Новости за 27.02.2016

Cameroonian and Nigerian forces have freed several hundred hostages in a border town held by Boko Haram, including young girls who were being trained as suicide bombers. Soldiers from the two countries also killed about 100 militants while liberating the Nigerian town of Kumshe, Cameroonian commander General Jacob Kodji said. The town is about nine miles from the border with Cameroon. "Our boys are still on the field with Nigerian soldiers and have received instructions to continue raids on all Boko... Читать дальше...

Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi is asking the Inland Revenue Commissioner to investigate him and the trust he set up in New Zealand which acquired the shelf company set up in blacklisted Panama. “I have absolutely nothing to hide. I set up the trust along with my wife to manage our assets which are both financial and properties in the UK and Malta,” he said. “My family has done a lot for me and I am a father and a husband and I think it is only fair that I give them something back,” the minister, who... Читать дальше...

Iranian reformists won 29 out of the 30 seats reserved for the capital Tehran in parliamentary elections, early results released today showed, with hardliners winning the single remainder.

A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a man to 10 years in prison and 2,000 lashes for expressing his atheism in hundreds of Twitter posts. Religious police in charge of monitoring social networks found more than 600 tweets denying the existence of God, ridiculing Koranic verses, accusing all prophets of lies and saying their teachings fuelled hostilities, the Al-Watan online daily reported. The 28-year-old man admitted to being an atheist and refused to repent, saying that what he wrote reflected... Читать дальше...

SLIEMA WANDERERS 2 Potezica 25, Potezica 87 FLORIANA 2 Piciollo 19, Fontanella 84 pen Serbian midfielder Marko Potezica scored three minutes from time to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw for Sliema against Floriana. Just as it looked as though Floriana had pulled off a third-consecutive derby honours, Potezica converted a ball from Jean Paul Farrugia with a shot between Matthew Calleja Cremona’s legs. Before kick-off, the Floriana players unfurled a banner in memory of an avid Greens fan Steve Attard who passed away a few days ago. Читать дальше...

I write my weekly "ex-Beck" column on Wednesday, sometimes early Thursday, and this leaves me exposed to the foibles and whims of our sometimes not-so-honourable Lords and Masters.   This week, the perfect storm hit me: due to having one of those days ahead of me on Wednesday and an equally troublesome Thursday, I had to bang off my column pretty early on Wednesday, as you will have noted when you read it on Saturday.I made no reference to Dr the Hon. Sai Lang's Husband Konrad Mizzi and his Panamanian company. Читать дальше...

France has detected its first sexually transmitted case of Zika in a woman whose partner had traveled to Brazil, the epicentre of an outbreak of the virus, a senior health official said today. U.S. officials said earlier this week they were investigating 14 reports of the mosquito-borne disease that may have been transmitted through sex, including to several pregnant women. Francois Bourdillon, head of France's Institute for Public Health Surveillance (IVS), said the infected woman was the country's... Читать дальше...

Leicester City eked out a critical win against struggling Norwich City with a late, late winner from Leonardo Ulloa that saw them open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Following their crushing stoppage time defeat at Arsenal last time out, the Foxes were, according to manager Claudio Ranieri, "ready for the fight" but for most of the match seemed curiously becalmed as Norwich had the best opportunities. Cameron Jerome squandered an outstanding chance for the Canaries just before halftime... Читать дальше...

Valletta 2; Qormi 0 Valletta moved four points clear at the top of the BOV Premier League when they eased past Qormi 2-0 at the Hibs Stadium. The Citizens took the ground running and after only two minutes Jhonnattann was put clear by Nafti but his shot came off the upright. But Valletta were not to be denied as three mintues later they took the lead.Lywelyn Cremona, handed a starting berth at the expense of the injured Roderick Briffa, picked up a short clearance to hit a thundering drive that gave... Читать дальше...

A second home for persons with disability was inaugurated in Gozo today by Parliamentary Secretary Justyne Caruana.  Dar il-Fjuri in Victoria will be hosting up to 10 persons with disability and will be managed by Aġenzija Sapport. The home was selected following an expression of interest and extensive works were carried out to make it accessible. Dr Caruana mentioned the sheltered employment initiative in conjunction with the Employment and Training Corporation, which will provide jobs to 80 persons with disability. Читать дальше...

Five youths were arrested last night close to the Mgarr Harbour in Gozo after they were found in possession of cocaine and cannabis.  In a statement, the police said the five youths, aged between 19 and 23, were from Hamrun and Marsa. They were intercepted following an operation between the CID and the Rapid Intervention Units in Gozo. No further details were given. Police investigations are ongoing.

Pop duo Joe and Jake have been selected to represent the UK at May's Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden. The singers, both former contestants on The Voice UK, won a public vote with You're Not Alone, an uptempo, piano-driven song "about unity and love". "It feels amazing," said Joe Woolford, 21, from Ruthin, Denbighshire. "We're just so proud." "It's going to be incredible. We hope we make you all proud," added Jake Shakeshaft, 20, from Stoke-on-Trent. The duo will be hoping to avoid the fate of last year's entrants... Читать дальше...

As more people are choosing to commute by bike, the Bicycling Advocacy Group, this afternoon held a consultation meeting to gauge cyclists’ concerns and plan a way forward. “The more traffic increases, the more people seem to be getting on their bikes. Our recent studies show that more people are taking up cycling," BAG PRO Jim Wightman said. “So we decided that before launching a formal campaign, which should be happening soon, we would hold this meeting to discuss any concerns cyclists may have.” By identifying such concerns... Читать дальше...

NAXXAR LIONS 0; TARXIEN RAINBOWS 3 Tarxien Rainbows bounced back from their 1-0 upset to Sliema Wanderers with a comfortable victory over Naxxar Lions to consolidate their top-six position in the standings. Two goals just before half-time eased Tarxien’s nerves to collect maximum spoils from what turned out to be an easy outing in which their goalkeeper Andrea Cassar was hardly ever tested. Needing a win to improve their slim chances of claiming a European football berth, Tarxien were in no mood... Читать дальше...

Residents in properties along the new €53 million Coast Road are complaining of “shoddy” and “incomplete” works at Salini which they claim are putting their lives in danger. Accompanying Times of Malta along the new road, which was opened for traffic in time for the CHOGM summit last November, residents complained that most of the works remained unfinished including important things such as lights at zebra crossing, pavements, access roads and other amenities. “You take your life in your hands if... Читать дальше...

Balzan 3; Mosta 0 Balzan made it eight wins in a row when they eased past Mosta 3-0 at the Hibs Stadium. It was Mosta who enjoyed the better start and inside the opening minute they almost took the lead when Ice Cream Guobadia’s througball put Godwin Mensah clear but the Nigerian was denied by the onrushing Christian Cassar. Balzan finally threatened on 27 minutes when from a free-kick action, Justin Grioli’s cross-shot had the better of Omar Borg but Adrian Borg was on hand to clear off the line. Читать дальше...

Sunderland's fight for survival at the foot of the Premier League was left looking ever more parlous as Michail Antonio fired West Ham United to a 1-0 win in their excellent final season at Upton Park. Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce, back at his previous club, was left frustrated as he watched a stirring second-half fightback from his 19th-placed side come to nothing. The Hammers went ahead after poor defending from Patrick van Aanholt on the half hour gifted an opportunity to Antonio, who cut... Читать дальше...

The Swieqi local council has unanimously agreed to stand against a proposed development in “one of the last green lungs in the area”. Mayor Noel Muscat said that the council would not accept the proposed development of a tourist village in an ODZ valley between Swieqi and neighbouring San Ġwann, as the area was becoming increasingly overdeveloped. “We don’t have any open spaces in Swieqi; we cannot afford to develop one of the last stretches of green space,” Mr Muscat said. Plans for the development... Читать дальше...

Donald Trump has attracted a following from white supremacist group Ku Klux Klan, who appeared in long cloaks and head-coverings at the Nevada caucus. Mr Trump has “refused” to condemn those who believe Christian white people are a superior race, and has “encouraged” the hatred, according to Occupy Democrats. Multiple white nationalists have found appeal in Trump’s message and have aligned their support with the presidential candidate. The latest is David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard... Читать дальше...

Francois Hollande was met with jeers from angry farmers at the start of the annual Paris agricultural show this morning, underlining the French president's unpopularity in a week marked by a revolt within his Socialist party over labour reforms. Television images showed Hollande being booed and whistled at as he slowly made his way with the help of security guards through crowds shouting insults. They also showed scuffles, and a farm ministry stand that had been torn down. "I hear the cries of distress,"... Читать дальше...

Allowing hunting and trapping in nature parks is drastically contradictory with their very concept, Birdlife said today. While welcoming the idea of setting up the Nwadar Nature Park around Żonqor, Birdlife said it noted that hunting and trapping, as well as all other human activity, will be allowed within its boundaries. As in the case of the Majjistral Nature Park set up by the previous administration, hunting and trapping has been also tolerated simply because the authorities lack "the moral resolve"... Читать дальше...

Around Ten Libyan fighters injured in conflict with the so-called Islamic State are expected to be flown to Malta shortly to receive treatment, Times of Malta has learnt. The men, who were injured in western city of Sabratha, were flown by helicopter to Mitiga airport before being transported to Malta. The Maltese government gave the go-ahead yesterday but the patients are still awaiting clearance from the Libyan authorities. The victims will be treated at Mater Dei Hospital and at St James Capua hospital. Читать дальше...

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has welcomed the findings of the European Commission’s country report on Malta, which highlighted continued shortcomings in the efficiency of the justice system but noted that the ongoing judicial reform process had prompted some positive trends. “We now have confirmation that the implementation of this reform process is yielding positive results,” the minister said at a press conference this afternoon. The Commission report, published yesterday, found significant improvement... Читать дальше...

Malta Public Transport will be implementing a number of changes to bus routes serving Mater Dei Hospital and the University of Malta from March 6, following a decision by the Transport Authority. All routes serving Mater Dei Hospital will now serve both Bus Stop Sptar (at the hospital’s main entrance) and Bus Stop Universita’ (on the University side) before proceeding onto their respective journeys. Passengers may therefore start their journey from the bus stop at the hospital's main entrance as... Читать дальше...

The San Benedittu Qrendi Primary school has been shortlisted in the International Environmental TSL 2016 Schools Sustainability Challenge. The primary school has steadily established itself as one of Malta's young 'Guardians of the Environment' ambassadors nationally and internationally. It has been shortlisted as one of the 10 finalists in recognition of its efforts through HSBC's, 'Catch the Drop' initiatives, in which the school narrates how rainwater is collected from the school's rooftops and used in the school's garden irrigation... Читать дальше...