Новости за 20.10.2021

The Malta waterpolo national teams discovered their opponents for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers as the men’s selection are bidding for a fourth qualification to the tournament finals that will be played in Split, Croatia. Initially, the qualifying campaign was expected to be split into two rounds, one in November and the other in March, with Malta, being one of the top 16 seeded teams to compete in the second part of the qualifiers. However, LEN decided to cancel the first qualification... Читать дальше...

Paris Saint-Germain fans will be banned from travelling to Marseille for Sunday’s Ligue 1 contest after several French matches were marred by violence in recent weeks, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday. “Away games by the PSG club often disrupt public order” while “certain” Marseille fans “often display violent behaviour,” the ministry said.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

An Italian Jewish group called on Rome’s Lazio football team Wednesday to denounce fascist salutes appearing in a video taken at the team’s stadium. A video circulating on social networks shows a man holding a live eagle — Lazio’s mascot — and wearing the blue and white colours of Lazio as he stands in front of the team’s supporters at the stadium, raising his arm in the fascist salute.  The video shows supporters returning the salute, while shouting “Duce, Duce,” as Italy’s former fascist dictator Benito Mussolini was called. Читать дальше...

US rugby chiefs formally launched a bid to stage the Rugby World Cup on Wednesday, boldly predicting that bringing the sport to American soil for the first time could be a turning point for the game. At a launch presentation in Washington, USA Rugby detailed plans to stage the men’s World Cup either in 2027 or 2031, as well as the women’s tournament in 2029, utilising NFL stadia across the country.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

The depot for the proposed metro will sit on the same site which the government has said it has earmarked for a motorsport track, the shadow minister for transport, Tony Bezzina, said in parliament on Wednesday. He tabled documents prepared by the government’s advisers Arup, showing the Hal Far site to be the most favoured option.  “Who is the government deceiving, the public in general or motorsport enthusiasts?” Bezzina asked. Speaking during the budget debate, Bezzina said the Opposition was not against having a metro... Читать дальше...

Banks asked no questions as millions of euro flowed between offshore and local companies, a court heard on Wednesday as proceedings kicked off against Pier-Paul Debono, 42. The police had launched investigations on the basis of information learned from investigations into his brother, Darren Debono. Pier-Paul Debono is pleading not guilty to charges of money laundering between 2014 and 2016 when he temporarily held the post of director in his brother’s company, World Water Fisheries Ltd. He also... Читать дальше...

A young woman with an undiagnosed severe allergy that causes her face and throat to swell and blocks her airways is battling to get a COVID-19 vaccine exemption after several doctors advised her against taking the jab for fear it will trigger another potentially fatal anaphylactic shock. The absence of a vaccine certificate meant that Maria Ciappara, 23, had to miss her graduation since only vaccinated Mcast students were allowed in. “I feel very defeated. I’m not an anti-vaxxer. If I could, I’d be the first to take the vaccine. Читать дальше...

Young people who listen to pop music are less likely to be involved in politics than those who listen to all other types of music, according to a study by the Church's research institute. The finding was part of the Youth Engagement Study, which surveyed people aged 16-25 on their involvement in politics and community work in Malta.  Overall, it found that people in this age group are more likely to be engaged in community organisations rather than in political groups or parties. However it found that there were several factors... Читать дальше...

The MSE Equity Price Index recorded its fifth consecutive decline on Wednesday as it fell by 0.29% to 3,882.583 points. Lombard, MIDI and Malita ended lower while three other equities remained unchanged. Overall trading activity was muted at only €0.01 million. MIDI plc dropped by 6.1% to the €0.40 level on a single deal of 5,000 shares. Also in the property sector, Malita Investments plc ended 2.4% lower at the €0.82 level across two trades totalling 3,000 shares. Lombard Bank Malta plc declined... Читать дальше...

Just over €63 million in loans that had payment plans paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic remain outstanding, with that figure down almost 20 per cent in just one month.  Data issued by the Central Bank as part of its October economic update showed that the total outstanding balance on loans that applied to defer their repayments due to the pandemic stood at €63.3 million as of August. Just 79 loans were subject to a repayment moratorium as of the end of that month. One month earlier, 135 loans... Читать дальше...

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 points as the Milwaukee Bucks launched the defence of their NBA crown on Tuesday with a 127-104 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, as LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were outgunned by the Golden State Warriors. Antetokounmpo picked up where he left off in guiding the Bucks to victory in the NBA Finals last season, leading an emphatic all-round offensive display that included 14 rebounds and seven assists.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the... Читать дальше...

Ten years since dictator Muammar Gaddafi was slain by Libyan rebels, the North African country is still struggling to emerge from the violence sparked by his overthrow. A year-long ceasefire and a UN-led peace process have barely papered over deep divisions and upcoming elections are unlikely to resolve the crisis, analysts say. Video: Hosam Ahmad/AFPTV/AFP Gaddafi ruled Libya with an iron fist for 42 years after a 1969 coup against the monarchy, portraying himself as a revolutionary, Arab and... Читать дальше...

Two men suspected of supplying the bomb that killed Daphne Caruana Galizia four years ago, have been called into an action for damages filed by the journalist’s heirs against five other suspects linked to the assassination. Robert Agius, known as Tal-Maksar, and his alleged associate Jamie Vella, currently facing compilation of evidence proceedings over their alleged involvement in the 2017 car bomb explosion, have been formally admitted into the action for damages. Last year Peter Caruana Galizia... Читать дальше...

The United States is ready to start vaccinating children aged 5-11 against Covid-19 starting next month, the White House said Wednesday, a move that will make 28 million more Americans eligible for shots. "Our planning efforts mean that we will be ready to begin getting shots in arms in the days following a final CDC recommendation," the White House said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drugmaker Pfizer applied for authorization in this age group earlier this month... Читать дальше...

Serbia is one of five countries that has been removed from Malta’s red list, which means that people arriving from these countries will now need to quarantine upon their arrival. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Mongolia, Ukraine, as well as Serbia, have been moved from the red to the dark red list, according to a legal notice which will come into effect on Thursday.  Anyone arriving from a dark red country must observe a 14-day quarantine in a quarantine hotel at the cost of €100 a night. However... Читать дальше...

Latvia will go into lockdown for a month due to surging coronavirus infections and a poor vaccination rate. "I apologise to those who have already been vaccinated, but the restrictions will apply to everyone," Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins told reporters. "There are still too many unvaccinated people who get infected with COVID and die in the hospital," he added. The lockdown is due to last from Thursday to November 15 and will feature an 8 pm to 5 am curfew, shuttered salons, cinemas, theatres... Читать дальше...

Konrad Mizzi has been given a fourth appointment to appear before the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee after rebuffing the first two and missing the third because, he said, his lawyer was unavailable. The committee wants to interview the former energy minister in connection with the building of the Electrogas power station. Mizzi, an independent MP who was expelled from the Labour parliamentary group last year, had rejected the first two summons from the PAC, saying he had a right to do so as an MP. Читать дальше...

Land Rover has given a first glimpse of the new Range Rover ahead of its world premiere on October 26. Across five decades of pioneering innovation, the Range Rover has led by example. It has earned an unmatched status as the ultimate luxury SUV for royalty, politicians, business leaders and celebrities across the world, combining peerless refinement and unmatched capability. Read the full story at timesmotors.com

The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation is temporarily transferring its office from the president's palace in Valletta to 65, Old Mint Street, Valletta owing to restoration works at the former.   The transfer takes effect on Monday.   The temporary offices were made available by the church following intervention by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, the foundation said. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered a nationwide week-long paid holiday starting on October 30 to curb COVID infections amid record virus deaths and again urged Russians to vaccinate themselves.   At a televised meeting with officials, Putin said he supported a government proposal to "declare non-working days between October 30 and November 7 throughout the country" and asked Russians to "show responsibility" and get COVID jabs. More to follow                   

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana on Wednesday urged politicians to be cautious over what they promised the electorate in the run-up to elections, taking a dig at the Opposition, which he said was "promising everything to everyone".  He was reacting to Bernard Grech's pledge on Monday that a PN government would extend the 25% tax bracket from the current maximum income of €60,000 to €80,000. "Politicians need to be very responsible over what they promise, especially now as we approach a general election, irrespective of when it's held. Читать дальше...

Uproar during a hearing in a libel suit instituted by minister Owen Bonnici against Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi caused a court sitting to come to an abrupt end on Wednesday. The Nationalist MP was expected to continue where he left off in another fiery exchange in June when he had taken the witness stand to explain why he had referred to Bonnici as a “liar” and a "criminal" in a Facebook comment that sparked the libel proceedings. But Wednesday's hearing ended on a tumultuous note after Azzopardi... Читать дальше...

Phil Foden ran the show for Manchester City in their 5-1 hammering of Club Brugge in the Champions League, but it was the goalscoring cameo of fellow academy graduate Cole Palmer that underlined the club’s vast strength in depth. Operating in a false number nine role, Foden tormented the Brugge defence before he was withdrawn on 64 minutes – with City 3-0 up and cruising against a side that had held Paris Saint-Germain in their opening game. Three minutes later and Palmer, just on as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne... Читать дальше...

Syrian refugees returning to their war-battered country have faced alleged torture, arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Wednesday. A report titled “‘Our Lives Are Like Death’: Syrian Refugee Returns from Lebanon and Jordan” documented “grave abuse” at the hands of government forces against 65 returnees and their family members between 2017 and 2021. Of the 65, 21 faced arrests and arbitrary detention, 13 said they were tortured, and five cases of extrajudicial killings were recorded, the report said. Читать дальше...

A 42-year-old man was grievously injured on Wednesday in a traffic accident in Qormi. The police said the accident happened in Triq il-Ħammieri at 8am. The victim, who is Italian and lives in Żebbuġ, was riding a Yamaha that was involved in a collision with an Isuzu Elf that was being driven by a 26-year-old man from Qormi. He was given first aid by a medical team on site and then transferred to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance. The police are investigating.