Новости за 28.09.2021

The Hungarian government on Tuesday condemned what it termed Brussels' "blackmail" over the allocation of EU funding as differences between the eastern state and the European Union deepen. Budapest and Brussels have long been at odds over Hungarian judicial reforms and LGBTQ rights and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto weighed in by accusing the EU of using funding as "a matter of blackmailing in order to stress for political type of changes." Speaking in English, he this dubbed "unacceptable"... Читать дальше...

Veteran Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named in the Sweden squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday in spite of an ongoing Achilles tendon problem.  Ibrahimovic, who turns 40 on Sunday, is in the group set to face Kosovo and Greece in Group B matches on October 9 and 12.  Sweden’s top goalscorer with 62 in 118 matches, “Ibra” emerged from an almost five-year international retirement in March with a view to going to the Euros, although a knee injury eventually ruled him out of the tournament. Читать дальше...

The Planning Authority (PA) has given a permit for the development of an agritourism facility in Mġarr where an organic farm will start offering accommodation.  Five one-storey blocks will be built at Vincent’s Eco-Farm, four of which used to accommodate tourists and one for the reception, a restaurant and a kitchen. The buildings will cover an area of 400 square metres.  The PA board members unanimously approved the project.  The planning watchdog also approved the construction of a 200-square-metre... Читать дальше...

A rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua is possible in February or March, the promoter of the Ukrainian boxing champion confirmed Tuesday, days after Joshua lost his world heavyweight titles to Usyk. Usyk won by a unanimous decision, depriving Joshua of his World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization belts in front of a home crowd in London on Saturday. Joshua immediately voiced his readiness to face Usyk again, saying at a post-fight press... Читать дальше...

Malta national coach Devis Mangia announced that Hibernians trio Andrei Agius, Ferdinando Apap and Bjorn Kristensen have been omitted from the latest Malta squad for a breach of the team’s code of ethics following their hefty suspension from UEFA. On Monday, the Times of Malta reported that Hibernians were severely punished by the European governing body of football following their elimination from the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round to Latvian side FC Riga. Andrei Agius and midfielder... Читать дальше...

Maltese long-distance runner Dillon Cassar has secured another prestigious result on the international scene when he competed in the EDP Rock’n Roll Running Series in Madrid last Sunday. Cassar enjoyed a very impressive performance as the Mellieħa AC runner completed the distance in a time of 30 minutes and 53 seconds. The talented runner finished second overall, only behind to Carlos Mayo Nieto, who represented Spain in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when finishing 13th in the 10,000 metres race,... Читать дальше...

Malta’s Artistic Swimming team continued with their international commitments when they travelled to Rijeka in Croatia for the 1st European Youth Artistic Swimming Championships & Mediterranean Artistic Swimming Cup. The competitions were open to all LEN and COMEN-affiliated federations. Malta had to contend with the tough competition including Russia, Spain, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Norway, and Italy.   Despite the more-experienced field of athletes, Malta’s performances saw Zea Montfort (Solo)... Читать дальше...

Italy and Argentina will face each other next June 2022, in a first meeting between the winners of the Euro and the Copa America, UEFA  and CONMEBOL announced on Tuesday. The European and South American governing bodies released a joint statement saying the game was planned “during the international window in June 2022 at a venue to be confirmed.”  “The agreement reached by the two organisations currently covers three editions of this match between the respective continental winners,” the communique said. Читать дальше...

Officials from the Education Ministry are ignoring procedures and calling peripatetic teachers to report for work at an alternative school, a teachers' union said on Tuesday. In a brief statement, the Malta Union of Teachers directed teachers to ignore and not answer these calls. It said the ministry was in a state of panic calling teachers on their private mobile phones or even their partners when they could not be reached. This, the union said, was a desperate attempt by the ministry to cover its mess. Читать дальше...

France and Greece signed Tuesday a multibillion-euro deal for Athens to buy three French warships, an accord hailed by President Emmanuel Macron as a major boost for the EU's defence ambitions. The memorandum of understanding for the purchase of the Belharra frigates was inked less than two weeks after Paris was left reeling by Australia's cancellation of a contract to buy French submarines, in favour of a new defence pact with Britain and the US. Macron said after meeting Greek Prime Minister... Читать дальше...

Subject to the recommendations and guidelines from national health authorities, the 2021 Malta Book Festival will be taking place at the MFCC between November 3-7 and include fun, age-appropriate, learning activities in new and original forms As one of festival’s primary objectives, promoting a love of books among children and teenagers through fun, age-appropriate, learning activities will this year take on new and original forms, and offer special performances. Safety remains a priority at this year’s Malta Book Festival... Читать дальше...

The debate on whether Malta should make abortion legal should continue, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Tuesday, although he insisted the "rights of the unborn" should be voiced.  Speaking during a conference organised by the EU's S&D group being held in Malta, Abela said the issue should not be politicised. Instead, he said, it needs to be properly discussed.  "I have to mention the rights of the unborn child because it would not be prudent to not voice the rights of the unborn child. Читать дальше...

Social media personality Terry Muscat said she “wholeheartedly” forgave the man who had punched her in the face, grievously injuring her when all she wanted was to help him lead a better life.  Muscat took the witness stand against Gareth Chlach, 22, who was remanded in custody a fortnight ago after pleading not guilty to violently assaulting the victim, who had filed a report with the police domestic violence unit. The youth kicked up some commotion when he screamed and headbutted a courtroom door... Читать дальше...

Police are questioning a contractor after an injured migrant worker was dumped on the side of a road after falling on a construction site. In a statement, the police said that a 32-year-old man from Ghana had been taken to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment after he was found abandoned on the side of a country lane.  He told those who stopped to help him that his boss had abandoned him there because he didn't have a work permit. Times of Malta understands that police are questioning Glenn Farrugia of J&G Farrugia contractors... Читать дальше...

Students at the University of Malta and Junior College will be allowed free entrance to Heritage Malta sites and museums with immediate effect, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the university and agency. Students who wish to benefit from this opportunity should present their eSIMS account – on their mobile phone or in print – at the entrance of their chosen site or museum. The Ħal Saflieni hypogeum is excluded from the offer. The collaboration agreement is for a three-year period. Читать дальше...

Civil society organisations Repubblika and Occupy Justice and blogger Manuel Delia will be commemorating the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia with a roving exhibition and a series of public talks. The activities will be spread over 19 days starting on Tuesday and leading up to October 16. The exhibition, on stories Caruana Galizia had worked upon, will be in Pjazza San Franġisk, Victoria between Tuesday and Friday, at Triq is-Saqqajja, Rabat, between Saturday and October 5; in Pjazza San Franġisk... Читать дальше...

The World Health Organisation unveiled a plan Tuesday to bring meningitis under control by 2030, slashing the 250,000 annual deaths caused by the debilitating disease. Launching the first-ever global strategy to tackle the illness, the WHO said it wanted to eliminate epidemics of bacterial meningitis – the most deadly form. By doing so, it hopes to halve the number of cases and reduce deaths by 70 per cent. It also wants to significantly reduce disability caused by the disease. “Wherever it occurs... Читать дальше...

Maltese students have been turning to UK universities mostly to pursue their studies in medicine, engineering, and management as well as to study accounting and health and safety, according to British Council director Ingrid Eomois. She was speaking ahead of an online education fair promoting studying in the UK – Study UK: The Essentials, due to be held from October 4-8. During this forthcoming online education fair open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students, participants will be able... Читать дальше...

Yorgen Fenech’s lawyers have not filed a formal report with the police to investigate parte civile lawyer Jason Azzopardi and blogger Manuel Delia over what appeared to be a “concerted effort to influence” a judge’s decision on bail.  Lawyers for the businessman, who is currently awaiting trial for complicity in the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, had flagged what they claimed to be a “systematic attack” against Mr Justice Giovanni Grixti, who presided over a fresh bail application by Fenech. Читать дальше...

As the Taliban appeared on every corner of Kabul, Marwa and her friend – both gay Afghans – took the drastic decision to become husband and wife. The hurried marriage was conducted with no ceremony or family around them. “I was telling myself that the Taliban would come and kill me,” the 24-year-old told AFP in an interview conducted over WhatsApp. “I was afraid, I was crying all the time... so I asked my friend to prepare a marriage document,” said Marwa, using a pseudonym for security reasons. Читать дальше...

A proposed civil aviation policy for 2022-2030 is up for public consultation. The policy, announced by Infrastructure and Transport Minister Ian Borg during a press conference on Tuesday, looks into strengthening aviation growth and increasing its economic contribution. It was promised during the Budget speech for 2021.  The policy identifies 20 objectives to improve the sector overall while addressing conditions such as congestion and carbon footprint.  Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg addressing Tuesday's press conference. Читать дальше...

Travellers who are only eligible for a single vaccine dose will be allowed into Malta without having to quarantine as of October 1, Health Minister Chris Fearne has said.  The revised rule will apply to all such travellers with a COVID vaccine certificate from a country that Malta recognises.  Malta currently recognises vaccine passes issued locally, by EU member states, the UK, UAE, the US, Serbia, Turkey, Gibraltar, Jersey and Guernsey, Qatar, Albania, Australia, Egypt, Lebanon and Canada. ... Читать дальше...

Brussels on Tuesday called on Volkswagen to pay out all European consumers – and not just German ones – affected by the “Dieselgate” scandal in which the carmaker tampered with vehicle emissions to cheat pollution tests. EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said in a statement that VW “is not willing to work with consumer organisations to find appropriate solutions for consumers”, noting that it so far is only making payouts to German and US purchasers of its vehicles. “All consumers need to be compensated,” Reynders said. Читать дальше...

An injured migrant worker was dumped on the side of the road after falling two storeys from a construction site, according to a woman who stopped to help him. Police are investigating claims the man's boss abandoned him on Selmun road in Mellieħa because he was working without a permit. Caroline Galea shared pictures of the incident on Facebook after stopping to help the worker at around 11.30am on Tuesday. She told Times of Malta that the injured man said his boss had told him he was going to... Читать дальше...

US car manufacturer Ford said on Monday it plans to invest $11.4 billion (€9.7bn) in electric vehicle production, in a bid to position itself to lead the United States’ shift away from climate-damaging fossil fuels.  The company said it will build four new plants to produce electric vehicles and batteries that will create 11,000 new jobs by 2025. Together with its South Korean partner SK Innovation, Ford will build the factories in Kentucky and Tennessee, the carmaker said in a statement.  Ford will invest $7 billion... Читать дальше...