Новости за 19.01.2021

From a simple helping hand to a long-term successful project. This is what it turned out to be Denis Guerra’s adventure at women’s club Raiders Għargħur. The Swiss coach is at the helm of the Għargħur-based side, formerly Raiders Luxol, as he oversees the development plan of the girls across all age groups at the club. Guerra’s introduction to the club was in 2015 when Paul Midolo, former president of Raiders Luxol, asked the Swiss coach for a favour. “Back in 2015, I used to coach at my football school... Читать дальше...

Berlin State Ballet’s first black dancer Chloé Lopes Gomes said she has been made to feel different because of her skin colour since she first donned ballet shoes as a child. But after she was again subjected to what she described as “racism” at Germany’s largest dance company, she has launched a fightback that has forced the State Ballet to launch an internal investigation into her complaints. In an interview with AFP, Lopes Gomes stood by her allegations against the Berlin company, arguing that... Читать дальше...

The mantra is both constant and widespread despite its obvious ridiculousness.  Very soon all will be well, we can once again return to ‘normal life’ thanks to the vision and skill of our gifted leaders.  Even as things fall apart before our very eyes, the chant remains the same. In Malta as elsewhere, it is events and moments like these that should encourage us to take stock and reflect on whether the mad scramble for ‘business as usual’ is worth the price we are paying.  Locally and internationally... Читать дальше...

Boeing has started to assemble the first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for Malta Air and will deliver it in the airline's own livery. The Boeing 737 MAX was certified as safe by US and European regulators late last year after it was grounded for several months following two fatal crashes.  Malta Air, a subsidiary of Ryanair, has so far operated six older versions of the Boeing 737, all still in the blue and yellow livery of the Irish low-cost airline.  But the aviation specialist website Simple Flying... Читать дальше...

Tomorrow, Donald Trump comes to the inglorious end of his life as President of the United States of America. It follows not long after the end of his incendiary life on social media. The prolific Twitter user had his @realDonaldTrump account permanently suspended soon after the fatal January 6 storming of the Capitol by his supporters. Twitter cited the “risk of further incitement of violence”. Facebook has banned Trump indefinitely. The bans have highlighted the way social media platforms enable... Читать дальше...

Parliament now has two disabled MPs who have never hidden this attribute from public view. They were both socially active before entering the political foray, especially in the disability sector. Incidentally, they both earned their seat through a co-option, though one stood for election while the other did not. Yet, their co-option was not without controversy. In both cases, they entered parliament after much political manoeuvring. This tale of two co-options has it all: a real risk of not having... Читать дальше...

The following are the top stories in Malta's newspapers on Tuesday. Times of Malta reports that the cost of buying Maltese residency will rise to fund the post COVID-19 recovery. It also reports that the police have been handed the names of alleged racists who hurled abuse at a young footballer.  The Malta Independent reports how former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Monday defended the Vitals hospitals deal in court. It also quotes the head of a cycling group saying that the car is king and the authorities do not care about other road users. Читать дальше...

Scotland has Robert the Bruce. We have Robert the Honest. “I was honest, like the government I lead was,” Robert Abela declared with a straight face on the anniversary of his ascent to power. “That is how we will continue to be.” If Prime Minister Abela truly intends to continue to be as “honest” as he and his government have been this last year, God help us. Does Abela genuinely believe he and his government have been honest? Does he know what honesty is? Honesty is about integrity, truthfulness and straightforwardness. Читать дальше...

Obituaries FLETCHER. On January 15, SUSAN ELIZABETH passed away with dignity and courage in Gozo. She will be much missed by children Amalie and Christopher and partner Hans Wijnberg. Funeral to be held at Santa Maria Cemetery, Xewkija, on Friday, January 22, at 10am. MUSCAT. On January 18, at Mater Dei Hospital, BEATRICE née Camilleri, aged 79, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her sad loss her husband Salvino, her son Kenneth and her daughter Lorraine... Читать дальше...

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will on Tuesday face a vote of confidence in parliament, seeking the Senate's support for his teetering government as it battles a deadly coronavirus pandemic. The ruling coalition has been on the brink of collapse since former premier Matteo Renzi withdrew his Italia Viva party last week, depriving Conte of his majority in the upper chamber. Conte, who since 2018 has headed two politically divergent governments, is desperately seeking the support of opposition... Читать дальше...

The names of two football supporters have been reported to police over allegations of racial abuse during a women’s under-19 league match on Sunday. Malta national team player Maya Lucia on Monday described the slurs she suffered while captaining Raiders Għargħur in a game against Mosta FC. Two supporters, who are parents of rival team players, have been identified and reported to police and the Malta Football Association. The 16-year-old spoke up about the incident on Facebook, saying “this is the reality of being an athlete in Malta”. Читать дальше...

ECB monetary operations On January 11, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced the seven-day Main Refinancing Operation (MRO). The operation was conducted on January 12, and attracted bids from euro area eligible counterparties of €0.52 billion, €0.34bn more than the previous week. The amount was allotted in full at a fixed rate equivalent to the prevailing MRO rate of 0.00%, in accordance with current ECB policy On January 13, the ECB conducted the seven-day and 84-day US dollar funding operations... Читать дальше...

Works on the completion of the two sacristies at Għajnsielem parish church is ongoing. For the past four years, stonework has been prepared at the site where two sacristies are to be built on either side of the church. The stonework is now being hauled in place as the actual building started in earnest. The building of the church stopped in 1935 and then resumed between 1955 and 1979, while the church underwent the cleaning of the interior stone (unvjar) between 1979 and 1989. However, the sacristies were never completed. Читать дальше...