Новости за 26.05.2021

A man, arrested on Tuesday when police came across an unlicensed and loaded pistol in his car boot, was denied bail on Wednesday after being deemed untrustworthy, even in view of his criminal record.  Aaron Cassar, a 41-year-old Birżebbuġa resident, was targeted by members of the Major Crimes Unit at his hometown on Tuesday afternoon, following an anonymous tip-off about a suspected arms deal. Assisted by the Rapid Intervention Unit, officers zeroed in on the suspect’s car, arrested the man and searched the vehicle... Читать дальше...

David Curmi, chief executive officer at Curmi & Partners, talks about their new data-rich platform that allows clients to access all their investments 24/7. The last 12 months have been a real wake-up call on many fronts and has proffered certain vital lessons to the world. Firstly, showing us that we should not take our health for granted. Once this is gone, it is difficult to get back. Secondly, those rainy days are a reality, and financial planning needs to take priority. No matter how secure your job or income may be... Читать дальше...

Financial incentives to lure tourists to Malta should be coupled with “clear messages and guidelines” if they are to work, according to the World Tourism Organisation general secretary. In an interview with Times of Malta ahead of the island’s reopening to tourists on June 1, Zurab Pololikashvili said financial stimulus packages would only work if messages and guidelines are direct. “Such incentives will help Malta attract tourists, especially at a time of heightened competition when the demand for travel is on a rise,” he said... Читать дальше...

Having gone slightly silent during the pandemic, Manatapu was busy in the studio writing new material.  Now that we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, Manatapu is back just in time for summer with the release of a single dedicated to all the frontliners that worked (and are still working) so hard during this pandemic.   The single is called Keep on Fighting and is about our day-to-day battles that bring out our inner warriors.   Deep down, we are all aware that this battle is not... Читать дальше...

Slovenian lawmakers on Wednesday debated whether to impeach conservative Prime Minister Janez Jansa, a month before the small Alpine nation takes on the EU's rotating presidency. For the impeachment vote, expected later Wednesday, to succeed it has to be backed by at least 46 MPs in the 90-seat parliament - a scenario analysts say is unlikely. If it were to succeed, it would likely see the 62-year-old removed from office and snap elections called. Four centre-left opposition parties filed the motion in April... Читать дальше...

Low-cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle emerged from bankruptcy protection on Wednesday following a massive restructuring that included a vast fleet reduction and dropping of  its long-haul business. In financial difficulty even before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic − which aggravated its problems further by paralysing global air traffic − Norwegian was in December placed under bankruptcy protection in Ireland, where several of its subsidiaries are based, and in Norway. With its creditors and aircraft leasing companies... Читать дальше...

The EU on Wednesday tasked tech giants such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok to do more against disinformation and provide much better access to their algorithms as well as beef up fact-checking. The proposal is the EU’s effort to strengthen its existing code of conduct against disinformation, which was launched in 2018 after revelations that platforms had facilitated and amplified false information in the ramp up to the Brexit vote and elections in the US in 2016. It was signed by Google, Facebook... Читать дальше...

Two retired British police officers and a lawyer accused of amending police witness statements following the Hillsborough stadium disaster were on Wednesday cleared of perverting the course of justice. Former chief superintendent Donald Denton, 83, retired detective chief inspector Alan Foster, 74, and Peter Metcalf, 71, were on trial over their actions following the crush that killed 96 Liverpool fans in Britain’s worst sporting tragedy. But Judge William Davis ruled that the trio had no case to answer. Читать дальше...

The Big V championships in Australia, particularly the Altona Gators, play host to two Malta players – Nick and Alex Formosa – in their senior and youth league teams. Both brothers had a winning weekend this time around. Similarly, Kurt Cassar’s Janus Fabriano progressed into the semifinals with a 3-1 series win over Geko PSA in the Italian Serie B playoffs. The Times of Malta Sportsdesk looks at the Formosas, Cassar, and other Maltese professionals plying their trade overseas in another segment of ‘Maltese Abroad’. Читать дальше...

Malta’s spending on its Eurovision Song Contest effort is under investigation following concerns that taxpayer funds were used to boost Destiny’s odds with bookmakers.  Minister Carmelo Abela has ordered an audit of expenditure into the annual contest after he received reports that part of the budget allocated to Malta’s Eurovision team had been used to place bets on performer Destiny, inflating her odds with bookmakers.  Money was also spent on overseas social media influencers, who published promotional content backing Destiny. Читать дальше...

Opposition leader Bernard Grech on Wednesday promised a €50 million refund to consumers who have been paying more for their electricity consumption since 2013. Addressing a press conference, Grech said an analysis by the  National Audit Office of Enemalta’s tariff structure had confirmed what the Nationalist Party had been saying for years: that consumers were being robbed millions of euros through additional payments as a result of the way their bills were being worked out.  He was reacting to... Читать дальше...

Seven new COVID-19 cases were reported on Wednesday, data from the Health Ministry indicated.  In their daily bulletin, the health authorities also announced that a 60-year-old man diagnosed with the virus had passed away at Mater Dei Hospital. It was the second virus-related death in as many days, after a gap of several weeks. The virus death toll now stands at 419.  Six patients recovered overnight, leaving the number of active cases unchanged at 69. The number of vaccine jabs has risen to 490,524. Читать дальше...

A public area in Żejtun has been embellished with a newly installed playground, improved garden and fencing. The regeneration of Mikiel Anton Vassalli square, which cost around €120,000, was led by the town’s local council with €25,000 in co-financing from SportMalta. Apart from regenerating the garden and installing playground equipment that is accessible by people with a disability, the project also involved the laying of rubber flooring and fencing. Sports parliamentary secretary Clifton Grima... Читать дальше...

New Malta Under-21 coach Gilbert Agius has selected 25 players for a 12-day training camp in Slovenia that will also feature two friendly matches against Qatar Under 23 Olympic team on Sunday, May 30 and Bosnia-Herzegovina five days later. The training camp will provide the U-21 head coach an opportunity to take a closer look at his players who have the potential to form part of the squad for the upcoming 2023 UEFA European U21 Group C qualifying campaign. The Malta U-21 squad was drawn in the same group with Spain... Читать дальше...

Herd immunity, achieved by Malta earlier this week, was a big milestone in the fight against COVID-19 but it was not the end, the Superintendent of Public Health, Charmaine Gauci, said on Wednesday. Speaking in the popular Ask Charmaine programme hosted by Times of Malta, she also revealed that more than half of people aged over 16 had applied to be vaccinated since applications for that age cohort started. This, she said, was very encouraging, especially when compared to the situation abroad. Читать дальше...

The British government failed the public by not having adequate planning in place for the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former top adviser and Brexit architect Dominic Cummings told lawmakers on Wednesday. Cummings, who stepped down in December, apologised for the inadequate response to the crisis when it emerged early last year. Covid-19 has claimed nearly 128,000 lives in Britain, the fifth-highest official death toll in the world. "The truth is that senior ministers, senior officials... Читать дальше...

A drug trafficker who was found with 1.5 kilos of cocaine in packets strapped to his legs at the airport two years ago has been jailed for 12-and-a-half years. Brazilian-national Adalberto Alves Da Silva, 41, had set off from Sao Paolo on board an Emirates flight via Dubai and Larnaca, finally landing in Malta at 2:30pm on January 20, 2019. He was stopped by Customs and police officers and some 1.5 kilos of drugs was found in packets strapped to his thighs and calves. On arraignment, Da Silva... Читать дальше...

France on Wednesday appointed Laurence des Cars, known for promoting social issues through art, as the new head of the Louvre – the first time a woman will be in charge of the world's biggest museum more than two centuries after it first opened. Des Cars currently runs the Musee d'Orsay, the Paris landmark museum dedicated to 19th-century art, where she is already the first-ever woman boss. Her legacy there includes boosting young visitor numbers and giving art and visitors more physical space. Читать дальше...

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema said he’s targeting a trophy with France after he was recalled to their provisional Euro 2020 squad following a controversial, six-year international exile. The prolific star, sidelined by Les Bleus since 2015 over his alleged role in a blackmail plot, missed out on France’s 2018 World Cup win and their run to the Euro 2016 final on home soil.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

A man is being questioned for suspected arms dealing following his arrest on Tuesday. The police said the 41-year-old was arrested in his car in Birzebbuga after a tip-off. A pistol loaded with two bullets was found inside his bag. The man is expected to be taken to court later on Wednesday.