Daniil Medvedev’s French Open campaign came to an end on Tuesday with an ill-judged underarm serve on match point followed by an impassioned outburst over his eagerly-awaited showdown with Stefanos Tsitsipas being played inside an empty stadium. The colourful world number two was beaten 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 by Greek fifth seed Tsitsipas who will face Germany’s Alexander Zverev for a place in Sunday’s final.  It was only Tsitsipas’s second win over Medvedev in eight meetings and it ended in bizarre fashion. The mercurial Russian decided to serve underarm on match point down. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

Spain defender Diego Llorente on Tuesday became the second player from the country’s Euro 2020 squad to test positive for Covid-19 after captain Sergio Busquets, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced. “The RFEF regrets to announce that central defender Diego Llorente has tested positive in the latest PCR tests carried out this morning at the national team base at Las Rozas,” the federation said in a statement. Llorente, who plays for Leeds United in England’s Premier League, has left the squad as did Busquets following his positive test on Sunday. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

While most of us can expect to live to around 80, some people defy expectations and live to be over 100. In places such as Okinawa, Japan and Sardinia, Italy, there are many centenarians. The oldest person in history – a French woman named Jeanne Calment – lived to 122. When she was born in 1875, the average life expectancy was roughly 43. But just how long could a human actually live? It’s a question people have been asking for centuries. While average life expectancy (the number of years a person can expect to live) is relatively easy to calculate, maximum lifespan estimates (the greatest age a human could possibly reach) are much harder to make. Previous studies have placed this limit close to 140 years of age. But a more recent study proposes that the limit to human lifespan is closer to 150. Calculating lifespan The oldest and still most widely used method for calculating life expectancy, and thus lifespan, relies on the Gompertz equation. This is the observation, first made in the 19th century, that human death rates from disease increase exponentially with time. Essentially, this means your chance of death – from cancer, heart disease and many infections, for example –...

Ahead of the start of Euro 2020 on Friday, AFP Sport selects six of the continent’s brightest young stars to watch at the month-long tournament. The player of the tournament when England won the Under-17 World Cup in India in 2017, Foden is now set to be unleashed on a full international competition for the first time at the age of 21. Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

The front pages of Times of Malta from 25 and 10 years ago.  Become a Times of Malta premium member to gain full access to our archive dating back to January 1930.

Investors trod a cautious line on Wednesday in Asia with focus firmly on the release of US inflation data later in the week, which could have a huge bearing on the Federal Reserve’s plans for monetary policy, while the European Central Bank’s latest meeting will also keenly watched. Global markets have essentially been in a holding position this month as traders try to determine the outlook for central banks’ policies in light of the surging economic recovery, with concerns that a spike in prices will force them to taper ultra-loose monetary programmes. Officials continue to pledge that any sharp rise in inflation will only be temporary and they will maintain their accommodative position until the economy is well on the recovery track, but investors remain susceptible to data. That makes Thursday’s consumer price index (CPI) figures crucial, observers say, with anything above the 4.7 per cent forecast likely to ramp up expectations the Fed will tighten policy earlier than expected. “The tight trading ranges seen so far this month reflect the cautious mood in the market ahead of the inflation numbers,” said Fiona Cincotta of City Index. “Whilst the Fed reassures that this spike...

Giuseppe Mantella Restauri have completed the restoration of the 7th and last painting by Mattia Preti at Sarria Church, ‘St. Michael the Archangel’s Victory over Evil’. The project was coordinated by Din l-Art Helwa with financial support by Sparkasse Bank Malta. The lunette has been returned to its place high up on the left below the cupola as one enters the circular church in Floriana. Of the seven paintings in this unique building, this presented the most serious challenges, the NGO said. Prior to the restoration, multi-disciplined diagnostic analysis and 3D surveying had to be carried out with the collaboration of the University of Malta and several universities in Italy. The archangel can now be seen in all his glory wearing the robes of a Knight of the Order of Malta. He is accompanied by a host of angels defying the crowd of devils. It is a representation of the victory of all that is good over evil. This church and all the paintings adorning it were a thanksgiving pledge by Grandmaster Nicolas Cotoner to the Immaculate Conception and the saints for the freeing of Malta from the Plague of 1676.  

A US pharmacist has been jailed for three years after pleading guilty to tampering with hundreds of Moderna coronavirus vaccines, the Justice Department said on Tuesday. Steven R. Brandenburg, 46, "purposefully removed" vaccine vials from their refrigerator unit even though they must be stored at a certain temperature until used, court documents said. The pharmacist was also ordered to pay $83,800 in compensation to the Wisconsin hospital where he worked. He removed the vials on two overnight shifts in December, leaving them outside for hours before returning them to be used on recipients the following day. A total of 57 people received vaccines with the vials that Brandenburg had tampered with, the Justice Department statement said. "The purposeful attempt to spoil vaccine doses during a national public health emergency is a serious crime," said Brian Boynton, acting assistant attorney general of the department's Civil Division. Brandenburg had expressed skeptical views about vaccines and specifically the Moderna vaccine, according to his plea agreement. Moderna vaccines must be stored at standard refrigerator temperatures. More than 124 million doses of the Moderna vaccine...

While Malta – and most of Europe – is recovering from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic and getting ready to cautiously enjoy summer, other countries are still battling new variants, second and third waves, and dire health conditions.  The situation in India can best be described as a catastrophe. The situation in the sub-continent plunged to depressing lows in recent months, with India reporting its highest number of cases – over four million – in the first week of May. Since then, the WHO situation report shows there has been a decline of 69 per cent in daily cases in the last 25 days. In all, 30 states have shown a decrease in cases, with Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana reporting the biggest drops. Various measures are also in place. In Punjab, for instance, authorities are issuing oxygen cylinders to patients who require assistance after being discharged from hospital. In Kerala, children orphaned during COVID-19 will be taken into care and the state will support them in their education and financially. Yet close to 350,000 people in India have died, to date, from the coronavirus pandemic. And the public health situation is still struggling with...

The MTV Video Music Awards will take place on September 12 in New York, the channel announced Tuesday – the latest news that live entertainment is coming back in the city as it emerges from the pandemic. MTV has yet to announce which artists will perform at the event, to be staged in front of an audience at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn. Last year, MTV initially announced that the 2020 edition would be held at the same arena before cancelling that plan and hosting a scattered, behind-closed-doors ceremony with pre-recorded musical performances in several New York locations. The eligibility period for this year's videos is from July 2020 to June 2021. Cultural activities are returning to New York as the city reopens in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, boosted by vaccinations.  Also on Tuesday, Madison Square Garden announced that it would host on June 20 the first event in front of a capacity crowd since coronavirus struck in March 2020 – a Foo Fighters concert. Only spectators that can prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed in, the venue said. "We've been waiting for this day for over a year. And Madison Square Garden is going to feel that hard,"...

A Havana zoo has introduced the country’s first-ever white Bengal tiger, a rare type not known to exist in the wild.  Mother Fiona gave birth to four cubs – including white tiger Yanek – at the National Zoo of Cuba in March; but only now, it said, are the cubs independent enough to be presented to the public as they play and swim in their special zoo pool.  “We are very happy that a white tiger has been born in Cuba; it is the first time that this has happened,” said the animals’ caretaker Angel Cordero. They were also the first tiger cubs born on Cuban soil in more than 20 years. Along with Yanek, Fiona and fellow Bengal tiger Garfield are the proud parents of sisters Melissa and Gaby, and brother Miguel.   Conservation group WWF describes white tigers as “a genetic anomaly,” with none known to exist in the wild. There are several dozen in captivity.   White tigers are Bengal tigers whose parents carry a recessive gene, according to the nonprofit Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota, which helps and studies felines. They are not albinos or a separate species. Some parks and zoos inbreed white tigers, as the rarity draws more visitors, though this is often at the cost of...

On a fine day in early June of 1798, a forest of masts encircled Malta and every knight on the island was gripped by fear of what was to come. More than 280 vessels loomed on the horizon, boasting a firepower of 1,026 cannons. Aboard the vessels, 54,000 French troops were ready to disembark. This pivotal moment in the history of Malta – and the letter that led to it – feature in a new Heritage Malta documentary. Entitled L-Ittra ta’ Napuljun (Napoleon’s Letter), the documentary has been produced with the support of historians, military experts, linguists and curators who discuss the unique document that kickstarted the French rule in Malta. The letter in question was sent to General Louis Desaix by Napoleon Bonaparte, who instructed him to gather the remnants of the papal fleet and make haste for the seas round Syracuse, or any ideal area that would make the invasion of Malta possible. The letter was acquired by Heritage Malta last year, followed by other contemporary letters documenting key exchanges between British Fleet Rear Admiral Sir John Orde, who was seeking Napoleon’s fleet, and the British Consul in Tangier. Through its insightful new documentary, Heritage Malta...

It has been just over a week since the Maltese authorities unveiled the so-called vaccine certificate, with many already rushing to get their hands on the document. But while people were eager to download the certificate, keen on getting some much-desired freedom – the document facilitates travel and in the future might make attending mass events possible – some readers are still unsure of the process.  Times of Malta has compiled a series of questions and answers that explain what the certificate is all about. Can I apply for a certificate with just one dose? No. For the certificate to be issued, a person needs to have had both vaccine doses, unless vaccinated by a single-dose jab. The certificate will only be handed out 14 days after the second dose has been administered. Where can I use the certificate? For now, the certificate can only be used at the airport and when visiting the elderly in care facilities. However, the government has said that it planned to allow the use of the certificate for other purposes. Details on how this will work and which events will be permitted have yet to be unveiled, with the authorities insisting talks on this are still underway. Can I...

Over 5.2 billion people suffer religious freedom violations every day. This is one of the harrowing details that are revealed in the 2021 edition of the Religious Freedom in the World Report (RFR), the main research project of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). From a small booklet first published about 22 years ago, today the RFR has become a publication of about 800 researched pages produced by a worldwide team. This evolution reflects the fact that discrimination and persecution on grounds of religious belief is a growing global phenomenon that passes under the radar of most media organisations. With the participation of international speakers who themselves are experiencing discrimination and persecution in Iraq, Syria and Nigeria, the Malta office of ACN held a national conference to launch the RFR’s executive summary on the island. The testimonials of Fr Spiridon Kabbash (Syria), Archbishop Bashar Warda (Iraq), Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama (Nigeria), Mgr Hector Scerri, and Regina Lynch from ACN International, highlighted aspects of real-life situations that were mentioned in the RFR findings. ACN is the only international organisation specifically dedicated to helping...

Phil Foden has thanked England manager Gareth Southgate for giving him a second chance after he was sent home from his first international camp in disgrace in September. The Manchester City star had just made his England debut against Iceland when details emerged that he and Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood had broken coronavirus restrictions by inviting girls into the team hotel in Reykjavík. Foden was left out for one more squad before Southgate welcomed him back in November, when he scored his first two international goals against Iceland. “I made a massive mistake. I was young. Gareth told me if I keep doing well, keep performing well, I should get another opportunity,” Foden said on Tuesday.  Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

The government has yet to shoulder responsibility for illegal and abusive promotions for the top brass of the armed forces, the Nationalist Party said on Wednesday. It was reacting after Times of Malta reported on Tuesday that the Ombudsman had found that the accelerated promotion of four Armed Forces of Malta officers soon after the 2013 general election was “outright illegal”, having been ordered directly by the home affairs minister at the time and carried out behind the back of the AFM commander. Shadow Minister Beppe Fenech Adami said this was the latest in a series of confirmation of the abuses made by the Labour government in army promotions. The country now found itself with an army whose most senior officers were promoted in an illegal and abusive manner to the detriment of others. And the government of Prime Minister Robert Abela was doing nothing to remedy the injustice suffered by those who were passed over.  Fenech Adami insisted that the prime minister and the minister responsible at the time needed to shoulder political responsibility and the PN remained committed to administer justice.  

Theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd-Webber said in an interview published Wednesday he is prepared to be arrested if the British government does not lift all coronavirus restrictions. All measures are due to be eased on June 21 but there is increasing concern the move could be delayed because of rising infection rates in some parts of the country. Lloyd-Webber, who has had a string of hits in London's West End and on Broadway in New York, said postponement would be another blow for the hard-hit entertainment industry. The Cats and Evita composer has been among the loudest voices in the sector calling for theatres to reopen in full, insisting they are "completely safe" for the public. Lloyd-Webber is putting on his first musical in six years, Cinderella, next month, and said whatever happens, "we are going to open, come hell or high water". Asked by The Daily Telegraph what he would do if the government postponed the lifting of restrictions, he said: "We will say: 'Come to the theatre and arrest us'." He also promised to either sue the government or demand compensation if his new show could not open, outlining the huge financial burden of closures. It is costing £1 million (1.2...

German exports ticked up in April, official data showed on Wednesday, rising for the 12th consecutive month as Europe’s top economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. Demand for “made in Germany” goods climbed 0.3 per cent month-on-month in seasonally adjusted figures, federal statistics office Destatis said. Compared with February 2020, the month before the pandemic forced worldwide curbs on economic activity, exports were just 0.5 per cent lower in April. Imports meanwhile fell 1.7 per cent month-on-month, as German manufacturers struggled to get their hands on key raw materials, including semiconductors and lumber. Some analysts have voiced concern that the ongoing supply chain disruptions could slow Germany’s rebound as the export powerhouse emerges from months of shutdowns. But Economy Minister Peter Altmaier remains optimistic. He said last week he expects the German economy to grow by up to four per cent this year, raising an earlier forecast of 3.5 per cent. According to Destatis, Germany’s trade surplus – often criticised by partners and allies as a sign of economic imbalances – increased to €15.9 billion in April from €14.3bn in March.

The European Parliament has adopted the European Commission's plan for a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate, but Malta is one of three countries not yet ready to join. Nine member states are already connected to the EU-wide system, which will officially launch on July 1 following the European Parliament's vote on Wednesday. Malta, Hungary and Finland are listed as being in a 'test phase' in terms of being technically ready to connect to the EU system.  Countries must be fully connected to the EU system for their certificates to be recognised across EU borders, or to be able to verify certificates issued by other member states.  Wednesday's European Parliament vote saw 546 MEPs vote in favour of the Commission plan, with 93 against and 51 abstentions. The Commission welcomed the overwhelming vote, saying it will help restart EU free movement as safely as possible.  "It will also give citizens clarity to plan their travel," the commission said. Certificates will be issued free of charge by national authorities and be available in either digital or paper format containing a QR code. They will serve as proof to show that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has...

Italian sports car maker Ferrari on Wednesday named Benedetto Vigna, an expert in semiconductors, as its new chief executive, starting from September. The 52-year-old Italian is currently a member of the executive committee of French chipmaker STMicroelectronics, and head of its Analog, MEMS (Micro-electromechanical Systems) and Sensors Group. Vigna will take over from John Elkann, the scion of the Italian Agnelli car dynasty, who will retain his other position as chairman of Ferrari. “His deep understanding of the technologies driving much of the change in our industry, and his proven innovation, business-building and leadership skills, will further strengthen Ferrari,” Elkann said of Vigna. “It’s a special honour to be joining Ferrari as its CEO and I do so with an equal sense of excitement and responsibility. Excitement at the great opportunities that are there to be captured,” said Vigna. Ferrari is controlled by the Agnelli family. Elkann is also president of Stellantis, the company born out of the recent merger between Fiat Chrysler and PSA, the French group that includes Peugeot, Citroen and Opel.