Qatar is aiming to put a controversial statue of Zinedine Zidane’s notorious 2006 World Cup final headbutt on display for this year’s tournament, authorities said Monday. The five metre (16 feet) high bronze showing the French legend in confrontation with Italian defender Marco Materazzi was put up for less than four weeks on the Doha seafront in 2013 when protests that it breached Islamic rules on idolisation led to it being taken down. The statue will now be at the centre of an exhibit at Doha’s new international sports museum on the impact of high level sport on “mental health and dealing with stress”, said Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the head of Qatar Museums.   Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

Little more than two years after winning a landslide election victory, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a no-confidence vote among Conservative MPs following months of growing pressure. Outside the UK Parliament ahead of this evening's vote. Video: AFP Here are key questions around the crisis confronting the UK leader:  Where did it go wrong? Brexit cheerleader Johnson joined other Tory MPs in ousting Theresa May in mid-2019. After taking over, he won voters' overwhelming backing that December on a pledge to "get Brexit done". Scandals soon emerged, including over who paid for a lavish makeover of his Downing Street flat and an expensive holiday to a private Caribbean island. But they appeared to do little to dent his popularity. Things turned sour with many of his MPs last year, when Johnson tried to change parliament's disciplinary rules to get ally Owen Paterson off the hook after he was found to have breached lobbying rules. Paterson, giving in to a storm of protest, then quit as an MP, forcing the Conservatives to abandon the rule change and resulting in a by-election in his previously safe seat. They lost. The "Partygate" scandal blew up soon after. In April,...

Environmental pressure group Graffitti has written to five ministers drawing attention to the “ecological disaster currently unfolding on Comino” and making six urgent demands. The letter, sent to the ministers of tourism, environment, Gozo, planning and lands - Clayton Bartolo, Miriam Dalli, Clint Camilleri, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, and Silvio Schembri, respectively, highlights “the alarming state of Comino, a Natura 2000 site”. Graffitti says that the disasters of previous years, particularly in the summer season, are being repeated. “This ruinous state of affairs has destroyed the unique, precious and fragile natural state of the Natura 2000 site of Comino,” it notes. Its urgent requests are:  1.  Sunbeds and umbrellas should only be rented out on request by persons physically present at the beach and should never occupy more than a stipulated percentage of the beach so as to ensure that public access and enjoyment of the bay and the foreshore are left unencumbered, in conformity with the Public Domain Act. This number should form part of a policy document for Comino in keeping with the recommendations of ERA’s Comino Management Plan (2019). 2.  The number of kiosks around...

Before continuing his grass court preparations, Andy Murray on Monday did the maths on Rafael Nadal’s latest feat on clay. The 36-year-old Spaniard on Sunday routed Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in the final at Roland Garros to extend two records. It was not only his 22nd Grand Slam title but also his 14th French Open.  “Winning 14 Grand Slams at the same place is incredible,” said Murray in Stuttgart.  “There’s hardly any players on the Tour who will get the opportunity to play Roland Garros 14 times, much less win it.”   Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

A woman allegedly forced into prostitution testified that she used to offer sex against payment before being offered a job by a hotel manager who operated sex sites and who paid her €70 for sex the first time they met.  The South American woman testified via video conferencing when proceedings kicked off on Monday against three men and a woman facing human trafficking charges after being identified as those who had forced the witness and her friend into prostitution while living off the earnings. Roque Borg, a 51-year-old hotel manager from St Paul’s Bay, Sylvan Pace, a 48-year-old cab driver from Għarb, Jorge Emilio Herrera Mendez,a  33-year-old Columbian hotel room attendant and Amira Khadraoui, a 27-year-old Maltese national, are all pleading not guilty to various charges linking them to the Columbian and Venezuelan women who were their alleged victims. One of those women, assisted by an interpreter, gave a lengthy account of how she had travelled to Malta in February “to have fun” and to meet a friend called “Jason”. After first spending time at a quarantine hotel, she rented a Sliema apartment together with Jason, another South American woman and Emilio. Being an...

Medietilsynet, the Norwegian Media Authority, has ordered the country’s largest TV distributors to stop advertising from foreign igaming companies. The measure comes amid a general suppression of gambling related ads in the Scandinavian nation after a widespread investigation last year that revealed breaches on Discovery Network channels FEM, MAX, VOX and Eurosport. Other large channels in the country, such as Telenor, RiksTV and Allente, have also been instructed to use their agreements with their operating company Discovery to make sure that: “TV adverts no longer contain marketing for gambling companies that are prohibited in Norway.” In total, five large TV distributors have been ordered to comply with the new set of rules.  The deadline to comply with the measures is set on August 15, 2022, and not doing so will lead to “severe financial reactions.” In Norway, the government still applies a state monopoly on gambling, with Norway’s gambling law administered by the Norwegian Lotteries Authority. As a consequence, under the current law, advertising from unlicenced casinos is prohibited, as a way to “protect people in the country with gambling problems.” Yet, Medietilsyne...

US Open champion Emma Raducanu admits her life has been “surreal” over the past 12 months as she returns to the scene of her first WTA Tour appearance this week. The teenager, fresh from completing her end-of-school exams, made her senior debut in the first round of last year’s Nottingham Open, where she was beaten in straight sets by fellow Briton Harriet Dart. After catching the eye during a run to the fourth round at Wimbledon, she became a global star by winning the US Open in September.   Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

A barrage of global crises must not deflect attention from urgent climate action, the UN's climate chief warned Monday, as negotiators from nearly 200 nations began talks in Germany against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The conference will set the stage for a fresh round of major United Nations talks later this year in Egypt, as climate-driven weather extremes are increasingly felt across the planet. But nations also face a formidable collection of inter-related challenges, including the Ukraine conflict, energy, food and economic crises, as well as the continued impact of the Covid pandemic.   Issuing a call for international unity to hold firm, outgoing UN climate change chief Patricia Espinosa told delegates not to lose focus or give up hope. It was "not acceptable to say that we are in challenging times", she argued. "We must understand that climate change is moving exponentially," she said, opening the June 6 to 16 meeting. "We can no longer afford to make just incremental progress. We must move these negotiations along more quickly. The world expects it."  'Lack of action' Governments have already accepted that climate change is a grave threat to humanity...

Gunmen killed at least 21 people, including children, in an attack on a Catholic church in southwest Nigeria on Sunday, local officials said, in violence that drew widespread international condemnation. The bloodshed at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo town during a service was a rare assault in Nigeria's usually safer southwest and shocked a country grown used to jihadist attacks and mass kidnappings in the north. Richard Olatunde, spokesman for the Ondo State governor's office, told AFP that dynamite exploded inside the church before gunmen opened fire on worshippers attending the service. Video: AFP Blood stains still marked the St Francis church floor and debris lay scattered around a day after the attack. "They did not even enter the church, they were shooting through the windows," Olatunde said, confirming a death toll of 21 people. National Emergency Management Agency local representative Olanrewaju Kadiri said 22 people were killed, including several children, with another 40 people wounded. Video: AFP Vice President Yemi Osinbajo arrived on Monday to visit some of the wounded. Survivors described panic as worshippers fled a sudden outburst of gunshots. "I ran back to...

The need to discuss full-time MPs has been placed on the agenda once again by Speaker Anġlu Farrugia. Farrugia was giving the traditional Sette Giugno speech in front of the Sette Giugno monument in Valletta. The day recalls the riots of June 7, 1919, when four men lost their lives in violent protests that broke out over an increase in the price of bread. The speaker said it is time to discuss the introduction of full-time MPs as well as further assistance to the parliamentary groups. He also called for better equipment for members to enable them to fulfil their mandate. Farrugia highlighted the need for better use of Parliament's time, saying that an argument could be made within 20 minutes. He proposed amending the Standing Orders to reflect this. Currently, the maximum time allotted for interventions is one hour during the presentation of new bills and 30 minutes for any other speech. Farrugia also mentioned the need to revise Parliament meeting times to better accommodate the professional, family, personal and academic needs of members. The speaker also touched upon the citizen’s right of reply, saying it was time for parliament to implement this procedure intended to...

Floriana FC have reached an agreement with Romanian striker Andrei Ciolacu over a new one-year contract. Ciolacu joined Floriana last summer and he established himself as a lethal forward for the Greens, scoring nine goals throughout the campaign, including the winning goal in the 2-1 triumph over Valletta in the FA Trophy final in May. “Romanian striker Andrei Ciolacu will once again form part of the Boys in Green after the Club implemented the option to extend his contract, further consolidating the present Senior Squad,” the Premier League club said in a statement. “The dynamic centre-forward joined Floriana FC last August and scored 9 important goals throughout the season, including the fabulous match-winner against Valletta FC in the FA Trophy final. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday survived a vote of no confidence from his own Conservative MPs, after a string of scandals that have left the party's standing in tatters. Just over two years after he won a landslide general election victory, the Brexit figurehead again proved his ability to escape political hot water to maintain his grip on power. But the "Partygate" controversy over lockdown-breaking events at Downing Street, which saw him become the first serving UK prime minister to have broken the law, has still severely weakened his position. While 211 Tory MPs backed him, 148 did not. Johnson, 57, needed the backing of 180 MPs to survive the vote -- a majority of one out of the 359 sitting Conservatives in parliament. Defeat would have meant an end to his time as party leader and prime minister until a replacement was found in an internal leadership contest. In previous Tory ballots, predecessors Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May both ultimately resigned despite narrowly winning their own votes, deciding that their premierships were terminally damaged. Rebuild trust Johnson has steadfastly refused to resign over "Partygate". He earlier defended his record on...

There has never been so much pressure on the Malta men’s national team to deliver in an international tournament. The new edition of the UEFA Nations League has brought with it a huge amount of optimism and expectations on the group of Maltese players and their coach Devis Mangia. The draw for this group was considered a favourable one for Malta as they were pitted against San Marino, who never won a game at competitive level, and 110th-ranked Estonia who have ushered into a new era under coach Tomas Haberli after he took over in January 2021 and chalked up seven positive results in 14 outings. Starting with a win was important for Malta to live up to the expectations. The 2-0 victory, Malta’s 10th ever at competitive level, provides more tranquillity to the team ahead of the crucial home clash against Estonia. Continue reading this article on SportsDesk, the sports website of the Times of Malta

Andrej Kramaric scored a late penalty as Croatia salvaged a 1-1 draw at home to world champions France on Monday that left both teams still chasing a first win in the Nations League. Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot fired France ahead on 52 minutes in Split as coach Didier Deschamps selected an inexperienced side without star forwards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema. Croatia equalised seven minutes from time when Andrej Kramaric won and converted a penalty. Continue reading this article on Sports Desk. 

Gozo College Victoria Primary School students celebrated Eucharistic Day on June 3 after an absence of two years due to COVID-19 pandemic. All the school community gathered together at the Gozo cathedral to celebrate Mass led by archpriest Mgr Joseph Sultana. Year 6 students carried out the Liturgy of the Word and sung during Mass. After the celebration of Mass, Canon Alex Cauchi, spiritual director of the school, led a procession with the Holy Eucharist to St George’s Basilica, where archpriest Mgr Joseph Curmi led a prayer session and blessed all the students with the Holy Host.    

It is becoming increasingly clearer that Attorney General Victoria Buttigieg is not fit for purpose. Together with the police and the courts, the attorney general is vested with the power to enforce the law. As former chief justice Silvio Camilleri had warned in his last official address prior to his retirement five years ago, if the three institutions fail to do their duty, the rule of law collapses and the rule of the delinquents prevails. Buttigieg has just been given a public dressing-down by a superior court judge. Irked by her refusal to produce certain documentation in a breach of rights claim, the judge expressed “consternation” and “grave concern” about her “intransigence” and “glaring failing”. The attorney general seems to have based her decision not to produce the “important” documents on legal provisions the same judge deemed “anachronistic”. Very harsh words for the holder of a public office that has the constitutional power and duty to institute, undertake and discontinue criminal proceedings. This has not been a mere one-off severe reprimand in her regard. Buttigieg, Malta’s first state advocate, was appointed attorney general in September 2020 after her...

Before you get your knickers in a twist, this is no direct criticism of the recent Special Olympics Invitational Games held in Malta a couple of weeks ago. People who are close to Special Olympics have commended the level of the games and facilities, the respectable performance of our athletes and the fun people had when participating. Good. But, mind you, sorry for bursting your bubble, we have achieved no gold medal from where I stand. Malta’s gold standard in disability is nowhere close to being achieved. We’ve hardly left the starting blocks. Development in disability issues in this country has come in spurts and trickles. We saw a number of developments back in the 1960s with the deve­lopment of what at the time were called sheltered workshops and residential homes, aka institutions; it was progress for the time. Then silence. At the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s we saw a revamp in this sector, the start of activism, the setting up of ‘KNPD’, the development of social work services and the enactment of disability legislation. Then silence. It was only after the 2013 election that disability came to the fore with the setting up of a parliamentary secretary,...

The lethal combination of temperature, humidity and wind direction is what probably caused the explosions that blew apart some areas of a fireworks factory outside Mosta on Saturday afternoon, a pyrotechnics expert believes. Servolo Delicata, one of three experts who inspect the island’s fireworks factories, yesterday said that weather conditions in the summer season were far from optimal for certain parts of the fireworks production process to take place. He recommended that these months be avoided. Contacted by Times of Malta, Delicata said it appeared the first explosion occurred while the fireworks were drying outside as part of the production process. He said that, from his experience, there were certain days of the year, such as in the summertime, when the production of fireworks ought not to take place. The weather conditions made it very dangerous and could be the cause of an accident rather than human error. To be on the safe side, fireworks should be produced when temperatures are as low as possible, when humidity is above 50 per cent and when the wind is not blowing from the south, the pyrotechnics experts said. Graphic: Christian Busuttil/Design Studio “Once you have...

Obituaries GAUCI. On June 2, at Pax et Bonum Home, Mosta, GIUDITTA SDC, aged 100, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of the Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her great loss her nieces and nephews:  MaryRose and John, Patrick, Gonca, Leo and Catherine, Miguel, Rafael and Felix; Doreen and Miroslav, Karl, Clare and Erika; Dominic, Evonda and Amber;  Natalino, Susan, Judith, Curtis, Jackson, Katie, Evan, Oliver and Annabelle, Kevin, Jennifer, Benjamin, Lucas and Dominic; Museum Society Members, family and friends. Mass will be said on Thursday, June 9, at Burmarrad parish church, at 4.15pm, followed by interment at St Paul’s Bay cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to Sezzjoni Femminili Museum (sdcfemale@gmail.com) will be greatly appreciated. Lord, grant her eternal rest. Special thanks for the dedicated care of the Sisters and Carers at Pax et Bonum. ZAMMIT CORDINA. On June 5, FRANCIS, aged 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife Hilda, his son Tonio and wife Jenny, his daughter Marika and husband Josef, his daughter Pauline and husband Godfrey, his grandchildren Matthew and wife Shanna, Michaela and boyfriend...

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