Новости за 20.12.2021

A defiant rejection of his massive social spending bill by a single US senator and a surge in COVID cases are imperilling Democrat Joe Biden just a year into his presidency. Returning to the White House from a weekend at his family home in Delaware, the 79-year-old president, wearing a black face mask, headed straight from his Marine One helicopter to the Oval Office on Monday without a word or a glance at a scrum of waiting reporters. He had no public events listed on his schedule for the day. Читать дальше...

Former president Donald Trump sued New York's attorney general on Monday in an attempt to stop her years-long civil probe into his business dealings, a court filing showed. The lawsuit filed in a federal court in upstate New York claims that Letitia James, a Democrat, is violating Trump's constitutional rights with a politically motivated investigation. "Her mission is guided solely by political animus and a desire to harass, intimidate, and retaliate against a private citizen who she views as a political opponent," it said. Читать дальше...

Premier League clubs have decided against a temporary halt to the season, according to reports on Monday, despite a surge in coronavirus cases that has forced mass postponements. Just four of the weekend’s scheduled 10 games went ahead as Britain battles record numbers of positive Covid cases due to the new Omicron strain. The Premier League board has been considering applications for postponements on a case-by-case basis but there has been criticism over the decision-making process, with fears... Читать дальше...

ParaVolley Malta General Secretary Nello Calleja, has been appointed as General Manager at ParaVolley Europe, the regional confederation which oversees all ParaVolley activities in Europe – covering all volleyball disciplines for persons with disabilities, with the main disciplines being Sitting Volleyball, Beach ParaVolley and Sitting Beach Volley. During these last months, Nello has been involved in the same confederation as Chair of the Beach Commission, as well as Technical Manager, and has... Читать дальше...

The COVID 111 helpline is currently experiencing a barrage of calls, with people reporting having to wait over 30 minutes to book a swab test.  Appointments can be made by calling on 111, or by registering online and then receiving a call to confirm the test date. Times of Malta was on hold for 30 minutes before getting through to the helpline. Once through, the journalist was informed that the next availability for a PCR or rapid test is on December 27.  The receiver explained that people with COVID symptoms are being prioritised... Читать дальше...

The Mapfre Euromed International Regatta fleet returned to the water on Monday, having had to spend the day on shore on Sunday due to the rough conditions in Mellieħa Bay. Monday’s weather certainly made up for Sunday’s disappointment with the Optimist Senior fleet fitting in three races and the Beginners’ fleet two. The Laser fleets raced a total of five races in conditions that saw winds gusting between 16 to 20 knots and a moderate swell. Optimist Class The third and final race of the day,... Читать дальше...

“The pic you’ve been waiting for,” read the post from Barcelona’s official Twitter account last month, above a photo of the team’s new coach Xavi Hernandez talking to a smiling Frenkie de Jong.  Xavi was barely into his second week as coach but the hope was that he would already have De Jong nestled under his wing, the advice flowing from one midfielder to another and the clock counting down until the flourishing of another Dutch master in Barcelona colours.  For three years now, including two in Spain and his final one at Ajax... Читать дальше...

MIDI plc is in talks with AC Enterprises Limited to develop its Manoel Island project, the company said in a public announcement on Monday. AC Enterprises forms part of the Anton Camilleri-led AC Group of companies, which provide quarrying, construction and property development services. Camilleri, known by the nickname 'il-Franċiż', is a major developer best known as the owner of the Villa Rosa complex in St Julian's.  The two companies are exploring “the possibility of establishing a joint venture... Читать дальше...

A total of 39 new constables have joined the police force following six months of training.  The physical and academic training course, was, for the first time, accredited at level 4 of the Malta Qualifications Framework. In a statement, the police said the new constables had been trained in 63 subjects, including human rights, ethics, diversity, legislation, domestic violence, abuse of minors, mental health, use of taser and weapons and first aid.  During a ceremony at Fort St Elmo, Home Affairs... Читать дальше...

The Malta Baseball and Softball Association (MABS) organised its first Under-13 tournament since 2020, following the COVID-19 restrictions which had brought the sport to a halt. The tournament, played over two weekends, showed very competitive encounters between the Ghajnsielem Redcoats and the Mellieha Cubs at the Ghajnsielem baseball pitch.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

Updated 5pm with PL reaction The government is in "total collapse", Opposition leader Bernard Grech said on Monday, as one Labour MP resigned and another announced he would not contest the upcoming election following media reports.  “The web of criminality is coming undone bit by bit. It is no longer tenable,” Grech said in a statement.  He was reacting to reports into government MPs Ian Castaldi Paris and Silvio Grixti.   On Monday, Times of Malta reported how Grixti, a doctor, had resigned... Читать дальше...

Tim Sparv, who captained Finland to their first major finals at Euro 2020, announced his retirement from football on Monday. "I have given everything that I was physically able to and gone as far as I possibly could," the 34-year-old said in a video message. Sparv made his debut for Finland in 2009 and went on to win 84 caps, helping the "Eagle Owls" to make history as they qualified for their first ever major finals.  Continue reading this article on Sports Desk.

French lending giant BNP Paribas said on Monday it had sold its US retail and commercial banking arm Bank of the West for $16.3 billion (€14.5bn) in cash. BNP Paribas said in a statement that the sale to Canada’s Bank of Montreal (BMO) “is expected to formally close during the course of 2022” – subject to clearing regulatory approval and other hurdles. “This is a value-accretive transaction for all sides, which emphasises the quality of Bank of the West franchise,” BNP chief executive Jean-Laurent Bonnafe said. Читать дальше...

Malta residents who come across invasive flora and fauna can report their location on an EU-wide app as the bloc intensifies its fight against alien species.  The Environment and Resources Authority said on Monday the app, which has been translated into Maltese, features at least 23 flora and four fauna species that are of interest to the Maltese authorities. App users can snap a photo of the species they come across and report its location through the phone's own GPS system. The app then maps out all the reported species across the EU. Читать дальше...

Japan’s parliament enacted a record supplementary budget worth over $300 billion (€267bn) on Monday as part of measures to bolster the world’s third largest economy as the pandemic threat drags on. The extra budget – larger than the total annual GDP of countries such as Colombia, Vietnam and Finland – will fund part of the massive virus stimulus package announced last month by new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Upper House lawmakers approved the 35.98 trillion yen supplementary budget for the current fiscal year... Читать дальше...

The German government on Monday tapped career central banker Joachim Nagel to take over as president of the Bundesbank, a "continuity" pick to steer the inflation-wary nation through a period of surging prices. Nagel's nomination marks one of the first big appointments by new Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government, a three-way coalition between the Social Democrats, the ecologist Greens and the liberal FDP. Nagel will replace outgoing president Jens Weidmann, after the long-time Bundesbank chief... Читать дальше...

Premier League chiefs will meet on Monday to discuss a potential festive “firebreaker” as a result of the escalating coronavirus crisis, with managers voicing fears over player safety and fairness. Just four of the scheduled 10 games took place this weekend due to a number of call-offs caused by outbreaks that left clubs unable to field teams. Despite record numbers of Covid-19 cases across Britain as the Omicron variant sweeps through the nation, the Premier League has so far insisted the show goes on “where safely possible.” So far... Читать дальше...

The EU's drug regulator on Monday approved a fifth COVID jab as the US warned of a bleak winter with the Omicron variant spurring new waves of infections globally. Since it was first reported in South Africa in November, Omicron has been identified in dozens of countries, dashing hopes that the worst of the pandemic is over.  Despite indications it is not more severe than the Delta variant - still the dominant strain - Omicron has been shown in early data to have higher transmissibility and a worrying resistance to vaccines. Читать дальше...

National Badminton Academy player Michaela Ellul placed second in the women’s singles category, and third place in the mixed doubles, at the Santeramo Open in Italy on Sunday. Accompanied by Academy coach Patrick Cassar, Ellul completed a successful round of play, bringing success to the Maltese Islands.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

Labour MP Ian Castaldi Paris has announced he will stand down at the next election, after Times of Malta reported how a tax investigation uncovered he holds undeclared wealth. Writing on Facebook, Castaldi Paris said he had come to the decision to not contest the next general election, set for 2022, as he wanted to prioritise his family.   His announcement came just hours after Times of Malta exposed how the backbench MP agreed to pay some €300,000 in taxes and penalties after a probe into his... Читать дальше...

Citadel Insurance plc has relocated its Gżira branch to Testaferrata Street, Ta’ Xbiex. The company now has a total of 10 branches across Malta and Gozo. The Ta’ Xbiex branch offers a new customer-centric design with a greater focus on private meeting areas where customers can discuss more detailed or personal requirements. This new concept for the branch layout has already been implemented at Citadel’s Naxxar branch where it has been positively received by customers.  This new design was studied... Читать дальше...

Dubai airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, is fully operational for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic erupted in March 2020, officials said on Monday. The opening of sections closed as the COVID-19 crisis took hold comes as the United Arab Emirates records a rise of infections amid fears of the new Omicron variant. “Following the opening of the final phase... (the) airport is 100 per cent operational with all terminals, concourses, lounges, restaurants, and retail outlets... Читать дальше...

Alleged drug kingpin Jordan Azzopardi has been given a seven-month jail term for a 2015 assault that left a man grievously injured.   The man was hunted down, beaten up in public and had his clothes ripped apart before he finally managed to get away, bruised and battered, before he could be dragged into Azzopardi’s car. Azzopardi – who is currently out on bail while he awaits trial for separate charges related running a large-scale drug trafficking operation, money laundering and counterfeit cash – initially pleaded not guilty to charges. Читать дальше...

Labour MP Silvio Grixti has resigned from parliament after being interrogated by the police over an investigation into irregular medical sick notes. Grixti was recently questioned by the police’s Financial Crimes Investigation Department and released on police bail, Times of Malta is informed.  Sources privy to details of the investigation said police are looking into sick notes and other documents that were signed by the doctor which may have been fraudulent or irregular.   He is currently on police bail. Читать дальше...

Former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas has signed a new two-year contract to remain with Ineos, the Britain-based cycling team announced on Monday. The 35-year-old Welshman, who has been with the team, formerly Team Sky, since their first season in 2010, has spent the past two weeks at a 2022 pre-season camp in Mallorca, preparing for his 16th season as a professional. The 2018 Tour de France winner, who dislocated his shoulder during last year’s race, said he was still as determined as ever. Читать дальше...