Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533641
12 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 MARCH 2025 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt F Solution to last week's crossword The answers to today's crossword will be published in the next Midweek edition Crossword ACROSS 1) Tract of wasteland 6) Word with "speed" or "sand" 11) Joe Namath was one 14) Islamic deity 15) Wooden shoe 16) Boxcar cargo 17) Characteristicsaying 19) Hurry along 20) Speed unit for a yacht race 21) Golfball locale 22) Tree parts 24) Mongrel 25) Prayer closure 26) Glassy volcanic rock 31) They're needed to purchase liquor 34) Stadium cheer 35) Threatening 38) Word with "tube" or "city" 39) Witnessed 40) Like some shipping rates 41) Surgical procedure that features binding 43) Aircraft machine-gun attack 44) Whiskered pet 45) Animated hit featuring Mel Gibson 47) Butter substitute 49) Fond du ___ , Wisc. 50) It carries troops from ship to shore 53) Web address part 54) Job interview attire 58) Gymnastic equipment 59) Big city protection 62) A star may have a big one 63) Looseness 64) Firebug's intent 65) "Take a load off!" 66) Beats by a nose (with "out") 67) Judge Roy and L.L. DOWN 1) Unskilled writer 2) Dash 3) Choir section 4) Diplomat's gift 5) 1968 loser to RMN 6) Jogger's wear, perhaps 7) Like no-hitters 8) NBA competitor, once 9) Some mail carriers 10) One cubic meter 11) One of the Apostles 12) He played Ponch on "CHiPs" 13) Golfers' needs 18) Like some expensive carpeting 23) Mythical horned creature 24) Business presentation aid 25) Turn over_ leaf 26) Yankee legend Rizzuto 27) Classical column style 28) Kingdom in the South Seas 29) Maker 30) Muscat resident 32) Middle Eastern currency 33) Major mixup 36) Montezuma, for one 37) "Glengarry ___ Ross" (1992 film) 39) London nightclub area 42) Beer ad description 43) Perform triple axels, e.g. 46) Timepieces 48) Mental error 50) Lincoln and Beame 51) The kings of "We Three Kings" 52) Gait at a harness track 53) Casino bones 54) Sensitive, as a subject 55) Heavenly major 56) Desktop image 57) Change for a C-note 60) Fall behind 61) ___ Four (the Beatles) � � FreeDailyCrosswords.com ACROSS- - - - - - - - - - - I) Show piece? 4) More adorable 9) Eye problems 14) Scary exclamation 15) 18 or 21, typically 16) Ado 17) Australia's "ostrich" 18) Engaged in disorderly play 20) Striped predator 22) Travel in a windjammer 23) Bagel spread 26) Chicken selection 30) Stay clear of 32) Infielders and outfielders make them 34) Spy novelist Deighton 36) Synagogue scroll 38) Largest island in the Marianas 39) "A Prayer r_ Meany" 41) River through Alaska OUGH THERE YOU ARE! 1 A 2 c 3T 4c S u G T 1 8 0 0 1 b F A 1� M u 1 k 0 u '" I G 2 R 2 C M E 2 A 2 k s C H E '" R u I T I N T I E 7N 0 E N D 7l 43) Admire amorously 44) Change the fu ishings 45) When pigs fly 47) Laugh-track sound 48) Non-Christian priests 51 ) God-fearing 53) Mast extensions 55) Problem with pipes 58) Tennis units 60) Put off 'til later 61) Used fists 67) Count on both hands? 68) Loosen, as laces 69) Alpaca's relative 70) Curved letter 71) " ... with_ in sight" 72) Dr. Seuss title creature 73) Receiving a pension (abbr.) Jerse 7E S R 1 s G E 1 0 0 H A G H 1 0 u s E � A I 2 R w 3E 0 A 3 K 0 4� V V K A � E F E R E N 7e s s 7k E T DOWN I) Assists 2) Kind 3) Made 4) Fix 5) Sci-fi 6) Greek 7) They're 8) Betty 9) Anger 10) What 11) "Mayday!" 12) Common 13) Feeling 19) Add to 21) "Bad" 24) Nautical 25) Second 27) Affleck 28) Much 29) Syllables 31) Roused 33) Merganser's 34) Manor 35) Still-li 3 7) Hardly 40) Black, 42) Campbell 46) Driver's 49) Was a 50) Galley 52) Godfrey's 54) Kind 56) Skein 57) _ & 59) Normandy 61) Games' 62) Lennon's 63) 4 x 4, 64) Card 65) Dinghy 66) Thurman Weather Partly to rather cloudy becoming partly cloudy Visibility Good Wind West Southwest force 3 to 4 becoming West Northwest force 4 to 5 locally force 5 to 6 TOMORROW WEATHER WINDY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS 22 0 / 17 0 TODAY WINDY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS 22 0 / 17 0 FEELS LIKE 22 0 FEELS LIKE 22 0 WINGER Ilyas Chouaref became the first player in Malta national team history to fast during Rama- dan. Chouaref, a recent addition to the national team squad, featured for the second time with the national team against Poland for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Monday. He also featured against Finland on Friday. Muslim footballers around the world are currently observing Ramadan, balancing their religious commitments with the demands of professional sport. Ramadan is the holiest month in Islam, marked by fasting from dawn to sunset, in- creased prayer, charity, and self-re- flection. It is a time of spiritual de- votion, discipline, and community for Muslims around the world. Born in France, Chouaref, 24, qualifies for Maltese citizenship by descent. His ancestors had moved to Morocco, from Nadur, Gozo. He plays for Swiss Super League club Sion, who are currently ninth in the league. Ilyas Chouaref put in a spirited performance against Poland on Monday, but was sent off in the 90th minute following a second yellow card. His performances against Finland and Poland have excited support- ers, and already he is being regard- ed as one of the best additions to the Malta national team. Last month, MFA President Bjorn Vassallo announced Chouaref and James Carragher, son of Liverpool FC legend Jamie Carragher, were granted Maltese citizenship by reg- istration due to their descent. Ilyas Chouaref first Muslim player to fast during Ramadan while playing for Malta national team Ilyas Chouaref featured for Malta against Finland and Poland during this month's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers (Photo: Malta FA)