Новости за 03.05.2021

A chatty coat of arms? According to the French, it is. Known as arms parlant or ‘canting’ arms, these shorthand emblems of identification play a visual pun on the family surname. It is up to the observer to fill in the blanks. Bees carved into a limestone coat of arms, atop a façade in Għarb, reveal the occupant’s family name to be Apap − ape is Italian for a bee. Naturally, an olive tree features prominently in the coat of arms for the Testaferrata Olivier family and a pear tree for the de Piro coat of arms. Читать дальше...

West Ham maintained their surprise challenge for a place in next season’s Champions League as Michail Antonio scored twice to beat Burnley 2-1 on Monday. Chris Wood’s penalty opened the scoring for the Clarets, but Burnley failed to guarantee their Premier League survival for another season as Antonio struck twice in eight minutes. The Hammers move into fifth, just three points adrift of Chelsea, who have to travel to runaway leaders Manchester City next weekend. Continue reading this article on Sports Desk. Читать дальше...

A species last recorded in Malta 50 years ago has been among a number of rare birds sighted by birdwatchers as the spring migration went into full swing. At this time of year, birds leave their wintering grounds in Africa to migrate north and breed in Europe. The rare sightings were first recorded when two separate immature White-crowned Wheatears (Kuda Rasha Bajda) were spotted, one at Ħal Far and the other in Dwejra, Gozo, BirdLife told Times of Malta. It was only the third and fourth time that the species... Читать дальше...

The Italy squad have been given their first vaccine dose against COVID-19 ahead of this summer’s delayed Euro 2020, the country’s football federation (FIGC) announced on Monday. “The COVID-19 Emergency Support Commission, having consulted the FIGC — and in agreement with the Department of Health – has authorised the priority vaccination of the footballers who will take part in the Euros in June,” the FIGC said in a statement. It added the round of vaccinations was taking place at hospitals in Rome and Milan. Читать дальше...

An application to turn a disused explosives factory into a bungalow complex for tourists has been flooded with representations opposing the development following a push by activists. The site, which is outside the development zone and falls within the limits of a Natura 2000 site, between L-Irdum ta’ l-Iħfar and Ix-Xagħra tal-Qaws, comprises some 6,275 sqm and will be split into 14 bungalows, each with its own swimming pool, as well as a management block and ancillary facilities. Following a public... Читать дальше...

Labour MP Glenn Bedingfield said on Monday that Standards Commissioner George Hyzler had attempted to mislead the House of Representatives in a public statement he issued in reply to his speech in the House two weeks ago. Speaking in parliament on the adjournment, Bedingfield said his criticism was not against the Office of the Standards Commissioner but against the way it was being run by the person at the top. It was clear that Hyzler was not adopting the high standards he expected of the government side of the House. Читать дальше...

In today’s day and age, companies are more and more reliant on data-based services. With many companies adopting a remote-working model, the need for seamless communication and the security of data have become top priority.  Regardless of the industry one is operating in, being able to maintain this seamless communication (both internally between employees, as well as externally to the public) is crucial for business success, which is why it is imperative to protect your business operations against... Читать дальше...

England’s Premier League said it was drawing up a new owners’ charter designed to avoid future attempts to join a breakaway European Super League (ESL) as police launched an investigation into the protest that caused the postponement of Manchester United’s match against Liverpool. Fans invaded Old Trafford and ran onto the pitch Sunday as part of a demonstration against United’s owners, the US-based Glazer family. Greater Manchester Police said one of their officers required emergency hospital treatment. Читать дальше...

The electric vehicle market is set for explosive growth in the next decade, growing from 11 million on the road now to 145 million in 2030, according to new research. The International Energy Agency (IEA) says the EV market bucked the trend for declining sales throughout the coronavirus pandemic, growing by 41 per cent despite a 16 per cent contraction in the overall market. Around three million electric cars were sold globally, with just under five per cent of the market share. Europe overtook... Читать дальше...

Accusations of censorship and homophobia from a popular tattooed rapper backed Italy's state broadcaster Rai onto the defensive as they erupted across media headlines Monday. The scandal -- in which Rai managers appeared to try to dissuade rapper Fedez from criticising the far-right during a May Day concert -- has reignited questions about neutrality and political pressure at Rai.  Politicians and media groups have stepped up calls for reform of the top management of the broadcaster, which is named by government ministers. Читать дальше...

A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a mid-afternoon collision on the Regional Road in Sta Venera which caused a long traffic tail-back. The police said the crash, at 3pm, involved a Toyota Aygo driven by a 27-year-old woman from Rabat and a Honda motorcycle driven by the victim, a 52-year-old man from Qormi. The motorcyclist was given first aid on the scene by an ambulance crew and taken to hospital, where his injuries were found to be serious. 

Malta has donated 20 oxygen concentrators to a hospital in India, as it seeks to help the virus-ravaged country cope with a flood of COVID-19 cases. The oxygen concentrators form part of Malta’s overseas development assistance programme and will be sent to the Holy Family Hospital in India’s capital, New Delhi.  They will be used to help treat patients who are heavily dependent on oxygen therapy, increasing the oxygen content of ambient air by filtering out nitrogen.  Malta's donation is the result... Читать дальше...

A teenager who slightly injured a policeman as officers moved in to break up an open gathering at Pembroke early on Sunday has landed a suspended sentence and a €6,000 fine. Mathis Roger Pierre Ravel, an 18-year old French national, was arrested when police turned up at the Natura 2000 site following reports about a large gathering of youth, partying in the secluded area, in breach of COVID-19 rules limiting public groupings to four individuals. As police approached the area at around 2am, the... Читать дальше...

Two young people who allegedly assaulted a 72-year old pedestrian as he tried to stop them from vandalising a parked vehicle on Sunday morning were remanded in custody on Monday. Ronan Clyde Hamill, born in France and having an Irish passport, together with Paula Romero Fernandez, a Spanish national, both 23-year old and staying at a hostel, pleaded not guilty to a lengthy list of charges stemming from Sunday’s violent episode. The incident took place at around 7am at Main Street, St Julian’s... Читать дальше...

It was the happiest of days for radio presenter Ylenia Spiteri when she finally said a permanent goodbye to her glasses. She tells Adriana Bishop about the best 15 minutes of her life. On a Thursday morning two weeks ago, Ylenia Spiteri woke up, reached over for her glasses on the bedside table and then smiled as she suddenly remembered she did not need them anymore. And that smile has not left her face since. The day before, the 89.7 Bay radio presenter had finally seen a long-held dream come true, quite literally. Читать дальше...

Native species, natural habitats and all biodiversity connect the whole planet, while making us different from other regions in the world. Protecting biodiversity in Malta is one of the main roles of the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA). Together with the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning, ERA works to protect, sustain and restore local biodiversity for the wellbeing of the local population. A healthy environment implies a rich biodiversity within it. Biodiversity is important in providing water... Читать дальше...

Malta International Airport has added two high-tech fire trucks to its firefighting fleet.  The two Rosenbauer Panther 6X6 fire trucks were delivered from Austria and join the MIA fleet one year after the airport added a larger Panther 8x8 vehicle, as part of a €3 million investment.  MIA made the announcement on Monday, one day before the world marks International Firefirghters’ Day. Airport firefighters will now receive specialised training to learn how to operate the Panther vehicles, which... Читать дальше...

1,066 fines were handed out over the last seven days to people who breached COVID-19 rules, an increase from the previous week’s 948. According to figures issued by the government on Monday, most of the fines issued, 799, were for people who did not wear their masks properly.  Another 160 people were fined for gathering in groups of more than four. Over the weekend, some 150 people were fined by the police and the Malta Tourism Authority following reports of crowds in Pembroke and Mellieħa in breach of COVID-19 regulations. Читать дальше...

Denmark said Monday it will not include the COVID-19 vaccine from US drugmaker Johnson & Johnson in its national vaccination campaign, citing worries over serious side effects involving blood clots. "The Danish Health Authority has concluded that the benefits of using the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson do not outweigh the risk of causing the possible adverse effect... in those who receive the vaccine," the authority said in a statement. "Therefore, the Danish Health Authority... Читать дальше...

The University of Malta has announced measures to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on candidates sitting for the Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) and Matriculation examinations for entry to the Junior College and the university (UM) respectively. It said that all SEC and MATSEC exams (with the exception of SEC Physical Education Practical) will be held according to the timetable issued in October 2020. Results are expected to be published in mid-August 2021 and, therefore, application... Читать дальше...

Eight people are being questioned by the police in connection with thefts of hundreds of air conditioning units worth a total of €300,000.  Around 800 of the 900 AC units reported stolen have been found at homes, garages and storerooms raided as part of the investigation, the police said in a statement.  The crime was first discovered on December 16, 2020 when a private firm based in Ħandaq Industrial Estate, Qormi noticed that it was missing some AC units and reported the matter to Żebbuġ police. Читать дальше...

Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi has been awarded €1,000 in libel damages over allegations made on Facebook that the politician used to meet “a working girl at Portomaso.” Azzopardi had filed a defamation suit following the Facebook post uploaded by Vincent Borg, known as Censu l-Iswed, last August at a time when rival PN factions regularly posted comments in the run-up to the party leadership race. That post consisted of a set of 13 questions, one of which addressed to “the Honourable Jason Azzopardi,” implying that the politician... Читать дальше...

December to February this year saw more than double last winter’s rainfall at 141mm compared to the super low 66.8mm, but it was still way below climactic norms, according to data from the meteorological office. A regular winter’s yield is 254.6mm (according to averages based on the 1981-2010 period), while the last two winters combined saw only 207.8mm of rain hit the island. Annual precipitation for the last two years was also below the standard of 569.1mm, with September 2019 to August 2020 seeing 384.4mm of rainwater... Читать дальше...

Germany's iconic Oktoberfest beer festival has been cancelled for the second year running due to the pandemic, Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder said Monday. Holding big public events in Bavaria, including the annual Oktoberfest in the regional capital Munich, will not be feasible this year, Soeder said after a meeting with city mayor Dieter Reiter. "In the classic beer tents at the big festivals, social distancing, masks and other measures are practically impossible to implement," Soeder said. Читать дальше...

Prime Minister Robert Abela took the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. In a Facebook post, Abela, 43, said that all those who can take the vaccine should do so as a means of protecting one another. He thanked all workers and volunteers at the vaccination centres for their excellent service. Opposition leader Bernard Grech took his first dose of the vaccine on Sunday.  A total of 341,909 vaccine doses have been administered so far, of which 108,716 have been second doses. As of Sunday... Читать дальше...