Новости за 20.07.2017

Malta international Jean Paul Farrugia will pursue next season abroad as he signed with FC Chiasso of Switzerland. The club will feature in the Challenge League which is the second tier of Swiss football, with the first match of the season to be played on Saturday as Chiasso take on one of the best teams in the league, Servette.  Farrugia was part of Sliema Wanderers' squad last season and was fundamental in helping the side to reach the FA trophy final.  Back in 2013, Chiasso were coached by World... Читать дальше...

FC Utrecht registered a far-than comfortable 3-1 victory over Valletta to progress into the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. The Dutch will now take on either Lech Poznan of Poland or Norway's Haugesund in the next qualifying round. Wary of Valletta’s threat, the hosts exerted pressure on their opponents from the initial minutes and on 18 minutes, they forged ahead. Yassin Ayoub fled a cross from the right wing with Valletta clearing momentarily before Sean Klaiber came out of nowhere... Читать дальше...

OJ Simpson will be paroled after serving nine years in prison for a botched bid to retrieve sports memorabilia in Las Vegas. A Nevada parole board decided that the 70-year-old former football, TV and film star will be released in October after serving his minimum term for armed robbery and assault with a weapon. Simpson responded emotionally, saying: "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Four parole commissioners in Carson City questioned Simpson by video-conference from the Lovelock Correctional Centre in rural Nevada. Читать дальше...

Chester Bennington, the lead singer of rock band Linkin Park, was found dead on Thursday at his southern California home in an apparent suicide, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office said. Coroner's office spokesman Brian Elias said his office had been notified by law enforcement of the death of Bennington, 41, on Thursday morning. Elias said the death was being handled as an apparent suicide. Celebrity website TMZ, citing law enforcement sources, said Bennington had hung himself at his Palos Verdes home near Los Angeles. Читать дальше...

Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz has urged his Italian counterpart not to allow migrants arriving by boat to Italy's islands to travel on to the mainland, declaring that "being saved in the Mediterranean cannot be connected with a ticket to Central Europe". After meeting with Italy's Angelino Alfano, Mr Kurz told reporters that Austria expects an end to the practice of transporting migrants to the mainland by ferry. He said that if it continues, more migrants will make their way northwards to other EU countries... Читать дальше...

Malta international Andre Schembri has found the net again for his new club, Apollon Limassol, as they are involved in the UEFA Europa League qualifying round against Zaria Balti of Moldova. The former Boavista has now scored the second goal for the club and are on their way to the third round of the European competition.  (Andre Schembri's goal on 1.40)

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner reiterated its calls for further training for childcare workers and periodic spot checks in the wake of reports of maltreatment at childcare centres. Education Minister Evarist Bartolo revealed last week that 60 such cases had been reported to the authorities over the past year. None of the reports were related to cases of maltreatment by the children’s own parents, which are handled separately by Appoġġ. In a statement, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner... Читать дальше...

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil today hit out at what he said were “fascist” attempts by the government to try to silence him. Addressing a press conference hours after the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri filed a criminal complaint against him, Dr Busuttil slammed the “politically motivated actions” against those who sought to uncover corruption. Mr Schembri’s criminal complaint was filed after the Opposition leader asked the courts for a magisterial inquiry to investigate money-laundering... Читать дальше...

Crops from fields close to the Marsascala recycling plant were tested for contamination after a massive fire there in May but the authorities insist that the analysis is ongoing. The Health Ministry confirmed the area around the Sant’Antnin plant has been monitored since the incident, when bales of plastic and paper waste caught fire. “A number of crop samples from the vicinity were taken by the Environmental Health Directorate, and results are continuing to be analysed,” said a ministry spokeswoman. Читать дальше...

Ira Losco has released the fun summer single ‘Oh My God’, a pop tune about heartbreak and revenge. It features youtube sensation Shyli delivering some sassy Rap vocals. The video, shot at Hardrocks Business Park, is produced and directed by “Take 2” Abgail Mallia and Carlos Debattista. Matthew Muscat Drago is director of photography, Annalise Ellul is responsible for the choreography and direction of her sultry dance troupe. OMG is Ira’s 18th music video.

British and EU chief negotiators laid out their opening positions in a first full round of Brexit talks that confirmed some common ground on how Britain will leave the European Union, but little compromise on key disputes. David Davis and Michel Barnier said on Thursday that four "constructive" days of "robust" talks between their respective teams in Brussels had helped "build trust" and explain many of the details of their competing visions for a divorce deal. But they also confirmed "fundamental... Читать дальше...

Race leader Chris Froome survived the last big test on this year's Tour de France as he protected his advantage on a thrilling climb of Col d'Izoard won by Frenchman Warren Barguil this afternoon. While Barguil broke clear up the road for a famous victory to confirm the polka dot jersey, back down the road Froome neutralised the attacks of main rivals Romain Bardet and Rigoberto Uran to keep control of the race with three stages left. Watch the final moments of this exhausting uphill.

The trial by jury of Ikechukwu Stephen Egbo, the Nigerian accused of drug conspiracy, is drawing towards its final stage. The panel of jurors, five men and four women, were today addressed by the defence and the prosecution who delivered their final submissions. The arguments primarily hinged upon the credibility of the drug courier turned police collaborator, Attila Somlyai. The 30-year old Romanian, discovered with 60 capsules containing 600 grammes of cocaine inside his stomach following his arrival from Düsseldorf back in November 2010... Читать дальше...

Updated at 5.45pm The Planning Authority has approved a controversial elderly residence outside development zone in the limits of Naxxar, citing “financial feasibility” to reject two alternative sites within development boundaries. The project will see the construction of a three-storey, 234-bed facility on a 4,748 square metre ODZ site on Għargħur Road, close to the telecommunications station. It was approved today by 10 votes in favour and three against, with Environment and Resources Authority chairman Victor Axiak... Читать дальше...

Juventus have signed Italy full back Mattia De Sciglio from Serie A rivals AC Milan for 12 million euros ($13.8 million), the Italian champions said on Thursday. The 24-year-old, capped 31 times, signed a five-year contract after undergoing a medical on Wednesday. "Juventus are adding a player (De Sciglio) with versatility, skill and an international pedigree," said the Turin-based club on their website (www.juventus.com). This is De Sciglio's first move in his career since his debut with the Milan club in 2011... Читать дальше...

The share index posted a three-day negative streak as it declined by a further 0.24% to 4,719.097 points. Trading activity was spread across 11 equities: four moved lower, another four closed the day unchanged whilst only three shares posted gains. The total value of equities traded improved to a four-day high of €0.3 million. Malta International Airport lost 1.2% back to the €4.10 level on encouraging volumes totalling 29,674 shares. The airport operator is due to reveal its six-month financial performance on July 26. Читать дальше...

New Roma head coach Eusebio Di Francesco has returned to his former club Sassuolo to sign French forward Gregoire Defrel. The 26-year-old moves to the Stadio Olimpico on an initial loan deal for a fee of five million euros, with an obligation to make the transfer permanent for 15m euros if certain sporting targets are met. Defrel, who scored 23 goals in all competitions across his two seasons with Sassuolo, told asroma.com: “It means a lot to me to be able to play for Roma. “I’m going to be part of a very strong group... Читать дальше...

Government spending shot up by 11.8 per cent in May, compared to May of 2016, according to the Central Bank’s July Economic update. The Central Bank said that this rise was driven by higher spending on programmes and initiatives, which was buoyed by outlays on Malta’s EU presidency, health and ex-gratia refunds on motor vehicle registrations tax. Personal emoluments and capital expenditure also contributed to the increase, the Central Bank explained. Over the same period, revenue grew by two per cent. Читать дальше...

A group of 45 cyclists who pedalled eight hours every day for a whole week for charity have returned home. People can still support the cyclists for living up to the challenge by donating money in aid of cancer research in Malta. It was a fun but hard week for the group, which cycled some 1,200 kilometres from Copenhagen to Warsaw. This was the first time that the Remax Alive 2017 Cycling Challenge included a mountain-bike trail and a separate one for road bikes. This was also an international first for cycling challenges of the sort... Читать дальше...

A Rome court has found more than 40 defendants guilty in a wide-ranging corruption trial that revealed a system of bribes and intimidation to gain control of city contracts. But the court did not convict any defendant of mafia-style association, a key element of the prosecutors' case that would have been the first in Italy to unite findings of corruption with the trappings of organised crime. The court gave the highest sentence to the alleged ringleader, Massimo Carminati, who was handed 20 years... Читать дальше...

A man who last Sunday evening injured his estranged partner, whom he had been barred from approaching under an earlier bail decree, was remanded in custody to await judgment. This morning 25-year old Seajay Cardona from Msida was arraigned under arrest to face criminal charges over the episode wherein he slightly injured the woman, besides insulting and threatening her with violence. He was also charged with breaching bail conditions placed upon him by a Magistrates’ Court last December. In terms... Читать дальше...

The Planning Authority has approved a new fuel station on virgin agricultural land in Burmarrad, just 450 metres away from the nearest similar facility. Environmental groups, as well as the St Paul’s Bay local council, have vociferously objected to the plans, which will take up around 2,900 square metres of ODZ land on Triq Burmarrad. The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) also said the project was “unacceptable from an environmental point of view, given that the overall development/interventions... Читать дальше...

The driver of a car involved in a collision just upon leaving a service station on the outskirts of Rabat was cleared of causing the accident through reckless and dangerous driving after the court found he had taken a proper and cautious approach. Isaac Schembri, 25, from Mġarr, was driving his Mazda out of the J Micallef Petrol Station when he was involved in a crash with a Kawasaki motorbike driven by Arnold Farrugia who was returning from Għajn Tuffieħa, headed towards Rabat. Criminal proceedings... Читать дальше...

A 41-year-old man from Pieta was grievously injured after crashing into a car with his motorbike after his suspicious behaviour led the police to follow him. The police said the man was followed by officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit in Triq id-Duluri, Pietà, at around 6.30pm. He fled as soon as he saw the police, lost control of his bike and crashed into a parked car. As he was trying to escape, he was seen throwing away a plastic bag containing suspicious substances and cash. The police later... Читать дальше...

Tax investigators are going undercover in their fight against VAT-dodging software being used by dishonest entrepreneurs, Times of Malta has learnt. This newspaper reported yesterday that unscrupulous business operators were using software to delete records of sales in a scam that is believed to be costing the public coffers millions of euros in unpaid VAT. It has been confirmed that some businesses are using a type of software that allows them to manipulate sales records through the digital point of sale system. Читать дальше...