Parents whose children were still being denied free school transport would not get any compensation, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said. The government launched the scheme in September last year, providing parents of children attending State, Church and independent schools free transport.  Hundreds of students were placed on a waiting list as the number of available vehicles was not enough to meet the demand.  Although the scholastic year ends in a few weeks’ time, about 170 students remain on the list. Asked about this and whether the government would be offering some form of compensation to parents who had to pay for the transport themselves, Mr Bartolo said no such plans were in the pipeline. “We are not considering that for the moment. Our commitment is to provide publicly-funded transport,” he said. Parents whose children are still on the waiting list and who spoke to Times of Malta on condition of anonymity, said they believed they had a right to some form of compensation since they had wanted to sign up for the scheme but could not. They insisted that, by not being compensated, they were being discriminated against since other parents were saving money while they...

A man and a woman were arrested by the police on Friday after they were found in possession of drugs in amounts indicating they were not for personal use. The police said the arrests were carried out by the Drug Squad following investigations in Malta and Gozo. The woman, who is 43 and lives in Valletta, was arrested in Ħamrun after she was found in possession of cocaine and cannabis. The man, who is 29 and lives in Xagħra, was arrested in Mġarr, Gozo, after he was found in possession of cocaine ready for trafficking. Both are expected to be arraigned, separately, in the coming days. Police investigations are continuing.

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has revealed he will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season amid reports of a move to Paris Saint-Germain. Herrera's United contract expires at the end of the season and it is believed he has lined up a deal with French champions PSG. United hadn't commented on Herrera's future, but the 29-year-old Spaniard posted a goodbye message to fans via the club's Twitter account on Saturday. «There is red in my heart, I knew it from the first time I played here and in the moment I started to wear it,» said Herrera, who has also been linked with Arsenal, Juventus and Inter Milan. «Every time I represented this club, in every game, in wins and losses, even when I couldn't help from the grass, I understood what this club means. »I am going to remember each of the almost 200 matches that I have played with this jersey. Because playing for the greatest club in England, has been a true honour. Thanks for these five amazing years." Herrera, twice capped by Spain, joined United from Athletic Bilbao in 2014 and has gone on to make 189 appearances for the club, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League during his time in England.

Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva vowed Saturday to defend itself after being accused of orchestrating price-fixing among drugmakers in a US antitrust lawsuit. According to The Washington Post, 40 American states joined forces Friday to sue more than a dozen former and current executives of generic drugmakers. «That the biggest generic drug manufacturer in the world is one of the leaders of this marketwide collusion is beyond disappointing,» Connecticut state attorney general William Tong told the Post. «Teva had understandings with its highest quality competitors to lead and follow each other’s price increases, and did so with great frequency and success,» the complaint charges, «resulting in many billions of dollars of harm to the national economy over a period of several years.» The lawsuit alleges that companies agreed on prices rather than competing, effectively raising the cost of over 100 drugs. A spokeswoman for Teva in Israel dismissed the lawsuit as nothing other than «claims». «Teva will continue to examine the issue internally and there is nothing in its conduct that could lead to civilian or criminal accountability,» she said in a statement sent to AFP. "Teva...

A home intruder who attacked a St Paul’s Bay resident, causing him serious head injuries, was trying to save his girlfriend, a court heard on Saturday. Luke Farrugia, 24, from Żabbar, was on Saturday charged with grievously injuring the man and stealing electronics from his home. Defence lawyer Roberto Montalto said in court it was apparent from his client’s statement to the police that he was, in fact, trying to save his girlfriend, who he found in a bad way inside the St Paul’s Bay flat. He said the girlfriend’s own statement to the police more or less matched this version of events. In arguing for bail, Dr Montalto said it would appear that there was some sort of drug activity going on inside the residence. The man who had suffered the head injuries, he said, would probably not want to testify, so it would be unfair keeping his client in jail for a month. Prosecuting officer Clayton Camilleri told the court that the victim had suffered a brain haemorrhage and was still being kept in an induced coma. The police inspector expressed his fear that Mr Farrugia would try and approach witnesses if released on bail. He said the accused had kept on insisting he wanted to speak to his...

Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi has asked for more time to refer to documents and give a breakdown of his trips abroad since 2013. Replying to a request made by Times of Malta at the beginning of April under the Freedom of Information Act, a spokesman said more time was needed. “Your request has been extended by 20 days, to June 5, due to the fact that the request is for a large number of documents or necessitates a search through a large number of documents,” the spokesman said, invoking provisions of the law. Information related to his journeys abroad has also been sought through parliamentary questions, dating back to 2014. Whenever he was asked for a breakdown of his missions abroad, Dr Mizzi usually gives a stock reply: “the information is still being compiled”. Other Cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister, regularly publish information on their visits overseas. Times of Malta last month sent requests seeking similar information from the ministries for which Dr Mizzi was politically responsibility since he was first appointed in 2013. The request was also channelled through the Office of the Prime Minster but Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said the...

Hana went to a Qawra hairdresser to get her hair done but instead got sent back to her country. As she sat in the chair for an appointment set the week before, her hair wet waiting for a blow-dry, a woman walked in and told the hairdresser she needed to be slotted in quickly as she had a wedding that evening.  The hairdresser told Hana that the woman had an appointment before her but arrived late as she was stuck in traffic.  “I told them that I had understood what had been discussed and repeated every word to them back in English. At that point, the hairdresser started yelling at me, using vulgar language.  “Two other women looked down when I corrected the hairdresser and one of them advised me to leave. The hairdresser continued yelling at me and said that I am African and that I should go back to my country.” Hana’s is one of 12 accounts in a new publication by Aditus Foundation called Our Island II. Funded by the President’s Award for Creativity (Arts Council Malta), it is Aditus’s second publication to document refugees’ Malta experiences. Both books are available from the Aditus office against a small donation. While Our Island featured personal stories from people...

In the era of «fake news» and social media echo chambers, Venice's Biennale art fair is challenging preconceived biases by suggesting other ways of contextualising modern society's biggest issues. «What elevates art into something special is the fact that it resists closed mentalities,» the international exposition's artistic director, American Ralph Rugoff, told AFP ahead of Saturday's opening. The theme of the world's most prestigious art gathering is «May You Live in Interesting Times», an (apocryphal) ancient Chinese curse that Rugoff says uncannily captures the world today, as the news cycle spins from crisis to crisis. «At a moment when the digital dissemination of fake news and 'alternative facts' is corroding political discourse and trust... it is worth pausing whenever possible to reassess our terms of reference,» he said in his introduction to the 58th Biennale. For the 2019 edition, which runs until November 24, Rugoff, director of the Hayward Gallery in London, has invited 79 artists to Italy's City of Canals, including for the first time three non-binary artists. 'Reversing' the world  It's a contemporary exhibition: all the works have been made since 2010, and...

Gianni de Michelis, who served as minister in a number of Italian governments through 1980s and early 1990s, has died.  Well-known for his trademark locks, de Michelis served as Italian Foreign Minister and signed, among other things, the Maastricht Treaty. He had formally accepted Malta’s application to join the European Union from then Foreign Minister Guido de Marco in July 1990. He served as a member of the European Parliament until 2009. The Venetian was 78 years old.

Malta Artisan Markets will be setting up on the first floor of the recently renovated Victorian-era Is-Suq tal-Belt today and tomorrow. Set to be the busiest market on the island hosting a variety of stalls, the market is the go-to place to meet small, independent creative businesses, local and foreign entrepreneurs and shop an array of unique, trendy, artisanal products – some made in Malta or locally inspired. The market, coinciding with Mother’s Day tomorrow, will see stall holders selling homeware and accessories, as well as mixed media arts. Other highlights include a Valletta-themed graphic art exhibition by Torri l-Aħmar and a puppet show (€5, booking required at manager@maltaartisanmarkets.com). Children can join crafts by Artleya Malta/Maria Mallia. Entrance is free.

The government should seek to establish a new permanent rent regime applicable for all rented property to be introduced in stages during a reasonable transitional period, the Malta Developers' Association said.  It was referring to this week's landmark Constitutional Court decision, whereby the current legal regime regulating rents of properties leased before June 1995 was declared as breaching landlords’ fundamental rights. Read: Landmark judgement opens pre-1995 leases to scrutiny Currently, owners of property that was rented out prior to June 1, 1995, had no right to refuse renewal of the lease and had to make do with a ‘fair rent’, despite soaring market values. The court ruled that this regime created an unjust imbalance between the rights of the owners and those of the tenants, with the former having to shoulder, for years on end, the social burden induced by the current legislation. This means that various areas of rent control legislation have been found to breach the fundamental rights of citizens to enjoy their property. At the same time, the government is considering the reaction to the recently issued White Paper on rent reform. In a statement on Saturday, the MDA...

Heritage Malta is tomorrow opening the catacombs of Ta’ Mintna in Mqabba at the reduced price of €2. This site is usually not open to the public and access to it is by appointment. Although small, these three catacombs show special features that are rarely seen anywhere else. These include triangular lamp-holes, niches decorated with beautiful scallop shells in motifs, carved columns and one of the best preserved triclinia in Maltese catacombs. Tours will take place every 30 minutes, starting at 9am (last tour starts at noon). The event will end at 1pm. For more information, visit www.heritagemalta.org.

Broadcast live from The Old Vic in London, Academy Award-winner Sally Field (Steel Magnolias, Brothers & Sisters) and Bill Pullman (The Sinner, Independence Day) star in Arthur Miller’s blistering drama All My Sons. The production depicts America in 1947. Despite hard choices and even harder knocks, Joe and Kate Keller are a success story. They have built a home, raised two sons and established a thriving business. But nothing lasts forever and their contented lives, already shadowed by the loss of their eldest boy to war, are about to shatter. With the return of a figure from the past, long-buried truths are forced to the surface and the price of their American dream is laid bare. Jeremy Herrin (NT Live: This House, People, Places & Things) directs a cast including Jenna Coleman (Victoria) and Colin Morgan (Merlin). A live screening of All My Sons will be held on Tuesday  at the Spazju Kreattiv cinema, St James Cavalier, Valletta at 8pm. For tickets, visit www.kreattivita.org or call 2122 3200.

French lawmakers on Friday approved a controversial law for restoring Notre-Dame within five years, after the famous Paris cathedral sustained major fire damage last month.  Renovating the 850-year-old Gothic cathedral, whose wooden roof was largely destroyed in the April 15 blaze, will be an unprecedented challenge for the government, which drafted a special bill for managing the huge project.   Images of the ancient cathedral going up in flames sparked shock and dismay across the globe as well as in France, where it is considered one of the nation's most beloved landmarks.  Days after the fire, French President Emmanuel Macron set a target for the restoration to be finished within five years, meaning it should be ready by the time Paris hosts the Olympics in 2024.  But the legislation, aimed at speeding up the construction process, sparked controversy because it would involve removing some of the red tape protecting the ancient structure. After thirteen hours of debate, the bill was adopted by 32 votes in favour, five against and 10 abstentions. It will now be forwarded to the Senate for further scrutiny scheduled for May 27. As the session opened, Culture Minister Franck...

As an uncontrolled building spree keeps disfiguring much of the face of Malta, demolishing in the process the government’s environmental credentials, an attempt is being made to save a bit of the administration’s face in the wake of a growing public reaction to the degradation of the environment. In the midst of an avalanche of bad news for the rural and urban environment, there have been two welcome developments in the space of a few weeks. They are both for the rehabilitation of important valleys, Wied il-Għasel and Chadwick Lakes, in Wied il-Qlejgħa. When so much damage has been done to the valleys over the years, blighting what ought to have been kept in pristine condition but which was, sadly, left completely neglected, the news that the administration is finally waking up to the need of rehabilitating the valleys is heartening. But hardly had these plans been announced when another application was submitted for a development in a valley in Mellieħa. It would be a further blow to the environment if the new application were to be approved. The plan is for the building, in an outside development zone, of a nine-storey apart-hotel comprising 118 rooms, underground parking and...

Balzan and Birkirkara will have their eyes firmly set on keeping alive their European dream when the two neighbouring rivals go head to head in this afternoon’s FA Trophy semi-final at the National Stadium (kick-off: 5pm). After failing to secure a top-four spot in the BOV Premier League this season, the Reds and the Stripes are now banking on going all the way in the FA Trophy to take the final spot for Maltese clubs in the Europa League qualifiers this summer. Balzan reached the semi-finals after brushing aside Tarxien Rainbows 3-0 last week while Birkirkara had to battle more than expected to see off Mosta 2-1. Jacques Scerri, the Balzan coach, said that he was pleased overall with his team’s progress since he replaced Marko Micovic last February and said that there is belief among the Balzan players that they can still end the campaign on a high with what would be an historic triumph in the competition. “When you take charge of a team in the middle of the season, it’s not easy to have an instant change in fortunes,” Scerri told a news conference. “I only have words of praise for the players who in the past months have shown great determination and work ethic in every...

25 years ago - The Times Wednesday, May 11, 1994 Broadcasting Authority not prepared to tolerate lowering of standards The Broadcasting Authority has expressed concern in its report for 1993 about poor standards on some radio stations and has complained that some programmes verged on defamation and vulgarity. Poor programme standards come up repeatedly in the lavish 92-page report, and it is revealed that the Broadcasting Authority is drawing up a code on general programming that will provide guidelines on violence, good taste and other matters which might affect children and young persons in particular. The authority said that during the period immediately following the advent of pluralism, physical growth and development were primary concerns for the new stations. As a result, some private broadcasters gave scant attention to the programme policy which the authority had asked them to follow. “The time has come when attitudes should change and new priorities established,” the authority said. “For both public and private broadcasters, the primary emphasis must be placed on programming and priority must be given to the development of more varied, more balanced and better fare by...

One of the most successful operas of the later decades of the 20th century, Dialogues des Carmélites will be shown at Spazju Kreattiv today, live from the Met Opera. The opera, a rare case of a modern work that is equally esteemed by audiences and experts, focuses on a young member of an order of Carmelite nuns, the aristocratic Blanche de la Force, who must overcome a pathological timidity in order to answer her life’s calling. The score reflects key aspects of its composer’s personality.  Francis Poulenc was an urbane Parisian with a profound mystical dimension, and the opera addresses both the characters’ internal lives and their external realities. Jean-François Lapointe will sing the Marquis de la Force in all upcoming performances of Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, replacing Dwayne Croft. The performance will be transmitted live today from 6pm to 9.15pm at Spazju Kreattiv, St James Cavalier, Valletta. For tickets, visit www.kreattivita.org.

Workers were being sacrificed at the altar of competitiveness, with companies seeking to one-up each other to the detriment of their employees, Opposition leader Adrian Delia said.  Speaking at a conference on the Future of Work, Dr Delia said the country needed to prepare for changes in employment. He warned workplaces could soon come to an end, as more people choose to work from home. There will no longer be the physical environment at work that people were accustomed to, the Opposition leader said. This had some advantages since it would lead to less traffic and less emissions, Dr Delia said. However, the Opposition leader warned, it was important to think about the decline in human interaction.  Dr Delia reiterated his calls for the government to prepare for foreigners, saying climate change was bringing about migration from some countries.  We need to look at the responsibility of climate change, he said. Pensions 'crisis' Turning to pensions, the Opposition leader said we had a crisis and no one wanted to admit it. This was a problem that came following successive administrations. We need to ensure that pensions are sustainable in the long-term. "It’s time to start...

Motor sport legend and Paralympics gold medallist Alex Zanardi will be travelling to Malta next month to share his experiences during a Gala Dinner at the Radisson Golden Sands Hotel on May 31. The theme of Zanardi’s talk is ‘Unleash Your Potential’ and the Italian is expected to speak about his innumerable achievements during his career. In 2017, Zanardi won three titles in the Para-Cycling World Championship and he won five gold medals in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio De Janeiro in both the men’s cycling time trial and mixed team relay. He also competed in the World Ironman Contest in Barcelona. Despite his disability, Zanardi managed to finish the race under nine hours to set a new world record. Six months later he further improved that mark in Cervia. Zanardi is being brought to Malta on an invitation by the Avanza Academy, an educational institution, and the event is being sponsored by main sponsors Enemed, along with Konica Minolta and Studio 7. Tickets for the event are available from alexzanardimalta.com.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's ruling ANC won re-election on Friday with an absolute majority in parliament, results showed, but with diminished support, complicating economic revival and anti-corruption efforts. The results, published by the electoral commission, are the party's worst national showing since Nelson Mandela led it to victory in the first multi-racial polls after apartheid ended in 1994. The African National Congress (ANC) held a comfortable lead with 57.73 per cent at 1615 GMT after 95 per cent of voting districts were officially tallied following Wednesday's vote. That means they will be mathematically assured more than 50 per cent of votes cast in the final official tally, due to be announced Saturday. Seats in parliament are allocated based on vote share and the party with the most representatives selects the president, who will be sworn in on May 25. President Ramaphosa, 66, took over last year when the ANC forced then-president Jacob Zuma to resign after nine years dominated by corruption allegations and economic decline. Results released by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) showed the ANC's closest rival, the main opposition Democratic...

The UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Libya as a month-long offensive on the capital grinds on, diplomats said on Thursday. Britain requested the Friday meeting so a UN aid official could brief representatives on the assault that has displaced 55,000 people and left more than 430 dead, the diplomats said on condition of anonymity. Libyan commander Khalifa Hafter, whose forces hold the east of the country, launched the offensive on April 4 to seize Tripoli, seat of the UN-recognized government. The council has been divided over how to respond to the crisis in Libya, forcing Britain to put on hold a draft resolution demanding a ceasefire.

A betting company employee who admitted to having misappropriated over €5,000 worth of betting slips was handed a suspended sentence after admitting to the charges on Friday afternoon. Luca Celotto, 21, from Sanremo, Italy was charged with misappropriation and fraud after helping himself to the betting tickets and tampering with reconciliations to cover up his tracks. Prosecuting Inspector Roderick Agius explained how later checks by the company, backed up by an internal investigation which had found incriminating CCTV, had pointed at the accused as the suspect. The man admitted to his wrongdoing upon arraignment, his legal aid lawyer pointing out that the man had cooperated fully with investigators and had undertaken to reimburse his former employer the full sum of €5,112. In fact, he had already paid €300 and his father would settle the remaining balance, the lawyer explained, while her client wept at the dock. Upon the accused’s own admission, the court, presided over by magistrate Charmaine Galea, declared him guilty and condemned him to a 20-month jail term suspended for two years, ordering him to refund the money within 48 hours.

A silver sketching workshop for children aged six to 11 is taking place tomorrow from 11am to 1pm at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum, Mdina. Palazzo Falson is home to over 800 pieces of silver. This is an opportunity for the children to transform normal-looking silver pieces.  One can secure a place by e-mailing bookings@palazzofalson.com or by calling 2145 1021.

We may be living in the golden age of communication when contacting friends and relatives by technological means has never been easier. However, so many people suffer from the often continuous pain of solitude and loneliness that health experts fret about the crisis of loneliness that poses a grave threat to public health. It is a paradox that feeling lonely is a shared experience. People in all walks of life and strata of society can be affected by this epidemic that devastates the lives of many. Unlike epidemics that put at risk our physical health, like obesity or substance abuse, loneliness rarely attracts much public debate. It is not often that we hear about the consequences of this epidemic that could lead to mental illnesses like depression. A study by the Faculty for Social Well-being of the University of Malta revealed some worrying statistics that confirm the extent of this social reality. Two out of every five Maltese over the age of 11 suffer from loneliness while at least one out of 10 people do not feel positive about their life. Dean Andrew Azzopardi, who led the study with Marilyn Clark, defined these statistics as “quite worrying”. Such studies help to dispel...

The nurses’ union wants the time frame for renovation works at Mount Carmel Hospital to be cut shorter so the job could be done sooner, Times of Malta was told. The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses last month threatened the government it would take action if it was not informed about the time frames of the works. This followed reports in Times of Malta indicating that most of the wards at the country’s only mental health hospital had condemned ceilings. As a result, patients were crammed into a few wards, with beds lined up too close to each other, at times even forcing them to keep their belongings on the floor. In comments to Times of Malta following a joint press conference with the union on a recruitment drive, Health Minister Chris Fearne confirmed that discussions on the issues at Mount Carmel were under way and “progressing well”. “We have a plan for Mount Carmel, which was already there but which, together with the MUMN, has been tweaked a bit,” he said. Union president Paul Pace said that the government had supplied the union with the time frames adding these had to be cut even shorter so the much-needed work could be carried out sooner. “We were given the time frames...

The United States pulled the trigger Friday on a steep increase in tariffs on Chinese products and Beijing immediately vowed to hit back, turning up the heat before a second day of trade negotiations. President Donald Trump got a briefing from his trade negotiators after the first day of talks with the Chinese side on Thursday, but made no move to hold off on the tariffs - dashing hopes there might be a last-minute reprieve as the negotiations continued. Minutes after the US increased punitive duties on $200 billion in imports from China from 10 to 25%, the Chinese commerce ministry said it «deeply regrets» the move and repeated its pledge to take «necessary countermeasures», without elaborating. Locked in a trade dispute for more than a year, officials from the world's two biggest economies returned to the bargaining table late Thursday, led by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Since last year, the two sides have exchanged tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade, gutting US agricultural exports to China and weighing on both countries' manufacturing sectors. Trump began the trade war...

The following are the main stories in Friday’s newspapers Times of Malta quotes Archbishop Charles Scicluna saying that a new Vatican law making the reporting of sex abuse compulsory laid down that Church leaders were not above the law and must answer to wrongdoing like everyone else. In another story, it says an Italian man suspected to have links with the Mafia will be returned home after the court accepted a request by the Italian authorities for his extradition. The Malta Independent says that the remaining €2.9 million stolen in the cyber attack on Bank of Valletta have been found in Hong Kong. L-Orizzont says 500 doctors have joined forces against abortion. In-Nazzjon says that a vote for Labour candidates was a vote for European socialists who wanted to impose abortion on Malta.

25 years ago - The Times Tuesday, May 10, 1994 Stock Exchange considering electronic trading The Malta Stock Exchange is setting up a compensation scheme and considering the introduction of electronic trading on the floor of the exchange, Mr Patrick G. Staines, Stock Exchange chairman, said. It is also looking forward to moving to what is currently the Central Mail Room at Castille Place. Mr Staines said in the annual report for 1993, that the exchange saw a large increase in the volume and value of business handled, from just under Lm12 million in 1992 to more than Lm41 million last year. Reversal of downward trend in diabetics cases reported The number of visits by the Malta Memorial District Nursing Association to diabetics increased by 15,057 last year. According to the association’s annual report visits to both association subscribers and department of health patients suffering from diabetes increased from 179,389 in 1992 to 194,446 last year. Presenting the report, MMDNA management board chairman Louis Galea said: “There was a small increase in the number of cases and visits to diabetics, but this is a trend reversal.” Half a century ago - Times of Malta Saturday, May 10,...

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired Arsenal into the Europa League final by scoring the hat-trick that ended Valencia's hopes of another dramatic European comeback on Thursday.  Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, Valencia made the perfect start at Mestalla when Kevin Gameiro finished at the back post but goals from Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette left the home side needing four in 40 minutes.  Gameiro scored again to spark hopes of a revival to trump even the efforts of Liverpool and Tottenham this week but Aubameyang hit his second and then completed a brilliant hat-trick to complete a 4-2 Arsenal win, 7-3 on aggregate.  It keeps alive Arsenal's chances of securing a place in the Champions League next season and, realistically, their last chance, given they need to overturn three points and an eight-goal swing on Tottenham to finish fourth in the Premier League this weekend.  Some of Valencia's fans headed for the exits and then even more followed when Aubameyang lashed the ball into the roof of the net from the angle for his third, and Arsenal's fourth. 

Kepa Arrizabalaga was Chelsea’s hero as the Spanish goalkeeper sent his side to the Europa League final with two penalty saves in a dramatic 4-3 shoot-out win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday. Still lacking any rhythm in extra-time, Chelsea needed an agile goalline clearance from Luiz to stop Sebastien Haller's shot before the Frankfurt forward was denied again by Davide Zappacosta's header off the line. Azpilicueta thought he'd won it for Chelsea in the closing minutes when he bundled home after Trapp dropped Hazard's cross, but the goal was controversially disallowed for the Spaniard's challenge on the keeper, setting the stage for Kepa and Hazard to see the Blues through to Baku.

Sixty-six migrants were rescued in international waters off Libya on Thursday during two separate operations carried out by the Italian navy and a charity ship, raising the likelihood of a new stand-off over which port will take them in. The first group of 36 migrants was picked up by the navy's Cigala Fulgosi patrol ship around 75 nautical miles off the Libyan coast as part of Italy's «Mare Sicuro» («Safe Seas») operation. A navy statement said those on board, including two women and eight minors, were in «mortal danger» as their makeshift craft had taken on water, adding that they had been rescued «in line with Italian and international law». In the evening, Italian charity rescue ship Mare Jonio said it saved 30 people, including five minors and a pregnant woman, about 40 nautical miles off the Libyan coast. «We asked the Italian MRCC (Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) for a safe port,» the aid group SOS Mediterranee, which charters the Mare Jonio, tweeted. Hard-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, currently campaigning for EU elections, warned he would not allow the migrants to be disembarked in Italy.  "A military ship which will have to assume its...

EU leaders embarked the delicate task of filling key European posts Thursday, launching a diplomatic «Game of Thrones» sure to be filled with feuds, betrayals and last minute plot twists. The leaders came to discuss the future of Europe in the Romanian city of Sibiu, a medieval walled city surrounded by snow-capped mountains, once the stomping ground of Vlad the Impaler. First intended as a summit to discuss the future of Europe after Brexit, the meeting instead turned to filling top EU jobs, including that of the head of the European Commission. «This summit has become the kick-off of the European political season. Those who want to get into the ring or who have a clear message to send can do so,» an EU diplomat told AFP. Currently held by former Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the commission serves a five-year term as Europe's chief legislator, trade negotiator and regulation supremo. It's a coveted job and lands as other plum EU posts open, with the leadership of the European Central Bank also up for grabs. Also included is the post of president of the EU Council -- now held by former Polish prime minister Donald Tusk -- and that of the EU's diplomatic...

Far-right MEP candidate Norman Lowell has been reported to the Broadcasting Authority and the police for hate speech. The report was filed by the Commission for the Rights of People with a Disability soon after the Imperium Europa leader was seen as having promoted eugenics during a TV interview on F-Living, the CRPD confirmed with Times of Malta.  Mr Lowell was reported to have said on TV that horribly mentally defective babies should be aborted or granted a benign mercy killing. During the interview, weeks ahead of the European Parliament elections, he asked whether anyone enjoyed going to a village which was full of village idiots and whether anyone wanted handicapped people?  Commissioner Oliver Scicluna said CRPD had received complaints from several people. Mr Lowell was handed down a two-year jail term suspended for four years in 2008 after he was found guilty of inciting racial hatred and insulting the President of Malta.  

The strategy for Valletta was a “shortsighted view” on the future of the city and was more about generating investment than helping liveability, a V18 study found. The findings are part of a research plan by the Valletta 2018 foundation, which had set up a research department to gauge the impact of its stint at the helm of the European Capital of Culture. The study, with architect Antoine Zammit as lead author, found “strong proof” that Valletta was transforming from a residential to a catering destination.  “The Valletta research reveals a number of lost opportunities and the decline of involvement due to policies,” it noted. Most regeneration schemes spurred on by V18 did not have explicit policies on community participation, nor did they incorporate it into their strategic planning. Research focused on four areas within Valletta that underwent regeneration: Strait Street, the Valletta market (Suq tal-Belt), the historic Biċċerija (slaughterhouse) quarter and fine arts museum Muża. The evidence showed most regeneration schemes did not have explicit policies on community participation, nor did they incorporate it into their strategic planning, the report said. “Overall, the...