Archives

Malta Independent

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 07:34:00 +0000
‘No such thing as responsible cannabis, only dangerous addictive drug’ - MAM
There is no suchn thing as responsible cannabis, only a drug that causes harm to people's health, the Medical Assiociation of Malta said.In a statement, MAM condemned without reservation the promotion and blatant advertising of “responsible can...

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 07:43:00 +0000
Omicron sweeps across US, now 73% of new Covid cases
Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S., accounting for 73% of new infections last week, federal health officials said Monday.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers show...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:04:00 +0000
Updated: PL MP Silvio Grixti resigns from Parliament after police interrogation
Labour MP Silvio Grixti has resigned from parliament after being interrogated by the police, MaltaToday reports.Speaker Anglu Farrugia told The Malta Independent that Grixti had communicated his wish to resign but must now do so officially, in writin...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:07:00 +0000
EU approves 5th COVID-19 vaccine for bloc, one by Novavax
The European Union’s drugs regulator gave the green light Monday to a fifth COVID-19 vaccine for use in the 27-nation bloc, granting conditional marketing authorization to the two-dose vaccine made by U.S. biotech company Novavax.The European M...

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:32:00 +0000
Man seriously injured after falling off ladder
A man was seriously injured after he fell off a ladder on Monday afternoon, the police said Tuesday.The accident took place at the Hal Far industrial estate at 4pm.The man, a Rumanian aged 36, was working on a construction site.He was taken to hospit...

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:07:00 +0000
Suspension of Gozo Channel services on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day
On Christmas and New Year’s Day Gozo Channel will be suspending its ferry service between noon and 3pm. The ferry service will be suspended in order to allow Gozo Channel employees, who will be on duty on these two days, to lunch with their res...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:20:00 +0000
Castaldi Paris will not contest election after tax investigation
Labour MP Ian Castaldi Paris said he will not contest the next election.The announcement comes a day after it was reported that the MP must pay €300,000 in tax dues.After months of talks with tax authorities, it seems that the MP must pay €...

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 07:57:00 +0000
Man in hospital after being hit by car
A man was taken to hospital with grievous injuries after he was hit by a car on Monday afternoon, the police said Tuesday.The man, aged 68, of Cospicua, was hit by a Mazda 2 driven by a 31-year-old man of Zabbar.The accident happened in San Nikola St...

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 08:40:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Christmas a time of cheer, but also challenging
Many of us associate Christmas with cheer, family, friends. Others look at it as a time where many appointments have to be made to meet relatives who perhaps some don’t completely get along with, or get overwhelmed by the stress of it all.But t...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 12:32:00 +0000
Covid 19: Number of people in hospital rises to 42, with 5 in intensive care; 252 cases recorded
Extra strain is being put on the health services as the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has shot up to 42, with five of them in intensive care, the health authorities said Monday.There were 30 people in hospital with Covid on Sunday, with ...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:15:00 +0000
Abela’s government in total collapse – Bernard Grech
Robert Abela’s government is in “total collapse,” Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said on Monday.The web of criminality is crumbling piece by piece and is no longer tenable, he said in a statement.“In just one day we saw an MP...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 13:42:00 +0000
We will soon know if current Covid spike is caused by Omicron variant - Gauci
The health authorities will know in the coming days whether the recent increase in Covid-19 cases was caused by the Omicron variant, Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci said.Speaking to Times of Malta, Gauci explained that the genome sequencing &nd...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 14:35:00 +0000
Justyne Caruana saga: ‘All ministers know what their responsibilities are’ – Robert Abela
All government members must shoulder the responsibility for their actions, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Monday, when asked about a damning report on Education Minister Justyne Caruana.Last week, Standards Commissioner George Hyzler found that ...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 13:45:00 +0000
Five migrants jailed on charges of taking part in riot at Safi centre
Five migrants were sentenced to 84 months in jail between them after they were found guilty of taking part in a riot at the Safi detention centre.Seven migrants had been charged with the offences, which took place on 18 September, 2020. Two of them, ...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 14:31:00 +0000
With Christmas at stake, nations watch omicron strain UK
Britain’s main nurses’ union warned Monday that exhaustion and surging coronavirus cases among medical staff are pushing them to breaking point, adding to pressure on the government for new restrictions to bring down record-high...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 11:53:00 +0000
MTA ‘logistical support’ staff stayed at hotels on other occasions, ministry confirms
Malta Tourism Authority staff stayed at Valletta hotels on more than one occasion when events were being held in the capital, the Tourism Ministry has confirmed.Times of Malta reported earlier this month that MTA staff had booked rooms at the five-st...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 13:13:00 +0000
Suspected bomb supplier in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder denied bail
The Criminal Court has denied a bail request made by Jamie Vella, one of the men indicted over charges of procuring the bomb which killed journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.Vella, who stands accused together with Tal-Maksar brothers Adrian and Robert ...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 13:55:00 +0000
Jordan Azzopardi jailed 7 months on assault charges
Jordan Azzopardi, 32, of Iklin, was sentenced to seven months in prison after being found guilty of threatening two persons and assaulting a man and leaving him naked in the street.Azzopardi, known as the El Chapo of Malta, was charged with another p...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 14:26:00 +0000
Pieter Omtzigt: Whistleblower protection law in Malta ‘not fit for purpose’
Pieter Omtzigt, the Parliamentary Assembly's General Rapporteur on the protection of whistleblowers, has strongly criticised the reform of the Maltese law on whistleblower protection."Last Friday's deadline for the transposition of the EU Directive o...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:29:00 +0000
Decisions on COVID-19 need to be more transparent – PN
The Nationalist Party’s COVID Action Team appealed for more transparency with regards to the control of the pandemic as the Omicron variant rapidly spreads across Europe. The Omicron variant will inevitably enter the country and there needs to ...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:17:00 +0000
New landing facilities for Cospicua ferry passengers to be ready next year
Infrastructure Malta will be using new landing facilities in Cospicua for ferry passengers during the first half of 2022.The facilities form part of a €5 million project partially financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and ai...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 14:20:00 +0000
NGO Repubblika condemns Attorney General and Police Commissioner over inaction
Serious shortcomings still exist despite there being new people tasked with the roles of Attorney General and Police Commissioner, President of NGO Repubblika Robert Aquilina said.He accused the two entities of not bringing to court the ex-Chairman o...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 09:28:00 +0000
House prices rose by nearly 42% since 2010 - Eurostat
House prices in Malta rose by 41.6% between 2010 and 2020, Statistics issued by Eurostat show.Malta’s price rise is steeper than the EU average, which rose by 26% during the same period.Looking at the trend in house prices between 2010 and 2020...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 08:37:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Constitutional and electoral reforms
Questions as to whether or not to reform Malta’s electoral system have long been around, while reforms to Malta’s constitution have already started to be made.Over recent years, there has been a lot of talk as to how we should change the ...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 07:52:00 +0000
Covid-19 made Caritas’ plans to help people suffering from loneliness on Christmas Day harder
The Covid-19 pandemic has made it harder for Caritas to help those suffering from loneliness on Christmas Day, but the NGO is doing what it can, Caritas Director Anthony Gatt told The Malta Independent.While Christmas is often seen as a time to spend...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 10:48:00 +0000
Teacher takes health authorities to court over Covid vaccine-related injury
A teacher has filed a judicial protest against the health authorities, claiming that her first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine caused her a shoulder injury.The protest was filed against the Ministry of Health, the Superintendent of Public Health and the...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 13:46:00 +0000
Court throws out Alfie Rizzo murderer's illegal arrest claim
A court has thrown out an allegation of illegal arrest filed by a prison inmate who is serving a 25-year sentence for the 1998 murder of hairstylist Alfie Rizzo.Rizzo died after being stabbed 17 times by Aimen Said Giali El Baden, from Libya, at his ...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 13:52:00 +0000
Eden Leisure loses bid to stop lotteries concession to €105 million bidder
The Eden Leisure Group has lost a bid for a prohibitory injunction against the award of the national lottery concesssion to National Lottery PLC. The warrant of prohibitory injunction was filed by Eden Leisure Group and Italian co...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 08:20:00 +0000
Woman grievously injured after being hit by car
A woman was grievously injured on Sunday evening when she was hit by a car, the police said.The accident took place in Marfa Road, Mellieha, at 7.30pm.The woman, aged 27, was hit by a Peugeot 107 driven by a 33-year-old man of St Paul’s Bay.She...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 08:26:00 +0000
Three injured after crash in Birzebbuga
Three men were treated for injuries after a crash involving two cars early this morning, the police said.The accident took place in Hal Far Road at 12.30am.It involved a Peugeot 407 driven by a 29-year-old man of Dingli and a Suzuki Baleno driven by ...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 11:05:00 +0000
English language schools want Covid wage supplement extended till Spring
FELTOM, the Federation for English Language Teaching Organisations in Malta, has called on the government to extend the Covid-19 Wage Supplement until spring.In a statement, the federation welcomed the Government’s recent announcement that the ...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 07:17:00 +0000
Covid-19: German experts urge stricter virus measures, more boosters
Germany should implement stricter measures this week to slow the spread of the omicron variant, the German government's new expert council said Sunday, a day after the government announced it would impose travel restrictions on people coming from Bri...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:43:00 +0000
Promoting Improved Social Dialogue in Malta
During 2021, Servizzi Ewropej f’Malta – SEM, implemented a project entitled ‘Promoting Improved Social Dialogue in Malta’ (PRISM). This project was supported by Norway through the Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the P...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 11:39:00 +0000
Man grievously injured after car overturns in Victoria, Gozo
A man was grievously injured on Sunday evening after his car overturned in Gozo.The accident took place in Triq il-Belliegħa, Victoria, at around 9:15pm, the police said.The man, 48, from Xewkija, lost control of his Hyundai Accent, with the car...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 09:55:00 +0000
Malta, Qatar to explore more avenues for cooperation
Malta and Qatar have agreed to explore joint action to increase  cooperation between the two countries in the fields of  energy, pharmaceuticals, finance, sports medicine, community sports facilities and sports academies, a government state...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 07:27:00 +0000
Finland's Christmas resorts in full swing but fear omicron (and there’s a Maltese touch)
Workers at Santa Claus Village, a holiday theme park on the edge of the Arctic Circle, chipped away at a frozen dome, using chisels to put the final touches on an ice restaurant-hotel filled with sculptures of snowmen, penguins and huskies.The Christ...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 09:30:00 +0000
Authorities should investigate VGH deal on financial mismanagement, misuse of public funds – NAO
The “competent authorities” should launch further investigations into any possible financial mismanagement and misuse of public funds in connection with the deal which saw government award three public hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcar...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000
Konrad Mizzi’s delays, no-shows and non-answers
Konrad Mizzi was in the news again this week, and again for the wrong reasons.A report submitted by the National Audit Office sharply criticised the deal reached by the government, when Mizzi was responsible for the health portfolio, for the transfer...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:39:00 +0000
Malta has over 2,000 active Covid-19 cases as 282 new infections registered on Sunday
282 new cases of Covid-19 were registered on Sunday, as the number of active cases continues to rise sharply.55 people recovered from the virus, meaning that Malta now has 2018 active cases. The last time the country had over 2,000 active cases was 2...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +0000
This is my passion and I will keep doing it until I draw my last breath – zookeeper
The breeding of animals at zoos and wildlife parks should not be banned and these establishments should be allowed to regulate themselves in this regard, Borg says. His own Wildlife Park in Imtahleb stopped breeding animals at the beginning of this y...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 07:30:00 +0000
Hyzler doing work which police chief should have been doing 8 months ago - Cassola
The Standards Commissioner is doing the work which the Police Commissioner should have been doing eight months ago, Arnold Cassola, an independent candidate for the coming general election told The Malta Independent on Sunday during an inte...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 08:15:00 +0000
‘Sense of hearing would make me feel uncomfortable’ – Annabelle Xerri
Thirty-four-year-old Annabelle Xerri, who will become profoundly deaf sooner or later, says that she doesn’t know what it’s like to have the ability to hear, but hearing is actually something that would make her feel uncomfortable.Xerri, ...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 15:44:00 +0000
More COVID controls still possible in UK before Christmas
Britain's health secretary has refused to rule out imposing tougher COVID-19 restrictions before Christmas amid the rapid rise of infections and continuing uncertainty about the omicron variant.Sajid Javid said Sunday that the government was assessin...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 11:00:00 +0000
TMIS Editorial: Justyne Caruana must go
Education Minister Justyne Caruana must go; there are no two ways about it. In the latest bombshell scandal, the minister has not only been found in breach of ethics by the Standards Commissioner but is possibly also the subject of a criminal investi...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 10:30:00 +0000
Getting to know Daphne Cassar... and her love for reading, tigers and a special cartoon character
TVM journalist and presenter Daphne Cassar is a familiar face of the national station every morning.But what kind of pizza does she prefer? What items would she take on a deserted island?And probably you would not be surprised with her choice of cart...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 07:13:00 +0000
Premier League: More misery for Sliema after Old Firm defeat
 Ten-man Sliema went down against Floriana in an Old Firm defeat that leaves the Wanderers firmly at the bottom of the table.For the superior Greens the victory lifts them temporarily to second place in the standings but with Floriana having pla...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 07:07:00 +0000
Man City take advantage of Chelsea, Liverpool slip-ups
Chelsea complained about having to play with a coronavirus-depleted squad in drawing at Wolverhampton. Liverpool grumbled about the refereeing in being held by Tottenham.And Manchester City just strolled further in front at the top of the Premier Lea...

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 07:05:00 +0000
Napoli leapfrog Milan into 2nd place in Serie A
Napoli leapfrogged AC Milan into second place in Serie A after beating its title rival 1-0 in a mediocre match at San Siro on Sunday.Eljif Elmas scored an early goal and Milan had an equalizer controversially disallowed right at the death. Franck Kes...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 09:35:00 +0000
Woman grievously injured in four-vehicle crash
A 62-year-old woman from Naxxar was grievously injured in a four-vehicle crash in St Paul's Bay.The accident occurred at 4pm on Saturday on Burmarrad road. The woman was driving a Subaru Forester. The other vehicles involved were an Otokar Kent C bus...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 11:30:00 +0000
Cartoon 19 December 2021

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 16:01:00 +0000
Updated: Dutch going into lockdown; other European countries - not Malta - reimpose restrictions
Nations across Europe moved to reimpose tougher measures to stem a new wave of COVID-19 infections spurred by the highly transmissible omicron variant, including a new nationwide lockdown introduced by the Dutch government.Schools, universi...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 12:35:00 +0000
Covid-19: Fifth highest single day tally; 291 cases take active load to nearly 1,800
The number of Covid-19 cases registered today has again shot up, reaching 291, and taking the tally of active cases to nearly 1,800, figures released by the health authorities said.It is the fifth highest day of daily cases, superseding the 263 we ha...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 13:38:00 +0000
Updated: Cannabis law comes into force after President's signature
President George Vella has signed the law making recreational use of cannabis legal, a day after saying he had his hands tied.Vella’s signing was the last hurdle in a process that saw the government ploughing on to enact the law in spite of pro...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 19:26:00 +0000
Cyprus beefs up COVID-19 screening for all travelers from UK
Cyprus on Saturday toughened COVID-19 screening for all travelers from the U.K. over age 12, including requiring them to quarantine until results are in from a lab test performed at the airport.Cyprus’ Health Ministry cited Britain's “dra...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 12:16:00 +0000
Popular showman, singer Enzo Gusman dies
Popular showman and presenter Enzo Gusman has died, his wife said on Facebook.Gusman died in his home in Canada after a long illness. He was 74.“Enzo’s words have now come to be true,” his wife Carmen wrote on Facebook.“Our be...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 18:19:00 +0000
PN wants cannabis law legal notice to be withdrawn
The President has signed a law that normalises the use of cannabis, the Nationalist Party said, calling for its withdrawal.The law is being opposed by a wide spectrum of organisations, and will have serious repercussions on the country’s future...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 06:45:00 +0000
Pharmacies opening today between 9am and noon
Valletta: Chemimart Republic Street Pharmacy, 20/21, Republic Street; Ħamrun: Fra Diego Dispensary, 94, Villambrosa Street; Qormi: Anici Pharmacy, Anici Street; Santa Venera: St Bartholomew Pharmacy, 30, Fleur-De-Lys Road; Gżira: D'Argen's ...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 08:53:00 +0000
Malta sent letters to MEPs to ‘persuade them’ to support gas pipeline project – report
The Maltese government sent letters to Members of the European Parliament one week before a crucial EU negotiation in an attempt to persuade them to support a controversial gas pipeline connecting the Mediterranean island to Italy’s gas network...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 16:10:00 +0000
WHO: Omicron detected in 89 countries, cases doubling fast
The omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected in 89 countries and is spreading rapidly even in places with high levels of population immunity, the World Health Organization said Saturday.The number of COVID-19 cases involving omicron is do...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 12:40:00 +0000
Mental health expert appointed commissioner for prisoner welfare
Mental health expert Christopher Siegersma has been appointed Commissioner for the Welfare and Development of Prisoners, the Home Affairs Ministry has announced.The new role was announced on Friday by Minister Byron Camilleri. It was one of the recom...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 16:47:00 +0000
Paediatricians support Covid vaccine programme for children
The Maltese Paediatric Association said today it supported the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 - 11 years.One reason for this is that serious complications from COVID-19 infection in children are uncommon but can still oc...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 06:16:00 +0000
Injury-hit Leeds thrashed again in EPL, 4-1 by Arsenal
Injury-hit Leeds slumped to its second alarming loss in five days, 4-1 at home to Arsenal in the only English Premier League match to take place on Saturday because of a wave of pandemic-affected postponements.The match was marred by an allegation of...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 06:17:00 +0000
Abraham nets two as Roma win at title-chasing Atalanta 4-1
Tammy Abraham scored twice as Roma claimed its first win against one of the top Serie A teams by 4-1 at Atalanta on Saturday.Abraham scored his first less than a minute into the match and Nicolò Zaniolo doubled Roma’s lead. An own goal f...

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 06:10:00 +0000
Premier League: Gzira and Sta Lucia share four goals in first half blitz
Gżira United and Santa Lucia shared four goals and took a point a piece when in the first match played at the Tony Bezzina Stadium they figured out a 2-2 draw.It was an important match for both teams as Gżira United who shared the sixth pla...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 12:46:00 +0000
PM’s failure to sack Caruana negatively affecting education system - PN
PN Spokesperson for Education Clyde Puli condemned the Prime Minister for failing to act and effectively remove Justyne Caruana as Minister for Education immediately.The fact that the Prime Minister seems uncertain on whether to dismiss Caruana from ...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 08:35:00 +0000
President has no power to ignore a law passed in Parliament, ‘whether he agrees with it or not’
President George Vella said he had no power to ignore a law that was democratically passed in Parliament, irrespective of his agreement or otherwise.His only option not to sign a law is to leave the Presidency is he has "a serious moral objection".Fo...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 14:27:00 +0000
Moderate earthquake shakes Milan; no reports of injuries
A moderate earthquake rattled Italy's financial capital of Milan on Saturday morning. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.Italy's Institute for Geophysics and Vulcanology said the quake had a preliminary magnitude between 4.3 and 4....

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 07:56:00 +0000
Biker critical after crashing into barrier
A biker was seriously hurt after he lost control of the bike he was riding and crashed into a barroer on Saturday evening, the police said.The motorcyclist, a 22-year-old Albanian man who resides in Valletta, crashed in Triq ix-Xatt, Pieta, at 10.30p...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 07:38:00 +0000
Despite Christmas truce, EU, UK still fight over Brexit deal
One year after the Brexit trade deal was supposed to end acrimony between the European Union and the departed United Kingdom, both sides showed Friday that theirs is still a relationship tainted by bad blood and accusations of bad faith.They did post...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 07:42:00 +0000
TMID Editorial - Prison: If Dalli did such a brilliant job, why wasn’t he reinstated?
The report compiled by an inquiry that looked into the workings of the prison were published yesterday and the home minister acted as if the findings were some form of vindication. But the most important conclusion of them all was that Colonel Alex D...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 07:32:00 +0000
Denmark to shut down public venues, Swiss launch new restrictions, France bans New Year's concerts
Several countries including France, Switzerlamnd and Denmark have taken steps in an attempt to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in their country.DenmarkDenmark's prime minister announced Friday that theaters, cinemas, concert halls, amusement parks, mus...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 16:21:00 +0000
Sea-Eye rescues 223 migrants in Maltese waters in four separate operations
The Sea-Eye 4 has rescued a total of 223 people across four separate operations in the Maltese search and rescue zone in the last 24 hours, the NGO said.Among the 223 rescued are 29 women, four of whom are pregnant, and 8 children.  The ship&rsq...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:08:00 +0000
Solitary confinement should only be applied through court order – prison inquiry report
Solitary confinement should only be applied by court order, the inquiry into the operation of the Corradino Correctional Facility has recommended.“This is why the Prison regulations should be updated as needed.”During a press conference p...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 07:27:00 +0000
Malta records 5-month high of 221 Covid cases but no hint of extra restrictions
Malta recorded a five-month high of daily Covid-19 cases on Friday, but the government was silent on the possibility of adding to the restrictions already in place as the country prepares for a festive two weeks.The number of new cases registered on ...

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 11:56:00 +0000
Serie A leaders Inter rout last-placed Salernitana 5-0
Serie A leaders Inter Milan routed last-placed Salernitana 5-0 on Friday.Ivan Perisic, Denzel Dumfries, Alexis Sanchez, Lautaro Martinez and Roberto Gagliardini scored.Seeking a second straight Italian league title, Inter moved four points ahead of s...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 10:25:00 +0000
Prison inquiry: Alex Dalli to be given 'different role', but Minister refuses to say what
Colonel Alex Dalli will be given a "different role", Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri has announced - but he failed to say exactly what, and where, that role will be, despite being questioned over the matter by journalists.Dalli was removed from...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 10:46:00 +0000
State Advocate fined €500 for appealing court order to show Keith Schembri phone data
A judge has found the State Advocate in contempt of court, fining him €500, after a lawyer from his office filed an appeal on behalf of the Police Commissioner against the court order to exhibit data from Keith Schembri’s mobile phone &nda...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 18:15:00 +0000
Emergency Conservation Order issued for Palazzina Vincenti in St Julian’s
An Emergency Conservation Order (ECO) has been issued for the immediate protection of the iconic Palazzina Vincenti in St Julian's.The Planning Authority has termed the Palazzina Vincenti property as "heritage at risk."This comes after a developer pl...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 12:39:00 +0000
221 cases of Covid-19 reported as cases continue to rocket upwards
221 cases of Covid-19 were reported by health authorities as case numbers continued to rocket upwards on Friday.It's the first time since 20 July, when 217 cases were reported, that Malta has registered over 200 cases of the virus, making today a fiv...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:52:00 +0000
EC disburses €41m in pre-financing to Malta under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
The European Commission has disbursed €41.1 million to Malta in pre-financing, equivalent to 13% of the country's financial allocation under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).The prefinancing payment will help to kick-start the implemen...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 11:29:00 +0000
FIAU imposes €2.6 million administrative penalty on BOV
Bank of Valletta announced today that the Financial Intelligence and Analysis Unit (FIAU) has imposed a fine of €2.6 million on it as an administrative penalty for failing to report Beneficial Ownership information for 2,442 corporate customers ...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:42:00 +0000
Two men in hospital as van crashes into tree
Two men were taken to hospital with grievous injuries after the van they were in crashed into a tree on Friday morning.The police said the accident took place on Saqqajja Hill, limits of Rabat, at 11am.The van, a Fiat Ducato, was being driven by a 30...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 17:40:00 +0000
Digital platforms should operate on a level playing field - Sant
In an intervention to the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, PL MEP Alfred Sant emphasized that digital platforms should operate in a level playing field environment.He insisted that further discussion should be carried out on the poss...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:46:00 +0000
Italian man arrested in connection with drug trafficking
An Italian man was arrested by the police in connection with an investigation into drug trafficking, the police said.The man, aged 29 and resident in St Paul’s Bay, was arrested after the police seized cocaine and cannabis to be trafficked.Poli...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 07:19:00 +0000
Soaring infections rattle Europe, fuel dread about holidays
Soaring infections in Britain driven in part by the omicron variant of the coronavirus rattled Europe on Thursday, prompting new restrictions on the Continent and fueling a familiar dread on both sides of the Atlantic about entering a new phase of th...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 13:50:00 +0000
Only half of extra government expenses are due to Covid - Mario de Marco
Nationalist MP Mario de Marco said today that the government blames every extra expense found on the General Estimates of 2021 on the Covid, but this is not true as only half of the added costs came up as a result of the pandemic.Addressing the media...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:03:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Hospitals deal must be criminally investigated
The National Audit Office on Tuesday added yet another chapter to the ongoing saga surrounding the government’s decision to sell three public hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcare.In what was the second part of their audit into the deal, the NA...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 07:16:00 +0000
English Premier League schedule upended by Covid postponements
The Premier League schedule was upended Thursday as coronavirus outbreaks at clubs forced the postponement of five weekend matches, taking the total amount of games wiped out over the past week to nine.The league said its intention was “to cont...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 07:08:00 +0000
Chris Noth accused of sexual assaults; actor denies claims
Actor Chris Noth has been accused of sexually assaulting two women in separate encounters that took place in 2004 and 2015, according to a report Thursday.The women’s identities were withheld by The Hollywood Reporter in order to protect t...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 09:28:00 +0000
Pope at 85: No more Mr Nice Guy, as reform hits stride
Pope Francis celebrates his 85th birthday on Friday, a milestone made even more remarkable given the coronavirus pandemic, his summertime intestinal surgery and the weight of history: His predecessor retired at this age and the last pope to have live...

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 14:22:00 +0000
People over 35 can apply for booster vaccine, restrictions calibrated in real time – Fearne
 People aged 35 and over can start applying to receive the booster vaccine - the third dose - as from Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne said in a press conference today.At present, the government is calling on pe...

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 17:15:00 +0000
PN leader wants Covid-19 wage supplement extended to March
Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech has called for the Covid-19 wage supplement to be extended to March, rather than January.In a statement on social media, Grech said that “it’s positive that the Prime Minister heard our pleas to help...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 10:41:00 +0000
WasteServ breaks own recycling record, processed close to 19,000 tonnes of recyclables in 2021
WasteServ surpasses the projected record of processed recyclables since its inception as employees’ hard work paid off. Around 19,000 tonnes of good quality recyclable material were processed and returned to the economy in 2021. Minister f...

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 17:54:00 +0000
Students worried after University orders in-person exams while lectures have been online for 2 years
A group of masters students at the University of Malta have expressed concern at being told that their examinations will be held with them physically present, after over two years of their lectures being held online. One student in the Masters of Acc...

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 10:58:00 +0000
Alec A. Mizzi steps down as CEO of Alf. Mizzi & Sons Marketing Group
After the best part of 40 years at the helm of the AMSM Group, the distribution organisation of fast moving consumer goods to the Grocery and Foodservice sectors, Alec A. Mizzi has decided to relinquish the post of CEO and to move to a new position o...

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 12:27:00 +0000
Police fired 50 shots during Mellieħa arrest, court told
Over 50 shots were fired at a car driving at police officers during the arrest of 24 year-old Aidan Bartolo in Mellieħa earlier this month, a court has heard.Bartolo, whose car had been flagged down on suspicion of drugs and weapons possession, ...

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 14:08:00 +0000
Gas pipeline idea extraneous to other energy projects – Minister Dalli
The Maltese government and the European Union are in agreement that no funds allotted to any given project are to be funnelled to sustain criminal activities, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli said today.She was being referred to Malta being allowed to ap...

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 12:39:00 +0000
167 Covid-19 cases reported as hospitalisations drop by 7
167 cases of Covid-19 were reported by health authorities on Thursday as high case numbers continue to persist.99 people have recovered from the virus, meaning that the number of active cases has shot over the 1,500 mark to 1,532.The last time Malta ...

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 19:18:00 +0000
UEFA Nations League draw: Italy, England and Germany in same group
Italy, England and Germany were drawn in the same Nations League group, with only the group winner guaranteed a spot in the semifinals. The last-place team in that group, which also includes Hungary, will be relegated to League B.Nations Le...

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 08:59:00 +0000
Health ministry defends mask-wearing rule, says it remains 'least disruptive of all measures'
The new restrictive measure related to the wearing of face masks in all public places has been defended by the health authorities, with them saying that “this measure remains the least disruptive of all public health measures, whilst having bee...



home