow taxis, destroyed rickshaws and the bloody legs of trapped people jutted from the fallen girders and concrete.

The overpass spanned nearly the width of the street and was designed to ease traffic through the densely crowded Bara Bazaar neighborhood. About 100 meters (300 feet) of the overpass fell, while other sections remained standing.

It "came down with a huge crashing sound," said Yogesh Sharma, who was sitting at a roadside tea stand with friends.

"I left my cup of tea and ran," said Sharma, a 23-year-old resident. "I was crying at the spot."

At least 21 people were killed, a police official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. More than 70 people were taken to two hospitals in Kolkata, the state capital, officials said. It was not immediately clear how many people were missing.

Army troops and personnel from the National Disaster Response Force joined the effort to pull people from smashed vehicles. Huge cranes and other equipment were brought to the site to begin clearing the rubble. Workers also used cutting torches to pry open the slabs.

The operation was a "very, very challenging task," said O.P. Singh, chief of the disaster response force. Rescuers also used dogs and special cameras to find people who were trapped, he said.

"The area was very, very crowded. Motorized rickshaws, taxis ... there was a lot of traffic," one witness told NDTV television.

Mamta Banerjee, the top elected official of West Bengal state, said a private builder had missed several deadlines for completing the construction.

The contract for the overpass was signed in 2007 and it was expected to be completed in two years. Banerjee accused the previous Communist government in West Bengal of not adhering to building regulations.

"We completed nearly 70 percent of the construction work without any mishap," said K.P Rao, a top official of IVRCL Infrastructure company, which was building the overpass. "We have to go into the details to find out whether the collapse was due to any technical or quality issue."

"It was a total act of God," said his colleague, Dilip, who uses one name.

Building collapses are common in India, where regulations are poorly enforced and construction companies often use substandard materials.

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Explosion reported in Turkey's Diyarbakir; four deaths reported

Turkish news agencies say an explosion went off near a bus terminal in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir in the southeast of the country. The government put the initial toll of wounded at 14.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said a large number of ambulances were deployed to the scene.

The private Dogan news agency said a car bomb targeted a bus transporting police. The agency blamed "terrorists" for the incident, using the government designation for Kurdish rebels.

An opposition politician based in Diyarbakir, Omer Tastan, confirmed there had been an explosion in the city, which has suffered renewed violence between security forces and Kurdish militants.

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After terrorist attack, Brussels airport could reopen on the weekend

Brussels airport authorities say they are ready to resume flights from the bomb-damaged facility soon but not before the weekend.

Belgium's civil aviation authority and the fire department have given their approvals to a reopening following testing on Tuesday, one week after the suicide bombings.

Operating company Brussels Airport said in a statement Thursday that the airport is "technically ready for a restart of passenger flights in the temporary infrastructure foreseen for check-in."

Flights will resume once political approval to reopen is granted, but not before Friday evening. Due to the damage, the airport will be able to run only at 20 percent of normal capacity.

The area where arriving passengers transit was only slightly damaged and is ready for use.

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Fernando Alonso ruled out of Bahrain Grand Prix for medical reasons

Fernando Alonso won't take part in the Bahrain Grand Prix after failing a medical test following his crash at the season-opening race.

FIA said the McLaren driver was not allowed to compete on Thursday after chest scans showed "there was insufficient resolution of the signs to allow him to compete on safety grounds."

Alonso will take further medical tests before next month's Chinese Grand Prix, "and the results will be considered before allowing him to race there."

McLaren reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne will replace Alonso in Bahrain, making his F1 debut.

Alonso escaped a high-speed crash at the Australian Grand Prix this month. His car was launched into the trackside concrete barrier and was sent into a roll, flipping twice before coming to rest in a crumpled wreck.

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Brussels airport could reopen this weekend

Brussels airport authorities have said they are ready to resume flights from the bomb-damaged facility soon, but not before the weekend. Belgium's civil aviation authority and the fire department have given their approvals to a reopening following testing on Tuesday, one week after the suicide bombings. Operating company Brussels Airport said in a statement that the airport is "technically ready for a restart of passenger flights in the temporary infrastructure foreseen for check-in". Flights will resume once political approval to reopen is granted, but not before Friday evening. Due to the damage, the airport will be able to run only at 20% of normal capacity. The area where arriving passengers transit was only slightly damaged and is ready for use. The move comes after police at the airport said they had criticised the lack of security at Belgium's main transport hub well ahead of the attacks on March 22. In an open letter to their superiors and the airport authorities, police said they had sent "strong daily signals regarding the overall security at the airport". They complained that "there had not been any security control of passengers or luggage from the airport complex...

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Price of petrol, diesel down

The price of diesel has gone down 6c, that of diesel 4c, Enemed said this afternooon. The new rates are effective as from tomorrow. Product Maximum Retail Price For March 2016 (Eur/ltr) Revised Maximum Retail Price For April 2016 (Eur/ltr) Change (Eur/ltr) Diesel €1.22 €1.16 (€0.06) Unleaded Petrol €1.32 €1.28 (€0.04) E Power €1.47 €1.43 (€0.04) Kerosene €1.22 €1.16 (€0.06) Gasoil for heating €1.00 €1.00 No Change    

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Poland's top political leaders support total ban on abortion

Both Poland's prime minister and the powerful leader of the conservative ruling party have said they support a total ban on abortion. Abortion is currently only allowed in rare cases in mostly Catholic Poland, such as in rape cases or if the foetus is damaged. However, a new civic group called "Stop Abortion" is gathering support to impose a total ban. The movement is supported by Poland's Roman Catholic Church. Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, both Catholics, announced on Thursday that they support the total ban. Their party, which has a parliamentary majority, won power last year promising a return to traditional Catholic values. In a statement to be read in churches on Sunday, Poland's bishops are calling for the protection of human life "from conception to natural death".

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Slight decreases in fuel prices effective from 1 April, Enemed Co Ltd announces today

 

Fuel prices are decreasing as of tomorrow 1 April, Enemed Co Ltd have announced today. The largest decreases of 6c are in Diesel and Kerosene, followed by a 4c decrease in Unleaded Petrol and E Power. See full table below:

 

Product	Maximum Retail Price For March 2016 (Eur/ltr)	Revised Maximum Retail Price For April 2016 (Eur/ltr)	Change (Eur/ltr)
Diesel	€1.22	€1.16	(€0.06)
Unleaded Petrol	€1.32	€1.28	(€0.04)
E Power	€1.47	€1.43	(€0.04)
Kerosene	€1.22	€1. 16	(€0.06)
Gasoil for heating	€1.00	€1.00	No Change

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The natural environment

While all this political drama is going on,  while the economy is expanding, while some in Gozo are pushing forward the tunnel link and forgetting everything else that needs and can be done in Gozo, while everyone in politics is talking about the burning desire for the natural environment and its protection the natural environments keeps burning. It will continue to do so even if the party in  power changes. Unless, that is, we see clear policies and pledges that bring those in power to account. Why are we continuing to ruin Gozo's few remaining ridges? Why can hotels (for agro-tourism) be... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Woody Allen’s Café Society to open Cannes film festival

Woody Allen's Café Society will kick off this year's Cannes film festival, organisers said. It will be the third time the acclaimed American writer and director has opened the event with one of his movies. Allen has previously opened the prestigious annual festival, held in the south of France, with Hollywood Ending in 2002 and Midnight in Paris in 2011. Café Society, which stars The Social Network actor Jesse Eisenberg and Twilight actress Kristen Stewart, will screen out of competition on May 11. The movie is the 14th out- of-competition screening at Cannes for Allen, according to festival organisers. The film tells the story of a young man who arrives in Hollywood during the 1930s hoping to work in the film industry, falls in love and finds himself swept up in the café society that defined the spirit of the age, they said in a statement. The 69th Cannes film festival will run from May 11-22. Mad Max director George Miller will head the competition jury.

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Church bookings

I would like to voice my disappointment for not having been allowed to join the congregation at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta for the funeral Mass of the late Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca. I arrived in Valletta at 3.45pm and was politely told by one of the policemen that the public was not allowed to enter since the Church was "full-up". This was really something unheard of. Since when are we to book beforehand to attend Mass? Are we going to start discriminating between the 'high-ranked' and the 'common people'? I would like to know who had issued this directive, whether it... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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The Maltese stock market’s liquidity on 25th anniversary

The Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and since inception, the local market has very often been described as being illiquid. Although as time passed by participation by investors increased considerably, some investors (both retail as well as institutional) preferred to invest in overseas markets due to the difficulties in entering and exiting the local market when compared to the more developed stock markets across Europe and the US. One of the main reasons for the relative illiquidity of the local market is the lack of market makers across equities... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Israel passes law to cap bankers’ salaries

Israel has introduced one of the world's toughest curbs on bank executives' salaries to try to narrow a big gap between bosses' and workers' pay. The law was pushed through by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who, ahead of last year's election, ran on a platform of lowering the cost of living and reforming Israel's banks. It was approved in Parliament overnight in a 56-0 vote and will take effect in six months. Bankers' pay is a sensitive issue in Israel, especially since banks make large profits partly from a wide variety of fees on such things as deposits and withdrawals. According to Parliament's finance committee, salaries at financial firms have grown substantially in recent years and a quarter of the 40 public companies in Israel with the highest pay levels are financial ones. "There is a moral significance beyond the economic significance in this law," Kahlon said. "It symbolises narrowing pay gaps, solidarity and consideration for the weak." Under the new law, which also applies to insurance companies, total compensation will be capped at 2.5 million shekels (€576,739) a year, or no more than 44 times the salary of the lowest worker at the company. Anything above the...

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Veteran runner Grotto clocks up his 800th marathon race

Each marathon, each race tells a story… a story of determination and hope while pushing to the limit. For 66-year-old Antonio Grotto, the 2016 Malta Marathon signalled a milestone in his career – it was the 800th time that the Italian veteran had ran the 42km distance and more. His reserved and unassuming demeanour belies the energy and enthusiasm that exude from Grotto. He started running some 30 years back when his life had reached a hiatus. So, he felt he needed new challenges, new frontiers that would renew his zest for life. Simply put in his own words, running makes Grotto feel... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Sporting briefs

Schaaf: Hanover coach Thomas Schaaf will leave the club if they are relegated from the Bundesliga, the club have announced. The long-time Werder Bremen coach only took over in December, but Hanover look destined for the drop, lying 10 points from safety with seven games to go. And the club said yesterday that after "intensive and constructive talks over the past weeks" they had agreed to part company with the coach should relegation be confirmed. Deadline: Greece moved a step closer to a ban by FIFA and UEFA yesterday as talks over state involvement in the sport ended with no agreement. A delegation from FIFA and UEFA, along with the Hellenic Football Federation met with Deputy Minister for Sport Stavros Kontonis. The delegation was hoping to resolve differences with the government and avert a potential ban after Kontonis cancelled this season's Greek Cup because of crowd violence. Mathieu: Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu is to have surgery on his knee after suffering a torn meniscus during France's friendly win over Russia on Tuesday. The 32-year-old came on as a second-half substitute in his nation's 4-2 friendly win at the Stade de France but lasted only eight minutes...

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Ill treatment

I have asked Melita (my current internet, landline and TV provider) to refund the deposit I paid in August 2014 as per current EU regulations. The customer service office responded to me in writing saying that, to have my deposit refunded, I either have to terminate my contract or provide a Maltese citizen ID card. This is yet another example of how a legal, honest and working immigrant is discriminated against in this country. No other country in the EU would condone a different or special treatment by a private company on the basis of nationality. In my opinion, the matter should be... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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350 swimmers for three-day meeting at National Pool Complex

This year's Easter International Swim Meet, again sponsored by Klikk, will see the participation of foreign teams who will be vying for the medals with swimmers from local clubs over the next three days at the National Pool Complex, Tal-Qroqq. There will be two teams from the UK – Exeter City and Coopers School – and SSKC Poseidon Aschaffenburg who hail from Germany. The meet organisers are expecting an entry field of over 350 swimmers who are registered in any of the 42 events on the card. In all, 12 clubs will take part in the competition, including swimmers representing ASA ParaSwimming. It was also agreed that the national team athletes will swim for their clubs during the international meet except for the relay events. Today's first event is scheduled for 17.00.

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Stocks rally, dollar eases

An index of global stocks yesterday charged to its highest point since the start of the year, while the dollar weakened, as easing concerns about rising interest rates led investors into riskier assets. Oil prices climbed, as commodities denominated in dollars became more attractive to users of other currencies. US Treasury prices fell with benchmark yields rising from four-week lows amid selling in safe-haven bonds. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Tuesday the US central bank should proceed cautiously as it looks to raise interest rates, pushing back on a handful of her colleagues who have suggested another move may be just around the corner. Ms Yellen's comments were echoed yesterday by Chicago Fed President Charles Evans, who said there was a high hurdle to raising rates in April, given low inflation. "You have got the follow through from the Fed. They are taking one of the fears basically off the table at this point in terms of rising interest rates," said Chuck Carlson, chief executive officer at Horizon Investment Services in Hammond, Indiana. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 101.98 points, or 0.58 per cent, at 17,735.09, the S&P 500 gained 10.18 points,...

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It’s fine to fine

The editorial 'It's a fines day for road safety' (March 24) was fine up to the point that it is limited to driving. However,the editorial may have missed the elephant in the room. Lawlessness and lack of discipline in everything that we do is prevalent on the island. Too many members of the public ignore rules, regulation and even the law predominantly due to lack of enforcement, favouritism, nepotism and habitual evasion, possibly even using corrupt ways. Malta needs to resume the road to becoming a serious country in everything it does and then driving will be good too because good... This article is part of our premium content. Full story is available on Times of Malta Premium.

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Announcements

FALZON. On March 30, at Casa Arkati, Mosta, MARI, née Cefai, of Sliema, aged 98, passed away peacefully in her sleep. She leaves to mourn her great loss her step-children Marlene and her husband Alfred Barthet, Paul, Joseph and Caroline, Tonio and Abigail Falzon, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her niece Daphne and her husband Giovanni Corrieri, her nephews David and his wife Mary, Chris and his wife Angela, and Martin and his wife Teresa, and their children, other relatives and friends. The funeral leaves Casa Arkati tomorrow for the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery chapel where Mass præsente cadavere will be said at 9am, followed by interment. Lord grant her eternal rest. GALEA. On March 31, at Karin Grech Rehabilitation Centre, VICTOR of Birkirkara, residing at Msida, aged 71, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to mourn his great loss his wife Carmen, née Camilleri, his beloved sons Noel and Konrad, his brother Anton and his wife Rita, his wife's brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends. The funeral leaves Karin Grech Rehabilitation Centre on Saturday, April 2 at 7.30am for St Joseph parish...

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Bahrain qualifying will be another fail, says Mercedes chief Toto Wolff

F1's much-derided new qualifying format faces more criticism in Bahrain this weekend after a disappointing debut in Australia, Mercedes motorsport director Toto Wolff said. The Austrian warned also that the sport was 'under scrutiny' and needed to think carefully to extricate itself from a self-imposed problem. "This weekend we will see the new qualifying system continue after a less-than-impressive debut in Australia," Wolff said ahead of Sunday's second race of the season at the Sakhir circuit. "The teams were unanimous in their opinion of it on Sunday in Melbourne and it wasn't a positive opinion. We haven't found the right format with this change and it's hard to see how it might be more entertaining for the fans this weekend in Bahrain." Teams had agreed unanimously only weeks before the season started to change the qualifying format to create more excitement in the Saturday session, introducing instant elimination of the slowest drivers at timed intervals. While the first and second phases of qualifying saw more action, the final eight car session proved a flop with drivers watching from the garages as the clock ticked away the closing minutes without anyone on...

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Malta celebrates Freedom Day

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil will this morning be marking the 37th anniversary of the closure of the British military base on the Freedom Monument in Vittoriosa. At around 11am, the President will be inspecting an AFM Guard of Honour before walking up the monument to lay the flowers at the foot of figures representing the lowering of the Union Jack for the last time by a British sailor and its replacement by a Maltese flag hoisted by a worker. Freedom Day events continue with a regatta in Grand Harbour at 1.30pm.

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All at sea

Clickandboat.com is a collaborative online platform where all boat owners and operators can list their boat free of charge and offer their boat for rental when they want and at the price they decide. It's a great and easy way to break even on their annual cost of ownership or even better, to make money out of their boat. Another advantage is that in most cases the owners are the skippers of their own boat. If the owners are not available, Clickandboat can offer the services of professional skippers and this is added to the rentor's costs. With Clickandboat, any category of individual can find a boat in line with their budget and this directly from the owner or operator. On the Clickandboat online platform, people can rent a boat in four clicks on dedicated iOS and Google Play apps. Also, the rentor rates the owner and the owner rates the rentor – this establishes a trusted relationship and takes away the stress of wondering if the boat and service provided will be in accordance to the description provided by the owner. According to local laws and regulations, each owner must obtain a commercial vessel certificate from Transport Malta and be VAT registered. Clickandboat will not...

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Djokovic into QFs with win over Thiem

World number one Novak Djokovic beat Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-4 in the fourth round of the Miami Open in Florida. Djokovic needed four match points before finally prevailing against the 22-year-old, whose thunderous forehands frequently had the Serb on the back foot. Thiem could not capitalise on his chances, however, and in the end Djokovic's consistency proved the difference and he advanced after one hour and 50 minutes. "I stayed tough when it was most needed," Djokovic said. "In the important moments I just tried to make him play, make him run. He has very powerful strokes from the back of the court, so he either makes some really amazing shots, down the line mostly, and some great inside out forehands, or he makes a mistake. "It was a straight-set win, but far from easy." Up next for Djokovic, who had nine double faults, his most in a three-set match since 2010, is a quarter-final against Tomas Berdych after the Czech beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4 3-6 7-5 in a contest that stretched nearly two hours and 30 minutes in blistering heat. Japan's Kei Nishikori beat Roberto Bautista 6-2 6-4 to set up a meeting with France's Gael Monfils, who got past Grigor Dimitrov 6-7...

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Thousands of jobs at risk as Tata Steel seeks British exit

India's Tata Steel is seeking to sell Britain's biggest steelmaking business, putting thousands of jobs at risk in an industry that once dominated Britain but has been brought low by falling prices, high costs and Chinese competition. After a marathon board meeting in Mumbai, Tata said it would draw a line under its almost decade-long foray into Britain's steel industry, exiting the country entirely. The move could have an impact on Britain's closely fought vote in three months over whether to stay in the EU. Britain's traditionally anti-EU media have blamed Brussels for preventing London from taking greater steps to protect the industry, although supporters of membership say EU policy is not responsible for the industry's plight. Tata, which employs about 15,000 people in Britain at sites including the giant Port Talbot plant in Wales, said its financial performance in Britain had deteriorated sharply in recent months and it wanted to exit as quickly as possible. The British government and the Welsh authorities said they were looking at all viable options to protect the steel industry, which has already shed thousands of jobs in just the last year. "We are, and have, and...

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Browne ‘arrived in Chechnya clean’ but failed drugs test

Australian boxer Lucas Browne (picture) has said he can prove he arrived in Chechnya a clean athlete days before he failed a drugs test following his WBA heavyweight title fight against Ruslan Chagaev. Browne last month became Australia's first world heavyweight champion when he stopped Chagaev in the 10th round of their fight, but last week the WBA announced the 36-year-old had tested positive for clenbuterol. Browne vowed to clear his name, and in a statement said he took a test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) on his arrival in Grozny which returned a negative result. "I now hold clear evidence that this test was a negative test and shows clearly that arrived in Chechnya a clean athlete," Browne said. "Following that clean test I ate only at the hotel in which we were hosted and at the meal following the boxers media weigh-in. The water I drank on the night of the first was sealed bottled water." Browne's team are now investigating how he might have ingested clenbuterol in the days before the fight.

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Malta Cyber Series #2 at Smart City

Gamers.com.mt will be hosting the second edition of the Malta Cyber Series at Laguna Suite Smart City Malta from tomorrow to Sunday. These cyber series will bring together a number of gamers playing their favourite games while competing with a chance to win prizes. This edition's official tournaments include League of Legends - PC (5vs5), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – PC (5vs5), Hearthstone – PC / Mobile (1vs1), Rocket League – PC (2vs2), FIFA16 – PS4 (1vs1) and COD:BO3 – PS4 (4vs4). Apart from competing in these tournaments, visitors may also go and watch the games while taking a look around the event.

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Boeing to cut about 4,000 jobs

Boeing Co. will eliminate about 4,000 jobs in its commercial airplanes division by the middle of this year as it looks to control costs, a company spokesman said. The planemaker will reduce 1,600 positions through voluntary layoffs, while the rest are expected to be done by leaving open positions unfilled, spokesman Doug Alder said. "While there is no employment reduction target, the more we can control costs as a whole the less impact there will be to employment," Alder said. The job cuts will include hundreds of executives and managers, but will not done through involuntary layoffs, Alder said. Reuters had reported last month that the company was considering offering voluntary lay-offs to its professional engineers and technical workers. In February, Ray Conner, chief executive of Boeing's airplane business, warned employees that job cuts were necessary to "win in the market, fund our growth and operate as a healthy business". The Seattle Times had earlier reported that Boeing has taken steps expected to eliminate 4,000 jobs by June.

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Today’s local sport fixtures

Sta Luċija: MFA Youth League 2pm Tarxien vs Mġarr United. Żebbuġ: MFA Youth League 2pm Żebbuġ Rangers vs Sirens. Siġġiewi: MFA Youth League 2pm Qrendi vs Gudja United. Centenary Stadium: MFA Youth KO QF 2pm Birkirkara vs Mosta. Mosta: MFA Youth KO QF 2pm Vittoriosa vs Sliema Wanderers. Sirens Ground: MFA Youth KO QF 2pm Floriana vs Balzan. Gozo Stadium: GFA KO final 5pm Xewkija Tigers vs Kerċem Ajax. Melita Ground: GIDA Cup QFs 8.30am Comino FC vs AD2000; 9.45am FC Scandinavia vs La Famiglia; 11am Birnapa vs Club 33. Basketball Ta' Qali: Division Two SFs (Game 2) 11.15am Athleta vs Mellieħa. U-19 women's final 2.45pm Hibs vs Luxol. U-19 men's final 4.30pm Starlites vs Hibs. Horse Racing Marsa: 15th meeting of the season. First race at 1.30pm. Rowing Grand Harbour: Freedom Day Regatta. First race at 12.30pm. Shooting Bidnija: Skeet and Double Trap shoots. Start: 10am. Swimming Tal-Qroqq: Easter Meeting Day One. First race at 5pm.

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President’s Magical Secret Garden

The President's Secret Garden is opening its doors for the second consecutive year for more innovative and adventurous activities on Saturday. The President's Secret Garden was inaugurated by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca last year as part of the Children's Hub organised by the President's Foundation for the Well-being of Society. The aim of the foundation is to enhance the well-being of society through meaningful engagement with all individuals, family members and communities to promote a culture of solidarity, respect for the dignity of each and every person, peace and unity. The magic starts at San Anton Palace on Saturday at 9am. To be part of the grand opening, register on www.pfws.org.mt.

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Shipping movements

These ships are expected in Malta: The Rio Taku from Algeciras to Livorno, the JSP Levante (ex-El Toro) from Algiers to Algiers (both CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd), the Seago Piraeus from Antwerp to Piraeus and the Avera from Tunis to Tunis (both Thomas Smith Shipping Ltd) today. The Al Rawdah from Genoa to Port Said, the Saint Roch from Misurata to Misurata, the Turnberry Kontor from Split to Bar, the Elafonisos from Algeciras to Livorno (all CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd), the MSC La Spezia from Singapore to Barcelona and the MSC Filomena from Fos to Slalah (both John Ripard & Son Ltd) tomorrow. The Santa Giannina from Bejaia, the Corona J from Alexandria to Algiers, the DP Legacy from Trapani to Catania, the CMA CGM Samson from Jeddah to Tanger Med (all CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd) and the Maersk Taurus from Port Said to Port Tangier (Thomas Smith Shipping Ltd) on Saturday. The Sagitta from Aliaga to Tanger Med, the Jona from Izmir to Thessaloniki, the Adelheid-S from Tanger Med to Gebze (all CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd), the Andino from Algeciras to Izmi and the Daniel from Tunis to Tunis (both Thomas Smith Shipping Ltd) on Sunday. The HH East from Sfax, the Mediterranean Sea from Valencia...

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Sports round-up

Cricket: Opening batsman Jason Roy struck a career-best 78 as former champions England stormed into the World Twenty20 final with a seven-wicket romp against New Zealand yesterday. Electing to field, England staged a strong comeback in the second half of New Zealand's innings to restrict their opponents to a modest 153 for eight at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. Roy and Alex Hales (20) then provided a flying start to their reply and Jos Buttler smacked a six to seal semi-final victory with 17 balls to spare. England, the 2010 champions, now meet the winners of today's match between India and West Indies on Sunday. Swimming: World governing body FINA is reviewing the decision to let two Chinese swimmers off with warnings for failing drug tests. Wang Lizhuo and An Jiabao were issued with warnings by the Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) after testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol. The CSA said it had been notified of the failed tests in September 2015 and had handed down the punishment "according to FINA anti-doping rules". The World Anti-Doping Agency said it would be reviewing the CSA's decisions to determine whether or not to appeal them at the Court of...

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Pharmacies open today

Regent Pharmacy, 70, Merchants Street, Valletta;Thomas Pharmacy, 796, St Joseph High Road, Ħamrun;St Venera Pharmacy, 532, St Joseph High Road, Santa Venera;Marrit Pharmacy, 1st May Street, Fleur-de-Lys;Remedies Chemists, Marina Court, 49A, Abate Rigord Street, Ta' Xbiex;San Ġwann Pharmacy, 11, Feliċ Borg Street, San Ġwann;Victor's Pharmacy, 9, Tower Road, Sliema;St Joseph Pharmacy, 172, Main Street, Lija;Grognet Pharmacy, 41, Constitution Street, Mosta;Remedies Pharmacy, 111, George Borg Olivier Street, Mellieħa;Sta Lucia Pharmacy, 1, Dorell Square, Santa Lucia;Milia's Pharmacy, 73, Cottonera Road, Vittoriosa;Hompesch Pharmacy, 207/211, Hompesch Road, Fgura;Gerada Pharmacy, 46, Mater Boni Consigli Street, Żejtun;Chrysanthemum Pharmacy, St Nicholas Street, Qrendi;The By Pass Pharmacy, Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi Street, Siġġiewi;Spiżerija Carmen, 1, Misraħ is-Suffara Street, Dingli;Abela's Pharmacy, 42, G.P.F. Agius De Soldanis Street, Victoria;Gozo Chemists, Mġarr Road, Xewkija. The pharmacy at Malta International Airport is open from 7.30am till 10pm. The Mosta, Paola and Floriana Health centres are open for emergencies 24 hours seven days a week. The Gżira health centre is also open...

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France investigates man on suspicion of planning "imminent" attack

A French judge has put under formal investigation a Frenchman arrested last week on suspicion of planning an imminent act of "extreme violence", Paris' prosecutor said. Francois Molins said the "unprecedented" amount of weapons, including five assault rifles and handguns as well as chemicals and explosives that could be used for a bomb, had been found at Reda Kriket's apartment. Police also found in his apartment five false passports, brand-new mobile phones and two computers which contained information about bomb-making and jihadist groups. "Everything suggests that the discovery of this cache avoided an act of extreme violence by a terrorist network," Molins told a news conference. The 32-year-old, who was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison by a Belgian court last July for recruiting Islamist fighters for Syria, said in questioning by French investigators that he was not a terrorist but also gave up little information, Molins said. Kriket is suspected of having spent time in Syria in late 2014 and early 2015 along with another man, Anis Bahri, who was arrested in Rotterdam on March 27 at the request of French police and is expected to be extradited to France. French...

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Italy rescues hundreds more in Med as migrant flows pick up

Italian coast guard and navy vessels rescued 1,361 migrants from boats and rubber dinghies in the southern Mediterranean today as migrant flows from North Africa continued to pick up. Having saved some 3,680 people over the past three days, the coast guard said in a statement that a further 350 migrants, most believed to be minors, had been spotted on a boat off Sicily and an operation was under way to bring them ashore. More than 16,000 people have made the dangerous crossing from north Africa to Italy in the first three months of 2016, some 6,000 more than in the same period last year. The number of new arrivals is expected to climb further in coming months as warmer, more stable weather kicks in, making it easier for people traffickers to put to sea. Italian officials have also warned that a deal to limit the number of migrants travelling via Turkey to Greece could increase the flows through Libya to Italy. However, up until now, the vast majority of migrants using the Mediterranean route have continued to come from sub-Saharan Africa, with no significant increase in numbers of Syrians, Afghans or Iraqis, who have been using the Greek route. Hundreds of thousands of migrants...

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Songs in Maltese can top charts, The Travellers show

Folk-pop band The Travellers's decision to produce songs in Maltese has sparked a debate on the lack of songs in the language, with many saying the group are reshaping the local music scene with their music. The six-piece, made up of Gozitans Chris Gatt, Joseph Xerri, Sylvano Mizzi, Andrew Vella, Clayton Bonello and Michael Camilleri, had initially started out writing songs in English, as is common practice for most local artists looking to make a name for themselves in the business. However, while working on new material for their EP, the group often found themselves shifting to writing in their mother tongue and after some deliberating, they decided to focus solely on writing Maltese songs. Their debut single Sempliċità (Simplicity) has already made it to the top of local charts, despite being officially released in January, while the launch event for their EP Xemx u Xita, being held next month, has also sold out. "We just wanted to produce something different in an already-diverse music scene, although at the time we had no idea we would end up producing songs in Maltese," Mr Vella, the group's songwriter, said. Fans have flooded the group's Facebook page with positive...

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Trump says women should be punished for illegal abortions

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said today that women should face punishment if they receive abortions if the procedure is made illegal. "There has to be some form of punishment," Trump told MSNBC in a pretaped town hall. "For the woman?" the interviewer asked. "Yeah, there has to be some form," Trump responded. Asked what form of punishment he would advocate, Trump said, "That I don't know. I don't know." 

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Prime Minister's wife reacts as prisoners are owed thousands for curtains and furnishing works proje

A visibly angry Michelle Muscat, sporting a henna tattoo, today urged the media to be more positive in its reporting of a scheme that is putting inmates to work.

Addressing a press conference at Corradino prison, Mrs Muscat, said the scheme allows inmates to get out of their cells and do something productive. The scheme is a voluntary one and inmates are paid "market prices".

Times of Malta reported earlier today that female inmates at the Corradino prison are owed thousands of euros for curtain and costume design work they have done over the past year in a project endorsed by the Prime Minister's wife, who chairs the Marigold Foundation.

The inmates designed and sewed curtains for a June 2015 exhibition held in parliament, did soft furnishing work for a number of wards at the St Vincent de Paul residence and sewed 400 costumes used during the November 2015 Commonwealth summit.

Mrs Muscat said this afternoon that a payment was made to the inmates in February, but she was unable to quantify the amount paid..

Inmates who have learnt the trade from Mary Grace Pisani, the fashion designer who runs a prison charity that trains female inmates to be seamstresses,  carry out the jobs voluntarily. Michelle Muscat insisted that LFF was not a company; it did not seek out business and did not have a cash flow to disburse ongoing payments. But it could only pay out the money as and when a clients' job is completed and finally paid.

In a press conference led by Michelle Muscat, patron of the Marigold Foundation, the press met one of the CCF inmates who had been on the LFF project for the past two years.

"I'm aware that the payments are taking long to come. But we have already been partly paid in September for a previous job, and since then we started and completed another job for which we are yet to be paid," the inmate confidently told the press during a visit to the CCF's classrooms.

"Mary Grace tells me she does her best to get the clients to pay, and she always does," the inmate told journalists.

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Speaker Anġlu Farrugia meets the President of the Palestine

Speaker Anġlu Farrugia led a Parliamentary delegation for an official meeting with the President of the Palestine Mahmoud Abbas at the Presidential Palace in Ramallah.

During the meeting both sides discussed the excellent relations which have existed between the two countries to date, with the Palestinian President thanking Malta for its positive role with regard to the Palestinian cause throughout the years.

The Speaker said that the Maltese people and the parties that represent them in Parliament have always shared the same sentiments towards the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in relation to their homeland and their peaceful existence within it. He continued that Malta has always been in favour of a two state solution, with Palestine living in peace with its neighbouring Israel.

Speaker Anġlu Farrugia and President Abbas discussed further cooperation between the two countries on a parliamentary level which is meant to bring both sides nearer.

Prior to meeting the Palestinian President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Maltese delegation held a meeting with  Saeb Erekat, the chief negotiator of Palestine with Israel, and both sides discussed the current situation faced by the Palestinians.

Afterwards the Speaker and the delegation paid their respects on the grave of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

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Muscat warns of racism, insists on equality and says Malta should learn from what happened abroad

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this evening that the next big challenge facing Maltese society is to ensure that there is equality among all people. Speaking at the foot of the Freedom Monument in a Labour Party event to mark March 31, Dr Muscat said Dom Mintoff's primary aim was not freedom, but equality for all. It was for that reason that he first sought integration (with the UK) and when he was not assured parity, he sought freedom. March 31, 1979 was a crucial step towards the ultimate goal of equality, following on other steps such as Independence and the Republic. Much progress had been made towards equality, but total equality still did not exist. He doubted that it existed anywhere. In Malta, more needed to be done for persons with disability and for equal treatment for men and women. Women had equal rights as men on paper, but the same was not true in real life. There was also no proper equality for people with different sexual orientation and Malta also had too much racism, Dr Muscat said. The freedom achieved by Dom Mintoff meant the Maltese were not anything less than any other people. But every day people needed to challenge what needed to be challenged for...

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Three drug arrests at airport

Customs officials made three drug-related arrests at the airport between yesterday and today.

First to be arrested was an Italian national who had just arrived from Milan.

Just two hours later, yesterday evening, it was the turn of a British passenger who had just arrived from Manchester.

The third arrest regarded another passenger who arrived from Manchester today.

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Outgoing PL Deputy Leader Toni Abela opens Freedom Day ceremony

Outgoing Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Toni Abela was the first to address the crowd attending the Freedom Day ceremonies in Vittoriosa.

Dr Tony Abela said he always believed that the absolute freedom was never reached. "Freedom is like perfection, it's a concept that can never be reached completely."

He said that in our society, there is always someone that needs to be freed.

"Commemorating Freedom Day does not necessarily mean we have reached complete freedom"

Compared to other countries, Malta has made huge progress as regards freedom and rights of minorities, he said.

He mentioned Dr Gorg Borg Olivier by saying that he was the one who never stopped fighting for more and more freedom.

"If it wasn't for the fact that the Labour Party won the last general election, led by Joseph Muscat, a lot of rights for minorities would not have been introduced, including the right for homosexual people to have a civil union or for couples to divorce."

"I am a catholic, but I don't go to church very often. But lately someone told me not to make the sign of the cross because it might be interpreted negatively. I feel that this should not be the case. We live in a time when everyone should be free to manifest one's beliefs."

The Prime Minister is expected to speak later. 

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