VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta is preparing to trial autonomous buses under a new legislative framework prioritising safety, controlled testing and evidence gathering. The initiative is being introduced by Transport Malta as part of an EU-funded pilot project. It involves collaboration between the University of Malta and Malta Public Transport, the national operator. Testing is expected to take place in both Malta and Gozo on pre-approved routes. In Malta, one route will connect Smart City and the Esplora science centre in Kalkara. In Gozo, trials will run between San Lawrenz and the Ta’ Dbieġi Crafts Village. The project is scheduled to continue until 2027.

Despite the term “autonomous”, the buses will not operate without human oversight. Each vehicle will carry a qualified driver at all times, ready to take control instantly if required. Existing legislation currently requires a driver to maintain full control of any vehicle, limiting real-world testing. The new framework creates what officials describe as a tightly controlled legal “sandbox” for experimentation. Only approved operators will be permitted to conduct trials under strict authorisation. Each route will require specific approval, and all trials will be time-limited. The initiative aims to support EU smart mobility goals while building local technical expertise. Authorities say the focus is on collecting real-world data before any long-term policy decisions are made. Officials emphasise that the project is not a precursor to immediate driverless public transport. Instead, it is intended as a low-risk assessment of how autonomous systems perform in Malta’s road conditions.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Andreas Christensen’s future is still up in the air. The 30-year-old Danish center back, who is still recovering from a partial cruciate ligament tear in his left knee suffered before Christmas, is out of contract in June and would like to stay at Barcelona.

But according to “Mundo Deportivo,” negotiations for a renewal are stalling: Christensen has reportedly already rejected the club’s offer, which included a one-year contract with an option for the following season, tied to variables, and a significantly lower salary than what the player currently earns, having arrived in the summer of 2022 on a free transfer from Chelsea. Christensen, a player favored by Flick for his quality, experience, and versatility, is confident that an agreement can be reached, but in the meantime, clubs from the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, and even the Italian Serie A are reportedly interested.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MUNICH (GERMANY) (ITALPRESS) – Bad news for Bayern Munich, which has lost Serge Gnabry. The Bavarian club announced that the player has suffered “an avulsion of the adductor tendon in his right thigh” and will be out for a “long time.” The recovery time has not been specified, but according to German press, Gnabry has not only ended his season early, but also risks missing the next World Cup with Germany. Bayern, who could celebrate winning the Bundesliga title today, are still in contention both in the Champions League, where they will play the two-legged semifinal against PSG, and in the German Cup, where they face Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A KM Malta Airlines flight bound for Paris was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff on Saturday morning due to a crew assignment error, the airline confirmed.

Flight KM478, en route to Charles de Gaulle Airport, departed Malta International Airport as scheduled but was found to be operating with a copilot still undergoing training. Regulations require trainee copilots to be accompanied by a licensed instructor.

However, the flight’s captain was not certified as an instructor, placing the operation in breach of aviation rules.

The issue was identified roughly 20 minutes into the flight, as the aircraft reached airspace near Sicily. The crew was then instructed to return to Malta.

The aircraft landed safely, and passengers were later accommodated on a rescheduled departure using a different crew.

KM Malta Airlines confirmed the incident, attributing it to a crew mix-up and stating that corrective measures were taken promptly.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Concern is growing for Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio. According to COPE, the player has been forced to go to the hospital for tests due to worsening gastroenteritis in recent days, which prevented him from flying to Monaco last Tuesday. Asencio could be hospitalized after losing six kilos in a short time.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LISBON (PORTUGAL) (ITALPRESS) – “The only club to have presented a concrete project to Bernardo Silva is Juventus.” This is reported by the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, which highlights that the 31-year-old midfielder (turning 32 on August 10) has already announced he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season.

The Italian club has been working on the deal for some time, is in contact with his agent Jorge Mendes, and has already submitted a detailed plan, guaranteeing the player a leading role under coach Luciano Spalletti.

According to A Bola, the Portuguese midfielder has asked for two weeks before making a decision. Offers from clubs in the United States and Saudi Arabia are also on the table, while in Europe Juventus’ main rival would be Barcelona.

At Manchester City, Bernardo Silva earns €10 million per year. An offer between €8 and €9 million would be required, and according to A Bola, Juventus “would be willing to make an exception to their salary cap to secure the midfielder, exceeding the €7 million currently earned by Kenan Yildiz.”

The player has reportedly already sought advice from Pep Guardiola and his national teammate Francisco Conceição. The two also share the same agent and could end up playing together in Turin.

“If he asks me anything, I’ll tell him Juventus is a great club. We haven’t spoken yet, but I’d tell him that here you have to win. Every team in the world would want a player like him in their squad,” Conceição said, as quoted by A Bola.

– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – A year and a half of work for Frank Lampard, 25 seasons of hell and purgatory for Coventry. Since yesterday, however, celebrations have returned to the West Midlands city. After a quarter of a century, the team is returning to the Premier League. The mathematical certainty came yesterday with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn in a match valid for the 43rd matchday of the Championship, England’s second division. With four games left to play, Milwall, third in the table with 73 points from 42 games, cannot catch Frank Lampard’s team, which has 86 points from 43 games.

The manager, who arrived in November 2024, after a few months of settling in, has been the protagonist of a season that surprised everyone and culminated with the triumph of returning to the Premier League. A wonderful comeback for one of the legends of English football. The former midfielder, manager since 2018 (Derby County was his first club), has put his negative experiences with Chelsea and Everton behind him, restarted from Serie B and made Coventry history, reclaiming the Premier League.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Chelsea have officially announced the renewal of Moises Caicedo. The 24-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder, who arrived in the summer of 2023 from Brighton, has signed a new contract until 2033. Caicedo has made 140 appearances for Chelsea to date.

– foto IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta faces growing uncertainty over its energy future, four months before the expiration of a gas supply agreement with the Azerbaijani company SOCAR. The government has yet to announce a replacement agreement, raising concerns about the security of electricity supply for households and businesses in Malta and Gozo. Prime Minister Robert Abela and Energy Minister Miriam Dalli recently held technical and social partner meetings to discuss the ongoing situation. In March, Minister Dalli assured that negotiations for a new contract were underway. However, the expiring agreement between Electrogas and SOCAR has drawn criticism from the opposition, which argues that negotiations should have begun in 2024 or, at the latest, last year.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews