Greece’s left-led coalition government survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Saturday brought over a deal to end a decades-old dispute with neighbouring Macedonia concerning the latter’s name.
However, the government suffered a loss in its parliamentary majority after lawmaker Dimitris Kammenos of the nationalist Independent Greeks, the government’s junior coalition partner, voted in favour.
He was kicked out of the party immediately after the vote, leaving the governing coalition with a three-member majority.
Lawmakers voted 153-127 in the 300-member parliament against the motion brought by the conservative main opposition party over the deal to rename the former Yugoslav republic North Macedonia. In the agreement, Athens would drop its objections to the country joining Nato and the European Union.
Thousands of protesters rallied outside parliament during the debate, waving Greek flags and chanting anti-government slogans. Scuffles broke out, with riot police firing tear gas to stop protesters from breaching police lines.
A flare thrown by protesters highlights riot police guarding the parliament in Athens (Yannis Liakos /InTime News via AP/PA)
The deal reached by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev on Tuesday aims to end a bitter dispute that has roiled the two countries’ relations since shortly after Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Greece argued the term Macedonia implied territorial claims on its province of the same name, which is the birthplace of the ancient warrior king Alexander the Great, and usurped its ancient Greek heritage and history.
The deal was met with fury by critics in both countries, who accuse their respective prime ministers of conceding too much.
“Hatred toward the country of another is not patriotism,” Mr Tsipras said during his speech in parliament.
The agreement will be signed on Sunday morning by the two nations’ foreign ministers at Lake Prespa near their common border. Both prime ministers will attend the ceremony, as will European officials. Protests have been called in both countries.
Speaking during the debate, defence minister and Independent Greeks head Panos Kammenos stressed that voting against the no-confidence motion was not a vote in favour of the Macedonia name deal, which he vowed to reject when it is eventually brought to parliament.
Mr Tsipras stressed the deal met all of Greece’s demands and would close “the open wound that has been troubling our country for more than 26 years”.
Conservative New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who had brought the no-confidence motion, argued that a vote in favor of the government was a vote in favor of the name deal.
An orthodox monk waves a Greek flag during a protest against the agreement between Greece and Macedonia (Petros Giannakouris/AP/PA)
“Today you are all mortgaging the future of the country,” he told lawmakers.
Across the border, Mr Zaev has also met with opposition, with President Gjorge Ivanov saying he will not sign off on the agreement. Mr Zaev has said he will put it to a referendum in the autumn.
“With the signing of the agreement between Macedonia and Greece, everyone will benefit,” Mr Zaev said Saturday.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov stressed the deal would pave the way for Nato and EU accession.
“We have forces that are fighting for the future, we have forces that are fighting for the past,” Mr Dimitrov said in Skopje. “We cannot change the past, we could the future.”
The ratification process will take months.
In Macedonia, the agreement must clear the hurdles of parliamentary ratification, a referendum and a constitutional amendment. If Mr Ivanov refuses to sign off on the deal, it will be sent back to parliament for a second vote. If it passes again, the president must sign it.
In Greece, the deal faces ratification in parliament only after Macedonia has completed its part of the process.
The growing pangolin trafficking industry has prompted plans in South Africa for a rehabilitation centre for sick or rescued animals as well as the deployment of sniffer dogs specially trained to detect the scales’ pungent aroma.
Conservationists say well over one million pangolins have been poached since around 2000; the various kinds range from vulnerable to critically endangered on a list of threatened species.
Pangolin scales contain keratin, a protein also found in rhino horn and human fingernails.
There is no scientific proof that they provide any medicinal value.
Traffickers often sell the pangolin meat locally and ship the scales for use in traditional medicine in Asia, mainly China.
A pangolin from the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital forages for food, near Johannesburg (Denis Farrell/AP)
Africa’s four species of pangolins are under increasing pressure from poachers because Asia’s four species have been decimated, according to experts.
While commercial trade in all eight species is forbidden, international confiscations of African pangolin scales amounted to about 47 tons in 2017, more than double the quantity seized in the previous year, said the African Pangolin Working Group, a conservation organisation based in South Africa.
“The rate of escalation is astounding,” said Eric Ichikowitz, director of South African-based Ichikowitz Family Foundation.
The foundation, which has previously trained dogs to detect rhino horn, has funded the training of several dogs that will check for hidden pangolin scales at South African borders, Mr Ichikowitz said.
It has also acquired land near Johannesburg for the construction of a “pangalorium” – a research and medical centre for one of the world’s most heavily trafficked mammals.
About 10 rescued pangolins have been treated at the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital since last year.
France benefited from a controversial first use of video assistant referee technology at a World Cup as they laboured to a 2-1 win over Australia.
Antoine Griezmann put Les Bleus ahead with a contentious second-half penalty in Kazan after referee Andres Cunha adjudged the forward had been fouled by Joshua Risdon having watched a replay of the incident at the side of the pitch.
Australia, who felt aggrieved as defender Risdon appeared to have touched the ball before tripping Griezmann with his follow-through, quickly levelled through Mile Jedinak’s spot-kick, before a late goal from Paul Pogba clinched victory for France.
Following a VAR Review, @AntoGriezmann scores the subsequent penalty!
Les Bleus, led by an exciting front three of Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, were overwhelming favourites for the Group C opener.
They began with purpose and forced three saves out of Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan inside the opening six minutes.
Atletico Madrid forward Griezmann produced the best of the efforts, connecting well with a powerful half-volley from distance which Ryan dealt with comfortably.
Mat Ryan could not keep out Paul Pogba’s late goal (Darko Bandic/AP)
The Socceroos, managed by Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk for the first time in a competitive match, looked like they may be in for a long afternoon but they almost opened the scoring when Hugo Lloris reacted to prevent Corentin Tolisso scoring an own goal following Aaron Mooy’s free-kick.
France’s early promise quickly faded before they were presented with a perfect chance to break the deadlock in questionable circumstances 13 minutes into the second half.
Uruguayan official Cunha initially played on following Risdon’s challenge on Griezmann before pointing to the penalty spot after consulting VAR and viewing a screen next to the dugouts.
Defender Risdon perhaps had reason to dispute the decision, before Griezmann seized the opportunity, whipping the ball to Ryan’s left to claim his 21st international goal.
The lead did not last long, though, as Australia levelled with a spot-kick of their own four minutes later, and this time there was no doubt about the award.
Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti inexplicably handled a free-kick in the box, allowing Socceroos captain Jedinak to calmly send Lloris the wrong way.
Australia appeared to be heading for a deserved point following their dogged performance, but there was another unfortunate twist nine minutes from time, to the relief of France coach Didier Deschamps.
Defender Aziz Behich challenged Pogba just inside the box only to see the Manchester United man’s effort loop over Ryan and narrowly cross the line having bounced down off the underside of the crossbar, with the goal confirmed by goal-line technology.
Ireland avenged an opening-Test defeat to beat the Wallabies on Australian soil for the first time since 1979 but head coach Joe Schmidt insisted there was nothing to celebrate with the series level heading to a decider in Sydney next Saturday.
The Irish put in a vastly improved performance to atone for their 18-9 defeat in Brisbane seven days earlier, reducing the impact of Wallabies flankers David Pocock and Michael Hooper at the breakdown having been dominated by the pair at Suncorp Stadium and recovering some aerial prowess a week on from a masterclass by Australian full-back Israel Folau.
Andrew Conway cancelled out a Kurtley Beale try in the opening 90 seconds with a score on seven minutes as Ireland profited from wing Marika Koroibete’s trip to the sin bin for a tip tackle on Rob Kearney and the recalled Johnny Sexton kicked three first-half penalties before the Australians hit back with a penalty try on 26 minutes that saw Cian Healy binned for collapsing a maul and certain try.
Ireland's Head Coach Joe Schmidt. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
It left Ireland with a 16-14 lead at half-time but Man of the match Tadhg Furlong made the decisive breakthrough on 54 minutes with a try from short range converted by Sexton, who added a further penalty on 66 minutes to open up a 26-14 lead.
Another yellow, this time for Healy’s replacement Jack McGrath four minutes from time set up a nervy finish as Teneila Tupou powered over and Bernard Foley converted but Ireland hung on for a first victory here in 39 years..
The win helps Ireland hold on to second place behind New Zealand in the World Rugby rankings with Australia missing the opportunity to leapfrog them having failed to claim a 2-0 series lead and they now have a chance to further emulate the 1979 tourists by closing out the series in Sydney next weekend.
While the victory was loudly celebrated by a huge contingent of Irish fans in the AAMI Park crowd of 29,018, the Ireland boss did not feel it was the right time to call it a big moment for his team.
“Probably not right now because all we did was balance the series,” Schmidt said. “I think it all depends on what we can deliver next week and I know the Wallabies will be thinking the same thing. They’re a really good side and if they do get a bit more access I know as you saw toward the end we were chasing shadows.
So, nothing feels monumental when it’s one-all.
“It feels like there’s still a huge amount to play for. So we’ll glue ourselves back together, get the trip out of the way to Sydney tomorrow and Monday, have a bit of a look back at the game and them Tuesday/Thursday get back out on the training pitch in North Sydney Oval and try to work our way through things.
“There’s still a few things that we know we need to do better because we know they’re going to keep getting better. I think it’s really evenly poised and I wouldn’t be keen on favouring either side just because the way the series has gone so far, both games have really been in the balance.”
Ireland could find themselves dealing with a disciplinary issue over Australian suggestions that their scrum half Will Genia was the victim of an off-the-ball incident with Cian Healy that left the Wallaby number nine requiring surgery on a fractured forearm.
The loosehead prop, who himself was forced off injured in the 46th minute, could be in further trouble with a possible citing. Though Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika said his camp would not be reporting the matter, the 27th-minute incident is almost certain to be addressed by citing commissioner Michael O’Leary from New Zealand.
“We ran the play down the front and Willy’s the decoy around the back and he got king hit (cheap shot) from the side – looked like a shoulder – and when you’re not expecting it, that’s what happens,” Cheika said.
“So Hoops (captain Michael Hooper) went down the front, Willy ran around the back – I’m not sure who it was from the other team that came in and hit him – and he jammed his arm and broke it.”
Schmidt meanwhile was looking forward to a series decider which he said took precedence over longer-term development plans for next year’s World Cup.
“We definitely want to win the series, but we've probably got 10 games now between this tour and when we go into our warm-up to the World Cup.
“So, the thing that we want to believe about our squad is that there's less and less between players and, so, selection is a contest every time. And as a result, we'll look back on what guys did well tonight and we'll see how guys travel.
“On Tuesday, we'll have a better idea about some of those guys who took knocks and that will allow us to make a few decisions further along.”
Aside from Healy (AC joint), Ireland lost try scorer Conway (hip pointer) soon after he scored his try and flanker Dan Leavy (sternum) at half-time, though none were considered serious issues, according to their head coach, who was satisfied with a much improved performance.
"I think we looked after our ball a lot better, there were probably half as many turnovers as we had last week, so that didn't allow them as much access to play off turnover ball, where we know they're so dangerous.
I felt we repaired a bit of stuff in the air, I don't think Israel Folau had as much access because Keith Earls was super in the air, he got very high. He's not quite the same size as Israel Folau but he is dynamic when he's going up for the ball.
"The scrum was nice and solid and I felt we even got a little bit of pressure at times, and the ball retention was good.
"In that third quarter, we broke the line a couple of times really well but it was difficult to score in behind it. Nick Phipps' tackle on Keith Earls was an absolute try saver. It's a Nick Phipps special really, he works so hard in behind the line, he's a very good cover defender and he did a great job.
"The pop up to Rob Kearney, he didn't quite get over and there was probably a couple of penalties conceded down there subsequent to that that they probably put some pressure on themselves trying to get off the line and stop us scoring at that stage.
"Thankfully, Tadhg (Furlong) managed to get over in the end. I just thought that third quarter was probably defining for us and allowed us that buffer towards the end where we had Joey Carbery coming on to replace Devin Toner (cramp). I haven't seen that too many times, luckily we didn't have to throw him up in the lineout.
"We were just hanging in towards the end there, which you don't want to be against an Australian team with the athletes they have and the way they like to play with width. It was hard to stop their access, so it was another nip-and-tuck game.
"If people wanted a Test series, I think it's a genuine test every time. That's probably no surprise."
AUSTRALIA: I Folau; D Haylett-Petty, S Kerevi, K Beale (R Hodge, 64), M Koroibete; B Foley, W Genia (N Phipps, 27); S Sio (T Robertson, 71), B Paenga-Amosa (T Latu, h-t), S Kepu (T Tupou, 50); I Rodda (P Samu, 56), A Coleman (R Simmons, 42); D Pocock, M Hooper - captain, C Timu (L Tui, h-t).
Yellow card: M Koroibete 6-16 mins
IRELAND: R Kearney; A Conway (J Larmour, 14), G Ringrose, R Henshaw, K Earls; J Sexton (J Cooney, 79), C Murray; C Healy (J McGrath, 46), N Scannell (R Herring, 48), T Furlong (A Porter, 71); James Ryan, D Toner (J Carbery, 76); P O’Mahony - captain (T Beirne, 64), D Leavy (J McGrath, 32-38; J Murphy, h-t), CJ Stander.
Yellow card: C Healy 27-37 mins; J McGrath 76 mins
The Trump administration has announced a 25% tariff on up to 50 billion dollars worth of Chinese imports, instantly escalating a trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies.
China’s government responded quickly by announcing it will immediately impose penalties of “equal strength” on US products.
The Commerce Ministry said it is also scrapping deals to buy more American farm goods and other exports as part of efforts to defuse a sprawling dispute over its trade surplus and technology policy.
A ministry statement gave no details, but a 50 billion dollar list of possible targets announced in April included soybeans, light aircraft, orange juice, whiskey and beef.
Much of the impact would fall on Mr Trump’s rural supporters.
“The Chinese side doesn’t want to fight a trade war, but facing the shortsightedness of the US side, China has to fight back strongly,” the statement said.
“We will immediately introduce tax measures of equal scale and equal strength, and all economic and trade achievements reached by the two sides will be invalidated.”
Mr Trump has vowed to fulfil his campaign pledge to crack down on what he contends are China’s unfair trade practices and efforts to undermine US technology and intellectual property.
During an impromptu appearance on the White House North Lawn, the president hailed his “very big tariffs” on China.
“You know we have the great brain power in Silicon Valley, and China and others steal those secrets. And we’re going to protect those secrets. Those are crown jewels for this country,” Mr Trump said.
Sorry, we cannot let our friends, or enemies, take advantage of us on Trade anymore. We must put the American worker first!
“There is no trade war. They’ve taken so much,” he said in an interview with Fox & Friends.
The tariffs will cover 1,102 Chinese product lines worth about 50 billion dollars a year.
Those include 818 products, worth 34 billion dollars a year, remaining from a list of 1,333 the administration released in April.
The government will start to collect the tariffs on July 6.
The administration is also targeting another 284 Chinese products, which the administration says benefit from China’s aggressive industrial policies, worth 16 billion dollars a year but will not impose those tariffs until it collects public comment.
Mr Trump has already slapped tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada, Mexico and European allies.
His decision on the Chinese tariffs comes in the aftermath of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The president has co-ordinated closely with China on efforts to get Pyongyang to eliminate its nuclear arsenal.
But he signalled that whatever the implications, “I have to do what I have to do” to address the trade imbalance.
Wall Street has viewed the escalating trade tensions with wariness, fearful that they could strangle the economic growth achieved during Mr Trump’s watch and undermine the benefits of the tax cuts he signed into law last year.
The administration is also working on proposed Chinese investment restrictions by June 30.
The village of Rathmullan in County Donegal didn’t take long to get over the disappointment of Ireland failing to qualify for the World Cup.
A chat outside mass one Sunday morning between parish priest Fr Martin Collum and Rathmullan Celtic Chairman, Cormac Fagan, has lead to the small community adopting Peru as their home nation.
However, it is the fact that they have decided to produce t-shirts for it that has lead to a funny, bizarre twist to the story.
Fr Martin explained why they adopted the country, saying he worked in Peru for 14 years.
He is a great supporter of Allianza Lima - the oldest team in the Peruvian first division - and his hero is Allianza Lima and Peru’s greatest-ever player, Teofila Cubillas.
Fr Martin (right) in an Allianza Lima top during his time in Peru.
Dubbed the ‘Pele of Peru’, Cubillas starred in three World Cups, scoring a total of 10 goals. He’s also Peru’s top scorer, with 26 goals for his country.
Fr Martin said: "When Cormac asked me where I would be watching the Peru matches, and I said I’d no plans, he suggested that I join a few of the lads to watch the match.
Then word got around, and before I knew it, I’d become the Chairman of the Rathmullan Peru Supporters Club’.
They have invited four VIPs from the Peruvian Embassy in Dublin to Rathmullan on Saturday to raise the Peruvian flag in a World Cup opening ceremony at the village putting green.
After the playing of the Peruvian national anthem, ‘Arriba Peru’ will ring out, and then they will watch Peru’s opening match against Denmark in the Beachcomber Bar on the banks of Lough Swilly.
An Allianza Lima flag in Father Martin's parochial house in Rathmullan.
Fr Martin said: "Saturday’s going to be great craic, and it’s a real honour that Alberto Gonzalez ‘Deputy Head of Mission’ his son Javier, and his colleagues Loreto and Juanlu, are joining us for the match.
"It’s 36 years since Peru last qualified for the World Cup, so it’s fantastic for them."
Cormac Fagan added: ‘We approached Joe McHugh’s office, and he contacted the Peruvian Embassy on our behalf, and they were delighted to accept our invitation. The whole village is looking forward to Saturday.
"Rathmullan will become a sea of red and white, with bunting and Peruvian flags in the streets, and everyone wearing their Peru t-shirts. Rathmullan will become Peruvian territory during the matches."
However, it is the t-shirts they decided to get printed for the big match that is providing the cherry on top of the celebrations.
A consultant on the t-shirts just happens to be Alan Rough, the Scotland goalkeeper who was at the mercy of two Cubillas wonder goals in the 1978 World Cup.
It was Alan that suggested that the t-shirts should carry Cubillas’ name, and his number 10 on the back, in testament to the man who broke Scottish hearts in Argentina in 1978.
Alan said: "My friend lives in Rathmullan, and she asked me if I knew of a Peru legend to put on the back of the shirts, and unfortunately I’d had first-hand knowledge of Cubillas in Argentina.
"Even though Cubillas’ most famous World Cup goal, was a free kick that flew past me, fair play to him. There was only one name that should be on the back of those shirts.
"I’ve been to Rathmullan, it’s a beautiful place, and I’m happy to get behind Peru too."
So, if you’re a Peruvian, living in Ireland, then make your way along the Wild Atlantic Way to Rathmullan to join in the celebrations on Saturday.
After Peru’s opening match against Denmark in the Beachcomber Bar on Saturday, the White Harte and Big Paddy’s will be the venues for Peru's other two first-round matches.
Rathmullan Main street.
The raising of Peruvian flag at Rathmullan’s Putting Green will performed by Peruvian Deputy Head of Mission and Fr Martin Collum, Chairman of the Rathmullan Peru Supporters Club at 3pm.
A proposed purchase agreement whereby The Irish Times will acquire all of the publishing and media interests of the Landmark Media group has received ministerial approval.
The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Denis Naughten, this morning approved the proposed transaction.
In a statement to staff the group chief executive of Landmark Media, Tom Murphy, said the approval marks the successful completion of all regulatory processes in the transaction which now moves to the legal completion process.
Mr Murphy said this is expected to take a further short period and that staff would be updated as 'the situation clarifies further'.
In a note to staff in Tara St the Irish Times said: “The Irish Times looks forward to meeting and working with all staff and their representatives to discuss the acquisition.
"We will be making arrangements to do that as soon as possible. This will include briefings to staff in Dublin, Cork, the regional titles and radio stations.”
