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Will Gozo ever get its new court?

October 22, 2019, 11:08 am
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Court employees complain of cramped conditions and delays.

Plans to build a new courthouse in Gozo, which dates back nearly two decades, have stalled yet again. Although the initiative was re-launched with much fanfare two years ago by Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana, there have been no new signs of progress since. In October 2018, Dr Caruana’s spokesman had said the new court would be built as announced a year earlier on “the outskirts of Victoria”. The site was described as lying “behind the ex-MDP site, which at the moment is being regenerated to house Gozo’s ICT & Research Hub”. The ministry, he said, was planning to regenerate the whole area but the development was subject to Planning Authority approval “since this entails a change in local plan”. Asked again recently for any update, he said the ministry was still “awaiting approval or otherwise.” The court project was not mentioned in the government Budget for 2020 announced last Monday. Court employees who spoke on condition of anonymity complained about the interminable delays that have consigned them to cramped working conditions in the current premises at the Citadel. The historical building is small and sections of its interior walls are crumbly and mouldy. The courtrooms and...
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British MPs derail PM Johnson's plans to approve Brexit deal by October 31

October 22, 2019, 11:14 am
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday he will pause efforts to pass his Brexit deal through the House of Commons after MPs gave their preliminary approval for it but rejected his timetable to push it through parliament this week. "We will pause this legislation," Johnson told lawmakers, adding he would consult with European Union leaders about a further Brexit delay but insisting Britain should still leave the bloc as scheduled on October 31. The defeat, by 322 to 308 came just minutes after MPs actually voted 329 to 299 in favour of the deal in principle, the first time they had done so. Labour Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn offered talks with the government for an agreed timetable of debate. Prime Minister Johnson regretted that the second vote would mean further uncertainty. The government, he said, would accelerate preparations for a no-deal outcome and await a decision from the EU about the UK parliament's request for an extension. "We will pause this legislation," Johnson told lawmakers, adding he would consult with European Union leaders about a further Brexit delay but insisting Britain should still leave the bloc as scheduled on October 31. EU chief...
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Do not fan the flames of racial tensions, PM warns Opposition

October 22, 2019, 11:16 am
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Prime Minister Joseph Muscat addressing Parliament on Tuesday. Photo: DOI - Jason Borg

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Tuesday implored the Opposition not to fan the flames of racial tensions.  Speaking hours after nearly 100 migrants were charged over a riot in an open centre, Dr Muscat said the incident was deplorable, regardless of the skin colour of those who broke the law.  Calling for cool heads, Dr Muscat pointed out that the riots had taken place just metres away from the spot where migrant Lassane Cisse was gunned down in a racial attack. When Mr Cisse was murdered, everyone spoke out in favour of justice for him.  “Yesterday, it seems everyone wanted to kill blacks”, Dr Muscat said, explaining that he was using language that everyone could understand.  Racial tensions ran high following the riot, with scores of comments on Facebook inciting violence against migrants. He insisted that care should be taken not to fuel populist movements like the ones that had gained momentum across Europe.  He slammed as “amateurish” a PN statement demanding answers about the  riot, pointing out that the PN even spoke of the incidents as having taken place in a detention centre, when it was actually an open centre.   Switching to English, Dr Muscat said he wanted to assure...
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Queen's former Malta home to be restored after being bought by government

October 22, 2019, 11:26 am
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The royal couple photographed at Villa Guardamangia by Frank Attard.

The government has bought Villa Guardamangia, the former home of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, when she lived in Malta between 1949 and 1951. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in parliament that the property had the potential to become a huge tourist attraction.  The deal to buy the villa was signed on Monday.  Dr Muscat said talks would start with Pieta Council on ways to mitigate the expected interest by tourists in the site.  He said the villa, which had fallen into disrepair over the years, would be restored by the government.  Villa Guardamangia was put up for sale earlier this year for €5.9 million. Dr Muscat did not disclose the purchase price. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh spent the first years of their marriage living at the villa when the Duke was in the Royal Navy and stationed in Malta. According to the Queen the time she spent living there was the happiest in her life. It was the only place outside the UK which she called home.    The Queen was driven past the villa during a visit to Malta in 1992 and she was presented with a painting of the building when she was in Malta again in 2015. Over the years heritage organisations, including Heritage Malta and...
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Brexit will boost South African cricket: du Plessis

October 22, 2019, 11:30 am
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Faf du Plessis

Britain's Brexit will be a boon to ailing South Africa as they rebuild, Proteas captain Faf du Plessis said Tuesday after his side's series drubbing by India. Any tougher immigration controls after the British withdrawal from the European Union will mean fewer South African players in the County Championship, according to du Plessis. More than 60 players from countries around the world have since 2003 taken advantage of EU residency rules so that they could join county teams without being considered "overseas players". But the rules of the so-called Kolpak accord meant they could not play for their home countries. Under current plans, if Britain pulls out of the EU, the Kolpak system for cricketers would end by 2021. Du Plessis, who has himself played in England under the system, highlighted the case of off-spinner Simon Harmer who has starred for Essex over the past two years but has not appeared for South Africa since 2015. "It's sad for South African cricket not to have the option of their best players," du Plessis told reporters after his side's innings and 202 runs defeat by India in the third Test. "Simon Harmer has had an unbelievable season. And it would be great for...
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Campbell hired as Southend boss

October 22, 2019, 11:49 am
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Sol Campbell becomes Southend's new manager.

Former Arsenal and Tottenham star Sol Campbell was hired as manager of third tier strugglers Southend on Tuesday. Campbell is back in management after quitting as Macclesfield boss in the close-season. The ex-England international signed a two and a half year deal with Southend, who are second from bottom of League One with just one win from 13 games. Campbell kept Macclesfield up against the odds in his first managerial role, having taken over last November with the side five points from safety, but he faces arguably an even tougher task at the Shrimpers. Southend are already eight points from safety, with only crisis club Bolton keeping them off the foot of the table, and have taken just one point from their last four games. He will take over from caretaker Gary Waddock following Tuesday's home game with Doncaster. His first match in charge will be at home to leaders Ipswich on Saturday. Campbell will be assisted by former Icelandic international Hermann Hreidarsson, while former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has been named as his forward and attack coach.
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Malta waterpolo handed favourable draw at Euros

October 22, 2019, 12:05 pm
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Malta coach Karl Izzo (right) with Jerome Gabaretta. Photo: Wally Galea

The Malta waterpolo national team discovered their opponents in the 2020 European Championship finals to be held in Budapest in January. Karl Izzo’s men were drawn to face hosts Hungary and Spain as well as recent nemesis Turkey. While Hungary and Spain, winners of several European and World championships, are among the main favourites for the gold medal, the prospect of facing Turkey will go down well with the Maltese players. In fact, the Maltese have already faced Turkey twice in the European Championship finals with mixed fortunes. In Belgrade 2016, Malta face the Turks in the play-off for 15th and 16th place and on that day the Maltese prevailed after a penalty shoot-out to avoid bottom place. Two years later, this time in Barcelona, the two teams again met at the same stage and this time it was the Turks who prevailed 13-12 in a close match which saw the Maltese miss several scoring opportunities. No doubt, the match against Turkey will be the most important fixture for Malta in the European Championships as it could open the door for a top 12 place in the continental competition, something never attained by the national team. Another interesting fact on Tuesday’s draw is...
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Shakhtar, Dinamo Zagreb draw to leave path clear for Man. City

October 22, 2019, 12:28 pm
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Shakhtar Donetsk's Dodo (left) celebrates after scoring a goal against Dinamo Zagreb.

Brazilian Dodo came off the bench to grab the equaliser and earn Shakhtar Donetsk a 2-2 draw with Dinamo Zagreb in their Champions League clash in Ukraine on Tuesday. Dodo rounded Dinamo goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic to slot home in the 75th minute after latching onto a pass from Alan Patrick, another member of Shakhtar's sizeable contingent of Brazilian players. The result leaves both clubs level on four points after three games in Group C, meaning Manchester City will be five points clear at the top of the section if Pep Guardiola's side can inflict a third defeat in as many games on Atalanta. The Croatian visitors had earlier come from behind to lead in Kharkiv, to where Shakhtar are exiled because of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Marlos set up Yevhen Konoplyanka to put Shakhtar ahead in the 16th minute, only for Spanish sensation Dani Olmo to turn in a Mislav Orsic cross and bring Dinamo level before the half-hour mark. They then took the lead with an hour gone when Orsic scored from the spot after Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov recklessly hauled Mario Gavranovic to the floor. But Dinamo, who lost every game when they last reached the group stage in 2016-17, could not...
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Watch: Morata makes his point by scoring winner for Atletico

October 22, 2019, 12:32 pm
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Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata (right) celebrates his goal against Bayer Leverkusen.

Alvaro Morata came off the bench and rescued Atletico Madrid when his late header gave Diego Simeone's side a gritty 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.  Morata, dropped after missing chances in Atletico's draw with Valencia in La Liga on Saturday, played as if he had a point to prove in a match-winning cameo at the Wanda Metropolitano.  Victory leaves Atletico with seven points from their opening three games in Group D and on the brink of qualification, with only top spot seemingly to be settled, most likely with Juventus.  For Leverkusen, three defeats from three all but ends their hopes of progress and continues a disappointing start to the season that also has them sitting ninth in the Bundesliga. Atletico have been on a poor run themselves, managing only two wins from their last eight games in all competitions and slipping to fifth in the league, behind both Barcelona and Real Madrid.  This was hardly a performance to alleviate concerns, particularly about their fluidity in attack, but Morata's goal at least gets them back to winning and ensures their task in the group stage is almost complete.  Simeone will have been worried to see his central...
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Government, Opposition, reach climate change consensus

October 22, 2019, 12:34 pm
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The government and the opposition on Tuesday reached consensus on a motion in parliament declaring a climate change emergency and calling for action about it. The consensus on an amended text was reached minutes before a vote was due on rival texts.  The motion was moved on Thursday by shadow environment minister Jason Azzopardi. It had originally called for the appointment of a National Climate Emergency Committee and a Superintendent on Climate Change.  The role of the committee would have been to propose climate change targets, monitor the ongoing situation and publish technical, legal, and scientific reports. The superintendent would ensure that such targets, set by law, were observed. The government had moved a substantially different counter-motion. It  underlined the work done by the government, particularly the enactment, in 2015, of the Climate Change Action Act and the appointment of a Climate Action Board and an Ambassador for Climate Action. It also underscored actions such as the use of gas at the power station and plans to phase out fossil-fuel cars. The government was urged to continue such measures. Prior to Tuesday’s debate, the Opposition had made several...
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Thiago Motta appointed Genoa coach

October 22, 2019, 1:00 pm
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Thiago Motta

Former Italy international Thiago Motto was appointed coach of Serie A strugglers Genoa on Tuesday hours after Aurelio Andreazzoli was sacked. Brazilian-born Motta played for Paris Saint-Germain from 2012 to 2018, with his only previous coaching experience with PSG's U19 team, which he managed until July 2019. The 37-year-old takes over a Genoa side that has  won just one game out of eight played this season against Fiorentina on September 1. They are second from bottom of the Serie A table with 20 goals conceded after Sunday's 5-1 defeat to Parma. Motta oversaw his first training session on Tuesday and will be officially presented at the north-western side on Wednesday. The former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid midfielder played for one season with Genoa, before moving to Inter Milan in 2009, winning the treble the following season under Jose Mourinho. He won five Ligue 1 titles at Paris Saint-Germain, and two La Liga crowns with Barcelona. Motta earned 30 caps playing for Italy, reaching the finals of Euro 2012. Genoa escaped relegation from Serie A last season on the final day under Cesare Prandelli, who was replaced by Andreazzoli in June. Motta's first game in charge will be...
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Watch: Sub Mbappe’s hat-trick puts PSG in Champions League driving-seat

October 22, 2019, 2:03 pm
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Kylian Mbappe (left) celebrates his goal with Mauro Icardi.

Substitute Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain moved a step closer to the Champions League last 16 with a 5-0 victory over previously unbeaten Club Brugge on Tuesday. The World Cup winner, who has only started four games this season due to thigh and hamstring injuries netted three time in the space of 20 minutes to help PSG go five points clear of Real Madrid, who beat Galatasaray 1-0, in second place in Group A. Maurco Icardi netted the visitors other two goals as fellow Argentinian Angel Di Maria directly set-up three of his side’s efforts. For the third time in Europe this season PSG’s Thomas Tuchel was unable to start his attacking trio of suspended Neymar and injured Mbappe and Edinson Cavani. Brugge coach Philippe Clement, who has guided the club to the top of the Belgian Pro League, was without captain Ruud Vormer as the Netherlands midfielder serves a suspension for a red card he received in the draw at Real. The visitors claimed an early lead as Di Maria received a long-range ball on the right flank. The Argentina winger curled in an early cross with the outside of his left foot and Icardi beat Simon Mignolet at his near post after seven...
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Watch: Sterling blasts 11-minute treble as Man. City run riot

October 22, 2019, 2:08 pm
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Raheem Sterling celebrates his goal with Riyad Mahrez (right) and Phil Foden.

Raheem Sterling hit a brilliant 11-minute hat-trick as Manchester City inflicted a 5-1 thrashing on Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday. Pep Guardiola’s side were rocked by Ruslan Malinovsky’s first half penalty at the Etihad Stadium. But City responded superbly as Sergio Aguero struck twice before the interval. Sterling had provided the assists for both of Aguero’s goals, but the England winger was just getting warmed up. After the interval, Sterling struck three times to complete a personal masterclass that underlined his rise in the Guardiola era from enigmatic playmaker to lethal finisher. Sterling has emerged as City’s driving force over the last 18 months and his second hat-trick of the season confirmed his place among the world’s best players. [attach id=782034 size="large" align="left" type="image"][/attach] The only frustration for Guardiola was a late red card for young midfielder Phil Foden. City’s third successive Group C victory leaves them top of the table, five points clear of second placed Dinamo Zagreb with three games left. Atalanta, making their Champions League debut this season, are still searching for their first point after a third consecutive...
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Watch: Kane, Son double up to reawaken Tottenham’s Champions League challenge

October 22, 2019, 2:16 pm
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Harry Kane (centre) scores Tottenham's opening goal against Red Star Belgrade.

Son Heung-min and Harry Kane combined to put Tottenham’s troubles at ease by both scoring twice in a 5-0 win over Red Star Belgrade to put their Champions League campaign back on track on Tuesday. Last season’s finalists were thrashed 7-2 at home by Bayern Munich in their previous European outing and have won just two of their last eight games in the Premier League. They moved back into pole position for a place in the last 16 by blowing away the Serbian champions. Kane’s near post header opened the scoring before a Son double put the outcome beyond doubt before half-time. Erik Lamela smashed home a fourth and Kane rounded off the scoring 18 minutes from time on a night when Tottenham clicked back into gear. Son was restored to the starting line-up after being left on the bench for Spurs’ latest disappointing display a 1-1 home draw against bottom-of-the-table Watford. The South Korean had been rested just days after returning from a tense World Cup qualifier in North Korea. He has been a shining light among a dramatic dip in form from many of his teammates this season and got his reward on a night Mauricio Pochettino will hope proves to be a turning point. Kane has continued...
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Watch: Dybala double rescues Juventus against Lokomotiv Moscow

October 22, 2019, 2:25 pm
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Paulo Dybala scored twice to propel Juventus to victory over Lokomotiv Moscow.

Paulo Dybala struck a quick-fire second-half double as Juventus came from behind to beat Lokomotiv Moscow 2-1 in their Champions League Group D clash in Turin on Tuesday. The Italian champions had trailed the Russians with 13 minutes to go in the Allianz Stadium after Aleksei Miranchuk had put the visitors ahead after half an hour. But Dybala pulled the hosts level on 77 minutes and added a second two minutes later to keep Juventus on course in Group D with seven points after three games. Maurizio Sarri’s side had drawn with Atletico Madrid and beaten Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the last two games.  Atletico also have seven points, after beating Leverkusen 1-0 in Spain on Tuesday, with Lokomotiv third with three points. Cristiano Ronaldo missed the chance for another record of scoring against a 34th different Champions League club. The Portuguese star drew a blank in Turin firing over from a Juan Cuadrado cross early as, despite dominating possession, Juventus struggled to break down the Russians. Lokomotiv broke through with their first clear chance. Miranchuk shrugged off Leonardo Bonucci and the Juventus defence to find on-loan Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario whose effort was...
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Lewandowski double earns Bayern comeback win at Olympiakos

October 22, 2019, 2:32 pm
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Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski (centre) propelled his team to victory.

Robert Lewandowski maintained his phenomenal scoring record with two goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to seal a 3-2 win at Olympiakos in the Champions League Tuesday. Lewandowski scored for his 12th game in a row to leave him with 18 goals in 13 games in all competitions so far this season. After Youssef El Arabi had given Olympiakos a shock lead in Athens, Lewandowski poached goals, both after good work in the build-up from Thomas Mueller, to turn the game before Corentin Tolisso grabbed a third with a superb strike. Worryingly for the defending German champions, Olympiakos again beat Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer late on when Brazilian midfielder Guilherme hit the back of the net in a tense last ten minutes. There was unpleasant news before kick-off in Athens when the UEFA Youth League match between Bayern and Olympiakos was abandoned with the Germans winning 4-0 after a masked gang attacked visiting fans with clubs leaving at least seven people injured. The Greek hosts can expect a hefty fine from UEFA, but the away win could have also cost Bayern a second centre-back in three days as Lucas Hernandez limped off after Niklas Suele tore his cruciate ligament on...
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Jerma Palace Hotel development brief in the pipeline

October 23, 2019, 8:06 am
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The ex-Jerma Palace Hotel in Marsascala. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

A development brief for the ex-Jerma Palace Hotel in Marsascala is being prepared by the Planning Authority in order to establish clear parameters on the regeneration of the site which has been left abandoned since 2007. One of the main objectives of the exercise is to come up with a maximum allowable building height limit, which has been a source of controversy each time the site has been earmarked for redevelopment. The move, which is the result of a formal request by the government to the Planning Authority, comes at a time when the site is being earmarked for a 15-storey hotel and apartment complex. Submitted last year by Porto Notos Limited, the development application comprises 166 luxury apartments, 250 hotel rooms, an underground parking, business centre, public chapel and a lido. Moreover, the developer is pledging to extend the landscaped area around the historic St Thomas Tower, and create a public open space above the proposed parking to extend the promenade.  However, the application is currently suspended at the developer’s request. Development briefs are meant to provide an outline for the scale, range and quality of development for a particular site while...
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'Clarity brigade' to help Dutch civil servants speak plainly

October 23, 2019, 8:14 am
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Civil servants, willingly or unwittingly, have a habit of using terms only they would understand, as the UK comedy Yes Minister showed.

Their name: "Immediate Clarity Brigade". Their mission: Help lead Dutch civil servants out of the maze of bureaucratic jargon that is bamboozling ordinary people. Some 100 coaches will help government administrators write clearer letters to citizens and website announcements -- instead of being cluttered with government lingo, authorities said Wednesday.  The government said there will be "language coaches in all corners of the country, training courses to teach officials to write more clearly and practical tools to improve communication with people". The interior ministry said in a statement there would be 100 language coaches, experts and "ambassadors" by 2020.  According to the daily Algemeen Dagblad, the initiative is projected to cost three million euros ($3.3 million).  "We want to make sure that people can get involved and immediately understand the mail they receive from authorities," Secretary of State Raymond Knops said in the statement. His ministry is recruiting an "Interface manager for the strategic organisation of the digital system management of Environment Law" -- but even Knops admitted to the daily newspaper he did not understand the job title.  "I immediately...
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Miriam Dalli calls out 'empty rhetoric' surrounding climate change

October 23, 2019, 8:33 am
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Miriam Dalli in the European Parliament. Photo: Facebook

MEP Miriam Dalli has hit out at the “empty rhetoric” of leaders who speak loudly about climate change but then waver when they are asked to commit to binding measures to cut carbon emissions. “Citizens who are paying the high price of wild fires, droughts, floods and storms want leaders that are capable of addressing the real cause leading to this extreme weather,” the S&D vice-president told the European Parliament on Wednesday. “We have had enough of empty rhetoric from those who say that they believe that climate change has to be addressed as a matter of urgency but then duck out when push comes to shove”. Dr Dalli was speaking at the opening of a European Parliament debate on a new approach to tackling climate change. Her speech also came one day after Malta’s parliament unanimously voted to declare a climate emergency. Malta’s vote commits the government to announce a cut-off date for petrol and diesel vehicle imports by the middle of next year and to announce a raft of other, as-yet undefined, emission-cutting measures by then. In August, Environment Minister José Herrera announced that Dr Dalli would lead a commission responsible for outlining how Malta should gradually...
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Trump announces Turkey sanctions 'will be lifted'

October 23, 2019, 9:07 am
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Photo: AFP

Updated 6.07pm with sanctions announcement - President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday the United States would be lifting sanctions on Turkey, hailing the success of a ceasefire along its border with Syria. "Earlier this morning, the government of Turkey informed my administration that they would be stopping combat and their offensive in Syria and making the ceasefire permanent," he said in a televised address from the White House. "I have, therefore, instructed the Secretary of the Treasury to lift all sanctions imposed October 14th in response to Turkey's original offensive moves against the Kurds in Syria's northeast border region," he added. Trump has been under fire for abruptly withdrawing US troops from northern Syria, paving the way for Turkey to launch the offensive against the Kurds, US allies against the Islamic State group. Under the deal struck Tuesday in Sochi, Russian military police and Syrian border guards will "facilitate the removal" of Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters and their weapons from within 30 kilometres (18 miles) of the border. It will also see Turkey preserve a "safe zone" inside Syria about 75 miles long and 20 miles deep.
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