Новости за 21.04.2017

A massive power cut struck a wide area of San Francisco on Friday, blacking out about 90,000 utility customers. The series of outages hit the city at 9am on Friday, said Tamar Sarkissian, a spokeswoman for Pacific Gas & Electric. Crews were assessing the problem and there was no immediate estimate for restoration of electricity. The cut also snarled up traffic as intersection signals went dark and stopped the famous cable cars. Local media reported firefighters and utility crews were at a fire... Читать дальше...

The corpse of a 36-year-old man from Birżebbuġa was found in a car underwater this afternoon. The police said they carried out an inspection in the area known as tal-Magħluq in Marsaxlokk at 2pm. They were assisted by AFM divers. The search was carried out after the police received information there could be a car in the sea. On inspecting the area, they found a Toyota Landcruiser in which there was the corpse. The car was hoisted by a crane and is being held for more investigations. The corpse was taken to Mater Dei’s mortuary by hearse. Читать дальше...

Malta is among the only four EU member states where no compulsory training is given to members of judiciary, not even when they are appointed. The comparative European Commission study – the 2016 Justice Scoreboard – notes that Malta, Cyprus, Finland and Sweden are the only EU countries where magistrates and judges receive no compulsory training. It says that training is a necessary tool to sustain and improve the quality of judicial decisions that citizens deserve. READ: EU scoreboard notes Malta has plenty of lawyers... Читать дальше...

Updated 11.35pm Transcripts of documents connecting Panama company Egrant to Michelle Muscat contained errors proving they were falsified, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told Opposition leader Simon Busuttil tonight.    Speaking during a live debate on TV show Xarabank, Dr Muscat argued that an address and date on transcripts of declarations of trust published by Daphne Caruana Galizia did not tally with facts.  READ: Muscat asks magistrate to investigate Egrant claims Dr Muscat claimed that Egrant... Читать дальше...

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was given a hero's welcome this evening as he walked into the main hall of the Labour Party headquarters for the party's annual general meeting. He was greeted with rapturous applause with many shouting "We are behind you" before the whole hall burst into a chorus of "Joseph, Joseph, Joseph". Addressing the meeting, Dr Muscat said that tonight on Xarabank he would be talking truth not politics as he debates Opposition leader Simon Busuttil. He thanked Labour supporters... Читать дальше...

Running the Brighton marathon was extremely emotional for Eleanor Mangion Walker’s older sister, but the six-months pregnant woman was determined to see it through. Melissa Gaul ran the marathon earlier this month as a tribute to her sister, in a bid to help raise funds for the lawyer’s fees, ensuring that the interests of Ms Mangion Walker’s daughter are well represented. Ms Mangion Walker’s body was found in a Qormi warehouse in July of last year. Her estranged husband has been arraigned and is pleading not guilty to murder. Читать дальше...

A new scheduled service to Israel’s political centre, Tel Aviv, was today inaugurated by Air Malta. This service, which will be operated with up to three times a week on alternating weeks, will connect Malta with Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. As is customary, passengers on board the aircraft were greeted with a cake-cutting ceremony inside the terminal to celebrate the new connection. Air Malta said this was the first Israeli route on Malta International Airport’s schedule in recent years, further enhancing its network to the Middle-East. Читать дальше...

Minister Konrad Mizzi today continued to deny allegations that he received money from the Azeri President’s daughter through his Panama company. Replying to questions following a press conference, Dr Mizzi said that neither he nor his family members had any links with Pilatus Bank. Dr Mizzi flatly denied ever visiting the bank. Asked if the alleged deposits from Azerbaijan were the ones referred to by his financial advisors Nexia BT, Dr Mizzi said there were no deposits. Any insinuations to the contrary would be met with libel suits... Читать дальше...

A Gozo Channel employee was acquitted of taking money from the cafeterias on board the company's three vessels as the evidence put forward by the prosecution did not suffice to erase the "lurking doubt" regarding the man's alleged guilt. James Joseph Muscat, 39, from Xagħra, had been accused of stealing cash and making fraudulent gains to the detriment of the ferry company over a six-year period dating back to 2007. The wrongdoing had come to light shortly after the appointment of Joe Cordina as company chairman in April 2013. Читать дальше...

Several men accompanying Minister Konrad Mizzi shoved Times of Malta journalist Jacob Borg out of the way today as he continued to question the minister about his Panama holdings. After fielding a number of questions, Dr Mizzi began to walk to his car, ignoring questions about attempts by Nexia BT to open up a Dubai account for him. As he was getting into his car, one of the men accompanying the minister pushed the journalist out of the way. A scuffle then ensued with several other men accompanying Dr Mizzi getting involved. Читать дальше...

German police today arrested a man suspected of detonating three bombs that targeted the Borussia Dortmund soccer team bus in the hope of sending the club's shares plummeting and making a profit on an investment, prosecutors said. In a statement, the federal chief prosecutor said the 28-year old man, a dual German and Russian national identified as Sergei V., had bought options on Borussia Dortmund's stock before the attack. The team bus was heading to the club's stadium for a Champions League match... Читать дальше...

The share index today slid 0.3% back to a new three-week low of 4,702.925 points as HSBC, GO, Lombard and FIMBank all trended in negative territory.In contrast, BOV, MaltaPost and In contrast, BOV, MaltaPost and Malita Investment moved higher whilst MIA closed today’s session unchanged.During this shortened week, the local equity benchmark eased marginally lower largely reflecting the declines in HSBC, RS2 and Lombard which were partially offset by eight positive performing equities including BOV. Читать дальше...

The Institute of Tourism Studies will not have to vacate its existing premises in St George's Bay by next summer as it will only relocate to Smart City when the new campus is finished, MHRA President Tony Zahra said this afternoon. Addressing a press conference on the performance of the accommodation industry in 2016, he referred to a story in the Times of Malta yesterday which said that the ITS would have to vacate its existing premises by summer.  This deadline stemmed from the contract signed... Читать дальше...

Transport Malta will be installing the bridge at the Mrieħel Bypass in the coming days. In preparation for the transportation of the bridge, gantries between Ħal Far and Mrieħel will be removed between 2 and 5am tomorrow. At this time, traffic in Triq Aldo Moro, Marsa will be diverted to Triq Trou Bridge and Triq Prinċep Albertu.

A 19-year old unemployed youth has landed himself in court after stealing valuables from a private residence in Birkirkara belonging to his girlfriend's mother, last Tuesday. Dion Lia, from Żurrieq, admitted today before a magistrate's court to charges of aggravated theft and to having voluntarily caused damage to third party property. The young man was further charged with being a relapser on account of a past conviction. The boyish-looking youth, accompanied in court by his mother, was granted bail by duty Magistrate Grazio Mercieca... Читать дальше...

A press release issued by the GRTU against former Minister Michael Falzon regarding his testimony in criminal proceedings against Malta Developers Association president Sandro Chetcuti was confirmed as being defamatory by a court of appeal. Michael Falzon had filed libel proceedings against Vince Farrugia and Paul Abela as director general and president respectively of the GRTU following the issue of the press release on February 27, 2014. The press release entitled 'GRTU rebuts claims made by ex-GRTU... Читать дальше...

The European Commission is to propose making cars, trucks, buses and vans pay higher road toll charges the more CO2 they emit as it seeks to cut road transport's carbon footprint, two EU officials said. The proposal, which has not yet been finalised, will for the first time set some EU-wide principles for road tolls for cars, including one that motorists must pay according to the distance travelled, and include buses and coaches, the people said. The proposal will keep the average level of tolls collected roughly constant... Читать дальше...

A man accused of assaulting a bus driver in Floriana last Sunday following an argument over expired tickets was today remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to charges against him. Omar Joseph Trabelsi, 27, from Kirkop, wearing a grey suit and sports slippers, stands charged with attempted grievous bodily harm of the 40-year-old bus driver, causing him slight injuries. Mr Travelsi was further charged with having threatened, molested and assaulted the victim, whose glasses were also damaged in the assault. Читать дальше...

Mosta FC has been deducted five points from their tally in this season’s Premier League and fined €5,000 after the Malta Football Association’s Control and Disciplinary Board found it guilty of breaching MFA rules on the status and transfer of players. Mosta FC can appeal against this decision. At a hearing held earlier this week, the board looked into the charge brought against Mosta FC, which was accused of effecting illegal payments to one of their foreign players, registered as an ‘amateur’ with the association. Читать дальше...

A study published in scientific journal Nature Communications found that friends play a major role in determining a person's exercise routine, according to The Independent.  Spanning over five years, the study tracked the daily exercises of over a million people in a global social network of runners and found that exercise patterns were largely influenced by those of others.  Research showed that men are easily influenced by both genders, while women seemed to be influenced by those of the same gender alone. Читать дальше...

A Palestinian-Maltese writer has been named one of the European Union's 2017 Prize for Literature winners.  Walid Nabhan was nominated for the prize on the strength of his novel L-Eżodu taċ-Ċikonji, published by Klabb Kotba Maltin in 2013.  The EU Prize for Literature is given to 12 writers every year, with writers from countries involved in Creative Europe eligible. Winners from each of the participating countries – 12 different countries each year - are selected by national juries comprised of publishers, booksellers, authors and critics. Читать дальше...

Italian champions Juventus have been drawn against French side Monaco in the Champions League semi-finals.  The other semi-final will feature a Madrid derby, with eleven-time champions Real Madrid taking on neighbours Atletico Madrid. Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus will travel to France for the first leg, with the return fixture taking place at their home stadium in Turin.  Freescoring Monaco have scored 24 goals since reaching the group phase, but they will now face a steely Juventus defence which... Читать дальше...

The floating gardens of Taman Ujung are the work of Anak Agung Anglurah, the last king of Karangasem, in the eastern Indonesian island of Bali. Discover a stunning landscape imbued with spiritual meaning.

Children at the Cospicua primary school are playing a conflict resolution game based on couples' counselling.The game, Friendship Cards, teaches children to express emotions and deal with conflict in a nonviolent healthy way.Developed by Julian and Joanna Sant Fournier, the game is a follow-up to another game they developed for adults called Couples Cards.Mr and Mrs Sant Fournier told Times of Malta that the game passed on skills to children that would stick with them for life.They hope to see the... Читать дальше...

Updated 12.05pm - Added PN statement Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning challenged Opposition leader Simon Busuttil to a live televised debate tonight on Xarabank and accused him of trying to save his skin “by hanging my wife, me and my children”. Reiterating his conviction that claims alleging that his wife owned Panama company Egrant were lies and that he and his family were victims of an attempted frame-up, Dr Muscat said that he would not resign while the magisterial inquiry was underway. Читать дальше...