A court has sentenced a former president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee to more than 30 years in prison for buying votes to win Rio de Janeiro’s bid to host the 2016 Olympics. Carlos Nuzman, 79, was convicted in federal court of masterminding the payment of around $2 million in bribes to the former head of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Lamine Diack, and his son Papa Massata Diack to buy votes for Rio’s candidacy. The ex-official was convicted of corruption, organized crime, money laundering and smuggling cash, Rio de Janeiro Judge Marcelo Bretas said in sentencing Nuzman on Thursday to 30 years and 11 months. Nuzman, who led the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) from 1995 to 2017, was granted conditional release following his arrest four years ago and will now remain free pending appeal. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

European champions Italy and Portugal could meet for a place at the 2022 World Cup after being drawn in the same play-off path on Friday. The Azzurri and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal both finished second in their qualifying groups, behind Switzerland and Serbia respectively. Italy will host North Macedonia in the play-off first round in March, with Turkey visiting Portugal, before the winners face off for a spot at next year’s finals in Qatar. The draw means that one of the last two European Championship winners will not be at the next World Cup. Portugal won the Euro 2016 title. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

Epic has started to roll-out 5G with record breaking 1500 Mbps speed as part of the launch of its brand-new mobile network. The new mobile network brings faster speeds, wider coverage and the latest innovative technology for local consumers and businesses. The new milestone is part of Epic’s €40 million value investment in new infrastructure. The announcement was made during a press conference held on Friday, November 26, in the presence of the Minister for the Economy and Industry, the Hon. Mr. Silvio Schembri, the MCA Chief Technology Officer Ing. Antoine C. Sciberras and UOM AI Senior Lecturer Prof. Alexiei Dingli. Addressing the media at the launch, Epic CEO Tamas Banyai said: “Today, as we celebrate the first year of Epic in Malta, we are once again delivering on our brand promise to offer Great Network and Great Value to our customers. Today we are launching our new mobile network, which provides better coverage and higher speeds to our customers, whilst the introduction of the 5G technology is taking the customer experience on Epic’s network to the next level. Our customers will enjoy greater bandwidth as well as faster and reliable internet connectivity wherever they...

A man accused of assault in a bar brawl was cleared of all criminal liability on Friday. The incident dates back to August 2, 2020 when a father and son had been drinking beer at two Marsalforn seafront restaurants, making their way through several pints before the violent fight broke out shortly after midnight. Footage of the incident ended up on social media, enabling police to identify Macedonian national Aleksandar Trajkovski as one of the six suspects who had allegedly turned upon the Maltese man. A third party who was seen dealing the first blow subsequently fled from the scene. The following morning, the alleged victim, limping and sporting facial scratches and bruising was accompanied to hospital by a relative where he was found to have also suffered two fractured toes. His injuries were certified as grievous. A police report was lodged and charges were subsequently issued against the suspect aggressor who pleaded not guilty to grievously injuring the alleged victim, attempting to use force against his son as well as disturbing the repose of inhabitants that night. When testifying shortly after the incident, the victim said that he had been on an evening out with his...

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Ralf Rangnick’s expected arrival at arch-rivals Manchester United is “not good news for other teams” due to his vast experience and ability to organise teams. Klopp’s fellow German is set to be installed as United interim manager until the end of the season following last week’s sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a terrible run of results.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

The Catholic Action Movement organised a meeting for Gozitan female members at its headquarters in Victoria on Tuesday. After an introductory speech by diocesan president Antoine Vassallo, branch ecclesiastical assistant George Frendo celebrated mass, during which special mention was made of St Gianna Beretta Molla. Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian physician, a working mother, professional woman and a loving wife. She was beatified in 1994 and canonised 10 years later. Eight years ago, a reliquary of the saint was brought over to Gozo from Rome through the intervention of her daughter Gianna Emanuela Molla and then Gozo bishop, now cardinal, Mario Grech. The reliquary is kept at the Catholic Action Movement’s headquarters and is taken to private homes by the movement’s members whenever devotees ask for it. After a coffee break, branch president Bernardette Vella, who made the necessary arrangements for the event, thanked participants and encouraged them to patronise similar events in the future. The meeting ended with a ‘Pilgrimage with Our Lady’ through video clips and profound reflections by Canon Frendo. Principal stops were made at Nazareth, Ein Karem, Betlehem and...

Activists held a demonstration in remembrance of the victims of femicide in Malta to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.  Moviment Graffitti said they are holding two days of activities highlighting the continuous cycle of violence – physical, domestic, psychological and emotional – suffered by women.   Distinct from homicide and other forms of gender violence, femicide is a leading cause of premature death for women globally. However, although it has a high profile in the US and South America, research on this crime in Europe is sporadic and not well documented. On Friday, the group, together with activists from Young Progressive Beings and Women’s Rights Foundation, performed “L-istupratur huwa int” (You are the Rapist) in a demonstration held outside the court in Valletta. The women’s chant of “you are the rapist” is directed at society at large and national institutions, which the demonstrators say are guilty of failing to treat violence against women with the urgency it demands.  Activists also wore masks covered in blood as a reminder that femicide silences women in the most violent of ways and carried placards with the names of 16 women...

A restoration project on the underground reservoir in Vittoriosa’s Victory Square has given back over 800,000 litres of secondary water to be used in the locality for landscape irrigation and street cleaning among other uses. The rehabilitation of this 17th century reservoir forms part of the activities within the Alter Aqua project, which for this year has been entitled ‘Vittoriosa - Water Saving City’. Through these works, the reservoir underwent extensive rehabilitation works to enable the reinstatement of its water catchment capacity, with the removal of over 64 tons of sludge. Upgrade works in the reservoir were carried out, including cleaning and plastering of floors and walls together with accessibility works to facilitate future cleaning and maintenance works. The Alter Aqua programme is in its tenth year of impact in Malta promoting non-conventional water resources as a solution to water scarcity and climate change adaptation. This programme is funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation and thanks to investment of $1.3 million, 21 sites have received assistance, conserving over 20,000,000 litres of water per year. For this occasion, an exhibition entitled ‘Vittoriosa – Water...

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says Ben Chilwell could return to action in just six weeks after the England defender suffered a worrying knee injury that prompted fears he could miss the rest of the season. The left-back limped out of Tuesday’s 4-0 Champions League win against Juventus following a challenge from France international Adrien Rabiot. But Tuchel said on Friday that the 24-year-old may be able to avoid surgery, allowing him to play again sooner than expected, which would be a huge boost for the Premier League leaders.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

Maserati is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Ghibli. On November 3, 1966, the Maserati Ghibli made its debut on the world stage, at the Ghia stand at the Turin Motor Show. A new interpretation of the concept of a gran turismo car, the two-seater coupé was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The name recalled a wind, a tradition that continues to this day with the Grecale, part of the Trident brand’s new era. The Ghibli is a powerful, warm wind in North Africa that carries with it a great deal of sand; the decision to take its name was no coincidence, given the car’s speed and the 'warmth’ of its technical and stylistic specifications. In its presentation of the Ghibli, Maserati proposed a car with a sporty yet unostentatious impression: the engine was newly designed, based on the experience of the well-known eight-cylinder used in the Mexico. It could deliver an output of 330hp in the 4,700cc version, and was followed by an even more powerful 4,900cc version. To leave more room for style by lowering the height of the hood, the engine was equipped with a dry sump – a solution used solely in racing, and was mounted on the tubular chassis, very low down. This solution gave the...

RB Leipzig suffered a blow ahead of Sunday’s home Bundesliga game against Bayer Leverkusen with six more of their squad and staff having tested positive for Covid-19, including striker Yussuf Poulsen. Leipzig need a home win against fourth-placed Leverkusen to move into the top six in Germany’s top flight. Head coach Jesse Marsch and goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi are already in quarantine after testing positive last week.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

The Netherlands will tighten its partial Covid lockdown with the early closure of bars, restaurants and shops to curb a spike in cases, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Friday. Dozens of protesters demonstrated in The Hague as Rutte unveiled the toughened measures, which come as hospitals warn they are being overwhelmed. "From Sunday, the whole of the Netherlands is effectively closed between 5pm and 5am," Rutte told a televised press conference. "We have to be realistic, the daily figures are still too high," he added, referring to infection figures which are running at more than 20,000 a day. Non-essential shops had previously been allowed to stay open until 6:00 pm, and catering establishments until 8:00 pm. Patrons must now wear masks and maintain social distancing of 1.5 metres (five feet), meaning that cafes, cinemas, theatres and other venues will have reduced capacity, Rutte said. Schools will stay open, despite the fact that the largest rise in infections is among children. Rutte acknowledged that the government had failed to get across the message that people with symptoms need to get tested, since it last tightened the measures two weeks ago. "I blame myself for that,"...

Pep Guardiola has urged Raheem Sterling to maintain his recent revival after the Manchester City forward was the subject of fresh speculation about his future. England forward Sterling had struggled to break into the City team on a regular basis since the latter stages of last season. That led to renewed talk recently the 26-year-old would consider a move away from the Premier League champions.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

Jean Claude Micallef has told Ben Camille that practising the sport of athletics during his younger years has been very important in his development as a person. Speaking during this week’s edition of GAMEON, Micallef, who is a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party, said sport has helped him to gain self-confidence in his ability and also the ability to communicate better with other persons. “When I was young, athletics was an integral part of my life,” Micallef, a former national champion in high jump, said. “I started practising the sport at the age of 12. It was Mark Farrugia who discovered my talents at Starmax Club. Then I joined Aloysians and all my life moved around athletics, attending training sessions every day. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

Businesses registered “decent” sales during Black Friday in what was a mixed bag for local retailers, the chamber of small and medium enterprises said on Friday night.   In a statement, the Chamber of SMEs said that following a tough pandemic season, businesses were looking forward to making up for it during this years' Black Friday sales.  The chamber said the absolute majority of businesses did better than they did in 2020, and some got closer to their figures in 2019.  However, there was still a lot of room for improvement.  Black Friday sales weekend gets off to a quiet start “It is clear that Malta's economy is still suffering the effects of COVID-19 and also other challenges coupled with this,” the chamber said.   What di people buy in the sales? The chamber said that, as usual, gadgets, electronics and appliances proved the most popular purchase this year.  Businesses changed strategy this year making their offers available on a longer stretch of time, the chamber said.  This, the chamber said, helped with sales figures.  In fact, some leading players wished they had more stock in hand to sell, the chamber said.   Meanwhile, other items had a slower start to Black Friday...

Malta’s women dominated Montenegro but failed to make the pressure count as they fell to a 2-0 defeat in their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier at the Centenary Stadium. The Maltese side was brimming in confidence from the starting whistle, creating also a number of goal-scoring opportunities. However, the missed chances came back to haunt Malta as Montenegro capitalised on the only opportunities they created in the game with a goal in each half.   Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

Visual artist Mary Rose Saliba is currently exhibiting her works at Stella Maris retreat house, run by the Missionary Society of St Paul, in Żebbuġ, Gozo. From an early age, Saliba, of Żebbuġ (Gozo), showed great interest in art and design. She is currently doing a Masters Degree in Social Practice Arts and Critical Education at the University of Malta. Saliba recently graduated BA Hons in Fine Arts at MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts. She has also achieved an extended diploma with distinction in health and social care. The artist entrenches a philosophical, psychological, political and biological meaning through the very essence of her paintings. Her work centres around the coexistence of dualities. She investigates uncertain divisions between opposing poles: humanity and the divine. The psychological aspect of the protagonist plays a good part around the narrative element of the exhibition. The artist considers this as a symbol of human condition, within a cultural, traditional and spiritual aspect. Saliba’s sacred work is developed through a series of oil paintings, which she painted at an earlier stage of her career. Her contemporary, monumental panel is manifested...

Politicians do not miss an opportunity to claim that their mission is to serve the country and its people. Yet, notwithstanding such declared lofty ideals, it is not uncommon to realise that quite a few are, in fact, there to see what they can get rather than what they can give. Examples abound and are certainly not a recent phenomenon, though what we have been experiencing over these last years take the matter to a new high. Since their decisions directly affect our daily life, the quality of those who represent the people in parliament is of paramount consideration. In this discussion, whether MPs should be full-time is regularly raised. The commissioner for standards in public life raised the matter recently in an article in the Times of Malta titled ‘The elephant in the House’, referring to the need to pay MPs more. However, the real elephant in the room, the top priority, is how high the people’s representatives can raise the bar of standards in public life. In his article, the commissioner stressed that: “It is a sense of duty and a desire to serve the community that should attract people to political life and not the honorarium.” Remuneration, of course, should be...

148th day of the 'new normal' Żepp is produced by Ġorġ Mallia. See more Żepp cartoons.

 The Civil Protection Department rescued at least 15 people caught in dangerous situations after Thursday’s floods, CPD director Emanuel Psaila said. After a month’s worth of rain came down over the island and streets became overrun with floodwater, motorists got trapped in their vehicles with cars being submerged and even swept away. Despite the authorities becoming overwhelmed at points, and with images of dramatic property damage like collapsed walls and flooded basements doing the rounds on social media, no fatalities were reported. On Friday, certain parts of Malta, like Attard and Ta’ Qali, seemed to continue retaining large amounts of water, with fields still visibly flooded throughout the day. Speaking to Times of Malta, Psaila said that, despite the flurry of activity from his department, it had not been the worst storm he’s seen Malta weather during his time. “Most of our operations were focused mainly on helping people who became trapped in their cars,” he said. “Then, when things settled down, we were called in to help to deal with flooding. As the fire engines come equipped with powerful pumps, we can help in basements or factories where a very large and possibly...