Новости за 22.06.2016

Ireland reached the knockout phase at a European Championship for the firs time when Robbie Brady's late goal earned them a 1-0 victory against Group E winners Italy. Brady made a brilliant run into the box and headed home Wes Hoolahan's right-wing cross to make sure Ireland qualified as one of the four best third-placed teams with four points. They will face hosts France in the last 16. Italy made eight changes and it showed at the Stade Pierre Mauroy as the Azzurri looked a touch disjointed, although... Читать дальше...

Labour MP Luciano Busuttil insisted in parliament this evening that the right to life needed to be respected at all times as one discussed whether or not to allow the morning-after pill. Speaking in Parliament, Dr Busuttil said the right to life was supreme. It was fine to be more liberal and to have more civil rights, as long as those rights did not impinge on the more important right to life. The issue, he said, was about when life started. His view was that it started at fertilisation. Therefore... Читать дальше...

The Opposition accused the government of rubbing salt into a wound this evening when it objected to the presentation of the first reading of a private member's bill that would introduce the possibility of retrial in cases of miscarriage of justice. At the start of this evening's parliamentary sitting, Opposition whip David Agius said the Opposition wanted to move the first reading of the bill that would empower the Appeals Court the power to revisit cases where it was proven that an injustice would have been made. Читать дальше...

Italy have nothing to play for, having already won their group after beating both Belgium and Sweden. Antonio Conte may be tempted to rest some key players ahead of their second-round match against reigning champions Spain. Ireland, on the other hand, have everything to play for. They sit bottom of the group but still stand a chance of going through to the second round. If they beat Italy by two goals and Sweden beat Belgium, they'll be guaranteed a place in the final 16.

Sweden must beat Belgium if they're to have any chance of making the last 16. If they fail to do so, it will be the last time viewers will ever see Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a yellow shirt, with the striker having said he'll retire from international football after Euro 2016.  Belgium know that a draw will ensure they get second place in Group E, and with it a place in the final 16.

A Maltese woman was behind a 'kiss chain' against Brexit held in several European cities over the weekend. Anne Agius, who works in Hamburg with AVAAZ, - the human and animal rights institution saw her chain start in Rome and go through Paris, Berlin, to London. This is a call of love to the United Kingdom ahead of the referendum, Ms Agius said. "The voice of those who want to split us and spread hatred in our societies are getting louder, and we want to show that we stand for unity and for love."... Читать дальше...

The government will soon be issuing a call for investment of at least €15 million in the Malta Film Studios, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said this evening. This call for expression of interest in the facilities at Rinella will be launched in the coming weeks, Dr Zammit Lewis told an audience at a Gvern li Jisma consultation meeting at Castille. This request for proposals will be aimed to support a cluster of services in the film industry. It will not be limited to the water tanks on site but will also include indoor facilities... Читать дальше...

Iceland, the smallest country to ever grace a major tournament, will face England in the Euro 2016 last-16 after securing a remarkable late win against Austria. Hailing from a tiny island of just 330,000 inhabitants and unable to play outside for large chunks of the year to due to the freezing conditions, it was remarkable that the North Atlantic nation even made it to the finals. Iceland have upset the apple cart once again, though, securing a last-gasp 2-1 win against Austria, ranked 10th in the world... Читать дальше...

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at four European Championship tournaments with a brilliant back-heel flick against Hungary at Euro 2016 today after setting a finals appearance record. Ronaldo's equaliser five minutes after halftime in the Group F game made the score 2-2 and he scored again with a header after 62 minutes to level it at 3-3, having broken the record for number of appearances at Euro tournaments in his 17th game. Ronaldo, who set Portugal's all-time appearance... Читать дальше...

Though conventional wisdom says it takes five to seven attempts for most smokers to quit, those estimates may be very low, a recent study suggests. Based on data for more than 1,200 adult smokers in Canada, the real average number of quit attempts before succeeding may be closer to 30. "For so long we've been talking about five to seven attempts to quit," said lead author Dr. Michael Chaiton of the School of Public Health at the University of Toronto in Canada. "For us (the numbers) were a lot higher."... Читать дальше...

The government does not intend to demand the resignation of Alfred Mifsud as deputy governor of the Central Bank because that would amount to interference in an independent institution, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said in parliament this evening. He said this position had been taken on the advice of the European Central Bank, which had also consulted its lawyers. Their advice was that the deputy governor's removal or otherwise was up to the Central Bank itself, through the current governor or the new one... Читать дальше...

Calls for the public to be guaranteed access to a medieval settlement in Simblija, limits of Dingli, have been renewed after a clash between ramblers and a man claiming private ownership of the historic site. Noel Ciantar, whose family has occupied the land for generations, confronted members of the Ramblers Association last Sunday as they attempted to walk through the area, which was the site of an EU-funded restoration project in 2003. In video footage seen by the Times of Malta, Mr Ciantar appears... Читать дальше...

The relocation of the Valletta monti to Ordnance Street will go ahead in the coming weeks, though no new stalls will be introduced immediately, the Times of Malta is informed. The long-awaited relocation, originally earmarked for early last year, was repeatedly held by issues over logistics, as well as public concern over the placement and also design of new stalls. Following a public expression of interest, a design panel chaired by the Chamber of Architects selected a new design earlier this year... Читать дальше...

The widower of murdered British lawmaker Jo Cox said her killing was an act of terror as he paid tribute to his late wife today alongside hundreds of mourners at an emotional memorial in London's Trafalgar Square. Cox died after she was shot and stabbed in the street in her constituency in northern England last week - an attack that shocked the country and prompted an outpouring of sympathy around the globe for the lifelong humanitarian campaigner. "Jo's killing was political. It was an act of terror... Читать дальше...

Portugal must win if they're to salvage a poor start to their Euro 2016 tournament and make it into the final 16. They have yet to win a game, but victory here will ensure they top the group. Portugal fans will be hoping Cristiano Ronaldo is over his foul mood. Hungary, with four points, have far more leeway, but they'll know that a loss would most likely leave them third in the group and facing a final 16 match-up against Roy Hodgson's England.

With two points apiece, both Iceland and Austria know that whoever emerges triumphant from this encounter will be heading into the next round.  Iceland were agonisingly close to their first major tournament win against Hungary, and will be hoping the footballing gods treat them a bit kinder this time round. Austria, having steamrolled through qualifying, have found the actual Euro 2016 tournament tougher going so far.

Middle-aged adults with recently diagnosed heart disease may be less sexually active than their healthier peers, a UK study suggests. Researchers analysed survey data from about 3,000 men and 3,700 women aged 50 and older, including 376 men and 279 women with heart disease. Among heart disease patients diagnosed less than four years before the survey, both men and women were much less likely to report having any sex in the past year than their counterparts without heart problems. "We cannot say for... Читать дальше...

A Planning Authority meeting due to be held tomorrow to decide a planning application related to the Town Square Project in Sliema has been postponed after a court upheld a request by eNGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar for a prohibitory injunction. The eNGO is insisting that studies regarding the project - which will include a 38-storey tower - should be made and published before the project is discussed and decided upon by the Planning Board. Earlier, this week, the Planning Authority denied that... Читать дальше...

Simon Busuttil as head of the Malta-EU Information Centre before Malta joined the EU, had awarded a consultancy contract to a company of which he was a director, the Labour Party said today. Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis and MP Silvio Schmebri, speaking at a press conference, said the information emerged in reply to a parliamentary question yesterday. The parliamentary reply also showed that Dr Busuttil had engaged people with MIC without a public call. Such practices, the minister said, contrasted... Читать дальше...

Notary Peter Falzon has been handed a suspended sentence after being found guilty of misappropriating €19,275 over a period of four years between 2008 and 2012.Passing judgment on the matter, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said that Dr Falzon’s crime cast a dark shadow over the notarial profession.The case was first flagged by lawyer Ian Spiteri Bailey in the name of his client Carmel Mallia, who had filed a complaint asking the police to investigate Dr Falzon.Mr Mallia has passed the notary... Читать дальше...

The Opposition is calling for the setting up of a parliamentary committee to question and scrutinise whoever is nominated to serve as governor of the Central Bank of Malta. A motion to this end was presented to the House this afternoon by Opposition deputy leader Mario de Marco and MPs Kristy Debono and Francis Zammit Dimech. Dr de Marco pointed out that both the PN and the Labour electoral programmes had promised the setting up of such a committee. "This will make for greater transparency and accountability," Dr de Marco remarked. Читать дальше...

Two siblings have been cleared of injuring two other siblings during an argument in a Paceville establishment, after the court held that the prosecution had not adequately proven its case. Bradley and Analise Azzopardi were accused of assaulting Fabio and Valentina Zanghi, who are also siblings, at a club in Paceville in June 2014.While Mr Zanghi got away with slight injuries, his sister had suffered a broken tooth and initially claimed she needed stitches to her face – an allegation she subsequently... Читать дальше...

A wife was paralysed with fear after five-and-a-half years of continuous domestic violence, including an attempted murder, which started right after their honeymoon, a court heard today. Her 42-year-old husband, who cannot be mentioned by order of the court, has been charged with the attempted murder, causing her slight injuries, damaging her car, holding her against her will, threatening and assaulting her. The very first incident occurred right after they had arrived in Malta following their honeymoon... Читать дальше...

Bank of Valletta has made €29,141,277 from the sale of Visa Europe to to Visa Inc. The bank was  a Principal member and shareholder in Visa Europe. The sale was completed on June 21 and triggered the distribution of cash and preferred stock to the shareholders of Visa Europe, with a deferred cash payment, including interest, to follow in three years’ time. Bank of Valletta’s share of proceeds from this acquisition was: Cash consideration €22,041,822;  Value of shares in Visa Inc. €7,099,455. Total... Читать дальше...

A jaguar featured at an Olympic torch ceremony in Manaus, Brazil was shot dead by a soldier shortly after the event.   Brazil's army said 'Juma'  escaped from its handlers. Although it was tranquilized, it approached a soldier, who fired the fatal shot. A yellow jaguar, Ginga, is the mascot of Brazil's Olympic team. Animal rights groups have condemned the shooting.