Новости за 20.01.2021

Sony’s Vision-S concept has been shown undergoing dynamic testing for the first time on roads in Austria. Showcased in prototype form, the Vision-S – which was first unveiled at last year’s CES technology exhibition – wears a camouflage wrap in order to disguise some of the car’s exterior styling elements. Though not confirmed for production, the Vision-S has been used as a way of Sony showcasing its future plans for autonomous and high-tech driving. Featuring 33 sensors, the Vision S is able to monitor its surroundings... Читать дальше...

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte survived a vote of confidence late on Tuesday but failed to secure an overall majority in parliament, leaving his ruling coalition severely weakened as it battles the coronavirus pandemic. The government has been teetering near collapse since former premier Matteo Renzi withdrew his Italia Viva party last week, depriving Conte of his majority in the Senate. Weeks of tensions over the government's handling of the COVID-19 crisis came to a head with a late-night vote of confidence in the upper chamber. Читать дальше...

Foreigners caught not wearing face masks on the Indonesian resort island of Bali are being subject to an unusual punishment: push-ups. Video footage circulating on social media this week shows tourists in T-shirts and shorts being made to do the exercise in sweltering tropical heat as masked security officials stood over them. Bali authorities made wearing a face mask in public mandatory last year as Indonesia battled a raging Covid-19 outbreak. In recent days, however, scores of foreigners have been caught without face coverings... Читать дальше...

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned 73 people, including his former aide Steve Bannon and other allies, just hours before he was due to leave office. The list of those pardoned -- as well as 70 others whose sentences were commuted -- was released by the White House in a statement during the early hours. Neither Trump nor his relatives were on the list. Bannon had been charged with defrauding people over funds raised to build the Mexico border wall, a flagship Trump policy. He was Trump's campaign manager during the 2016 election... Читать дальше...

The front pages of Times of Malta from 25 and 10 years ago.  Become a Times of Malta premium member to gain full access to our archive dating back to January 1930.

Mosta FC continued with their transfer activity when they signed French forward Christopher Bibaku, the Premier League side announced. Bibaku, who was born in Congo, has agreed personal terms to join the Blues until the end of the season. “Mosta FC is pleased to confirm Christopher Bibaku’s arrival from Finnish side AC Kajaani. The French striker has signed a contract with the Blues,” Mosta FC said in a statement.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the sports website by Times of Malta

Notions of ‘good governance’ and ‘proper governance’ are used way too libe­rally nowadays. Up until recently though, the value and significance of these ideals had been relegated to the realm of scholarly literature, where these key precepts had been effusively discussed. For years, these concepts were merely bookish theories, abstract ideals, their importance enthusiastically discussed, but sadly, (un)willingly misrepresented and applied in practical life. The concept of good governance was originally... Читать дальше...

Spezia will face Napoli in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup next week after a dramatic 4-2 win at Roma in which the hosts finished with nine men. Vincenzo Italiano’s side, who are playing their first ever Serie A season, moved into the last eight thanks to two goals in extra-time after initially letting slip an early two-goal lead. Roma came into the last 16 clash at the Stadio Olimpico reeling from a 3-0 hammering at the hands of local rivals Lazio at the weekend, and were two down by the 15th... Читать дальше...

Rule of law NGO Repubblika last week presented a raft of proposals on the appointment of the president and the composition of parliament and cabinet. The initiative was a breath of fresh air in a society where constitutional and parliamentary reform appears to be the exclusive domain of politicians. The thrust of Repubblika’s proposals is to put clear water between the roles of parliament and the cabinet. It also proposed that the president should be elected and that the prime minister should be able to pick ministers from outside parliament. Читать дальше...

The following are the top stories in Malta's newspapers. Times of Malta reports that private clinics have said they are under no obligation to report the result of rapid COVID-19 tests to the authorities. The newspaper also reports on the ongoing reshuffle of the shadow cabinet by Opposition leader Bernard Grech. Also on the shadow cabinet reshuffle, MaltaToday says Bernard Grech faces a second district backlash after reportedly removing the health portfolio from Stephen Spiteri.  The Malta Independent... Читать дальше...

‘Confusing’ is a good word to describe this government’s approach in tackling the electrification of transport. Like in many other policy areas, such as in good governance and tackling corruption, this attitude has led to nothing more than promises to provide near-future strategy papers in the area of tackling climate change. Just last week, Michael Farrugia declared the installation of 130 charging bays for electric cars by the middle of 2021. A proposition that is already two years behind schedule. Читать дальше...

Private clinics conducting hundreds of rapid tests a week claim they are not obliged to report positive cases to health authorities, possibly leaving a number of COVID-19 patients unaccounted for. Rapid antigen tests that give results in under an hour are not deemed to be as accurate as the health authority’s ‘gold standard’ test, known as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test. [attach id=1016601 size="medium" align="right" type="image"]One of the rapid test clinics advertising its services... Читать дальше...

The Malta Football Association says it is unable to act on the racial abuse of a 16-year-old women’s football team captain, partly because the alleged perpetrators were not on club grounds at the time of the offence. Due to coronavirus regulations, football grounds are closed to spectators, but it has emerged that the two people alleged to have shouted racial insults at Maltese international player Maya Lucia on Sunday were outside Marsascala’s football pitch. On Tuesday, police confirmed that they are investigating after a report was filed. Читать дальше...

There is little to see and enjoy during a session of the parliamentary committee for the environment, or to be precise, the environment and development planning committee. I’m not making this distinction out of pedantry – by the time you’ve read this, you’ll wonder why the word “environment” even features in the name. Indeed, there’s no fun in being a sore black thumb in the room, sat in the midst of rather demotivated MPs ruminating buzzwords as PA executives ran everyone through the proposed local plan atrocities for Mrieħel and Marsa. Читать дальше...

In Memoriam BARTOLO PARNIS – ANTHONY. Treasured and unfading memories of a dear husband, father and grandfather on the ninth anniversary of his demise. Sadly missed by his wife Patricia, his children Joanna and Paul, George and Silvana, Anthony and Greta and grandchildren. May the Lord grant him eternal rest. BONNICI – OLGA. In ever loving memory of our dear mother and grandmother, on the second anniversary of her demise. Forever in our hearts and prayers. Deeply missed and remembered with much love Henry... Читать дальше...

President-elect Joe Biden late on Tuesday signalled a new tone for the US government by leading a powerful tribute to the 400,000 Americans lost to COVID-19 as he arrived in Washington on the eve of his inauguration. Meanwhile, the White House announced that hours before his departure, President Donald Trump had issued 73 pardons, including his former campaign manager Steve Bannon. He also commuted sentences for 73 others.  Biden, who has suffered deep personal tragedy and is known for his public displays of emotion... Читать дальше...

It’s time to grow up! Regression psychology: the adoption by an adult or adolescent of behaviour more appropriate to a child, especially as a defence mechanism to avoid anxiety (Collins dictionary). I see such behaviour very often at school: a student is brought to my office for me to reprimand or a teacher brings a particularly unexpected occurrence to my attention. I am not sure it is always “a defence mechanism to avoid anxiety”… it is just as likely to be to avoid a punishment, to tug at my heart strings or... Читать дальше...

The Saints Peter and Paul parish of Nadur has issued the 134th edition of its periodical Luminaria reaching the 36th year from its first publication. The periodical is issued three times a year, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, last year’s editions had been postponed. Luminaria is a well of information to parishioners and other readers, including listings about religious, cultural and social activities happening in Nadur. It also includes articles about cultural, historical, social and religious nature. Читать дальше...

59th day of the 'new normal' Żepp is produced by Ġorġ Mallia. See more Żepp cartoons.