Новости за 15.07.2017

An eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program not only reduces stress, but could also lower blood sugar, U.S. researchers say. "Our study suggests that MBSR could be a useful tool for preventing or treating diabetes in patients with overweight or obesity,” lead author Dr. Nazia Raja-Khan from Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania, said by email. MBSR, an intensive instructor-led training program, incorporates meditation, body awareness and other anxiety-reducing techniques. Читать дальше...

The Syrian army backed by heavy Russian air strikes seized a string of oil wells in southwest Raqqa province, as retreating Islamic State militants battle to defend their remaining territory in the country. State-owned Ikhbariyah television quoted a military source as saying the army had taken control of Wahab, al Fahd, Dbaysan, al-Qseer, Abu al Qatat and Abu Qatash oil fields and several other villages in the desert area that lies in the southwest of Raqqa province. The seized oil fields lie south of the town of Rasafa and its oil wells... Читать дальше...

Updated 10.10pm with comments Health Minister Chris Fearne is Labour's new deputy leader after narrowly beating Finance Minister Edward Scicluna in the run-off election on Saturday night.  The two ministers were in the final round after Helena Dalli was eliminated last night.  Mr Fearne obtained 367 votes (51 per cent) while Prof. Scicluna won 348 votes (49 per cent), just 19 short. There were no invalid votes.  The three contenders for the post of deputy leader for parliamentary affairs – a role... Читать дальше...

Signs reading “Keep it green” and “No build zone” have been put up around a site earmarked for a new private school in Pembroke. Lying not far away from scheduled garigue where a proposed golf course development was refused in 2002, the unbuilt area off Gabriele Henin Street is “one of the last remaining open spots in the area”, according to local residents. An outline proposal by CHS (Chiswick House School) Ltd has been filed for the construction of a primary school with 36 classrooms, outdoor sport facilities and 82 parking spaces. Читать дальше...

More than 100 swimmers had to be rescued at the Blue Lagoon today as strong currents struck Comino by surprise, according to the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps. Two rescue boats had to be deployed to ensure the safety of all swimmers, the Gozo-based NGO said. Nobody was injured as rescuers worked tirelessly throughout the morning and afternoon to get people out of the water in what has been described as one of the most serious incidents to hit the bay in years. Most of those rescued were foreigners... Читать дальше...

Michael Matthews won stage 14 in Rodez as Chris Froome reclaimed the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. Matthews burst clear of Greg Van Avermaet on the steep finish to the 181.5km stage from Blagnac to claim honours on the day. Froome crossed the line just behind in seventh place while Astana's Fabio Aru struggled up the hill and lost his yellow jersey. The Briton now leads the general classification by 19 seconds from the Italian, with Frenchman Romain Bardet third, 23 seconds back. Official classification after 14 stages... Читать дальше...

Chelsea have announced the signing of midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco. The 22-year-old, who played a leading role in Monaco's run to the Champions League semi-finals last season has signed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge. The France international has reportedly cost the Blues around £40million. He told the club website: "I am very happy to be here and to join this great team. I have grown up watching Chelsea. Signing was the natural thing for me because it is a club I loved very much... Читать дальше...

A corpse was found in the sea, some 18 miles off Tigné Point, according to the police.  The body, which has not yet been identified, was found in a badly decomposed state. The alarm was raised by a fisherman around 2.40pm. The victim was brought ashore at Haywharf later.  It is not known whether the body belongs to a migrant who might have attempted the crossing from Africa to Europe.  Police are investigating. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered.

An inspired Garbine Muguruza stormed to her first Wimbledon title today, blowing away in-form American Venus Williams 7-5 6-0 with arguably the performance of her career after tight and tense early exchanges. In the first women’s final played under the Centre Court roof, a high-quality first set gradually built towards a captivating conclusion after both players began with two comfortable service holds. Muguruza saved two set points in the 10th  game, the first a 19-stroke rally that ended when Williams netted a forehand. Читать дальше...

European Union leaders are willing to change the bloc's rules for the freedom of movement of workers, opening an opportunity for Britain to avoid a damaging "hard Brexit", former prime minister Tony Blair said. The election of French President Emmanuel Macron had put reform of the EU on the table, meaning Britain and the EU could meet "halfway" to strike a deal that would keep Britain inside the world's largest trading area, Blair said. "The European leaders, certainly from my discussions, are willing to consider changes to accommodate Britain... Читать дальше...

It must rank as one of the funniest moments in Wimbledon history when a four-time Grand Slam winner invited a spectator to join in her match. Kim Clijsters beckoned a fan onto the court during her invitation doubles match, after he shouted out his suggestion for where she could serve. The incident happened at the Ladies' Invitational Doubles Tournament, one of three Invitationals Wimbledon hosts which serves as an exhibition for fans to see older or retired players. Clijsters was having a bit of... Читать дальше...

Lewis Hamilton took pole position for his home British Grand Prix for the third year in a row today with a sensational lap that left him one step away from Michael Schumacher's Formula One record. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen will join the Mercedes driver on the front row, with championship leading team mate Sebastian Vettel qualifying third. Hamilton's mastery of a damp but drying track lit up an overcast afternoon as he chalked up the 67th pole of his career, and sixth of the season, with every chance... Читать дальше...

Female problematic internet users outnumbered males in research that explored attachment to online video games and social networking sites by those aged between 13 and 16. However, more male teenagers were at risk of becoming problematic, according to the study. The quantitative research study, looking into the prevalence of problematic internet use in Malta among young teenagers, was carried out between November 2016 and last January by the National Centre for Freedom from Addictions within the... Читать дальше...

Mark Hamill has been bestowed one of Disney's highest honours, but said he cannot believe Carrie Fisher was not there to see it. Hamill and Fisher were named Disney Legends during a ceremony at the company's bi-annual fan convention, the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. He said Fisher would have been making him laugh at the event and treating it with some irreverence. "Well, I wish Carrie were here," he said. "She would be making me laugh and be off camera extending her middle finger - one of her... Читать дальше...

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told voters that Britain's decision to leave the European Union and France's election of President Emmanuel Macron had changed her view on the bloc, adding it was worth fighting for a stronger Europe. Merkel's comments, made in a speech in the Baltic Sea resort town of Zingst two months before a federal election, underline her personal determination to deepen European integration if she is re-elected for a fourth term. Calling European Union membership one of Germany's biggest strengths... Читать дальше...

One girl’s battle with the rare digestive condition eosinophilic enteropathy, which required the support of her mother and entire family to embark on a seven-year detox, is chronicled in the July issue of Pink. Distributed with The Sunday Times of Malta tomorrow, the story shows how the young girl had to do away with the kinds of food children love and how the condition affected her lifestyle – ultimately in a positive way. While she had to exercise extreme self-control, healthy eating has become ingrained for her ... Читать дальше...

Deceased Chinese Nobel Peace Prize-winning dissident Liu Xiaobo's ashes were scattered at sea today, Liu's brother said, in a move described by a family friend as an effort to erase any memory of him. Liu, 61, died of multiple organ failure on Thursday in a hospital in the northeastern city of Shenyang, where he was being treated for late-stage liver cancer, having been given medical parole but not freed. He had been jailed for 11 years in 2009 for "inciting subversion of state power" after helping... Читать дальше...

Students who completed primary school fared much better in their English examinations than in Maltese and maths, official figures issued yesterday show. A total of 3,571 students from 62 State schools, 21 Church schools and six independent schools sat for the annual benchmarking exams with the candidates being assessed in Maltese, English and mathematics. The national average mark for English stood at 76, while that for Maltese was 67, the figures show. In the case of Maltese, the average mark was 69. Читать дальше...

Are rural eco-neighborhoods a weapon against the rural exodus? We take a look at three next generation, eco-friendly villages in France to find out.

The Labour Party's LGBTI section has been rebranded as Equality Labour, following what the PL said was a "process of internal renewal".  Equality Labour will be led by Clayton Cutajar and will continue to serve as the PL's driving force to ensure a society in which discrimination holds nobody back, the party said in a statement announcing the change.  The change comes a few days after the Labour government passed a law making Malta the 15th country in Europe to ensure marriage equality and seven... Читать дальше...

Around 200 schoolchildren in Gozo have signed up for a subsidised robotics course which will teach them the basics of automation, coding and structural design. The Robotica Nation course is offered by local training institute TCTC and is subsidised by the Gozo Ministry.  In a statement announcing the course, the Gozo Ministry said that it aspired to turn Malta's sister island into a robotics hub and that it was therefore "essential that we encourage children to move into this sector."  The statement... Читать дальше...

More than 22,000 people who signed up for a free WiFi service inadvertently agreed to scrub toilets and clear drainage pipes after failing to read the service terms and conditions.  The spoof T&C was included by UK public WiFi provider Purple as part of its efforts to highlight consumers' lack of awareness about what they agree to when accessing online services.  A 'community service clause' embedded in Purple's T&Cs stated that users agreed to carry out 1,000 hours of community service, including cleaning portaloos... Читать дальше...

Turkey is commemorating the first anniversary of the quashed military coup that sought to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A series of events will honour the 250 people who were killed on July 15, 2016, while trying to stop the insurrection. The coup attempt was the greatest challenge to the rule of Mr Erdogan, who has been in power since 2003, first as prime minister and later as president. After crushing the attempted takeover, Mr Erdogan went on to win a referendum in April that will... Читать дальше...

You have just finished your O or A levels and have received your results. What You must be feeling on top of the world if you passed yet overwhelmed with all the different options before you. If you haven't chin up and work hard for the re-sit or next year. But what happens next? If you're one of the lucky few who already know what they want to do, go for it if it's realistic. Reading the rest of this will not do you any harm, though. The first thing you should consider is to look at all options. Читать дальше...