Новости за 23.02.2016

Labour MP Joseph Sammut this evening objected to the fact that he was referred to as a Labour MP in an article in the Times of Malta on Saturday. The article “Gaffarena calls Labour MP as witness in his defence”, reproduced in In-Nazzjon and referred to in MaltaToday. Distinction, he said, should be made between an MP’s function as a parliamentarian and his or her profession. A legal office, he said, was not frequented by saints and a lawyer did not protect the act one was accused of but the right a person had according to law. Читать дальше...

Microsoft founder Bill Gates is weighing in on the FBI and Apple feud, saying Apple should co-operate with law enforcement orders. Fred Katayama reports.

A South African woman has pleaded not guilty to charges that she kidnapped a baby from a hospital nearly 19 years ago and raised the child as her own. The woman faces charges of kidnapping, fraud and breaking South Africa's child protection laws, the African News Agency reported. The woman told the court she had adopted the baby after struggling with infertility. She said she was not aware the child was kidnapped, and the woman who facilitated the adoption told her a young woman had given the child up. Читать дальше...

The Opposition’s private members’ bill on judicial appointments was a money bill that required the President’s approval based on Cabinet’s advice, the House Business Committee heard this evening. Speaker Anġlu Farrugia said he asked the Attorney General’s advice on the matter and it was received this afternoon.  Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said that he met shadow minister Jason Azzopardi and explained the general principles of Cabinet’s Bill, which, he believed, was better than that presented... Читать дальше...

The “savings” that the government had boasted of making on the Coast Road came from slashing side projects and not from negotiating discounts with contractors, the Times of Malta can reveal. About €30 million were saved on the new road – dubbed “the most beautiful in Malta” – with the government saying it had managed to renegotiate the original tenders worth €80 million in all. But according to new information submitted in Parliament by the Finance Ministry on the insistence of Nationalist MP Ċensu Galea... Читать дальше...

A woman has been convicted of cutting a stranger's baby from her womb in a gruesome case that reignited the debate over the legal rights of foetuses. The jury in Boulder, Colorado, found Dynel Lane guilty of attempted first-degree murder, assault and unlawful termination of a pregnancy over last year's attack. Prosecutors said Lane went to great lengths to convince others she was expecting a baby before luring Michelle Wilkins to her home with an internet ad for maternity clothes. She then hit and... Читать дальше...

A 19-year-old man from Żebbuġ died in hospital this afternoon after falling three stories in a shaft at Triq id-Duluri, Pieta, where he was carrying out construction works. The police said the accident took place at 4.30pm. He was taken to Mater Dei Hospital where he died soon after. Magistrate Joe Mifsud is holding an inquiry.

Sweet maker Mars says it is recalling chocolate bars and other items in 55 countries after plastic was found in one of its products. The German dpa news agency, citing Mars in Germany, said the voluntary recall affects products produced early this year in the Netherlands. Roel Govers, spokesman for Mars in the Netherlands, said the recall affects 55 countries but did not provide further details. The Dutch food safety authority posted what it said was a Mars press release on its website, saying a... Читать дальше...

Barack Obama has launched a long-awaited plan to close the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, saying the site undermines national security and American values. Mr Obama said the site in Cuba is counter-productive in the fight against terrorism because it is used as propaganda to recruit terrorists and drains military resources. The White House released Mr Obama's proposal to close the facility today, but it faces stiff opposition from the Republican-led Congress. The plan makes a financial argument... Читать дальше...

Two Libyans charged over a politically-motivated stabbing in a Swieqi apartment last month were today granted bail. The incident which had left a Libyan in a critical condition, happened on January 30 early in the morning in Triq is-Sidra. Sources said that the stabbing was motivated by political rivalry between the two opposing Libyan governments of Tripoli and Tobruk. Zouhir Elfezqa, 31, who lives in Swieqi and 21-year-old Mohammed Abdul Hafid Abukem, also of Swieqi, had been charged with the attempted murder of Wadea Al Maghrgi... Читать дальше...

The Nationalist Party has asked the State energy provider to investigate possible electricity theft at one of its party clubs. A letter sent from PN general secretary Rosette Thake to Enemalta chairman Frederick Azzopardi, seen by this newspaper, has urged the corporation to investigate energy consumption at its Marsaxlokk club, following a confidential tip off. The club, on Triq Żejtun, is believed to have been benefiting from cheaper utility bills after its meter was tampered to give false readings. Читать дальше...

Four prison warders who had been jailed for five years for beating an inmate who tried to escape had their sentence reduced to a suspended prison term by an appeals court. In December 2013, a magistrates’ court had found Francis Debono, 45, of Safi, Francis Meli, 43, of Birzebbuġa, Daniel Cuschieri, 31, of Paola and George Falzon, 32, of Qormi guilty of beating Dutchman Perry Toornstra. The case dates back to August 9, 2008 when the inmate was being escorted to the Corradino Correctional Facility, after having been granted prison leave. Читать дальше...

Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino has written Speaker Anġlu Farrugia (see letter in pdf link below) to register his disapproval and disappointment at what he described were unfair and unjustified attacks against the institution he represented in l-Orizzont and elsewhere. The attacks, he said, were not just against one of his staff members but also against a commissioner and employees from his office who were there to serve the people. Similar attacks, he said, were directed at the office of the Auditor General, and a Parliamentary official. Читать дальше...

Iraqi Kurdish troops have rescued a teenage Swedish girl from the Islamic State group near the extremist-controlled city of Mosul, Kurdish authorities said. A statement from the regional government said the rescue operation by Kurdish anti-terrorist forces took place on February 17 near Mosul, 225 miles north-west of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The statement said the girl is a 16-year-old from the town of Boras who "was misled" by an IS member in Sweden to travel to Syria and later to Mosul. It said... Читать дальше...

Another drop in the prices of fuel should be expected towards the end of March/ beginning of April, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said today. He was replying to criticism by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil in Parliament during the debate on the Budget Measures Implementation Bill. Dr Busuttil said that local fuel prices were among the highest in the EU even though the international oil price had come down drastically to such an extent that it reflected an abuse of Enemalta's dominant position. Читать дальше...

The Nationalist Party will be discussing a bill that proposes to criminalise gay conversion therapy tomorrow, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said today. Speaking during a visit to the university, Dr Busuttil said he had strong personal opinion on the matter but refused to make them public so as not to influence the Parliamentary group’s position. The bill proposes fines up to €10,000 and up to a year’s imprisonment for people carrying out such therapy. A Church committee on Saturday published a... Читать дальше...

The Muslim community in Malta will hold special prayers for rain in Malta, the Imam said today. The prayers will be held at the Islamic Centre in Corradino on Friday at 1.45pm. This traditional prayer includes recitation of certain chapters of the Holy Qur’an and a sermon delivered by the Imam calling for repentance and charity. The prayers will conclude with supplicating Allah for rain, the Imam said. "During the supplication the worshippers should show humbleness, humility and neediness of Allah’s... Читать дальше...

A court this morning heard how a woman claiming to have received 46,000 Facebook messages from her alleged stalker had previously told him she suffered from a bipolar disorder – a mental condition which results in drastic mood swings. A set of photographs dating back to last summer portraying the alleged victim in her swimsuit in the company of the accused was also exhibited by the defence.   This evidence emerged during the hearing of the case against former Xghajra Labour deputy mayor Neil Attard... Читать дальше...

Medserv has concluded its $45 milllion acquisition of a Middle Eastern company that offers pipe-related services to the oil and gas sector, an investment that chairman Anthony Diacono sbelieves could be recouped in just 4.5 years. The acquisition was first announced last October and Medserv raised the money for the investment through a dual bond issue which closed successfully a few weeks ago. Medserv, whose roots go back to the 1970s, has doubled in size through the acquisition of METS, which employs 160 people. Читать дальше...

The share index registered its fourth consecutive positive performance as it advanced by a further 0.5 per cent to 4,535.266 points on improved trading volumes totalling €588,000. RS2 Software continued to trade higher as it closed at yet another record level of €3.53 (+2.6 per cent) across strong volumes totalling 77,726 shares. Bank of Valletta regained the €2.22 level (+0.9 per cent) on lower activity of 22,867 shares. Last Friday, BOV announced the issuance of €50 million 3.5 per cent Tranche... Читать дальше...

A Swedish court has sentenced a doctor to 10 years in prison for abducting a woman and locking her in a homemade bunker, but acquitted him of charges of aggravated rape. In a unanimous verdict, Stockholm District Court said Martin Trenneborg meticulously planned the abduction over a long period of time and subjected the victim to serious risk by sedating her and keeping her locked up in a soundproof bunker for almost a week. The 38-year-old doctor, who claimed he was suffering a mental disorder at the time... Читать дальше...

The government was creating a scheme through which hundreds of people would be taken out of the unemployment register and engaged by a company, thus magically reducing unemployment, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said in parliament this afternoon. He said one still had to see what work and what conditions these workers would have. Who would own this company and what profit was it expected to make? This government, he said, was betraying workers. It had promised to eradicate precarious work and... Читать дальше...

An interactive map recording the individuals involved in the biggest naval battle of the First World War has been created to mark its 100th anniversary. The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) has launched the website to enable people to share and discover the stories of those connected to the Battle of Jutland. Fought over 36 hours from May 31 to June 1 1916, Jutland is often considered a German victory because the British lost 6,094 seamen compared with the 2,551 Germans who died during the battle. Читать дальше...

Preparations were underway in Hollywood on yesterday for the the biggest event in the global entertainment calendar, the 88th Academy Awards. The Oscars ceremony, which will bring together the biggest names in the film industry, will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. Joe Lewis, the associate producer of the Oscars pre-show, says it's a big event, with 300 people alone working on putting in 17,000 square feet of carpet. But he says they'll be ready on time. "It's day one of... Читать дальше...

A 47-year old warden this morning was charged with assaulting a pregnant policewoman and and damaging her vehicle in a road rage incident which hit the headlines after footage of the incident was uploaded on Facebook by a police union representative. Michael Grech, who is denying these charges was arraigned before Magistrate Joe Mifsud. The incident happened on February 9, outside the police headquarters in Floriana when the officer was on her way home. The woman, who is due to give birth in 10... Читать дальше...