Tenishia Thornton becomes youth world champion in 55kg weightlifting category

Jun 14 2022

Local 16-year-old weightlifting champion Tenishia Thornton has just been crowned the Youth World Champion during 2022’s IWF Youth World Championships in Mexico.

The young athlete placed first in the 55kg category, which is a significant improvement over her 2020 performance. Competing against athletes from all over the world, from the USA to Italy to New Zealand to India, Thornton nonetheless pushed Malta to the top of the ranking with a spectacular performance.

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She started off a little rocky with a missed attempt at the 76kg in the snatch, managing to recuperate during her second attempt. She then went on to boost her points with a 78kg lift on the third attempt.

Her clean and jerks were sealed with the 96kg, with her opening lift already placing her the clean and jerk gold and total gold.

But that wasn’t enough for Tenishia as she went on to make a second attempt at 98kg and third at 100kg. The 178kg total meant she was far ahead second place with a difference of 7kg total, with her 100kg being a new national record in the 55kg weight class.

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EU COVID Certificate rules to be extended until June 2023

Jun 14 2022

The EU parliament and EU member states’ negotiators have revealed that they agreed to keep the EU Digital Covid Certificate framework valid until June 2023.

The deal was reached Monday evening as negotiating teams from the EP and the Council of the EU to prolong the scheme which was set to expire on 30th June.

‘By extending the legal framework by a year, EU lawmakers want to ensure that EU citizens have the right to free movement in case there is a new variant of concern’ said the statement.

It was agreed that member states should refrain from imposing additional restrictions to free movement to EUDCC holders. ‘Member states will only be allowed to do so where such restrictions are necessary, proportionate and non-discriminatory for the purposes of safeguarding public health.’

MEPs also ensure that a clause was added asking the Commission to assess if the EUDCC scheme is still needed after six months (at the end of 2022), based on the latest scientific advice from the ECDC and the Health Security Committee.

The scheme should be repealed as soon as the epidemiological situation allows, with the informal deal having to be formally adopted by both the Parliament and the Council, in order for it to enter into force by 30th June. The vote in plenary is scheduled for 22-23 June session in Brussels.

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Maltese parental leave pay 9th worst out of 43 countries survey shows

Jun 14 2022

In a new index published by job-seeking website Lensa, paid parental leave in Malta has been ranked as the ninth worst globally out of 43 countries.

The data was taken from a parental leave database kept by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), ranking countries based on the number of weeks of leave at full pay offered to parents.

The ranking of Malta showed that the island has equivalent of 15 weeks of paid leave available to parents. Mothers are, according to the ranking, entitled to 18 weeks of paid leave at 85.6% of their average salary.

This is equivalent of 15.4 weeks at full pay, whereas fathers are only offered one day of leave paid in full on the occasion of childbirth. Combined, parents are entitled to 15.6 weeks at full pay.

Maltese law also allows both parents to take leave of absence for up to four months at any time until the child turns eight. This is however unpaid.

The country ranking worst was Ireland, with only 8.1 weeks of leave paid at full rate available to parents. Switzerland follows in second place at 8.2 weeks, with Australia, New Zealand and UK topping off top 5.

Switzerland, New Zealand and Israel offer no paid leave for fathers at all whereas at the opposite end of the spectrum, Romania had the best parental leave. Parents are entitled to 97.1 weeks of leave at full rate pay.

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Lady Gaga could play Harley Quinn in the Joker sequel

Jun 14 2022

Lady Gaga is rumoured to be in deep talks with Warner Bros. to star in the Joker sequel, possibly as Harley Quinn.

The confirmation of the sequel Joker: Folie à deux came last week, with the title suggesting an appearance of another main character. This is because the French term means ‘the shared madness of two.’

According to spokespersons speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the sequel is set to be very different from the first. Gaga’s Quinn would take on the mantle already established by Margot Robbie.

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The two comic book characters met at the Arkham Asylum, with Harley acting as the villain’s psychotherapist. She however becomes entranced by the prisoner and joins him in the madness.

But there is also another bizarre news report – the sequel could be a musical. And this would not be too far fetched as director Todd Philips has already produced acclaimed musical A Star Is Born, also starring Gaga.

We’ll have to wait and see whether these spins will continue to build on the award winning movie’s success which saw actor Joaquin Phoenix walking away with an Oscar.

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