Новости за 16.04.2016

Joe Johnson has revealed his video of his snooker World Championship triumph was lost - when one of his sons taped a He-Man film over it. Johnson won the 1986 Crucible tournament as a 150-1 outsider, beating Steve Davis in the final having earlier seen off Terry Griffiths and Tony Knowles. He recorded the television coverage of the final but when he dug out the VHS tape years later, he was in for a shock. "It was for my eldest daughter," Johnson told the Daily Mail. "It was years after I'd won, I'd... Читать дальше...

Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg stormed to pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix in a mixed qualifying session for Mercedes, with world champion Lewis Hamilton left at the back of the grid after engine trouble prevented him setting a time. The German put in a one minute 35.402 second lap to seize a 23rd career pole and first of the season as qualifying reverted back to the 2015 formula following complaints from the teams about a new system used in the two opening races. Despite the chopping and changing in formats... Читать дальше...

The government has ordered the Tax Compliance Unit to start an investigation into possible tax evasion by Pierre Sladden and his company Redmap Ltd, as the fallout continues from the Panama Papers. According to the latest revelations in the Panama documents, officials of auditing firm Nexia BT were last year making arrangements with Mossack Fonseka for Mr Sladden’s construction company to transfer money – nearly $1 million – to another company in the British Virgin Islands which is also claimed to be owed by Mr Sladden. Читать дальше...

Ozzy Lino needs no introduction to the local music scene. But a random performance as he was riding as a passenger on the Frankfurt subway is fast propelling him into the international limelight. After the Pro Light and Sound in Messe in Frankfurt, singers Kiddo Kat and Heidi Joubert casually performed the classic song Kiss by Prince on board the moving train. But passenger Ozzy Lino who was sitting close by lent his unique voice to the second part of the song, before closing off with some of hiw own rap from some old school lyrics. Читать дальше...

The shipwreck off Malta which claimed the lives of some 850 migrants last year will be marked with a walk in Valletta tomorrow.  On the night of April 18, 2015, a boat leaving from Libya capsized in rough seas. Only 27 people survived. Twenty four of the corpses who have never been identified were recovered and taken to Malta and buried in a communal unmarked grave. "To this day, there has been no initiative from the Maltese government to mark this burial ground with any commemorative sign of remembrance. Читать дальше...

Media coverage of the landmark sentence given by Magistrate Joe Mifsud in the case the police instituted against Jason Azzopardi centres, as is to be expected, on the decision that the MP is not guilty as charged. Quite naturally the court's decision is always a very important factor; the most important for the person accused, the accuser and society at large. But I believe that the process that leads to that decision and other comments pronounced by the court can be equally important, particularly in this case. Читать дальше...

A 24-year-old worker is in critical condition following a roof collapse in Naxxar this morning.  The police said the incident happened at a private residence in Triq Castro around 8.30am. The man from Mali was injured while he was working on a residence still under construction. He is believed to have been using a jackhammer when the roof of the building crashed down. He was found on the ground by his fellow workers.   He was rushed to hospital in an ambulance where he was found to be in critical condition. Читать дальше...

A tunnel linking Malta to Gozo looks to be the most viable option, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today. Addressing a conference in Gozo organised by the pro-tunnel movement, Dr Muscat said the government intends to move forward with a project linking the two islands. Dr Muscat said that while he agrees with the project, all the necessary studies need to be carried out first, including geological studies. The government will also look at different ownership models, and cited the possibility of a public-private partnership. Читать дальше...

Times of Malta presents a selection of its photographers' choice of their best photos over the past days.

Sir Terry Wogan "totally spoiled Eurovision" by mocking acts in his commentary, one of the song contest's bosses reportedly said. The late broadcaster was accused of creating a generation of Britons who see the show as irrelevant and "kitsch" by Christer Bjorkman, the Swedish producer of this year's contest, who said he would "never" have given him the job. The Scandinavian country is known for its earnest Eurovision entries and has won six times with contributions that went on to become smash hits... Читать дальше...

Pope Francis is known for his symbolic gestures, but his visit to a Greek refugee detention centre as the EU implements a controversial deportation plan is as provocative as any he has undertaken. Francis and the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians will spend nearly an hour on Saturday greeting some 250 refugees stuck on the Greek island of Lesbos. They will lunch with eight of them to hear their stories of fleeing war, conflict and poverty and hopes for a better life in Europe. And... Читать дальше...

It's the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack but a lost wedding ring was fished out of the Gnejna Bay sand thanks to a 'lost and found' social media community. Jane Hill posted an appeal on the Lost and Found Facebook page pleading for help after her husband had dropped his gold wedding ring in the golden sands of Gnejna Bay on Thursday. It wasn't long before the post was shared numerous times and Tony Mead, a local metal detector owner, volunteered to help find the ring. "My husband was... Читать дальше...

These are the main stories featured in today's Maltese newspapers: Times of Malta reports that the government has ordered the Tax Compliance Unit to start an investigation into possible tax evasion by Pierre Sladden and his com- pany Redmap Ltd, as the fallout over the Panama Papers continues. It also reports that prostitution and illegal drugs pumped €24 million into the economy last year, increasing by a fifth over 2014. In-Nazzjon reports that Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi had been acquitted... Читать дальше...

Cirque du Soleil said it was cancelling shows in North Carolina over a new state law that it called discriminatory, becoming the latest entertainment act to take a stance against the measure. "The new HB2 legislation passed in North Carolina is an important regression to ensuring human rights for all ... Cirque du Soleil believes in equality for all," the group said in an online statement. North Carolina last month became the first state to enact a measure requiring transgender people to use restrooms... Читать дальше...

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici yesterday played down a breach of tax laws by the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, insisting it was merely an “administrative offence”. The Times of Malta yesterday reported how Joseph Muscat’s right-hand man Keith Schembri, currently at the centre of the Panama leaks scandal, had only declared his overseas trust in New Zealand once the story had become public. As a result, he is now facing fines for breaking income tax laws. Asked if he would tolerate such a situation from his own chief of staff... Читать дальше...

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says there will be no extra personal motivation when his team take on former club Real Madrid for a place in the Champions League final. City knocked out Paris St Germain in the last eight thanks to a goal from Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne which secured a 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium and sent the Barclays Premier League side through 3-2 on aggregate into Friday's draw, where they were paired against the Spanish giants. Madrid, who have won the European competition a record 10 times... Читать дальше...

David Cameron "wouldn't last 30 seconds" if voters back Brexit in the EU referendum, according to a former Cabinet minister. Senior Tories have warned that the campaign is pushing Tories to the brink of "civil war" and the party is facing "grave" consequences, whatever the outcome of the vote. Feelings are running "very high" and coming to terms with the result will be a "devil of a job", Ken Clarke said. Mr Cameron earlier this week insisted he would remain Prime Minister even if he lost the June 23 referendum. Читать дальше...

Prostitution and illegal drugs pumped €24 million into the economy last year, increasing by a fifth over 2014. The black market economic contribution, seen by the Times of Malta, was calculated by the National Statistics Office and added to the island’s €8 billion GDP figure for 2015 - a significant jump from the €20 million recorded back in 2014. Although no explanation for the increase was given, NSO sources pointed to changing social trends as a possible cause. Others meanwhile said the significant... Читать дальше...

Islamist militants in the Philippines announced a new deadline of April 25 for the execution of three foreign captives and a Filipino, but scaled back their ransom demand in a video posted on social media. The captives - two Canadian men, a Norwegian man and a Filipino woman - were kidnapped from a beach resort on a southern island last September. They are believed to be held in the jungle on Jolo island, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group, which is known for bombings, beheadings and kidnappings. Читать дальше...

Hibernians and Balzan go head-to-head in a must-win match to keep their challenge for the championship. The Paolites are trailing leaders Valletta by three points with Balzan a point further back. The two title rivals know they cannot afford to drop precious points not to fall off the pace in the race for the major honour in local football. Branko Nisevic, the Hibs coach, has no fresh selection worries with defender Rui De Gracia Gomes again their only absentee. However, Nisevic must decide... Читать дальше...

Sliema Wanderers can rely on winger Njongo Priso for their match against St Andrew’s today at the Tedesco Stadium. The Blues have shown remarkable progress in recent weeks and will fancy their chances of making it three wins in a row against the struggling Saints. Priso has now served a two-match ban and he could be drafted back into the starting XI. Midfielder Mandinho is still nursing a knee injury and again misses out. St Andrew’s will be led from the dug-out by assistant coach Brian ... Читать дальше...

Tarxien Rainbows will have one eye on next week’s FA Trophy quarter-final when they take on Mosta this evening. Tarxien have little to play for in the league after falling 13 points behind fourth-placed Birkirkara in the race for European football slots next season. Their focus will be more on Tuesday’s FA Trophy match against Balzan so coach Jacques Scerri could be tempted to give a breather to a few first-team regulars. Midfielder Carlos Hevia and defender Ebiabowei Baker are both ruled... Читать дальше...

Naxxar Lions-Qormi is a relegation six-pointer with the outcome crucial for either side’s prospects of avoiding the dreaded drop. The Lions, who collected four points from their last two matches, will fancy their chances of clinching a valuable victory over Qormi even though they lost two key players this week. In fact, midfielder Nikola Tasic will not be in the Naxxar squad as his visa expired and he had to leave the islands while forward Eduardo Vallecillo is out with a one-match ban. Читать дальше...

Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain’s four-match ban for violently protesting on the pitch about a red card was cut to three on appeal yesterday but the 20,000 euro ($23,000) fine stood, the Italian FA said yesterday. The Italian FA gave no reason for the decision. The 28-year-old Argentine pushed the referee and shouted at him before being removed from the field by his team mates during Napoli’s 3-1 loss to Udinese on April 3. Higuain, a Serie A top scorer, will be back in time to help his team hold off third-placed Roma... Читать дальше...

Roderick Briffa has called on his Valletta team-mates to produce the right response to last week’s derby upset to Floriana as they look to put their title challenge back on track with victory over Birkirkara tomorrow. Backed by an impressive run of 11 successive victories, Valletta seemed closing in on a 23rd league title but a 2-0 reverse to Floriana blew the title race wide open as now they are only three points clear of Hibs while third-placed Balzan are one behind the champions. Birkirkara, too... Читать дальше...