Новости за 13.03.2016

The Prime Minister's chief of staff Keith Schembri sent a brief statement this morning to "categorically deny all accusations being levelled against me". Mr Schembri has consistently failed to answer questions about his offshore financial affairs, including a company in Panama except for a statement he issued two week ago. In that statement, he had described the opening of a New Zealand-based trust and an attached Panama company as a contingency plan. New allegations cropped up of Daphne Caruana... Читать дальше...

The Times of Malta has always been a pillar of democracy in the most difficult times and it had once again led by example, showing how things should be done, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said today. Speaking in a recorded message, he referred to “new, grievous allegations of corruption” involving the Prime Minister's chief of staff Keith Schembri and the managing director of Allied Newspapers Ltd, publishers of Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta. Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia wrote... Читать дальше...

A driver who tried to smuggle cocaine worth potentially £18 million on a bus taking Romanian schoolchildren on a trip to Britain has been jailed. Ioan Buciuta, 53, attempted to use the pupils' trip to London as cover to try to smuggle the Class A drug through the Port of Dover in Kent. But he was caught after Border Force officers found around 130 tape-wrapped packages behind a false bulkhead in the luggage compartment. Buciuta, a courier for a Romanian organised crime gang, was arrested on June 6 last year. Читать дальше...

Battling "infiltration, subversion and sabotage by hostile forces" is a key priority this year, China's chief prosecutor has said, with terrorists, ethnic separatists and religious extremists in his sights. In a speech to the annual session of China's national legislature, Cao Jianmin said combating cyber-crime and ensuring national sovereignty in cyberspace topped the list of 2016 priorities. Prosecutors will also continue to follow up on cases brought to as part of an almost three-year-old nationwide... Читать дальше...

Eagles Of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes has apologised for suggesting that security guards at a Paris concert venue were complicit in the assault by Islamic militants in November that left 89 people dead. Hughes told the Fox Business Network last week that six guards at the Bataclan venue never came to work on the night of the attack, and "it seems rather obvious that they had a reason not to show up". On Friday, Hughes apologised: "I humbly beg forgiveness from the people of France, the staff and security of the Bataclan... Читать дальше...

Arriva had been in the process of declaring bankruptcy on the subsidy it was paid and requested €45 million to continue with its service, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said today. In an opinion piece in The Sunday Times of Malta (read it here), the minister said that, on the contrary, the new operator was being given €29 million and the network was more extensive with buses running more frequently. “The increased subsidy that is being given to the new service provider has made it possible to modify 43 routes and add a further 24 routes... Читать дальше...

Victoria Nuland, US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe, talks to Anthony Manduca about Europe’s migration crisis, dealing with Turkey and Russia and the consequences of a Brexit. It’s up to the EU to decide where the US can be helpful in Europe’s migration crisis, as the US does not want to interject itself “in family business until the family is ready”, according to Ms Nuland. However, she made it clear the US felt that Europe’s migration crisis was “affecting not only the question of Schengen’s effectiveness but also economics... Читать дальше...

The days of “banging on the perspex” in the election counting hall could soon be a thing of the past under a plan to introduce vote counting software that will slash the wait for the result from days to hours. The technology is expected to be tested in the 2019 MEP and local council elections before it comes into use for all national polls. “Our voting system has needed a major overhaul for many years,” Chief Electoral Commissioner Joe Church told The Sunday Times of Malta. “There appears to be consensus... Читать дальше...

Veteran heavy metal band Iron Maiden's plane, dubbed Ed Force One, was involved in a collision with an airport vehicle at a Chilean airport. Two airport employees were injured. The incident took place at 9 a.m. local time at the Arturo Merino Benitez Airport in San Felipe, north of the capital Santiago. "Iron Maiden's 747 was being taken for refuelling when there was an accident, which is being investigated by the criminology laboratory. This caused the plane to go over the tractor pulling it, and... Читать дальше...

Allied Newspapers will be making “sufficient resources available” and “cooperating fully” with an independent inquiry into allegations of wrongdoing by its managing director, the company said. Acting managing director Michel Rizzo said Allied Newspapers – publisher of The Sunday Times of Malta, the Times of Malta, and timesofmalta.com – would proceed with an independent inquiry into the actions of Adrian Hillman but was not in a position to comment further. Mr Hillman went on indefinite leave last... Читать дальше...

The following are the top stories in the Maltese newspapers today. The Sunday Times of Malta reports that Allied Group will cooperate fully with an inquiry into its managing director after allegations made in Daphne Caruana Galizia's blog. MaltaToday says Simon Busuttil has made gains of almost 4% in the trust ratings in the wake of the Panamagate scandal and is now 3.6% behind the prime minister. The Malta Independent on Sunday says the political leaders are in election mode. It quotes the prime minister saying he would resign if he loses. Читать дальше...

The space at Pjazza Teatru Rjal overlooking the city now boasts a new addition – Inhabit, encouraging passers-by to stop, chill and enjoy. Charlene Vella reviews the concept behind this interactive installation. Entering Valletta through its new main gate and past the Parliament house is a refreshing experience, especially when you take the time to look around and take it all in (well, focusing towards the right). The truth is, that those who frequently visit our capital city for work or errands... Читать дальше...

I’ve got chills and, as I walk through the door to Gozo’s beautiful Astra Theatre and let myself backstage where auditions for Grease – The Musical are taking place, they are multiplying. Because La Stella Philharmonic Society is attempting bring a bit of a different sound to Gozo by producing an internationally-acclaimed musical – the original Grease, as pinned by the great Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. As I walk backstage, I get a glimpse of the audition setup. A long table stands, stage front and centre... Читать дальше...

Keith Sciberras:From Caravaggio toMattia Preti. Baroque Painting in Malta.Midsea Books, Malta, 2015.192 pp The 17th century was to see Malta experience its most glorious period in painting. Not only did it attract two great masters (one of them a revolutionary giant of world art) but also a host of smaller ones, as well as encouraging various local artists of varying abilities. This was the century that saw the Baroque idiom reaching Malta from Italy. Here, it was to find a most fertile ground in the minds of the islanders... Читать дальше...

The Point Shopping Mall celebrated International Women’s Day for the first time by organising a day of free makeovers, blow-dries, skin analyses, mini manicures and pedicures for all women shopping at the mall. Apart from enjoying complementary treats by various beauty and cosmetic companies, women also donated to support Dar Merħba Bik, a non-profit shelter for abused women and their children which operates entirely through donations. The home is currently working to build a lay-by for the safety of its residents.

The Institute of Family Therapy-Malta (IFT-Malta) recently celebrated the graduation of 12 students who have completed respective studies in systemic family psychotherapy with the institute. Eight students received their postgraduate diploma in this subject, while another four graduated Master’s in systemic family psychotherapy, effectively becoming the first group of students to be conferred with such a qualification in Malta. Seen here are the Master’s graduates with the IFT-Malta team.

Students from the Institute of Tourism Studies attended Malta Kulinarija 2016, where they won 25 awards in various categories of food preparation and food service. The students worked in teams and individually. Mitchel Xuereb, Thomas Stellini and Jan Magro won Best Food and Best Team Overall gold medal and trophy in the ITS Cook and Serve Challenge. In the same category, another team made up of Kyle Farrugia, Deo Tabone and Manuel Schembri won a gold award for Best Service, while Steve Pisani, Nicole... Читать дальше...

I was one of the first people to acquire a tallinja card which I have been using regularly. Late last month I found out that my card was no longer valid and when I enquired I was told the card had expired on February 23 and would soon be replaced. Over a fortnight and three telephone protests from me later, I am still awaiting the replacement (with the €31 topped up in it). My only consolation is that I will be reimbursed for any tickets I bought during the period I remained without the card. I strongly... Читать дальше...

Daniela Zammit being presented with a voucher by Link Projects Ltd director Michael Valenzia. The warehouse management company, which handles storage, turnkey and project management and interior finishings, held a month-long promotional activity, where participants could win a €2,000 voucher to be spent on services it offers.

It is quite unbelievable how Joseph Muscat’s government has reached such a low point in such a short time after its landslide victory at the polls three years ago. I believe this is the result of Labour’s pre-electoral strategy that promised everything to everyone. This is very evident from the way permits have been issued to sanction illegalities. We also had a parliamentary secretary who wanted to continue with his professional practice when this conflicts with the government’s code of ethics. On top of all this we had the Café Premier... Читать дальше...

The Living Ability Not Disability (LAND) group, founded in 2002 with the aim of promoting the socialisation of youths with physical disabilities, needs financial backing to cover its annual expenses that amount to €10,000. These would include hiring tail-lift-equipped transport as most of its members make use of wheelchairs. The group is organising an Easter lunch at the Dolmen Hotel, Qawra, on April 3. Members, families and friends are invited to raise funds in aid of the group. Those who would... Читать дальше...

The Equality Act, currently in its final consultation stage before it goes to Parliament, refers to pregnancy as “the state of a person who has within the ovary or womb an implanted embryo”. Implantation happens at about day five of pregnancy. We would like to ask: what about days one to four of the pregnancy? Is the pregnancy, that is to say, the human embryo, not recognised in this period? This question is especially important to those human em­bryos who start their life outside the safety of the mother’s womb (in vitro). Читать дальше...

Art meets style in Banif’s new agenda, which features priceless renaissance and medieval paintings that have been, or are being restored with the bank’s support. Each year the bank produces a limited-edition undated notebook to give out to clients visiting its branches at the beginning of the new year. “In the past, we have featured the contemporary works of students following photography and fine art courses at Mcast’s Institute for the Creative Arts,” the bank’s head of corporate services Karl Dingli said. Читать дальше...

The ticket machines on the buses display how much credit passengers have left on their bus passes. I was on the bus a few days ago and the machine said I had €2 left. I did not go over the two-hour limit. The next day it said my balance was zero. I went online and topped up with €10 and my balance now says €6 – and I have not even used it since then. This is not the first time this has happened. Transport Malta had an offer that if bus pass holders topped up with €10 they would get an extra €10. I got €16 from an empty balance. Читать дальше...

The Central Bank of Malta is launching its numismatic coin programme for 2016. This will include: • A gold and silver coin issued under the Europa Star Programme. The theme this year will be 20th century art and will depict Dangerous Sport, a 1937 sculpture by Antonio Sciortino. • A silver coin commemorating the 450th anniversary of the foundation of Valletta. • A euro coin set dated 2016, consisting of the eight Maltese euro circulation coins and a €2 commemorative coin, which depicts Ġgantija temples. Читать дальше...