Thomas Tuchel admitted Chelsea rode their luck as the Premier League leaders survived a spluttering display to snatch a 2-1 win against Watford on Wednesday. Tuchel’s side were well below their best at Vicarage Road, but Hakim Ziyech bagged the 72nd minute winner to extend their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions. Mason Mount put Chelsea ahead with his fourth goal this season in the 29th minute before Emmanuel Dennis hit a deflected equaliser two minutes before half-time. Watford could claim they deserved at least a point after pushing Chelsea onto the back foot, both before and after a 30-minute delay while medics assisted a supporter who suffered a cardiac arrest. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

The League championship of 1924-25 was characterised by the pique that existed at the time between Sliema and Floriana. This rivalry added spice to that season’s competition. As luck would have it, if luck it was, when the fixture list was made up, the two teams were drawn to meet each other towards the end of the competition, making sure that interest would be maintained up till the very end. Floriana and Ħamrun Spartans opened the league on January 16, 1924. The Greens won 1-0 to bag the first two points of the season. The decline in the Spartans’ standards was apparent. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

The following are the top stories in Malta's newspapers on Thursday. Times of Malta leads its front page with a report on how a major Malta-Italy drug ring has been laid bare in Italian court documents which detail how cocaine and cannabis were smuggled into the island using a local ferry company before being hidden in an Attardfruit and vegetable shop. It also reports on how Church organisations have called for a free vote in parliament after the government ignored all suggested changes to the bill on cannabis use and rushed it through the committee stage of the debate on Tuesday. The Malta Independent refers to comments by Education Minister Jutsyne Caruana who said there was no need for further restrictions in schools as COVID numbers there are 'within normal range'. In-Nazzjon leads with news that the Opposition is proposing changes to the standards in public life legislation. L-orizzont publishes data about promise-of-sale property contracts and purchases, claiming that COVID did not scare off buyers.

The human rights breaches caused by the old rent laws have cost the exchequer another €300,000, after a court ruled that the owners of two properties had been denied the right to the enjoyment of their estate. In one case, the owners of a house in Cospicua will receive €205,000 by way of compensation while the owners of a property in Valletta were awarded €84,000 in damages. The decisions were handed down in two court cases instituted by the owners who claimed the old rent laws prevented them from enjoying their properties to the full. The owners of a house in Triq Melchiorre Gafà, Cospicua, which has been rented out since the late 1930s, said they received a paltry €203 annually for the rental. They argued an excessive burden had been placed on them by the low rent, the uncertainty about whether they could repossess their property, the lack of procedural safeguards, the increase in the standard of living in Malta in recent decades and the disproportionate interference in the rights of the owner. A court expert valued the property at €1.2 million and the rental value at about €60,000 a year. Madam Justice Anna Felice said that as a result of the 1979 rent laws, the owners were...

An Australian cabinet minister has been removed from his post while allegations he was abusive toward a former staffer during their relationship are investigated, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Thursday. It comes just days after an inquiry found that sexual harassment and bullying are rife in Australia's parliament, with both lawmakers and staff affected by the institution's "sexist" culture. Former government staffer Rachelle Miller on Thursday accused Education and Youth Minister Alan Tudge of emotional and physical abuse during their relationship in 2017 when she was his media adviser - allegations he has denied. Miller, who publicly disclosed the consensual affair last year, told reporters in Canberra it was an "emotionally and on one occasion physically abusive relationship" that was "defined by significant power imbalance". She described Tudge allegedly kicking her until she fell out of bed onto the floor after she answered a work call at about 4:00 am, saying he was "furious" at losing sleep following a night of drinking together. "I felt someone kicking me on the side of my hip and leg, as I tried to sit up in bed. It was the minister," she said. Just hours...

Tennis stars threw their support behind the WTA’s move to suspend its tournaments in China over concern for Peng Shuai, as calls grew Thursday for other sports to follow suit. The women’s tennis tour made the decision over what its chairman called enduring “serious doubts” about the safety of Chinese player Peng, who accused a Communist Party leader of sexual assault. Women’s Tennis Association chair and CEO Steve Simon reiterated his calls for China to conduct “a full and transparent investigation – without censorship” into Peng’s claim that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli “forced” her into sex. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

Italian fashion house Armani announced Wednesday it would no longer use angora wool, a product made from rabbit hair, as part of its fur-free policy. The company said it would no longer use the material across all of its lines from next year's fall-winter collection. At Armani, "the percentage of clothing items containing angora wool is very low and we plan to replace it with materials that meet higher criteria in terms of animal well-being", a group spokeswoman told AFP. Soft and silky angora wool is a fibre made from the coats of angora rabbits. The animal rights group Peta called in 2013 for a halt to the use of angora wool, releasing a video of an angora rabbit wailing as its fur was pulled out to be collected. Armani renounced using fur in its products in 2016, saying there are now practical alternatives "that render the use of cruel practices unnecessary". A growing number of fashion companies are adopting policies against using materials that require cruelty towards animals.

A memorable afternoon for Maltese youth Alexandra Gatt who was the hero for her club Barking Abbey College with two goals in their 3-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur Women U-21’s, on Wednesday. Following this victory, Gatt’s side remain on top of the FA South Premier Women championship with 23 points after nine games. Continue reading this article and watch the goals on Sports Desk. 

Non-Maltese EU citizens are likely receiving unequal treatment in Mater Dei Hospital because they are being asked to provide payslips to access treatment, the European Commission has concluded.  The issue was raised by a British national living in Malta who petitioned the European Parliament to investigate a possible breach of EU law. She claimed that Mater Dei Hospital is discriminating on the basis of nationality and failing to guarantee equal access to health treatment. According to her petition, the hospital requires EU citizens to provide payslips as proof of payment into Malta’s social security system while Maltese citizens are only asked to show their ID cards. The European Parliament forwarded the petition to the EU Commission, which gave its opinion on the matter.  While EU member states are free to determine the details of their own national social security systems, common rules and principles that ensure the basic principles of equal treatment must be observed by national authorities when applying national laws.  “In other words, this means that non-Maltese EU, EEA or Swiss citizens should not be treated less favourably than the Maltese nationals are,” said the EU...

Former chairman of the Malta Book Council Mark Camilleri will be represented by court-appointed curators in a libel suit filed against him by former parliamentary secretary Rosianne Cutajar. This measure was sought by Cutajar’s lawyers in court on Thursday at the first hearing of the libel proceedings after taking note of the fact that attempts to serve notice of summons upon Camilleri had failed.  Reading out from the case file, Magistrate Rachel Montebello observed that there was a negative outcome when attempting to notify the respondent. The court official dispatched to serve notice at Camilleri’s registered address had been informed that the respondent no longer lived there and had left Malta.  In light of that information, lawyer Mark Vassallo requested the court to authorise the appointment of curators to represent Camilleri in the case. The court upheld the request, ordering the applicant to file within one week a note with a copy of the electoral register indicating Camilleri’s official address where notice of summons was to be served.  The court also ordered that this minute should be communicated to the Court Registrar to proceed with the appointment of curators.  The...

admins pls note--this is spread published on November 30--- Twenty-one artists are showcasing some of their latest works in an exhibition titled Collectively Solo II being held at Gallery 23, in Balzan. The idea of Collectively Solo began last year when seven artists who were to exhibit solo in 2020 had to cancel plans due to the pandemic restrictions but were later invited by the gallery to exhibit together. “This year, the exhibition will bring together 21 artists, displaying works in a variety of mediums and styles,” gallery co-owner and curator Alexia Gingell Littlejohn says. Three Nudes by Jeni Caruana The participating artists are Marisa Attard, Debbie Bonello, Andrew Borg, Sarah Calleja, Jeni Caruana, Debbie Caruana Dingli, Alex Dalli, Henry Falzon, Chris Formosa, Karl Froman, Anna Galea, Winston Hassall, Andrew Micallef, Anna Miggiani, Arja Nukarinen-Callus, Caroline Said Lawrence, Andrew Smith, Beatriz Solera Caballero, Adam Telegdi-Kovacs, James Vella Clark and Jade Zammit. The Last One by Marisa Attard Caruana Dingli’s book The School Playground  will also be launched during the exhibition. “Through her book, Caruana Dingli invites the art lover into her unique world...

PN MEP David Casa has been appointed as the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the multi-billion-euro Social Climate Fund. He will be reporting to the European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, of which he is member. “I am delighted to be able to contribute toward a social transition in our fight against climate change. The fund paves the way for more than €70 billion worth in social and climate investments, under a plan for the EU to match member state funding.” The fund is linked to other proposals to cap emissions and to move towards cleaner sources of energy for transport, heating, and cooling. It is part of the Fit-for-55 package, the EU’s leading legislative initiative to systematically combat climate change. “As the European Union makes strides with the Fit-for-55 package, the Social Climate Fund ensures nobody gets left behind,” Casa explained, adding that the Fund will enable Europe to significantly cut down on its CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions, without compromising its social commitments. On this new fund, Casa will work alongside Dutch EPP MEP Esther De Lange, to deliver a joint report on the Social Climate Fund proposal by the first half of...

Netflix will on Friday release the final five episodes of its Spanish smash series Money Heist which blew open the door for other non-English language series on streaming services. Created by Spain's private Antena 3 network, the thriller about a gang of thieves and their elaborate heists became Netflix's most-watched series not in English after it picked up the show in December 2017. The fate of the robber characters, all of whom have code names from cities around the world, even hooked audiences in the United States, which was not then used to dubbed shows. Spanish actor Fernando Cayo poses during a photocall for the presentation of the last part of the fifth season of the successful series. Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP The New York Times praised the series and its twists and turns as a "joy ride in every sense" while Israel's Haaretz newspaper called it "seriously riveting". The red overalls and Salvador Dali masks sported by the renegade gang members in the series soon became popular around the world at costume parties and street protests. "This is the first non-English language series to become a global phenomenon," said Elena Neira, a professor of communication sciences at the...

Rabat Ajax have hit out at the ‘inhuman’ fixtures list they were given by the Malta FA after the Challenge League side have just returned to training after coming out of COVID-19 quarantine. The Ajax were back in league action on Tuesday when they suffered a 7-2 thrashing by San Ġwann in their first match since coming back from COVID-19 quarantine and incredibly the Magpies must play a second match on Friday – a decision that was met by anger by Rabat Ajax and their players. Rabat forward Adam Smeir did not mince his words when taking social media, describing the MFA actions as insensitive. “Hope no club and players in Malta are treated by the MFA the way Rabat Ajax and our ourselves were treated these last couple of days,” Smeir said. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

The International Olympic Committee said Thursday it had held a second video conference call with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, who has accused a former Communist Party leader of sexual assault. The IOC said that the second call had confirmed that Peng “appeared to be safe and well, given the difficult situation she is in”. Continue reading this article on Sports Desk. 

A libel suit filed by former prime minister Joseph Muscat against a lawyer was struck off after the applicant failed to turn up and the respondent invoked a legal provision to that effect. When the libel was called on Thursday morning, lawyer Chris Grima turned up after several sittings during which Muscat’s lawyer Pawlu Lia had informed the court that attempts to serve the respondent notice of summons had proved unsuccessful.  Grima turns up, Muscat does not Yet there was a rather unexpected turn of events when Grima and his lawyer turned up in court on Thursday morning while neither Muscat nor his legal counsel put in an appearance. The court usher was asked to call out the case at the appointed time.  When the applicant and his lawyer still failed to show up, lawyer Carl Grech, who was assisting the respondent, invoked Article 199(2) of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure which provides that when only the respondent or his counsel appear, “he shall be entitled to demand that the plaintiff be non-suited with costs" In view of that request, the court, presided by magistrate Rachel Montebello, postponed the case for the parties to be called out again at a set time. But...

The seven nominations for the 2022 Car of the Year have been announced, with the list dominated by electric vehicles. The finalists have been whittled down from an original list of 38 after a judging panel made up of motoring journalists from all over Europe cast their votes. The Cupra Born, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Peugeot 308, Renault Mégane E-Tech, and Skoda Enyaq have been selected to battle for the overall win. Demonstrating the shift towards electrification, the Peugeot 308 is the only model not solely sold with an electric powertrain. The French firm has been winning high praise over the past few years and the 308 is the perfect example why – it looks great, has a premium interior and is brilliant to drive. To make it onto this list as the sole non-EV cements its credentials. Read the full story at timesmotors.com 

One out of four people in Malta is at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to data published on Thursday. The National Statistics Office said in a statement that according to the EU's statistics on income and living, in 2020 the at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate in Malta was estimated at 19.9 per cent of the population - or 100,712 people. The figure is similar to that registered in 2019. The at-risk-of-poverty threshold is set at 60 per cent of the national equivalised income: in 2020 it stood at €9,744. Throughout the year, 16.9 per cent of the population living in private households were estimated to be at-risk-of poverty. A quarter of these were aged 65 and over. What does it mean to be deprived? The material and social deprivation indicator goes beyond the material dimension. Apart from being able to replace worn-out furniture and worn-out clothes, this statistic measures social pursuits, such as leisure activities and meeting with family and friends. In 2020, 25,644 people, equivalent to 5.1 per cent of the population living in private households, were estimated to be severely deprived.    

Malta lost an estimated €287 million of VAT revenues in 2019, according to a VAT gap analysis by the European Commission. The country’s VAT gap increase was the highest in the EU at 5.4 percentage points when compared to 2018. In 2019, Romania recorded the highest national VAT gap with 34.9% of VAT revenues going missing, followed by Greece at 25.8% and Malta at 23.5 per cent. The gap is calculated as the difference between VAT due and actual VAT revenues. It is relevant to both the EU and individual countries since VAT makes an important contribution to both EU and national budgets. Malta's VAT gap, as estimated by the European Commission. The overall VAT gap across the EU dropped from €141 billion in 2018 to €134 billion the following year. The European Commission calculated that the maximum VAT revenue Malta could have recouped  in 2019 was €1,221 billion, while actual revenues stood at €934 million. Malta’s VAT gap of €287 million represents revenues lost due to VAT fraud and evasion, VAT avoidance, bankruptcies, and financial insolvencies, as well as miscalculations and administrative errors. Malta’s VAT gap has consistently hovered over the €200 million mark since...

A total of 138 people tested positive for COVID overnight, while a further 61 recovered, according to data published on Thursday. This is the highest number of new cases in four months, when 142 positive swabs were registered on July 27. No COVID-linked death was reported between Wednesday and Thursday, meaning the number of known active cases in Malta now stands at 1,290. Of these, 11 are at hospital, two of whom are receiving intensive care.  Late on Wednesday, the World Health Organisation issued stern warnings on the dangers of vaccination apathy and the European Union put mandatory jabs on the table as the United States registered its first case of the fast-spreading Omicron strain of the coronavirus. In Malta, a total of 124,074  have received a booster jab, while 962,678 COVID vaccinations have been administered in 12 months.