Новости за 27.01.2021

A magisterial inquiry into a fatal building collapse has called out state authorities for simply “rubber-stamping” paperwork submitted prior to excavation works. In a 30-page report, Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit urged the government to begin a heavy recruitment drive at state authorities, such as the Building Regulations Office and the Building and Construction Authority, to engage more qualified technical people. They would then thoroughly assess documents submitted to them by architects and... Читать дальше...

A controversial Polish court ruling that imposes a near-total ban on abortion will come into force on Wednesday, the country's right-wing government said, in an announcement that brought thousands into the streets. The move means that all abortions in Poland will be banned except in cases of rape and incest and when the mother's life or health are considered to be at risk. "The ruling will be published today in the Journal of Laws," the government said on Twitter. Protesters in the capital Warsaw lit red flares... Читать дальше...

A man convicted of drug possession may be spared a mandatory effective jail term after a court of appeal upheld his request for referral to the drug offenders’ rehabilitation board. Jotham Saliba, 51, had landed an 18-month effective jail term and a €2,300 fine upon his conviction in 2019 before a Magistrates’ Court that had declared him guilty of aggravated possession of ecstasy, simple possession of cocaine and cannabis as well as recidivism. At appeal stage, his lawyers argued that the Magistrates’... Читать дальше...

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS   3 Sasere 20, 64, 80 VALLETTA                    0 ĦAMRUN SPARTANS M. Bartolo-6, D. Gojkovic-6.5, M. Guillaumier-7 (86 C. Borg), J. Mbong-7 (88 X. Portelli), J. Ailton Soares-7 (83 D. Borg), F. Sasere-9 (88 M. Laraspata), B. Cittadini-6 (55 I. Adeshina), Elkin Serrano Valero-6.5, J. Corbalan-7, P. Djordjevic-7, K. Micallef-6.5. VALLETTA H. Bonello-5, J. Caruana-5, S. Malano-5, M. Piciollo-5, K. Nwoko-5, J. Borg (15 R. Camilleri-5), E. Pena Beltre (22 E. Sala-5.5), R. Muscat-5, L. Читать дальше...

Nationalist MP Clyde Puli warned Parliament on Wednesday that it would become irrelevant unless MPs got together to push through reform. Speaking during a debate on electoral boundaries, Puli, a former general secretary of the Nationalist Party, said a holistic reform which went far beyond electoral boundaries was needed so that parliament could remain relevant in people’s eyes.  He said that he agreed with previous speakers, notably minister Owen Bonnici, that Malta’s electoral system was better... Читать дальше...

GUDJA UNITED           1 Elton 90 HIBERNIANS                4 Iriberri 49 Grech 53 pen.; Degabriele 62, 85 GUDJA UNITED G. Zammit-6.5; A. Friggieri-6.5; L. Cremona-5 (59 Vagner-5); G. Mensah-5 (79 J. Brincat); I. Gonzalez-5; Elton da Silva-4; H. Vella-5; G. Adamovic-5; J. Bolanos-5; D. Camilleri-5; P. Mota-5. HIBERNIANS M. Calleja Cremona-6.5; F. Apap-6.5; L. Almeida-6.5; Raphael-6; J. Grech-7.5 (86 M. Ellul); J. Degabriele-7.5; B. Kristensen-7 (72 W. Teixeira); D. Vella-7; G. Artiles-6.5 (78 Z. Grech); A. Читать дальше...

MPs from both sides of the House on Wednesday voiced concern about the way how Twitter was able to ban (then) President Donald Trump’s account. Minister Owen Bonnici and Nationalist MP Clyde Puli said that while they understood the shameful circumstances which had led Twitter to its decision, the fact that a private company had such powers, even against a sitting US president, should be a matter of concern for all those who discussed checks and balances.  The discussion came up as parliament was debating changes to electoral boundaries. Читать дальше...

Choosing a company logo is a difficult task. Trends come and go, and designers must come up with timeless designs that can be fitted to cars spanning multiple generations, while also portraying the correct brand identity. However, sometimes outside factors encourage change. In recent years, flat design has become the most prominent design trend, because complicated logos with shadows, gradients and detailed features don’t look good on screens. In the digital age, though, that simply won’t do. And... Читать дальше...

The mayor of the Italian city of Turin was convicted Wednesday in connection with a deadly stampede at the open-air screening of a Champions League football final in 2017. Chiara Appendino was found guilty of criminal negligence and given a suspended 18-month jail term.  The same sentence was handed to four other defendants, including Turin’s former police chief and Appendino’s former chief of staff.  Two people died and more than 1,500 were injured in the stampede at the Piazza San Carlo, where... Читать дальше...

The MSE Equity Price Index eased by 0.06% to 4,034.162 points as the drops in the share prices of RS2 and PG outweighed the gains in four other companies whilst BMIT and MIA traded unchanged. Trading activity contracted markedly to just €0.1 million compared to €0.22 million yesterday. RS2 Software plc shed almost 3% back to the €2.00 level across 6,470 shares. Last Friday, RS2 provided a detailed update on the Group’s performance in 2020 and the expectations for the 2021 financial year. RS2 explained... Читать дальше...

Former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil flatly ruled out a comeback for Germany on Wednesday as he signed a three-and-a-half contract with his favourite Turkish side Fenerbahce. “I wish the German national team success, but I will never play for them again,” the 32-year-old attacking midfielder told reporters in fluent Turkish at his official unveiling in Istanbul. Ozil was one of the stars of Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning side and won three FA Cups for Arsenal. But he was heavily criticised in Germany... Читать дальше...

An appeals court has slashed expert fees of almost €20,000 imposed in March on a man who was found guilty of a fatal stabbing in Birkirkara in a case of excessive self-defence. Etienne Bartolo had been convicted of fatally stabbing Roderick Grech in Birkirkara four years ago. He was declared to have acted in excess of legitimate self-defence when he stabbed the victim with his penknife after being punched by the other man. Bartolo was handed a five-year jail term, a fine of €116.47 and was ordered... Читать дальше...

Nature Trust Malta has been handed responsibility to manage Wied il-Qlejgħa, more commonly known as Chadwick Lakes. An agreement was reached with the  Energy and Water Agency (EWA) and the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), the government said. Over the past two years, the Energy and Water Agency handled a €5 million regeneration and rehabilitation project in the valley. Works are due to be completed later this year. Energy and Water Minister Miriam Dalli welcomed the management agreement... Читать дальше...

Keith Perry has stepped down from his role of honorary president at Sliema Wanderers, the Times of Malta can confirm. Perry had been involved in the Sliema administration for several years. Last summer he decided to step down from his role of club president to make way for Jeffrey Farrugia to take the reins of the club. Sources have told The Times of Malta that Perry decided to resign from his post for personal reasons. Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the sports website by Times of... Читать дальше...

The House of Representatives on Wednesday saluted the millions who died in the Holocaust. The commemoration is held annually to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, coinciding with the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945. Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo recalled the horror of the concentration camps and said a visit to Auschwitz should be a life lesson for all.  He said tribute should also be given to the many who had, at great personal risk, worked to avoid further killings. Читать дальше...

The critical factor to beat COVID-19 does not rest on how many social and economic measures are taken, but on the efficiency and effectiveness of enforcement efforts to ensure that basic measures are borne equally by everybody, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association said on Wednesday.  The association was commenting shortly after the prime minister announced that restaurants have to close by 11pm throughout February. He also confirmed that bars and clubs will stay shut. The association said... Читать дальше...

The Civil Protection Department has procured a large rescue dinghy and an advanced fire-fighting vehicle in a €1m investment from public funds. The department explained that the dinghy is suitable for use in rescue operations of up to 12 hours, even in rough weather. It can also be used for fire-fighting in harbours. The Scorpion fire-fighting truck is seen as ideally suited for fire fighting in industrial zones owing to its 15-metre reach. The new equipment was inspected by Prime Minister Robert Abela and Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri... Читать дальше...

Environment NGO Din L-Art Ħelwa said on Wednesday it welcomed the withdrawal of a development application for a drive-in cinema on fields around the historic Torri Mamo near St Thomas Bay. The NGO observed that the application had drawn an outpouring of objections and widespread criticism.   "The proposed drive-in cinema would have led to the unjustified loss and exploitation of agricultural land for purely speculative ends, negatively impacting the contextual rural setting of the 17th century Torri... Читать дальше...

[attach id=1019043 size="medium" align="left" type="image"][/attach] Five people are under arrest after the police found drugs in raids in Zejtun. A 53-year-old man was arrested on Sunday when he was stopped in Mater Boni Consiglii Street and found in possession of three packets suspected to contain cocaine. A police dog then sniffed out 11 drug packets hidden in birdseed during a raid on his house in  Triq Siniskal. In another operation on Tuesday, the police said they arrested four men whom they had been observing for some days. Читать дальше...

Valletta mayor Alfred Zammit said on Wednesday that he was forgiving a man who allegedly set fire to his car last September and whom he knew as a child. Zammit was testifying in proceedings against Brentley Pace, a 21-year old storekeeper, who is pleading not guilty to four arson attacks in Valletta, over a five-month span, the last case targeting the mayor’s BMW 520d. “I knew Brentley as a child. I know his parents and grandparents. I know he has a good family background. I remember him on the streets of Valletta. Читать дальше...

Aprilia has revealed its new Tuono 660, taking the firm’s naked sport bike into the medium engine capacity segment. It expands the Tuono V4 range to two, sitting below the 1100 model but sharing the same sporty style as its bigger brother. It gets a new double fairing – first seen on Aprilia’s RS 660 –  which has been developed from extensive wind tunnel testing for optimal aerodynamic efficiency, as well as a triple-LED headlight unit that incorporates daytime running lights. It is targeted at new... Читать дальше...

The European Commission on Wednesday gave Poland a month to halt the work of a disciplinary chamber accused of posing a threat to judicial independence, after Warsaw ignored earlier complaints.   The government-appointed chamber, created in 2017 to sanction judges, is one of many controversial legal reforms introduced by Poland's right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party since it took office in 2015. "The Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court continues to take a grip on Polish judges and threatens... Читать дальше...

The number of asylum seekers who fled Tunisia last year quadrupled, while departures from Algeria tripled and those from Libya increased by nearly two thirds, according to a UNHCR report. But while these departures saw the number of people landing in Italy almost tripling in 2020, those who sought asylum in Malta and Spain dropped, with at least 1,064 people dying or going missing while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. In all, around 55,300 people arrived in Malta, Spain and Italy through the central and western Mediterranean routes... Читать дальше...

The second day of the Malta Sustainability Forum, organised by APS Bank, offered another selection of modules featuring top international local and foreign experts in their fields. The first module on yesterday’s agenda focused on ‘Food for Planetary Well-being’. With speakers from all corners of the globe, the panel discussed in detail aspects of food sustainability – how human behaviour in terms of the food we eat and how it is sourced and produced is linked to climate change, biodiversity and food security. Читать дальше...

Boarded-up stores, shuttered restaurants and empty office towers: COVID-19 has turned New York’s famous business districts into ghost towns, with companies scrambling to come up with ways to entice workers to return post-pandemic.  “If they don’t come back, we’re sunk,” said Kenneth McClure, vice president of Hospitality Holdings, whose Midtown bistro pre-coronavirus would buzz with the sound of financiers striking deals at lunch and sharing cocktails after a hard day at the office. The group has... Читать дальше...