Новости за 11.05.2016

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told a Commonwealth civil society meeting in London today that he wants to see global action to avoid a repetition of the Panama Papers. Dr Muscat said he was attending the meeting because he was facing the issue and wanted solutions for it.  The theme of the conference was ‘Tackling Corruption Together’.  Corruption was a global problem which needed global solutions, Dr Muscat said, and world leaders needed to cooperate in tackling it.  He said he had 'lived' the Panama... Читать дальше...

A SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean carrying about 1,678 kg of experiment results and cargo from the International Space Station, NASA said. It was the first return load from the station in a year, following a SpaceX launch accident in June 2015 that destroyed another unmanned Dragon capsule. The company's Dragon capsules are currently the only ships that can return cargo from the station, a $100 billion research laboratory that flies about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth. Space Exploration Technologies Corp... Читать дальше...

Republican Donald Trump pulled even with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Wednesday, in a dramatic early sign that the Nov. 8 presidential election might be more hotly contested than first thought. After weeks of trailing Clinton in head-to-head polls, the billionaire businessman's numbers jumped after he effectively won the Republican nomination last week when his two remaining rivals quit, according to the online survey. The national poll found 41 percent... Читать дальше...

Maritime authorities in Liberia have launched an investigation after a mystery ship ran aground on a beach. The tanker was found on the shore in the coastal city of Robertsport. There was no one on board and one of the lifeboats was missing. There were signs of fire in parts of the vessel.. The ship flew the Nigerian flag.

A painting languishing in a New Jersey basement that turned out to be one of Dutch master Rembrandt's earliest works goes on display today at the J. Paul Getty Museum in California as a key part of an exhibit on the 17th century artist. "The Unconscious Patient (An Allegory of the Sense of Smell)" depicts two men wafting a rag under the nose of a third man who is swooning and is dated 1624, the museum said in a press release. The 22-by-18-cm work is among a series of five paintings on the senses that Rembrandt created as a teenager... Читать дальше...

A 33-year-old man from Safi suffered a serious facial injury wound in what appears to have been an accident this evening. The shooting took place at about 7pm in a field near Hal Far. The man was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.

An outside development zone store overlooking San Tumas Bay in Marsascala, deemed “excessive and unjustified” by the Planning Directorate, was sanctioned by the Planning Authority yesterday. The 33sqm agricultural store got the green light through the authority’s Rural Policy and Design Guidance approved in July 2014. The policy provides for sanctioning ODZ structures that are visible in pre-October 1994 aerial photos following consultation with the Agriculture Advisory Committee, although they may... Читать дальше...

The stench of animal carcasses in the vicinity of the abattoir has not been sourced to the slaughterhouse but to an incinerator that could be emitting unpleasant smells. A nauseating smell was reported at the beginning of last week in the area around Paola Hill, just behind Dock 7. However, it could not be detected near the front gates of the slaughterhouse in Biċċerija Street, Marsa. When this newspaper went on site, residents and workers said the stench was similar to that of a few years ago, when... Читать дальше...

Arsenal's England striker Danny Welbeck will miss Euro 2016 after being sidelined for nine months following surgery on his right knee, the Premier League club said today. Welbeck went off in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Manchester City after sustaining "significant cartilage damage", the London club said on their website (www.arsenal.com). Since returning in February after a knee injury suffered in May last year, Welbeck has been in good form, scoring five times including winners against Leicester City and Norwich City. Читать дальше...

The Italian parliament has cleared the way to approving same-sex civil unions and granting some rights to unmarried heterosexual couples in a confidence vote called by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to force the bill into law. Italy had been the last major Western country not to legally recognise gay couples and an original draft law had to be heavily diluted due to divisions in Renzi's ruling majority. The 41-year-old premier promised to prioritise legislation for gay rights when he took office in early 2014... Читать дальше...

The publication of the Panama Papers database on Monday evening proved to be an anti-climax as no new names of politically exposed persons emerged apart from those already in the public domain. Yet there was confusion as stories started circulating involving politicians, former ministers and leading businessmen whose names were somehow linked with the 714 companies registered in renowned tax havens like Panama and the British Virgin Islands. The government reacted to the publication saying the Opposition’s... Читать дальше...

Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola has expressed disagreement with a key point in a European Commission proposal to amend the Dublin Regulation, which currently lays down that the country where the migrant first lands is responsible for him/her. The commission proposal would oblige member states to resettle migrants from countries receiving a ‘disproportionate’ number of applications or else pay a fine of €250,000 for every migrant they refuse. "The Commission's idea for a Corrective Fairness Mechanism... Читать дальше...

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and defender Andrea Barzagli have extended their contracts with the Italian champions until 2018. Italy captain Buffon, 38, and international team mate Barzagli, 35, have helped Juve win five straight Serie A titles, having made 35 and 30 appearances respectively this season. "I hope that my fantastic story with this club will go on and bring even further success," Buffon told a news conference. "I'm immensely proud in the faith Juventus have placed in me once more." Barzagli added... Читать дальше...

Valletta's St James' ditch was back to its old self yesterday evening after the second of two political party billboards was removed.  The Nationalist Party removed its billboard shortly after a court issued its ruling about a prohibitory injuction the party had filed. It had previously said that its hands were tied until after the court's decision. Although the court found that the PN was justified in keeping its billboards while it fought regulatory changes in court, the party nevertheless bowed... Читать дальше...

Almost all requests for the remission of interest and penalties incurred when income tax was not paid have been approved. The 2015 annual report of the Revenue Remissions Supervisory Board, tabled in Parliament last Monday, indicated the taxman approved 1,169 of the 1,200 processed demands for remission. “Far too many taxpayers were obviously aware that the use of the term ‘cash flow problems’ in their remission requests would entitle them to remissions,” remarked the supervisory board. It added that the situation where the “excuse ... Читать дальше...

Cauliflower is about to become the new kale, according to something I read online. And that's just fine with me, because I have grown awfully tired of kale. When a vegetable becomes nothing but a raw garnish, as kale has, a limp and lifeless ruffle at the edge of your plate, then you know its star-studded status is truly over and done with. I suppose kale had its virtues, but there is a reason we all had to be taught to love it, and not only to love it but to contort it into all sorts of iterations, some of which were less than inviting. Читать дальше...

A parking attendant with a track record of harassing drivers is being investigated by the transport authority yet again.  The parking attendant allegedly erected signs at the entrance to the Floriana car park promoting car wash services. A Transport Malta spokesman confirmed that this was not authorised by the authority, as no parker had any permission to advertise or wash cars in public parking lots. “Washing cars on public roads is illegal and should be reported to the police. Public car parks are part of public roads,” the spokesman said... Читать дальше...

Forces in western Libya are preparing to advance on the city of Sirte, seized by Islamic State last year, their spokesman said, pushing ahead with plans for a counter-attack after the Islamists made territorial gains in the last week. The fighters based in the city of Misrata would like international logistical support to help retake what has become Islamic State's most important base outside Syria and Iraq, but will not wait for it before launching the operation, they said. "We are ready and we... Читать дальше...

A SpaceX Dragon capsule headed back to Earth today, filled with more than 1,678 kg of experiment results and cargo from the International Space Station, a NASA TV broadcast showed. It was the first return load from the station in a year, following a SpaceX launch accident in June 2015 that destroyed another Dragon capsule. The company's Dragon capsules are currently the only ships that can return cargo from the station, a $100 billion research laboratory that flies about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth. Читать дальше...

Malta Fashion Week kicks off in Valletta this Saturday with a fashion show on Republic Street. The event, now in its sixth edition, will showcase the work of designers, models, make-up artists, photographers and other fashionistas emerging from Malta’s burgeoning fashion industry. It will culminate with the Malta Fashion Awards show. The Republic Street ‘New Designers’ fashion show will begin at 11am. A photo exhibition will be held in Palace Square that evening at 8.30pm. The fashion week’s other events will all be held across the harbour... Читать дальше...

3.24pm Updated with Mcast reply3.05pm Updated with PN reaction The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology has cancelled the award of an EU-funded tender after the call was issued late and the validity period for the funds expired. The €70,910 tender was related to the development of the Institute of Applied Science and Business in Paola and consisted in the supply and installation of kitchen equipment to be used by students. The tender bids were submitted in August 2015. Mcast informed the bidders it was cancelling the tender... Читать дальше...

Following the declines of the past two days, the share index rebounded by 0.28 per cent to 4,549.216 points as the gains registered in four equities outweighed the declines in HSBC and MPC. Another five shares were active today, all of which closed unchanged. Trading activity improved to €247,000 but still remained below the average turnover level since the start of the year. FIMBank was the best performing equity today with a jump of 2.6 per cent to the 80cUS level – the highest level in nearly three years – across 70,000 shares. Читать дальше...

A man was cleared of trying to bribe a witness in his brother's trial by jury to change his version of events. Mario Farrugia, 45, had been charged with trying to corrupt a witness who was due to testify in a trial by jury against his brother by trying to make him give false testimony. The case dates to November 2014, when the accused was, at the time, serving time behind bars. In December 2014, the police were informed that a certain Faiz Omar Elsallak had been approached by the accused who offered... Читать дальше...

West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan has apologised to Manchester United for the attack on their team bus and pledged to hand life bans to those that marred the last-ever match at Upton Park. Yesterday's enthralling 3-2 comeback win was a fitting send-off to the Boleyn Ground after 112 years, although the emotional farewell was overshadowed by ugly scenes outside the ground. Kick-off was delayed by 45 minutes after United's coach arrived late to the ground, with bottles and other missiles flung at the team bus on its approach to the stadium.

Kappara project preparatory works will continue in Rue d’Argens from 8pm this evening to 6am tomorrow, Transport Malta said. It said works will be carried out at the junction of Rue d’Argens corner with Triq L-Imsida and Triq E. Mizzi. Traffic from Msida towards Gżira or Sliema will be diverted to Triq Testaferrata. Traffic from Kappara junction to Triq Tas-Sliema in Gżira and to Msida and Gżira will be diverted onto Rue d’Argens to Triq il-Gżira andnto Triq ix-Xatt in ta’ Xbiex.