Новости за 21.06.2016

The Civil Protection Department is to have its responsibilities extended to include safety and security at public events, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said this evening. He made the announcement at a consultation meeting in the series Gvern Li Jisma held at the Auberge de Castille. Recent major accidents, including that at the Paqpaqli motorshow had shown the need for a single organisation to be in overall charge of public safety. The minister said the assignment of new responsibilities to... Читать дальше...

British MP Jo Cox, who was shot dead in the street last week, died because of her strong political views, her husband said today. Cox, a supporter of Britain's European Union membership who had also campaigned for Britain to do more to help refugees, was shot and stabbed in her northern English electoral district by a man heard shouting "Britain first". "She had very strong political views and I believe she was killed because of those views," her husband Brendan Cox told broadcasters. He added: "She... Читать дальше...

WARNING - Some readers may find the above video disturbing. China's annual dog meat festival this year in Yulin faces more scrutiny than ever after animal rights groups sent Beijing a petition with 11 million signatures protesting the practice as barbaric and cruel.   Activists like Yang Yuhua went to the festival to save the dogs, buying two from a breeders for about $8 each.  "Dogs are man's best, the most loyal friend. How could we eat our friends? You tell me." The Yulin government has distanced itself from the festival... Читать дальше...

Jakub Blaszczykowski's goal gave Poland a 1-0 win over Ukraine in their final Euro 2016 Group C match today and sent them into the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time. The substitute struck nine minutes after coming on at halftime to ensure Poland finished second in the standings on seven points, level with Germany, and they will play Switzerland in the last 16. Blaszczykowski received the ball on the right side of the penalty area and cut inside cleverly before hitting a sweet left-foot shot into the far corner of the net. Читать дальше...

Germany's Mario Gomez scored in the first half to secure a 1-0 win over a stubborn Northern Ireland side and a place in the last 16 of Euro 2016 as Group C winners. The world champions dominated the game at Parc des Princes and had created several chances when Gomez, starting his first match in the tournament, earned the points with a deflected effort from inside the box on the half-hour. Germany advance from the section with seven points from three games and a better goal difference than Poland... Читать дальше...

Two men were rescued this evening when an ultra-light aircraft ditched in the sea off Xlendi after apparently suffering engine failure. The incident happened at about 6.30p.m. The two, a 55-year-old pilot and a 61-year-old passenger, both Italian, were picked up by a private boat which happened to be close by. An AFM helicopter was quickly on the scene. A patrol boat was also deployed.

A commission to study Malta’s noise pollution problems and propose solutions is to be reactivated, Environment Minister Jose’ Herrera told parliament this evening. The commission will work with the new Environment Authority, the minister said when he presented the financial estimates of the authority. He noted that an EU report had found high noise pollution in Malta, a situation which, he said, was understandable in view of the dense population, the small size of the country and the large tourism industry.

Xlendi restaurant owners are objecting to government proposals which would see them move their outdoor tables and chairs a few metres away from the shoreline to allow free access to pedestrians, Gozo Minister Anton Refalo said in parliament this evening. People are currently forced to walk between the restaurants and the tables they have set up on the promenade. Replying to a series of questions by Nationalist MP Toni Bezzina, Dr Refalo said the ministry wanted to implement a masterplan for Xlendi as had been done in Marsalforn. Читать дальше...

The White House accused US senators of a "shameful display of cowardice" today and said they failed the American people by not advancing any gun control measures after the nation's largest mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, last week. "Gun violence requires more than moments of silence," President Barack Obama said on Twitter. "It requires action. In failing that test, the Senate failed the American people." Earlier, White House spokesman Josh Earnest appeared on morning television news shows excoriating... Читать дальше...

Poland and Ukraine enter their final Group C game in very different spirits. with the Poles keen to get a positive result to add to their four points and progress to the final 16 The Poles will be keen to get a positive result to add to their four points and progress to the final 16. Ukraine, having lost both its games so far, will be playing for pride rather than anything else.

Northern Ireland will be relishing this Euro 2016 group battle against world champions Germany, and a combination of victory here and Poland failing to beat Ukraine will mean they top this group. Germany face a less convoluted task if they are to emerge as Group C winners: a victory should be enough to send them top.  A draw might suit both teams, as it would guarantee both teams a place in the final 16.

Tertiary education institute MCAST is hoping a three-day expo kicking off this Thursday will encourage visitors to discover the college's educational opportunities.  The fifth edtion of the MCAST Expo will start this Thursday at the college's main campus in Paola. Students, lecturers, career advisors, support staff and industry representatives will all gather under one roof to share their experiences and highlight MCAST courses and career and employment opportunities.  MCAST’s three colleges - university... Читать дальше...

Germany's coalition government agreed to ban fracking for shale gas indefinitely today, after years of fractious talks over the issue, but environmental groups said the ban did not go far enough and vowed to fight the deal. Test drilling will be allowed but only with the permission of the respective state government, officials said. German industry is keen to keep the door open to fracking - which involves blasting chemicals and water into rocks to release trapped gas - arguing it could help lower energy costs... Читать дальше...

Real Madrid look set to activate a buy-back clause to take Alvaro Morata back to the Bernabeu from Juventus, the Italian club's chief executive, Giuseppe Marotta, said today. Morata, who came through the ranks at Real, was sold to Juventus two years ago, and scored 12 goals for the Italian side this season, helping them secure a Serie A and Coppa Italia double. The 23-year-old has previously expressed his desire to return to Madrid, but reports in the media suggest Real are hoping to make a quick... Читать дальше...

For once, a 13-storey tower crane standing in a field in Qormi is not the harbinger of some massive development to come. Rather, looming above the St George’s Fireworks Factory ahead of a much-anticipated pyrotechnics display this weekend, the crane is part of the latest innovative trend making fireworks shows bigger and bolder than ever before. Some 20 people have laboured for months on the structure, which the organising team have dubbed the ‘Tower of Diamonds’. Roughly 2,500 igniters have been loaded on to the tower... Читать дальше...

Enjoy Zlatan while you can, because once Sweden exit Euro 2016 his international career will be over.  Sweden striker and captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic said today that he would retire from international football at the end of Euro 2016. "The last game (at Euro 2016) will be my last for Sweden, so I hope it will not be tomorrow," he said. "I am very proud of what I have achieved and will always bring the Swedish flag with me." Sweden face Belgium on Wednesday needing a win to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the last 16. Читать дальше...

Two people have died from a suspected anthrax virus in Kazakhstan and six more have been hospitalised, the health ministry said today. The suspected outbreak of the highly lethal virus happened in a village in the central Karaganda region, the ministry said in a statement. All eight people had eaten the meat of a sick cow.

In a landmark decision, a court has granted bail to a Maltese-Australian man facing extradition to Lithuania. Malta’s Extradition Act states that people facing extradition should be remanded in custody, regardless of whether they had been granted bail or not before the judgment had been delivered. On January 15, the Magistrates Court had ordered Angelo Spiteri, 44, to be extradited to Lithuania, a judgment which was later confirmed by the Court of Appeal. The accused is a director of Vilnius-registered... Читать дальше...

A humanitarian disaster is unfolding around Iraq's Fallujah as tens of thousands flee the Isis-held city, a Maltese aid worker has warned.  "I saw children who have lost their parents, I saw an old woman on her last breath, I saw a woman collapsing because of dehydration... we're running out of water and tents in temperatures of 50 degrees. We can't cope. This is a colossal crisis," Karl Schembri from the Norwegian Refugee Council told Times of Malta.  A total of 62,000 have been displaced, half... Читать дальше...

A father whose child was burnt when firecrackers in his pocket went off after a slight knock has given parents plenty to think about.  Etienne Schembri posted two photos to Facebook of the burns his son had suffered as a result of the accident. The post has already been shared over 550 times.  He explained that his son had bought some firecrackers last Saturday and kept them in his pocket. He then went on to play with some friends, only to come close to a near-tragedy when a knock caused all the firecrackers to explode, all at once. Читать дальше...

Wales' 3-0 victory over Russia yesterday wasn't only Euro 2016's joint-biggest win so far - it also means the Welsh dominate the tournament's first-half scoring charts.  Chris Coleman's men were up two goals by half time, bringing their total tally of first-half Euro 2016 goals up to four. And with just 17 goals scored in the first half of tournament matches so far, that means Wales have been responsible for a massive 24 per cent of all first-half goals.  Wales topped their group and will now face the Group A... Читать дальше...

Ryanai launched a two-day seat sale today taking 15 per cent off the fare on selected routes to and from Malta for travel between August 1 and October 31. These sale, the company said, is on its Germany, Greece, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Poland routes and are available for booking on the Ryanair.com website until midnight tomorrow.

Update 2.14pm - Situation under control Police showed up in full force to deal with a report of a potential hostage situation in Birkirkara this afternoon but found themselves dealing with a mere disturbance.  Reports which reached the police initially claimed that a person had taken hostages at Villa Chelsea but upon arriving on the scene the police arrested a man who had caused chaos inside the home. According to reports, a man charged into the home for people with mental health problems and detained a woman. Читать дальше...