Quantcast
Channel: Times Of Malta
Viewing all 84484 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

An evening of song and dance

December 14, 2019, 2:18 am
$
0
0

Members of the Mary Jane Bellia Ballet School

The Malta Cultural Institute Foundation is tomorrow presenting its grand Christmas concert in the auditorium of the Junior College in Msida at 7pm. The first part of the evening will see the Marie Therese Vassallo Voice Studio choir and soloists singing the Cantico delle Creature di San Francesco D’Assisi. The music was composed in 1967 by Mro Frank Vassallo (1924-2000) to the original words by St Francis. The saint was the first one to present a re-enactment of the birth of Jesus Christ. The soloists will be soprano Claire Caruana and tenor Louis Hole, who will be accompanied by organist Michael Camilleri. The choir and soloists will be under the direction of Marie Therese Vassallo.  The Mtarfa Drama Group will be presenting their own re-enactment of the Nativity. The Mary Jane Bellia Ballet School will perform in the second part of the evening. They will present the Christmas ballet Les Patineurs, to music by Giacomo Meyerbeer and choreography by Bellia and Emiliana Bonello. There will also be an exhibition  by members of the Marie Therese Vassallo Voice Studio, featuring paintings, sculpture, ceramics, handicrafts, Maltese lace and much more.  Everyone is invited to attend.
↧
Search

Gale force winds force Premier League matches postponement

December 14, 2019, 4:08 am
$
0
0

The Malta Football Association announced that the two Premier League matches scheduled for the Centenary Stadium on Saturday were called off amid safety concerns stemming from the gale-force winds which have caused damage to the canopy of the afore-mentioned venue. Mosta were due to face Gudja United at 2pm while Senglea Athletic were set to face Tarxien Rainbows in the second match, kicking off at 4pm. "The Malta Football Association has taken this decision to ensure the safety of the general public, which is of paramount importance, and following the necessary consultations," the local governing body of football said in a statement. "The situation will be monitored accordingly in view of tomorrow’s matches scheduled at the same venue and further updates will be issued as needed." The Malta FA said has yet to announce the new dates when the two matches will be played, although it is understood that both matches are set to be played in midweek.  
↧
↧

St Paul Choral Society concerts

December 14, 2019, 4:45 am
$
0
0

St Paul Choral Society, under the direction of Hugo Agius Muscat, will tomorrow be singing in the traditional Anglican Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral in Valletta at 6.30pm. The concert will be repeated at the Holy Trinity church, Sliema, on Monday at 6.30pm. The choir will also be joining the New Choral Singers in a Christmas concert being held at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral on Wednesday at 7.30pm. And on Thursday, the choir is holding a Christmas concert at the Divine Mercy sanctuary in Naxxar at 7pm, with guest soloist Raisa Micallef. The choir performs both locally and abroad. It recently returned from another successful tour, following previous tours to London (2011), Austria (2013), Paris (2015) and Spain (2017). This year, The Heart of Europe Tour took the choir to some of the finest churches and cathedrals in Germany, France and Luxemburg. Its repertoire ranges from the 16th century to the present day. Established in 1998, SPCS has around 60 members who meet every Wednesday for practice at the sanctuary in Naxxar. Entrance to all the events is free.
↧

60,000 French homes without power following heavy rains, winds

December 14, 2019, 4:45 am
$
0
0

The center of Bayonne, France, floods on December 13, 2019. Photo: AFP

Fourteen departments in southwestern France, the Alps region and the Mediterranean island of Corsica were on alert Saturday following gale-force winds and flooding that cut off electricity in 60,000 homes, killed one person and injured five others. The department of Pyrenees-Atlantique in the Basque Country was downgraded by the weather service Meteo France however from the maximum level red alert to orange. A 70-year-old man died there Friday when his vehicle struck a tree that had fallen into the road during the storms. Five others were injured, two seriously, when trees fell on their vehicles. In Espeins in the Lot-et-Garonne region, a man in his seventies was swept away by rising waters when he went out to fetch his mail. Rescuers resumed searches Saturday as floods inundated parts of the region with waters rising to up to nearly nine feet and by 30 centimetres per hour in some areas. Lot-et-Garonne was placed under red alert for floods and a rugby rematch between Cardiff Blues and Pau for the European Challenge Cup in the city of Pau on Saturday evening was cancelled by the prefecture. Flooding and landslides cut off access to the skiing stations of Gourette and Artouste,...
↧

Marsalforn promenade battered as waves force restaurant to close

December 14, 2019, 6:05 am
$
0
0

Massive waves have smashed the Marsalforn promenade. Photo: Diane Falzon

A restaurant owner in Marsalforn Bay has been forced to cancel bookings and send their staff home because of huge wave swells hitting the promenade. Restaurant owner and long-time resident Diane Falzon said that waves up around four metres high battered the promenade and forced them to shut up shop during one of the busiest periods of the year. “Today is Saturday, it could be worse tomorrow. There is still the swell. It’s also the festive season. It’s very damaging for us.” Ms Falzon said. Buildings along the Marsalforn promenade have long had to contend with large swells during storms which damage both the buildings and the seafront itself.  “Last January [2018] the waves lifted tiles from the floor, broke a window and a door. The water swept away tables and chairs. Shutters and tents were broken. We had to pay for the repairs out of our own money. It’s not only about me, it’s about everyone,” Ms Falzon explained. Malta is currently experiencing Force 8 north-westerly winds that are causing property damage and have forced some Saturday events to be postponed until the weather dies down. Breakwater promises Locals have been promised a breakwater, though it has yet to...
↧
↧

Watch: ‘Giving us rights was a duty, not a favour’

December 14, 2019, 7:45 am
$
0
0

Christian Pace. Photo: Jonathan Borg

Why a trans activist spoke up against the PM for invoking civil rights in wake of scandal  When Christian Pace took to the stage, draped in a trans-pride flag, at a national protest against Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, the 37-year-old said that he felt like a weight had been lifted off him. He told a crowd of thousands that the LGBTIQ community would not tolerate being used as a catchphrase and accused Dr Muscat of using civil rights as a shield from criticism. [attach id=808141 type="video"]Christian Pace on why he spoke out. [/attach] “It would have been a mistake to not speak up,” Mr Pace, who is transgender, said of his decision to address the national protest on December 8. “To be loyal to somebody who waves a pride flag in one hand and with the other secretly supports a gross violation of human rights, that’s profoundly hypocritical.” Last month, Dr Muscat announced he would resign in January, following pressure over how he handled the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder investigation. During his speech, he highlighted his government’s social justice and civil rights reforms. Mr Pace, who voted for the Labour Party in 2013, is candid with his political ideology. “I recognise...
↧

Inter cancel Conte presser over ‘insulting’ letter

December 14, 2019, 7:52 am
$
0
0

Inter coach Antonio Conte called off his press conference on Saturday.

Inter on Saturday cancelled coach Antonio Conte’s press conference ahead of their league game against Fiorentina because of “an offensive letter” published in a leading Italian sports daily. “Yesterday (Friday), the Corriere dello Sport published an offensive letter towards our coach, justifying its aggression in the comment,” the Italian team said in a statement on Twitter as journalists were waiting for the start of the press conference. “In order to send a signal to all media that they must ‘guarantee respect of people,’ we will not hold a press conference today.” In the letter, a Bologna fan wrote he “enjoyed seeing the great Inter outclassed by Barcelona B”, who had shown the Italian side’s “worn-out” coach how to play football. “I contest this beatification of Conte who in his career despite the victories has never shown a good game,” the letter continued. It added that despite spending over 150 million euros ($166 million), more than any other Italian team, Chinese-owned Inter could not beat Slavia Prague and lost to Borussia Dortmund. The editor of the letters’ page Italo Cucci added a comment, stating that Inter have “thrown away the Champions League and maybe the rest...
↧

Watch: Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca endorses Chris Fearne's leadership bid

December 14, 2019, 8:10 am
$
0
0

President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has endorsed deputy prime minister Chris Fearne in his bid to become the next leader of the Labour Party.  "I know [Mr Fearne] as a person who considers his loyalty to this country and the true values of the Labour Party as a fundamental principle," Ms Coleiro Preca said in a video uploaded to the candidate's campaign page on Saturday. "Without excessive pomp, he works to change people's lives, as he did as a minister and deputy prime minister. "As a doctor, he learned how to take urgent decisions for his patient's benefit. This country - and this party - needs immediate healing."  Ms Coleiro Preca said that having known Mr Fearne since he was a youth activist within the Labour Party, she believed he understood the "pain" currently being experienced by who had devoted their lives to the party and to the country, and that he would, as Prime Minister, take his advice "from the people".  "Chris Fearne is the Prime Minister our country needs right now, for us to emerge from this difficult moment renewed, strengthened and united as a democratic nation built on values and fundamental rights," she said. Mr Fearne, who currently serves as...
↧
Search

Watch: Former Roland Garros champion Schiavone ‘wins’ cancer fight

December 14, 2019, 9:06 am
$
0
0

Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone said on Friday she had defeated cancer, defiantly telling fans: “I’m still breathing”. The 39-year-old, who became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam title with victory at Roland Garros in 2010, revealed her diagnosis in a short video on her Instagram account. “Hi everyone, upon 7-8 months of silence from social media and from the world, I wish to share with you what happened to me,” said Schiavone who appeared in the video with her dark hair closely cropped. “A cancer had been diagnosed to me. I did chemotherapy, I fought a tough battle and now I am still breathing. I have won this fight. And now I am back in action.”  She did not elaborate on the type of cancer which had been diagnosed. Schiavone retired from tennis after the 2018 US Open having won eight career titles and playing in three Fed Cup winning teams with Italy in 2006, 2009 and 2010. Her greatest moment came when she defeated Australia’s Samantha Stosur in the 2010 Roland Garros final. She went on to claim her career best world ranking of four in January 2011. Later that year, Schiavone came agonisingly close to defending her French Open title but was...
↧
↧

Watch: Salah stretches Liverpool lead to 10 as Leicester stumble

December 14, 2019, 9:11 am
$
0
0

Mohammed Salah grabbed a brace as Liverpool beat Watford at Anfield.

Liverpool tightened their grip on the Premier League title race thanks to two Mohamed Salah goals in a 2-0 win over Watford to extend their lead at the top to 10 points as second-placed Leicester were held 1-1 at home by Norwich. The Hornets remain six points Chelsea were also shocked 1-0 at home to Bournemouth to see their lead over the chasing pack in fourth further cut, while Sheffield United moved into fifth with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa. At Anfield, Liverpool kept their first clean sheet at home this season but only thanks to Watford’s wastefulness in front of goal as the Hornets showed why they are the lowest scoring side in the league.of safety, but will wonder how they headed home empty handed after enjoying the vast majority of the chances against the European champions. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Ismaila Sarr both failed to make a proper connection with the goal gaping in the first half and the 40-point difference between the sides in the table was shown only in the difference of quality in the finishing. Salah struck twice as he rounded off a rapid Liverpool counter-attack from a Watford corner eight minutes before half-time. The Egyptian then settled the home crowd’s...
↧

Strong winds knock over housing containers at Ħal Far Open Centre

December 14, 2019, 9:25 am
$
0
0

Around 16 people are believed to have occupied the containers at the time of incident.

Containers housing migrants at the Ħal Far open centre collapsed early on Saturday morning due to the strong winds battering Malta. A Sudanese migrant called Jed recalled that he heard the containers fall in the early hours of the morning, at around 4AM.  “The containers were not stable and there was too much wind. I was in my room and I heard them fall. People were screaming and crying. We rushed outside to help,” Jed said. Jed explains that security personnel arrived at the scene and were preventing the fellow residents from getting closer to help those inside. “I was trying to get a picture but the police wouldn’t allow us,” Jed added. A fellow resident of the centre, Mohammed Adam, told Times of Malta there had been around 16 people in the containers. He added that none of them had been hurt in the incident.  Jed told Times of Malta that following the collapse, those who were freed from the collapsed containers were put up in the centre’s mosque for the night.It is not clear where those that have been affected will be sleeping on Saturday evening. Mohammed claimed they had been given another container to stay in, while Jed believes that they will be sleeping in the mosque...
↧

Coutinho hits hat-trick as Bayern rout Werder Bremen

December 14, 2019, 9:54 am
$
0
0

Bayern Munich's Philippe Coutinho (right) celebrates one of his goals against Werder Bremen with Robert Lewandowski.

Philippe Coutinho scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich signalled their return to form with a 6-1 thrashing of Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday. The Barcelona loanee was everywhere for Munich at the Allianz Arena, chalking up two assists in addition to his three goals as Bayern pulled to within four points of leaders Borussia Moenchengladbach. After Bremen's Milot Rashica opened the scoring in the 24th minute for the visitors, it appeared it could be another long afternoon for the champions, who had lost their previous two games in the Bundesliga. Two goals in three minutes at the end of the first half however turned the game on its head, with Coutinho and Robert Lewandowski both scoring to fire Bayern into a 2-1 lead. Bayern ran riot after the break, adding four more goals - including two more for Coutinho, one more for Lewandowski and a goal for Thomas Mueller. Coutinho's second, a brilliant chip over keeper Jiri Pavlenka, came right out of the Brazilian trickster's top drawer. Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund continued their superb recent form, winning 4-0 away at Mainz to move two points behind Gladbach.  Marco Reus scored his first away goal of the season with a...
↧

Watch: Chelsea rocked as Gosling gives Bournemouth shock win

December 14, 2019, 10:03 am
$
0
0

Bournemouth's Dan Gosling (centre) scores his team's goal, ruled offside but overruled by VAR, against Chelsea.

Chelsea slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat against struggling Bournemouth on Saturday as Dan Gosling's late goal extended the Blues' recent poor run in the Premier League. Frank Lampard's side have lost four of their last five league games following Gosling's clever strike six minutes from full-time at Stamford Bridge. Gosling's flick over his shoulder was initially ruled out for offside, but a lengthy VAR review eventually confirmed the midfielder was onside when he netted.  After reaching the Champions League last 16 with Tuesday's win over Lille, Chelsea were hoping to bounce back from last weekend's surprise loss at Everton. But this was another laboured display from Lampard's young team, who are out of sorts in a run that threatens to spoil the momentum from their fine start to the season. Chelsea remain in fourth place but they will need to improve to hold onto that position with London derbies at Tottenham and Arsenal looming over the Christmas period. The loss was especially galling because Chelsea were facing an injury-hit Bournemouth side who arrived on a run of five successive defeats and only one win in 10 games. Bournemouth were missing eight players through injury but,...
↧
↧

UN deadlocked, detached from climate emergency

December 14, 2019, 10:07 am
$
0
0

Photo: Cristina Quicler / AFP

A UN climate summit in Madrid risked collapsing Saturday after marathon negotiations between countries left them more divided than ever over on how to fight global warming and pay for its ravages. Diplomats from rich nations, emerging giants and the world's poorest countries -- each for their own reasons -- found fault in a draft agreement put forward by host Chile in a botched attempt to strike common ground.  Faced with five-alarm warnings from science, deadly extreme weather made worse by climate change, and weekly strikes by millions of young people, negotiations in Madrid were under pressure to send a clear signal that governments were willing to double down in tackling the crisis. But the 12-day talks, now deep into overtime, had retreated even further from this goal on Saturday. "It appears that we are going backwards on the issue of ambition when we should be calling for a quantum leap in the other direction," Marshall Islands climate envoy Tina Stege said. "I need to go home and look my children in the eye and say we got an outcome that is going to ensure their future, and the future of all of our children," she added, a catch in her voice. Unprecedented...
↧

Barca pegged back by Real Sociedad after Ter Stegen error

December 14, 2019, 10:09 am
$
0
0

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann (left) is challenged for the ball by Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alejandro Remiro.

Barcelona gave Real Madrid the chance to go top of La Liga ahead of Wednesday's Clasico at Camp Nou as they were held to a 2-2 draw by high-flying Real Sociedad on Saturday.  A mistake by Barca's usually excellent goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen gifted la Real an equaliser in a thrilling contest at Anoeta between two of the division's most attacking teams.  Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez looked to have turned the game around after Mikel Oyarzabal scored an early penalty but Real Sociedad claimed a deserved point as Ter Stegen parried into the path of Alexander Isak.  Madrid will pull two points clear at the top of the table if they win away at in-form Valencia on Sunday, which could prove a significant psychological boost ahead of their crunch meeting with Barcelona in midweek.  Real Sociedad, meanwhile, move to within three points of Sevilla in third and showed why many have them circled as genuine challengers for Champions League qualification this season.  Barca may have had one eye on their next encounter, particularly given renewed fears of unrest around the Clasico, which had to be postponed in October due to Catalan independence protests.  Yet Real Sociedad were...
↧
Search

Watch: Leicester's winning run ends against Norwich

December 14, 2019, 10:15 am
$
0
0

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy (right) vies with Norwich defender Christoph Zimmermann.

Norwich ended Leicester's nine-game winning run to claim an unexpected 1-1 draw at the King Power that meant the second-placed Foxes fell 10 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Leicester paid a heavy price for a poor start as Teemu Pukki put the Canaries in front before a Tim Krul own goal brought Brendan Rodgers's men level before the break. However, Leicester lacked their usual zip and Norwich's excellent defensive display frustrated the hosts to pick up a deserved point. Second-bottom Norwich move to within three points from safety and Daniel Farke will be frustrated his side have not shown this level of defensive discipline on most of their road trips so far this season. Other than an early fumble from Krul, when he turned Youri Tielemans's drive onto the post, the visitors settled well and should have gone ahead when Sam Byram crossed for the unmarked Pukki, but the stretching striker could not turn the ball in. Moments later, the Finnish international made amends by netting his ninth goal of the season on 26 minutes. Norwich opened up the Foxes again when Emi Buendia slipped in Pukki to outpace Caglar Soyuncu and beat Kasper Schmeichel with a low finish. But...
↧

Leaf shines bright

December 14, 2019, 10:30 am
$
0
0

Nissan has kicked off its festive celebrations by creating a one-off version of its Leaf electric car covered in lights powered by its own regenerative energy. Dubbed the Nissan ‘Tree’, the car has been fitted with thousands of LED lights in a variety of colours all energised by the act of the car slowing down or braking. [attach id=808414 type="video"][/attach] Utilising the car’s regenerative energy systems, it allows the festive light display to go on without the need for a battery connection. Helen Perry, head of electric vehicles for Nissan Europe, said: “Santa shouldn’t be the only one with a festive mode of transport. We wanted to make the Nissan Leaf more fun at this time of year whilst driving home a very important message. “We hope this custom-made vehicle inspires people about the benefits of regenerative energy. After nearly ten years since Leaf was first introduced in Europe, Nissan continues to be fully focused on providing consumers a more sustainable lifestyle through electric mobility.” [attach id=808234 size="medium" align="right" type="image"][/attach] The average Nissan Leaf driver regenerates around 744kWh of energy when they drive 11,000 miles (17,700 km) –...
↧
↧

Super-sub Gomis fires Al Hilal into Club World Cup semi-finals

December 14, 2019, 10:30 am
$
0
0

Hilal's substitute goalkeeper Mohammed al-Waked celebrates with forward Bafetimbi Gomis (right).

Veteran French striker Bafetimbi Gomis came off the bench to score the only goal as Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal defeated African champions Esperance 1-0 on Saturday to reach the Club World Cup semi-finals. Gomis, 34, replaced Gustavo Cuellar in the 65th minute before scoring the only goal of the game eight minutes later. Former Saint-Etienne, Lyon and Swansea striker Gomis found the target after flicking the ball over the African side's defenders before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Al Hilal lost Mohamed Kanno to a red card late in the game but it did not prevent the Asian champions from setting up a last-four clash on Tuesday against Brazil's Flamengo. Later Saturday, Qatar's Al Sadd face Monterrey of Mexico with the chance to face European champions Liverpool in the semi-final on Wednesday.   Al - Hilal Saudi - Espérance Tunis Live Score
↧

EP mission urges Commission to open rule of law dialogue with Malta

December 14, 2019, 11:01 am
$
0
0

MEPs addressing the media in Malta after their two-day mission last week. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

A European Parliament motion is set to pile pressure on the European Commission to begin dialogue with the Maltese government under the rule of law framework. The framework is designed to prevent emerging threats to the rule of law escalating to levels where certain EU membership rights are suspended for a member state under the Article 7 provision of the EU treaty. The motion will be presented in plenary after a cross-party delegation of MEPs expressed concern about the investigation into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination following a visit to Malta earlier this month. In the draft motion seen by Times of Malta, MEPs express their regret that the European Commission in recent years refrained from taking any concrete measures towards the government. The motion, which will be finalised on Tuesday, raises concerns about how developments in Malta in recent years led to “serious and persistent threats to the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights”. These include freedom of the media, the independence of the police and judiciary, the freedom of peaceful assembly and the lack of appropriate constitutional guarantees in respect of the separation of powers. The motion is...
↧

Child grievously hurt in Marsascala ceiling collapse

December 14, 2019, 11:14 am
$
0
0

A 12-year old boy was grievously injured in Marsascala when a ceiling caved in on Saturday afternoon.  The incident took place at a home in Triq il-Knisja at around 3.15pm, according to police.  A medical team was called to the site and administered first aid before the boy was taken to Mater Dei Hospital for further treatment.  Police investigations are ongoing. 
↧
Viewing all 84484 articles
Browse latest View live
Search
<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>