Новости за 15.12.2017

A number of animals were found in government property that was being used by squatters in an operation between the Directorate for Animal Welfare, a veterinary and a number of officers from the Land Department in Biżbija on Friday. The property, which belongs to the government, was being used by squatters illegally. A total of 15 dogs and 15 horses as well as other animals such as rabbits and turkeys were found. Four of the dogs were microchipped and registered to different owners, who were called and asked to pick them up. Читать дальше...

The Gozo Ministry issued some 32 direct orders for works at the Ċittadella in Gozo even though it was mostly using EU funds for the project. The direct orders, to the tune of almost €1.8 million, are raising eyebrows, sources close to the National Audit Office told the Times of Malta, as questions are being asked on whether there was need for so many direct orders instead of the issue of proper tenders following strict public procurement rules. Information submitted in Parliament recently shows that... Читать дальше...

The Nationality Party executive on Friday unanimously approved a motion to officially dissolve the agreement which created Forza Nazzjonali. The motion, moved by secretary general Clyde Puli and seconded by all members of the party’s administration, refers to the agreement that had been reached between the PN and Partit Demokratiku through which they presented a common list of candidates for the general election. Read: PD candidates to contest election under PN banner The aim was to subsequently... Читать дальше...

26-time champions of Bulgaria Levski Sofia have opted for Malta as their winter destination in the interest of pursuing a training camp which will enable them to prepare for the second part of the championship. Their arrival was confirmed by coach Delio Rossi who spoke about their winter plans in the press conference after their Bulgarian Cup quarter-final against Dunav 2010 which saw them progress into the final four earlier this evening, joining Botev Plovdiv, Slavia Sofia and CSKA Sofia.  The... Читать дальше...

A 24-year-old motorcyclist from Żabbar was grievously injured today when he was hit by a car in Marsa. The police said the accident happened in Triq Diċembru 13 at 2.30pm. The car was being driven by a 27-year-old woman from Żurrieq.

Military police have shot a man after he threatened to use a knife at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. The Marechaussee police service said the "situation is safe" and the suspect has been detained and removed from the scene. Schiphol, just outside Amsterdam, is one of Europe's busiest airports. The airport's main plaza was and remains evacuated. Schiphol Plaza, which houses shops, bars and restaurants, was evacuated but not the parts of the airport behind the check-in area and security checks, airport spokeswoman Roos van der Ven said.

A man who conspired to transport irregular migrants out of Malta to Italy was handed a hefty pecuniary punishment instead of a possible effective prison sentence after he pleaded guilty instead of undergoing a trial by jury. Angelo Bilocca, 39, was facing a maximum jail term of 20 years and a maximum fine of €23,293 over his involvement in the conspiracy. The matter was brought to light when two of 25 irregular migrants destined to make the trip filed a police report when, halfway through the crossing... Читать дальше...

When Fiona Hornstein’s children asked her where disposed plastic waste ended up, the mother-of-two stopped in her tracks. She had no answer to give them. So she got to the bottom of the matter. For the past year, she has been working nonstop to lead a rapidly growing sustainability network, Action Planet. The network connect experts and promotes empowering initiatives on sustainability, from an information portal to focus groups and think tanks bringing together NGOs, activists and government.  Mr Hornstein wasn’t born into green thinking... Читать дальше...

Citizens in Malta were less satisfied with the pension system last year than they were five years before, an EU survey on quality of life has revealed. An analysis of the data collected by Eurofound, the EU Agency for the improvement of living and working conditions, shows that while the level of satisfaction with healthcare and education increased significantly, the same could not be said for the pension system which was given a rating of 5.8 out of 10. According to the data from the survey, which will be published in full next month... Читать дальше...

From nativity plays to crèche sets to Christmas cards, animals are ubiquitous in our vision of the birth of Christ – but according to the Bible, not a single animal was there. Where did all these animals come from, and why are they now so central to the story? Only two parts of the Bible talk about Jesus’ birth: the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. Mark and John skip over Jesus’ infancy and head straight to his adult life. So how similar are the narratives of Matthew and Luke to the version familiar... Читать дальше...

Norway has become the first country in the world to switch off national radio FM broadcasts, despite widespread scepticism from citizens about the change.  National broadcasters across the Scandinavian country will now only broadcast using digital audio, which allows for better sound quality and more channels at a fraction of the cost. Private radio stations can still broadcast in FM.  The shift, which was announced late last year and began in January, was finally completed this week as remote regions... Читать дальше...

A man implicated in a scam to defraud a transhipment company had his acquittal confirmed on appeal on Friday. Victor Spiteri, 80, whose job as foreman is to direct the unloading of merchandise alongside containers, was facing criminal action for fraud, falsification of documents and use thereof, and making a false declaration. He came under investigation when Ronald Galea, a former general manager at CMA-CGM Agencies Worldwide Ltd who was being investigated for fraud, implicated Mr Spiteri in the scam. Читать дальше...

A man implicated in a scam intended to defraud a transshipment company operating within the Malta Freeport had his acquittal confirmed on appeal on Friday. Victor Spiteri, 80, whose job as foreman had been to direct the unloading of merchandise alongside containers in the Freeport yard, was facing criminal action for fraud, falsification of documents and use thereof, and making a false declaration. The man was subjected to criminal investigations when Ronald Galea, a former general manager at the Freeport... Читать дальше...

Cavaliers 121, Lakers 112 LeBron James tied Larry Bird for sixth all time in triple-doubles and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Los Angeles Lakers 121-112. James' 59th triple double in 15 seasons consisted of 25 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists. Kevin Love led all scorers with 28 points, while Jose Calderon added a season-high 17 points. Lonzo Ball, the Lakers rookie playing in his first game against James, finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Brandon Ingram paced the Lakers with 26 points. Читать дальше...

Malta’s first-ever Migrant Integration Strategy and Action Plan was launched this afternoon, introducing frameworks aimed at helping improve the integration of migrants.  Addressing a press conference on Friday afternoon, Equality Minister Helena Dalli said that migrant integration was crucial if migration was to be capitalised upon.  Outlining the action plan for the next two years, Dr Dalli said that the strategy will seek to ensure that migrants learn about the country’s values, standards and culture... Читать дальше...

A truck driver whose dangerous manoeuvres made headlines and prompted hundreds of complaints will also face charges for a hit-and-run incident.  The information was revealed on Friday morning when proceedings continued against Marius Camilleri, the truck driver whose antics sparked off some 700 Facebook complaints, as one LESA representative explained in court. Inspector Sergio Pisani told the court that on November 30, Mr Camilleri had been stopped by wardens after several people reported a vehicle... Читать дальше...

A group of doctors have come together to form a non-governmental organisation encouraging local drivers to be more careful on the road.  Doctors 4 Road Safety's first campaign, 'Driving home safely for Christmas', has launched just in time for the festive season. No details about the campaign were provided.  Health Minister Chris Fearne, who was present for the launch at the University, said that around 20 people lost their life in traffic accidents in Malta each year. NGO secretary Tonio Piscopo said that besides fatalities... Читать дальше...

Finnish lawmakers narrowly voted on Friday to let grocery stores sell stronger alcoholic drinks, after months of public debate pitting supporters of drinker's rights against health campaigners. Shops will be able to sell drinks with an alcoholic content of 5.5%, lifting the 4.7% limit that has been in force since the 1960s. Supporters of the move say it will support breweries and retailers and mark a move away from the controlling instincts of the "nanny state." "Finns have been patronised for long enough... Читать дальше...

A man wanted in Italy for months has been arrested in Spain on suspicion of shooting three people dead there including two police officers. Norbert Feher, 36, from Serbia, was arrested overnight near Cantavieja, a town in north-east rural Spain. He is accused of shooting dead a civilian and two Civil Guard police Thursday, a Civil Guard spokesman said. The police were investigating a shooting earlier this month. Italy earlier issued a European arrest warrant for Feher over killings and home-invasion robberies, the spokesman said. Читать дальше...

Five floors are to be added to the former Alhambra cinema in Sliema, enlarging its current Zara outlet by a footprint of some 900 square metres, and making it one of the largest in Europe. The current store is spread over two floors with a few flats overlying them. However, the air space behind them – the old cinema – belongs to the PG Holdings group, which run the Pavi and Pama supermarkets. Read: Zara outlet to be one of largest in EuropeThe application was approved by the Planning Authority on... Читать дальше...

Five floors are to be added to the former Alhambra cinema in Sliema, enlarging its current Zara outlet by a footprint of some 900 square metres, and making it one of the largest in Europe. The current store is spread over two floors with a few flats overlying them. However, the air space behind them – the old cinema – belongs to the PG Holdings group, which run the Pavi and Pama supermarkets. Read: Zara outlet to be one of largest in EuropeThe application was approved by the Planning Authority on... Читать дальше...

National commissions should be empowered to not only recommend, but also enforce, the President is urging the government. Addressing a conference on human rights advocacy, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca insisted that now was the right time for a review of the legislation that regulated the function of the various national commissions. “I believe they must be further empowered to be more effective, and ensure the safeguarding of human rights. “Our national commissioners cannot rely on individual advocacy efforts alone ... Читать дальше...

Thieves entered a Tarxien lotto booth and ordered an employee and customer to hand over money at knifepoint on Friday, police said in a statement.  Two masked men armed with a knife entered the shop on Triq Raħal l-Ġdid shortly before noon and told a 50-year-old employee from Naxxar and 67-year-old customer who happened to be there at the time to hand over all the money in their possession.  They then made a quick getaway with an undisclosed amount of money in their possession. Police were alerted to the theft at noon... Читать дальше...

Since 2013 the market value of villas and farmhouses has soared by almost 50%, while the average price of an apartment has increased to €228,000. These trends have emerged from a property market analysis carried out by KPMG on behalf of the Malta Developers Association. The study was based on some 80,000 entries from major real estate agents comprising 11 types of properties between 2011 and 2016. The highest increase was registered in the prices of villas with a 44% rise in the three-year period between 2013 and 2016. Читать дальше...

Cappella Sanctae Catharinae, Malta’s only all-male choir, is presenting its annual Christmas concert, entitled Gaudete, this weekend at two different venues. The programme includes Giovanni Battista Crivelli’s 17th-century Christmas pastorale Salvete Pastores, as well as such carols as I Wonder as I Wander and Personent Hodie. The choir will also be reviving an old Maltese carol, collected from Birkirkara two years ago, called Kant lil Betlem. They will be joined by soprano Danielle Ciantar. The... Читать дальше...