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No terror motive in Norway ambulance rampage: police

October 23, 2019, 9:23 am
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The stolen ambulance after it crashed into a house.

Norwegian authorities said Wednesday that a man who allegedly stole an ambulance and ran down four pedestrians in Oslo appears to be a common criminal rather than a terrorist. On Tuesday, the 32-year-old man slightly injured the pedestrians, including seven-month-old twins, in what police called a "deliberate" act. He was arrested a short time later and identified as someone who already had a criminal record, and who some Norwegian media said had links to far-right groups. But "it looks now like a common criminal case that does not concern us," said Martin Bernsen, spokesman for the PST interior security service that handles anti-terrorist matters. "At this point, we are not treating this as a terrorist matter," Bernsen told AFP, though he noted that the investigation was at an early stage. On Tuesday, police recovered a hunting rifle and an Uzi automatic pistol along with a large amount of narcotics in the stolen ambulance. The suspect's lawyer, Oyvind Bergoy Pedersen, told the daily Verdens Gang that the man was just trying to escape from police and had not deliberately tried to injure onlookers. The lawyer rejected reported links with far-right groups. A 25-year-old woman who...
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French PM's consultant resigns following scrutiny over similar Malta role

October 23, 2019, 9:48 am
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A former Italian minister has resigned as consultant to the French prime minister after it was revealed that he was also a consultant to Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Former Italian minister Sandro Gozi came under scrutiny in France after his dual role was revealed by Times of Malta and Le Monde on Monday. Mr Gozi confirmed his resignation in a tweet after it was first reported by AFP news agency. He said he was stepping down to avoid political exploitation. He  also issued a lengthy statement on Facebook.   Mr Philippe faced questions in the French parliament on Tuesday about Mr Gozi’s contract with the Maltese government.  The French Prime Minister told parliament that Mr Gozi had not indicated employment with any other entities, let alone another government, when he was hired on July 30.  Mr Philippe said Mr Gozi has been told to immediately submit documentation showing he was no longer working for the Maltese government when he was hired in July. OPM had confirmed Malta role Malta’s Office of the Prime Minister and Mr Gozi acknowledged his current role as Dr Muscat’s consultant when initially questioned by Times of Malta and Le Monde last week.  "Former Italian...
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Two arrested after Xgħajra drugs find

October 23, 2019, 9:48 am
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A man and a woman are being questioned by the police after drugs were found in a garage in Xgħajra. The police said that after days of observation, officers from the Drug Squad smashed a drug trafficking ring when they stopped a 22-year-old man from Tarxien and searched his car and his garage. They found nine kilos of cannabis resin in packets ready for trafficking. A 23-year-old woman from Cospicua is also being questioned.   A magisterial inquiry is underway. 
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Out with the old, in with the new

October 23, 2019, 10:00 am
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Members of the Artie III team guide their boat in the Rolex Middlesea Race.

The fifth day of the 40th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race has been bountiful, as yachts start to finish in numbers and tales of the race are shared. The strong wind to the west of Sicily has begun to affect the contest for the overall prize. Rambler’s near 24-hour tenure at the top was ended by Black Pearl’s arrival early this morning. The turnovers then came thick and fast and, at press time, the ClubSwan 42 BeWild is atop the pile. With 85 yachts on the course there is plenty of racing left. Richard and David Askew’s Wizard was the second yacht to finish. Never really in contention after a difficult opening passage to the Strait of Messina, the American maxi finally asserted her ocean-racing pedigree in the open water after Favignana. Wizard was able to stretch away from a group formed of R’92 Pendragon (HUN), Wild Joe (HUN), Aegir (GBR) and Aragon (POL), which had been snapping at her heels. These four yachts eventually finished between 05:00 and 06:00 CEST, the first three within 8 minutes of each other. When Black Pearl (GER) crossed the line at 08:24 CEST, the crew were clearly elated to have completed the course. “This boat is built for reaching and downwind, so...
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Watch: Car overturns and crashes into house facade

October 23, 2019, 10:04 am
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Residents of a San Gwann property were in shock on Wednesday after a speeding car overturned, crashed into their car and then into their facade, causing considerable damage. [attach id=782397 type="video"][/attach] The incident happened at around 4.45am in Triq il-Baltiku at The Village. The drive of the car, a Citroen, was hospitalised. "It was an enormous shock for us" the resident, Kevin Camilleri said. He said damages run up to at least €20,000 including his car. [attach id=782403 size="large" align="left" type="image"][/attach] [attach id=782406 size="large" align="left" type="image"][/attach] [attach id=782409 size="large" align="left" type="image"][/attach]
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EU members back Brexit delay, no decision on length

October 23, 2019, 10:30 am
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Pro-Brexit activists hold placards as they demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London.

EU members agreed in principle on Wednesday to postpone the date of Brexit beyond the end of this month but did not set a new date, a European source said.  "The meeting was not meant to take any formal decisions and it didn't," the official said, after ambassadors from the 27 non-British member states met in Brussels.  "All agreed on the need for an extension to avoid a no-deal Brexit. The duration of an extension is still being discussed," he added. The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, has recommended EU leaders approve postponing the day of Britain's departure from the bloc from October 31 until January 31 next year. But some capitals, principally Paris, would prefer a much shorter extension in order to help Prime Minister Boris Johnson quickly push a withdrawal agreement through the House of Commons. If the member states can not agree, then an emergency EU summit could be called for Monday, but the EU source said the members had a "strong preference" for making a written decision this week. The ambassadors plan to meet again on Friday.  "In the meantime, President Tusk's consultations will continue," the official said.                   
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Malta's waste tyres being shipped to India

October 23, 2019, 10:54 am
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Malta exported 17,567 tons of used tyres to India in the past six years, information given in parliament on Wednesday showed. The tyres were exported by Wastserv between 2013 and this year, Environment minister Jose’ Herrera told Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi.  Malta started exporting used tyres in 2003 when a consignment of rubber was shredded and sent to the UK to be used as underlying layers for a horse race track. In 2007 a local company was awarded a contract to recycle tyres. It had said it intended to use the rubber to make bollards, pavement edges and non-slip surfaces for internal yards. 
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Shining a light on contemporary sci-fi

October 23, 2019, 11:00 am
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A conference at the Malta Book Festival this November brings big international names and Maltese authors in conversation “Good stories deserve a little embellishment” – J.R.R. Tolkien Only 10 years ago it would have been a real struggle to find any sci-fi and fantasy literature in the Maltese language – after scouring the bookshelves you’d end up leaving empty handed. While it is still a fledgling scene, a string of strong publications in recent years is introducing new audiences of all ages to the sheer diversity of genre literature. Only last year, Loranne Vella’s exercise in speculative eco-fiction Rokit (Merlin Publishers, 2017) was awarded with the National Book Prize. The dystopian adventure, set in a Malta grappling with forced migration, food-shortages and an all-round ecological catastrophe, is Vella’s first novel for adults. Her earlier works include the It-Triloġija tal-Fiddien (Merlin Publishers, 2007, 2008, 2009), a fantasy saga co-authored with Simon Bartolo. Aimed at a younger audience, Vella and Bartolo’s trilogy, populated with magical creatures, half-man, half-animal, called the ‘l-immarkati’ (the marked ones), broke all local sales records for children’s books...
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Ministry promises to tackle school first aid policy this week - parent

October 23, 2019, 11:57 am
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Luca – one of a couple of children with severe allergies attending St Claire’s College Sliema Primary School. Inset: Education Minister Evarist Bartolo.

The Education Ministry has pledged to find a solution to the unwillingness of staff members to administer the life-saving EpiPen, according to the parent of a severely allergic schoolboy. Children with allergies are still facing potentially life-threatening risks at St Claire’s College Sliema Primary, a week after it emerged that there was no first aiders and personnel trained to apply the auto-injector in case a child went into anaphylactic shock. Katarina Rafajova, who initially flagged the issue after she was told not to send her five-year-old son to school with an EpiPen, told Times of Malta that the Education Ministry has promised her a solution this coming week. Her son Luca was one of a couple of children with severe allergies attending the Sliema primary school where the current protocol if a child goes into anaphylactic shock is to call an ambulance. However, seeing as a child in this state could die within 15 minutes if the case is severe, the exercise is extremely risky and could prove fatal. “I am still sending Luca to school with his EpiPen and hoping and praying that nothing will go wrong. I really don’t want to change his school. He’s so happy there otherwise.
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Sabitzer stars as Leipzig fight back to down Zenit

October 23, 2019, 12:30 pm
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Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer (left) controls the ball against Zenit St. Petersburg.

Austria's Marcel Sabitzer set up a goal and scored another as RB Leipzig came from behind to beat Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 in the Champions League to move top of Group G on Wednesday. Sabitzer's second-half heroics came after Yaroslav Rakitskyy opened the scoring for the Russians who had only lost once since August in all competitions before the trip to Germany. Leipzig sit on six points, two clear of Zenit and Lyon in third while Benfica are bottom without a point before the French side travel to the Portugese champions later in the day. Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann made four changes from the weekend's Bundesliga draw with Wolfsburg as experienced midfielder Kevin Kampl made his first start since late August after recovering from an ankle injury and striker Yussuf Poulsen dropped to the bench.  Sergei Semak kept the same starting lineup from Saturday's 6-1 thumping of Rostov as Artem Dzyuba, who scored a hat-trick in the weekend's fixture, joining Sebastian Driussi and Iran's Sardar Azmoun up-front. The home side made a positive start and midfielder Konrad Laimer made Zenit goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov work after just 70 seconds. Kerzhakov tipped Laimer's long-range powerful...
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Watch: Batshuayi fires Chelsea to late Ajax win

October 23, 2019, 12:52 pm
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Michy Batshuayi came off the bench to score Chelsea' winner against Ajax.

Chelsea showed that their young side were ready for the European stage on Wednesday after Michy Batshuayi's late winner fired them to a 1-0 Champions League win at Ajax that puts them square in the fight for the knockout stages. Batshuayi struck in the 86th minute to seal a hugely impressive win in Amsterdam that puts Chelsea level on six points with last year's semi-finalists at the top of Group H. Valencia will have the chance to draw alongside their group rivals with a win at Lille later on Wednesday. Frank Lampard's side had to ride their luck in the Johan Cruyff Arena, with Quincy Promes' first half tap-in ruled out for the tightest of offsides and Edson Alvarez hitting the post with a diving header near the hour mark. However, a youthful Chelsea showed they could compete with Europe's top sides despite losing Eden Hazard in the summer, going toe-to-toe with one of the continent's most dynamic attacking teams in a tight contest before winning their sixth straight match in all competitions.  In a match littered with sloppy passing in the final third, it was substitute Christian Pulisic who provided a moment of quality to slot a low cross across the area that Batshuyai got to...
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Lufthansa Technik to expand Malta facility

October 23, 2019, 12:54 pm
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Aircraft maintenance firm Lufthansa Technik is to invest €25 million in additional facilities in Malta, Economy Minister Chris Cardona has told parliament. He said an agreement was signed with Malta Industrial Parks on Wednesday.  This investment will further consolidate the future of aviation services in Malta and create high-quality jobs, the minister said during the Budget debate. Lufthansa Technik Malta last year was licensed by the German Federal Aviation Office (LBA) to carry out work on Airbus A350-900 aircraft.  Two out of six base maintenance lines at its facility were outfitted to accommodate the A350-900 with an investment of over €3.2 million to cover the first C-Checks.  The company also handles A320, A330/340 aircraft. It is planning to build a new hangar at its Hal Farruġ facility where it will be able to work on four aircraft simultaneously. The hangar is aimed for completion in 2021. In his remarks in parliament, Dr Cardona also announced that Malta Enterprise has approved 26 medical cannabis projects having a total value of €153  and creating almost 1,000 new jobs.
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Watch: Messi’s historic goal helps Barcelona edge Slavia Prague

October 23, 2019, 2:08 pm
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Lionel Messi set a new scoring record as Barcelona beat Slavia Prague.

Lionel Messi claimed another goal-scoring record as Barcelona edged a spirited Slavia Prague 2-1 on Wednesday as the Spanish giants stayed top of Champions League Group F. Messi opened the scoring after three minutes, beating Slavia goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar with a low left-footed shot to become the first player ever to score at least once in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons. The 32-year-old Argentinian first robbed midfielder Petr Sevcik outside the Slavia box before a quick exchange with Arthur put him neatly through the static Slavia defence. Barca earned a second on 57 minutes when Slavia winger Peter Olayinka deflected a Luis Suarez close-range shot from an impossible angle into his own net as the hosts failed to clear Messi’s free kick. Olayinka sealed Barca’s sixth straight competitive win but deprived Suarez of a goal that would end his four-year drought in away games in European cup competitions. Left-back Jan Boril scored for Slavia five minutes after half-time, capitalising on a superb pass threaded by Lukas Masopust that found him one-on-one with goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen. Barcelona top Group F with seven points from three games and are three ahead of...
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Watch: Mertens beats Maradona’s Napoli goal mark to edge Salzburg

October 23, 2019, 2:14 pm
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Napoli's Dries Mertens (left) has surpassed Diego Maradona's record.

Belgium attacker Dries Mertens beat Diego Maradona’s tally of 115 goals for Napoli to help his side beat Salzburg 3-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday. Mertens, 32, who joined the Italian club in 2013, is now just five goals behind Marek Hamsik who has the all-time Napoli goals record of 121. The victory keeps Napoli top of Group E, a point above holders Liverpool who beat bottom side Genk 4-1, with Salzburg in third place on three. Salzburg coach Jesse Marsch named Mali teenager Sekou Keita on the bench despite the forward scoring the equaliser at Sturm Graz on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten start to the Austrian league season. The home side had an early goal ruled out by VAR as teenage striker Erling Haaland was judged to be offside after 10 minutes.  Mertens equalled Maradona’s tally, who reached the number in 188 appearances in the space of seven seasons between 1984-1991 at the San Paolo Stadium, on 17 minutes. He blasted his effort to the top corner after a deft assist from Jose Callejon. Norway forward Haaland, scored his 19th goal in 13 appearances this season with five minutes of the first half to play. South Korea striker Hwang Hee-chan was brought down in...
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Watch: Oxlade-Chamberlain on target twice in Liverpool win

October 23, 2019, 2:19 pm
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (right) bagged a brace in a rare start for Liverpool.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made the most of a rare start by scoring twice while Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah also netted as holders Liverpool eased to a 4-1 win over Genk in their Champions League clash in Belgium on Wednesday. The England international, who missed almost all of last season due to injury, opened the scoring in the second minute at the Luminus Arena and scored the visitors’ second — a sumptuous finish also from outside the box—just before the hour mark. Mane and Salah then set up each other for late goals to wrap up the victory before substitute Stephen Odey pulled one back for Genk. This was Liverpool’s second consecutive victory in Group E since they began their defence of the trophy with a 2-0 loss at Napoli last month. They remain a point behind group leaders Napoli, who won 3-2 at Salzburg on Wednesday. Perhaps most importantly, this was an overdue away win in the group stage of the competition for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who had won just once in seven away group matches before this trip. They went all the way last season despite losing all three away group games. Klopp used this game to give starts to several players who have been on the fringes of his squad...
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Watch: Inter beat Dortmund to boost hopes

October 23, 2019, 2:24 pm
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Inter players celebrate their victory over Borussia Dortmund.

Lautaro Martinez and Antonio Candreva scored in either half to boost Inter Milan’s Champions League last 16 hopes on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Group F rivals Borussia Dortmund. The 22-year-old’s goal, his second consecutive in the Champions League after scoring against Barcelona and fifth in four games for Inter, was confirmed by VAR. Inter could thank captain Samir Handanovic for keeping their advantage into the break with the goalkeeper diving low to clear a Jadon Sancho angled drive. Candreva sent a shot over just after the break as Inter pushed to close off the game. Conte gave 17-year-old Sebastiano Esposito his Champions League debut coming on after an hour in place of Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku. Handanovic again did well to deny Julian Brandt after 64 minutes, with Martinez shooting just wide after 73 minutes. Dortmund’s best chance came late when Thorgan Hazard broke down the left to send through for Sancho but Marcelo Brozovic cleared the danger. Esposito earned a penalty for Inter as he raced towards goal forcing a foul from Dortmund’s Mats Hummels to the delight of the 60,000 crowd at the San Siro. Burki denied Martinez a brace from the spot but Candreva...
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Shipping movements - October 24, 2019

October 23, 2019, 9:02 pm
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The following ships are expected in Malta: The Nicola from Skikda to Annaba, the CMA CGM Cassiopeia from Genoa to Beirut, the Norderoog from Annaba to Catania (all CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd), the Eurocargo Sicilia from Catania to Livorno (SMS Shipping), the MV Eurocargo Malta from Genoa to Genoa (Sullivan Maritime Ltd), and the Maersk Lamanai from Malaga to Genoa (Thomas Smith & Co Ltd) today. The CMA CGM Racine from Suez Canal to La Spezia, the Louisa Schulte from Algiers to Mersin, the APL Merlion from Le Harve to Jeddah, the Olivia I from Algeciras to Livorno (all CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd), and the MSC Athens from Gioia Tauro to Valencia (John Ripard & Son Ltd) tomorrow. The Oued Ziz from Sfax to Sfax, the CMA CGM Herodote from Piraeus to Valencia (both CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd), the Mariagrazia Onorato from Catania to Catania (SMS Shipping), the MV Eurocargo Venezia from Genoa to Genoa (Sullivan Maritime Ltd), and the Al Bahia to Le Harve (Bianchi & Co. Ltd) on Saturday. The BF Nilou from Bizerte to Bizerte, the Atlantic Silver from Bari to Skikda, the Tilly Russ from Sfax to Benghazi and the Atlantic North from Algiers to Catania (all CMA CGM Malta Agency Ltd) on Sunday. The...
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Pound firms awaiting Brexit extension date

October 23, 2019, 9:18 pm
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The pound firmed against the dollar and euro yesterday as the European Union prepared to grant a further delay to Brexit, averting the prospect of Britain departing the bloc next week without a deal. The prospect of another delay had initially hit sterling, which briefly dropped as low as $1.2841 on Wednesday in Asian trade before bouncing back to $1.2890 around 1330 GMT, up from late in New York on Tuesday. The pound is experiencing volatility on every Brexit twist and turn. Earlier this week, the unit reached five-month highs above $1.30 on increasing hopes that a painful ‘no-deal’ Brexit divorce would be averted. “The prospect of a ‘no-deal’ outcome appears to be miniscule, which explains why the pound has maintained most... gains,” David Madden, analyst at CMC Markets UK, said yesterday. In stock market trading, London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index was meanwhile up 0.3 per cent, while eurozone equities were mixed. The EU is set to grant another Brexit extension after British MPs on Tuesday rejected Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s bid to force his divorce deal through Parliament this week. European Council President Donald Tusk has recommended that the EU’s 27 other member states...
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Scabies outbreak at elderly home

October 23, 2019, 9:28 pm
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Casa Francesco, in Santa Venera, where an outbreak of scabies occurred.

A private home for the elderly in Santa Venera has taken drastic measures to segregate its residents after an outbreak of scabies. At least six residents at Casa Francesco, a home for the elderly in St Joseph High Road, have contracted the skin infection. The health authorities have been informed about the matter and treatment will begin on Thursday. Sources said the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Section was called in and, with the help of experts from Sir Paul Boffa Hospital, confirmed that the residents had contracted scabies. Scabies is caused by a mite called Sarcoptes Scabiei. It is highly contagious and is common worldwide among all races and social classes. The disease spreads from person to person usually by close skin-to-skin contact or shared clothing or bed linen. The home’s manager, Simona Barariu, told Times of Malta when contacted on Wednesday that preventive measures had been taken and the residents who were diagnosed as having contracted scabies were not being allowed out of their rooms. She said their relatives had been informed and told not to visit for the time being while other residents and staff were informed too. She said that following...
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Announcements - October 24, 2019

October 23, 2019, 9:36 pm
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Obituary BARTOLI. On October 22, GERALD, aged 79, at Mater Dei Hospital, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to mourn his great loss his wife Doreen, his children Alberto, Luisa and Sandro, his beloved grandchildren Aimee and Michael, his siblings Lilian Miceli Farrugia, Cecil and Marlene, Rosemary Glavina, Edwina and Henry Dandria, his in-laws Monica Caruana, David and Alice Caruana, Elda and William Jones, Louis and Mariella Caruana, his nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends. The funeral cortège leaves Mater Dei Hospital tomorrow, Friday, October 25, at 9am, for Stella Maris parish church, Sliema, where Mass præsente cadavere will be said at 9.30am, followed by interment in the family grave at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to Hospice Malta, Balzan, would be appreciated. Lord, grant him eternal rest. In Memoriam BONELLO. In memory of CARMEN, fondly remembered on the anniversary of her death. Her family. CALÌ – LILIANA. Treasured and fondest memories. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Chantal, Edward, Alexandra and Jade. DEBONO – GAVIN. Treasured memories of a beloved son on the 32nd...
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