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Malta Independent

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 07:02:00 +0000
Metsola closer to EP presidency seat as Sassoli will not seek second term
Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola is closer to being appointed president of the European Parliament for the second half of the current term as incumbent David Sassoli is not seeking a renewal of his mandate, international media report.Influential Politico ...

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:13:00 +0000
Karin Grech Hospital now has shortage of 50 nurses – MUMN
Karin Grech Rehabilitation Hospital now has a shortage of 50 nurses, following a number of resignations over the past two weeks, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses said in a statement on Wednesday. 14 nurses resigned from the hospital in the...

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 09:47:00 +0000
Omicron to be dominant variant by mid-January - Von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January.The head of the EU’s executive branch said the bloc is well prepare...

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 06:46:00 +0000
Teenager grievously hurt after car plunges into valley
A teenager suffered grievous injuries early on Wednesday morning when he lost control of the car he was driving, and it plunged into a valley.The accident happened at 12.15am in Victoria Road, Zebbug, Gozo.The 18-year-old man, from Xewkija, was drivi...

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 09:43:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: What’s a 'pudina'?
Maltese people who go abroad know what it means when they find it hard to communicate with foreigners who do not speak English. Some of us speak a third language such as Italian, French and German, but buying something or asking for directions in a f...

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 06:49:00 +0000
Woman in hospital after being hit by car
A woman is in hospital with grievous injuries after she was hit by a car on Tuesday afternoon, the police said.The accident took place in Imhalla Street, Naxxar, at 5.15pm.The woman, aged 67 of Mosta, was hit by a Toyota Ractis driven by a 45-year-ol...

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:50:00 +0000
COVID-19 response and climate policies at the heart of EU auditors’ work programme
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) today published its work programme for 2022 and beyond, listing its strategic areas and audit priorities.These will cover a broad range of issues, reflecting the EU’s main challenges and key concerns, a stat...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 16:32:00 +0000
Parliament approves cannabis regulation reforms, allowing cultivation, possession up to 7g
Parliament has approved the cannabis reform bill, which will allow the cultivation of cannabis plants and possession of up to 7 grammes of the substance.The PN MPs voted against the bill.Speaking about the Bill, Reforms Minister Owen Bonnici said: "W...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 14:04:00 +0000
Konrad Mizzi ignores NAO on VGH, as audit finds that government 'perpetuated' concession failure
It was the government which “perpetuated” the failure of Vitals Global Healthcare to fulfil its commitments in relation to the takeover of three state hospitals, the National Audit Office has said in a new, scathing report on the awarding...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 10:06:00 +0000
Bogdanovic contract was an ‘abuse of power’ by Justyne Caruana, Standards Commissioner finds
Commissioner for Standards in Public Life George Hyzler has found that the awarding of a €15,000 contract to Daniel Bogdanovic by Education Minister Justyne Caruana amounted to an “abuse of power” by the Education Minister.In his rep...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 17:09:00 +0000
EPRT rejects appeals against the db Group project
The Environment and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) has rejected two appeals filed by three local councils, nine organisations and several Pembroke residents against the Planning Board's decision to give the go-ahead to the db Group's project on the ...

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 07:20:00 +0000
Prof Richard Muscat becomes first ever Maltese elected to International Narcotics Control Board
Prof. Richard Muscat has been elected to the International Narcotics Control Board. The first ever Maltese expert elected to this Board, he will be serving as member of the board until 2025.With decades of experience as a neuroscientist with a partic...

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 08:38:00 +0000
Legal prescription of a contractual breach of a motor vehicle insurance policy
On the 30 July 2021, the Court of Appeal (Superior Jurisdiction) (the “Court”), presided over by Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti, Mr. Justice Joseph R. Micallef and Mr. Justice Tonio Mallia considered the applicable prescriptive period of a c...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 14:55:00 +0000
PM will await final Standards Committee verdict before considering any steps against Caruana
Prime Minister Robert Abela will wait for the final verdict by Parliament’s Standards Committee before considering any steps against Education Minister Justyne Caruana.The PM will not consider temporary measures as the report by the Standards C...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 13:25:00 +0000
Former PM Lawrence Gonzi the latest to oppose cannabis bill
Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has expressed himself against the cannabis bill which is set to be approved this afternoon, saying that he fails to understand how the government had set aside the advice of experts in the field.Taking to his Face...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 12:42:00 +0000
20 in hospital as 100 new Covid-19 cases are reported
100 new Covid-19 cases have been reported by health authorities.90 people have recovered, meaning that the number of active cases has again crept over 1,400 – standing now at 1,406.20 patients are currently receiving treatment at Mater Dei Hosp...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 11:43:00 +0000
Justyne Caruana unfit to be minister, Abela should remove her immediately - PN
The position of Education Minister Justyne Caruana is not tenable any longer and Prime Minister Robert Abela must remove her from her post immediately, The nationalist Party said. A report compiled by Standards Commissioner George Hyzler confirms a b...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 09:34:00 +0000
Minister Caruana, permanent secretary should resign for ‘abuse of power’ - NGO
Education Minister Justyne Caruana and the permanent secretary in her ministry Frank Fabri should both resign after the Standards Commissioner ruled there was an abuse of power in the handing out of a contract to Daniel Bogdanovic, the minister&rsquo...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 10:56:00 +0000
Request for Parliamentary committee to discuss cannabis reform petition ignored
The Chairman of the Petitions committee in Parliament, Joe Mizzi, has ignored a request for a petition calling for modifications of the cannabis reform bill to be discussed, the organisations that signed the petition said.A vote in favour of the legi...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 15:09:00 +0000
6 Things You Need To Know Before Buying Crypto
Have you been thinking of buying some cryptocurrency? Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting, it’s important to do your research before investing in any digital assets. The crypto market can be volatile, so it’s importa...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 15:54:00 +0000
Urban greening blueprint for Malta to be launched, protocol for the upkeep of trees to be published
Malta needs to shift planning towards greener concepts, as green spaces are essential for the well-being of society, Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia said.A conference organised by the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning and ...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 09:07:00 +0000
One year of vaccines: Many lives saved, many needlessly lost
One year ago, the biggest vaccination drive in American history began with a flush of excitement in an otherwise gloomy December. Trucks loaded with freezer-packed vials of a COVID-19 vaccine that had proved wildly successful in clinical trials fanne...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 13:18:00 +0000
Application for garden centre and pet shop on ODZ in Attard to be heard by PA board on Thursday
An Outline Development Application proposing a large garden centre and pet shop in Attard on ODZ land goes before the Planning Board on Thursday.The site of the application is at the end of Sqaq tal-Hofra on what is described by the case officer as "...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000
Limiting large gatherings better way to reduce Covid infections - pathologists
The Malta College of Pathologists said that it would be better to limit large gatherings to reduce the spread of Covid-19, rather than impose the wearing of masks in public.In a statement, the college said that interventions related to COVID-19 need ...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 12:35:00 +0000
Watch: Worker injured in construction site fall
A construction worker has been injured in a fall at a construction site.The fall happened in Triq Alfred Gauci in St. Julian’s on Tuesday early afternoon.The man is a 65-year-old Maltese from Sliema. He fell from a height or around one flo...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 08:50:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: The President’s speech laid bare the guise of Malta’s utopia
Republic Day is the day most synonymous with the President, being the day when the office was established.Amongst the ceremonies and parades which we see on this national holiday, the President also gives what is generally considered to be his most i...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 11:29:00 +0000
Nine youths arrested for setting fire to St. Philip’s hospital building
Nine youths have been arrested by police for allegedly setting fire to the abandoned St. Philip’s Hospital in Santa Venera.Police said on Tuesday that they were told that some youths had entered the abandoned building and started fires in some ...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 12:38:00 +0000
‘Politicians should respect people’s intelligence’, President says on Republic Day
President George Vella urged politicians to respect people’s intelligence throughout the next general election during his speech marking Republic Day. The traditional Republic Day ceremony took place at the President’s Palace in Vall...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 14:12:00 +0000
Gozitans call on Archbishop to reverse decision and ‘stop enabling ruthless speculators ruin lives’
Dozens of Gozo residents gathered outside the Curia in Floriana  on Sunday urging Archbishop Charles Scicluna to reverse his decision “to hand over control of a medieval foundation to ruthless speculators.” Residents fear that t...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 16:25:00 +0000
European first: Malta’s legalisation of cannabis for personal use highlighted by The Guardian
The vote to be taken in Parliament on Tuesday will make Malta the first European country to legalise the cultivation and possession of cannabis for personal use, pipping Luxembourg to the post.British influential newspaper The Guardian today highligh...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 16:36:00 +0000
Updated: Naxxar mayor says she will not resign, denies conflict of interest; PN opens investigation
Naxxar mayor Anne Marie Muscat Fenech Adami has denied having a conflict of interest on a planning application which she voted in favour of, and will not resign from her post – despite calls from her own party – the PN – to do so.Th...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 09:25:00 +0000
John Dalli case to finally kick off after European Commission waives immunity
The court case against John Dalli can finally kick off after the European Commission waived the former commissioner’s immunity from prosecution.A spokesperson for the Commission told the Times of Malta that after a lengthy process they had deci...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 13:39:00 +0000
Record-breaker Neil Agius, hero Sean Meli, doctor Jonathan Joslin among those awarded honours
Record breaking swimmer Neil Agius, emergency doctor Jonathan Joslin and Sean Meli – the man who rescued a young boy from near-certain drowning – were amongst those awarded some of the nation’s top honours on Republic Day.On Republi...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 12:35:00 +0000
78 new Covid-19 cases reported
78 new cases of Covid-19 were reported by health authorities on Monday.It is the second day in a row that 78 cases of the virus were reported.73 meanwhile have recovered from the virus, meaning that the number of active cases has increased slightly t...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 13:51:00 +0000
Updated (2): PSG to play Real Madrid after Champions League draw fiasco
Real Madrid ended up paying the highest price for UEFA's botched Champions League draw.Madrid was paired with Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 on Monday after UEFA had to redo the entire draw following a big mistake the first time around. The S...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 16:32:00 +0000
Covid-19 vaccine for children arrives, jabs to start Tuesday
Health Minister Chris Fearne said that Covid-19 vaccination supplies for children under the age of 12 have arrived and the process will be starting on Tuesday.In a post on Facebook, the minister said that the vaccine supplies landed in Malta Monday.P...

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 07:42:00 +0000
Premier League: Dilaver own goal lands champions Hamrun in second place
A Dilaver own goal on the hour was enough for champions Hamrun Spartans to beat rivals Valletta, and take sweet revenge for their first round defeat.It was a very tight encounter with Hamrun always having the edge over their opponents.This victory li...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 17:49:00 +0000
Malta’s first Christmas village at the Marsaskala Family Park kicks off
Parks Malta’s Christmas in the Park has been launched, kicking off this year’s festive season at the Marsaskala Family Park.Families and friends can enjoy Christmas activities and entertainment in a safe and open space.The park ...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 12:46:00 +0000
Former MEA, PBS chairman Michael Mallia dies, aged 77
Former president of the Malta Employers’ Association and former chairman of Public Broadcasting Services Michael Mallia died Monday, his son Stefano said.Mallia, who also served as a director of Standard Publications Limited, was 77.He was a bo...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 12:53:00 +0000
Archdiocese says it could not have foreseen 2019 land registry decision on Gozo land
The Archdiocese of Malta said in a statement that it could not have foreseen, let alone exercise control over, a decision in 2019 by the Land Registration Agency to permit the registration of tracts of land in Gozo which caused residents uncertainty ...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 09:11:00 +0000
Economy Minister rebuts NAO’s audit on voucher scheme
The Minister for Economy and Industry Silvio Schembri has rebutted the report by the National Audit Office on discrepancies and delays found in an audit on the first round of COVID-19 vouchers, saying that the problems were a question of reconciliati...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:01:00 +0000
Feast enthusiasts fume as Christmas band performance draws crowds in Valletta
Religious feast enthusiasts have been left fuming after footage emerged of a Christmas-themed band drawing crowds in Valletta over the weekend.A video posted to a Facebook group calling for feasts to be allowed to take place in 2022 showed a band per...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 08:01:00 +0000
Boris Johnson: UK faces 'tidal wave' of omicron cases
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Sunday that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant, and announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it.In a televised statem...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 14:34:00 +0000
Warning from Health Minister: Omicron, influenza set to bring about ‘perfect storm’
Health Minister Chris Fearne this morning sounded a strong warning about the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that “everyone is terrified” about the omicron variant, which spreads more easily and on which little is known.Coupled with the onset o...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 09:47:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Reflecting on Republic Day
Today, Republic Day, represents an important date in Maltese history.47 years on, the country stops to commemorate the day when Malta shorn itself of its ties to the British crown – even if its ties to the British military would only be shorn f...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 08:30:00 +0000
‘I am against the opening of more zoos’ – Anton Refalo
Animal Rights Minister Anton Refalo has told The Malta Independent on Sunday that he is personally “against the opening of more zoos”. In comments given to this newsroom, Refalo also insisted that an ongoing impact assessment on animal pa...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +0000
Government ‘ignoring’ requests by Malta Police Union to discuss right to strike
Requests to discuss the possibility of granting police unions the right to strike have been ignored by government, the secretary of the Malta Police Union Neville Mercieca told The Malta Independent on Sunday.In an interview with this newsroom, ...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 12:46:00 +0000
Covid-19: Elderly man dies while hospitalisations drop
An 82-year-old man became the latest person to die while positive for Covid-19 in Malta, health authorities said in their update on Sunday.78 cases were reported by the same authorities on Sunday, with 94 new recoveries also being reported.This means...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 17:39:00 +0000
PN asks Naxxar mayor to resign over conflict of interest
The Nationalist Party have asked Naxxar mayor Anne Marie Muscat Fenech Adami to resign from her post over an undeclared conflict of interest.The request came from party secretary Michael Piccinino after consultation with party leader Bernard Grech.Mu...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 08:09:00 +0000
Pharmacies opening today between 9am and noon
Valletta: Regent Pharmacy, 70, Merchants Street; Marsa: San Raffael Pharmacy, 247, Qormi Road; Qormi: Brown's Pharmacy, 278, Victory Street;Birkirkara: Mint Care Pharmacy, 5B-71 Brared Street; Msida: Regional Pharmacy, E. H. Furse Street; St Julian&r...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 16:00:00 +0000
Updated: Verstappen wins 1st F1 title with last lap pass of Hamilton
The most dramatic Formula One season in years should have ended with Max Verstappen's championship-deciding pass of Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.The conclusion instead came nearly five hours after Verstappen became the ...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 14:42:00 +0000
Organisations concerned over government’s attitude towards amendments to cannabis law
NGOs, social workers and medical associations have expressed their concern over the government’s attitude towards the appeal to change the proposed cannabis law, saying that it is not listening to any of this country’s citizens. The organ...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 09:30:00 +0000
The dangers of a two-thirds majority
The latest survey confirms what others before it had established – that the Labour Party is heading towards an even bigger victory in the coming election than the last two it achieved.The PL had won in 2013 and 2017 with 35,107 and 35,280 votes...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 08:12:00 +0000
Premier League: Hibernians open eight-point gap with victory over Gzira
Hibernians opened an eightpoint gap over second placed clubs Floriana, Valletta and Birkirkara after a dominant victory over Gzira. Hibernians showed all their worth yesterday with a brilliant performance after an early setback and a rather difficult...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +0000
‘Cannabis should have been legalised before alcohol’
A drug user and former trafficker believes that the world should be more concerned about the harms and dangers of alcohol, rather than raise so much fuss about cannabis use.The legality of alcohol consumption makes it easily accessible, he argues, bu...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 07:35:00 +0000
Cannabis use leads to ‘impaired driving ability’, doctors warn
Cannabis results in impaired judgement, poor motor coordination and reaction time and studies have found a direct relationship between the level of THC in the blood and impaired driving ability, especially in people who consumed cannabis just before ...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 07:14:00 +0000
Inter give sign of intent with 4-0 win to go top of Serie A
Inter Milan gave an emphatic sign of intent as the defending Serie A champion moved to the top of Serie A with a crushing 4-0 victory over relegation-threatened Cagliari on Sunday.Lautaro Martínez scored and missed a penalty in the first half,...

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 07:56:00 +0000
4-0 loss exposes Newcastle frailty amid EPL relegation fight
January cannot come quick enough for Newcastle.The limitations of the squad inherited by Eddie Howe when he took over as Newcastle manager last month were exposed in a 4-0 loss at Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday.The result kept Newcastle in...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 12:13:00 +0000
PN calls on Prime Minister to remove Justyne Caruana as Education Minister immediately
Nationalist Party Leader Bernard Grech has called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to demand Justyne Caruana’s resignation as Education Minister immediately. This comes following the revelation by the Standards Commissioner George Hyzler who...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 07:28:00 +0000
UK scientists urge more restrictions to fight omicron surge
The British government may need to introduce tougher restrictions to slow the growth of the omicron variant and prevent a new surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, British scientists said Saturday.U.K. health officials say omicron is spreadi...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000
Getting to know… Vanni Pule’ - magic, but also painting and music
Well-known magician Vanni Pule says he wanted to be a priest when he was young.He cannot go one day without listening to music, but he enjoys painting too.And he says that life is too short to watch a film twice.What was the last book you read? "Weir...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 11:00:00 +0000
TMIS Editorial: New face mask rules: barking up the wrong tree?
The new restrictive measure imposed by the health authorities this week – the mandatory wearing of face masks in public as of yesterday – has left many minds boggled. Not because Malta should not be cautious like many other countries arou...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 11:30:00 +0000
Cartoon 12 December 2021

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 07:25:00 +0000
Kentucky hardest hit as storms leave dozens dead in 5 US states
A monstrous tornado, carving a track that could rival the longest on record, ripped across the middle of the U.S. in a stormfront that killed dozens and tore apart a candle factory, crushed a nursing home, derailed a train and smashed an Amazon wareh...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 10:30:00 +0000
50 Shades of Greats: ‘Sport is not only for champions; Like music it’s for everyone’ - Anna Calleja
Anna Calleja was born in Paola on 27 December 1958 to Joseph Calleja and Rose nee Tedesco.  Describing her childhood, Anna went down memory lane with some nostalgia. “My childhood was fun and laughter and from a very young age I attended S...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 12:32:00 +0000
Covid-19: Active cases jump above 1,400 as 111 new cases found
The number of active Covid-19 cases has jumped above 1,400 for the first time since early August, figures released by the health authorities show Saturday.The daily cases recorded Saturday were 111, while 67 recovered, leaving 1,408 active cases.No d...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:05:00 +0000
Justyne Caruana should request publication of Standards Commissioner's report – PN
The Nationalist Party on Saturday called on Education Minister Justyne Caruana to immediately request the publication of the Standards Commissioner’s report into her alleged breach of ethics.The sooner the report is published and action is take...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 07:30:00 +0000
Pharmacies opening today between 9am and noon
Valletta: Empire Pharmacy, 77, Old Theatre Street; Ħamrun: Brown's Pharmacy, 706, St Joseph High Road; Santa Venera: Fatima Pharmacy, 82, Ferrovija Street; Birkirkara: Pharmaplus, Ganu Street; Msida: Deby's Pharmacy, 1, Misraħ il-Barrieri; ...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 15:24:00 +0000
NGOs to close cannabis law petition on Sunday, seek Petitions Committee meeting
A petition to change the proposed cannabis law will close on Sunday, with NGOs pushing it calling upon the Petitions Committee to meet before Parliament votes on Tuesday.On Friday, the chairman of the Petitions Committee said it will not be discussed...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 16:31:00 +0000
Hospitality sector could suffer irreparable damage if wage support is discontinued - MHRA
The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) said Saturday that some of the hospitality industry could suffer irreparable damage if wage subsidies that support thousands of workers and which are in place till end 2021 are stopped by Gover...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 08:02:00 +0000
Biker dies in Sliema crash
A biker died early this morning in a crash in Sliema, the police said.The man, an Italian aged 45 resident in Gzira, lost control of the Honda bike he was riding and crashed.The man fell of the bike and hit the pavement, the police said.He was certif...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:46:00 +0000
Winds rip part of National Stadium canopy, matches postponed
Strong winds have caused damage to the National Stadium canopy, forcing the Malta Football Association to postpone the matches that were to be held today.In a statement on its website, the MFA said that today's BOV Premier League match Valletta FC vs...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 07:30:00 +0000
English Premier League top 3 all win to intensify title race
The English Premier League's top three kept up the furious pace of their title race by picking up hard-fought wins on Saturday, although all three needed second-half penalties to do so.Manchester City maintained its one-point lead after Raheem Sterli...

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 07:32:00 +0000
Serie A: Juve's domestic woes continue in 1-1 draw at Venezia
Juventus’ domestic problems deepened as it was held at relegation-threatened Venezia to 1-1 in Serie A on Saturday.Mattia Aramu scored in the second half for Venezia to cancel out Álvaro Morata’s opener.Juventus qualified for the r...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:55:00 +0000
Mandatory wearing of face masks as from today as 2,240 Covid cases registered in last 28 days
Mandatory wearing of face masks is back as from Saturday as the number of daily registered cases, active cases and hospitalisations has shot up.Malta has registered 2,240 cases of Covid-19 in the last 28 days, according to statistics on the Johns Hos...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 08:30:00 +0000
DBRS confirms Malta rating at A (high), stable trend; but impact from grey-listing remains unclear
DBRS Ratings GmbH (DBRS Morningstar) confirmed Malta’s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency – Issuer Ratings at A (high), but says that the impact of Malta’s grey-listing by the Financial Action Trask Force “remains unclear&rd...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 15:32:00 +0000
2021 National Book Prize winners announced
The winners of the 2021 National Book Prize were announced during a ceremony held at the Auberge de Castille under the auspices of the Office the Prime Minister and attended by the Minister for Education Justyne Caruana. The National Book Prize is pr...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 10:57:00 +0000
Passenger grievously injured in St Julian’s collision
A passenger in a car was grievously injured in a collision which took place in St Julian’s this morning, the police said.The accident took place in Mikiel Anton Vassalli Street at 7am.It involved a Toyota Corolla driven by a 38-year-old man of ...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 17:32:00 +0000
Verstappen beats Hamilton for pole ahead of F1 season finale
A first Formula One championship for Max Verstappen was in reach after masterful Red Bull strategy helped the Dutchman overcome an early qualifying mistake to beat Lewis Hamilton for the top starting spot in the title-deciding Abu Dhabi GP.Verstappen...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 09:45:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Activists proven right on Dingli roadworks
In the resurrection of an issue which dominated the news cycle for quite a few days earlier in the year, environmental activists have again been proven right by independent institutions – this time on the building of a road in Dingli by Infrast...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 16:36:00 +0000
Malta, Estonia agree on common challenges
Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Evarist Bartolo and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia Eva Maria Liimets held talks on security in Europe and the Mediterranean at meetings in Tallinn, Estonia. The two ministers spoke about the comm...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 14:27:00 +0000
Fifth edition of the Malta Youth Film Festival launched
The fifth edition of the Malta Youth Film Festival 2022 (MYFF) was launched on Saturday by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ within the Ministry for Inclusion and Quality of Life and the Malta Film Foundation.MYFF is a platform for young fil...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:25:00 +0000
New UK mask rules start as Johnson under fire over parties
Tighter restrictions to curb the coronavirus came into force in Britain on Friday, as the government faced new allegations that officials flouted rules they had imposed on the nation with lockdown-breaking parties last Christmas.Face masks are once a...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:31:00 +0000
New York's COVID surge is back — and so is its mask mandate
Facing a cold-weather surge in COVID-19 infections, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday that masks will be required in all indoor public places unless the businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement.Hochul said the decision to reinst...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 10:52:00 +0000
Engerer entrusted as S&D environment negotiator on Waste Shipment Regulation
Cyrus Engerer has been entrusted by the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament to lead negotiations on the Waste Shipment Regulation, a Labour Party statement said.This is the tenth report that the Member of the European Parliam...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 08:48:00 +0000
80 members of Baden Powell Scout Group Żebbuġ benefit from financial support
The Responsible Gaming Foundation has provided financial assistance to the Baden Powell Scout Group of Żebbuġ, through which kayaks will be purchased enabling the scouts of this locality to continue with their work, which is complementary t...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 09:18:00 +0000
Winners of the Premju Soċjetà Ġusta 2021 announced
The winners of the Premju Soċjetà Ġusta, which celebrates the work, commitment and dedication of various individuals in the disability sector, were announced on Friday.This is an annual event forming part of the activities organised ...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 09:40:00 +0000
Launch of campaign to encourage use of local, fresh produce for cooking
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights Anton Refalo has launched the ‘Sajjar Frisk u Lokali’ campaign to promote the use of local products and to appreciate products from Maltese and Gozitan farmers.The minister e...

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 10:12:00 +0000
Malta elected to IMO Council for 13th consecutive year
For the thirteenth time in a row, Malta has been elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations’ governing body in charge of regulating the maritime sector. This election took place yesterday in Lond...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 16:25:00 +0000
Justyne Caruana found in breach of ethics over contract to former footballer
Education Minister Justyne Caruana breached ethics when her ministry gave a €15,000 contract to former footballer Daniel Bogdanovic. Independent candidate Arnold Cassola said he had been informed by Standards Commissioner George Hyzler that...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 12:39:00 +0000
Elderly man passes away while Covid-19 positive as 88 new cases are found
88 new cases were reported by health authorities on Friday, as an elderly man became the 470th victim of the pandemic in Malta.Authorities said that the 470th victim is a 73-year-old man.59 people have meanwhile recovered from the virus, meaning that...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 18:22:00 +0000
Petition calling for changes to cannabis laws won’t be discussed by Parliamentary committee
A petition calling for changes to the proposed cannabis legalisation law will not be discussed by Parliament’s petitions committee because it has till February before it elapses, the chairman of the committee said.Long-time PL MP Joe Mizzi, who...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 13:35:00 +0000
Brit who was found hiding in Malta in 2019 found guilty of torture and murder in UK court
A Briton who had spent time hiding in Malta and was eventually arrested and extradited has been convicted of torture and murder by a UK court. Harrowing details about the case emerged in court, including how Christopher Guest More had tried to slice ...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 12:50:00 +0000
Vittorio Sgarbi describes Helena Dalli as ‘moron’ for attempt to cancel Christmas
Italian critic Vittorio Sgarbi has described Maltese European Commissioner Helena Dalli as a “moron” and a “cretin” for attempting to cancel Christmas from the official European jargon.Speaking during Bruno Vespa’s highl...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 15:29:00 +0000
Gaffarena loses Old Mint Street appeal, court orders rescission of expropriation
The Court of Appeal has confirmed the 2018 judgement rescinding two contracts through which businessman Mark Gaffarena and his wife Josielle had received around €1.65 million through an irregular expropriation of their share of the part-ownershi...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 14:52:00 +0000
Weather warning: Wind to reach force 8, temperature to plunge
The Met Office has issued a warning on strong winds that are to hit the Maltese Islands over the weekend.The Force 5 wind on Friday afternoon will increase to Force 7 by tonight and further to force 8 on Saturday.Rain is expected on Friday and Saturd...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 14:28:00 +0000
MEP Agius Saliba launches ‘Adopt a Tree’ Campaign
MEP Alex Agius Saliba has launched the ‘Adopt a Tree’ Campaign in collaboration with Callus Garden Centre.This initiative will be implemented across a two-year span. The aim of this campaign is to increase the awareness and the need of mo...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 14:32:00 +0000
Timely exit from FATF grey-list is crucial – President of The Malta Institute of Accountants
The President of the Malta Institute of Accountants has called for a timely exit from the FATF grey-list, but not at the cost of stifling business with “over-regulation and excessive bureaucracy.” President of the Malta Institute of ...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 15:38:00 +0000
Economy Minister launches Ta’ Qali Crafts Village scheme
The Minister for the Economy and Industry Silvio Schembri opened the new Ta’ Qali Crafts Village Scheme in a press conference on the site on Friday.The government acknowledges the true work and commitment which workers of businesses in Ta&rsquo...

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 14:42:00 +0000
58-year-old grievously injured after falling off ladder
A 58-year-old man was grievously injured on Friday after falling off a ladder, police said.In a statement, the police said that the accident took place at around 11:30am inside a residence in Triq Fra Guzeppe in Pembroke.Preliminary investigations sh...



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