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Malta Independent

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 07:09:00 +0000
Could possible new Vatican post for Scicluna open way for new Archbishop for Malta?
The possible promotion to a top Vatican position for Archbishop Charles Scicluna could lead to his being replaced as the head of the Maltese Church, sources told The Malta Independent.On Monday, Pope Francis announced changes to the set-up of the Con...

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 07:13:00 +0000
Updated: European Parliament President David Sassoli dies at 65
David Sassoli, the Italian journalist who worked his way up in politics while defending the downtrodden and repressed to become president of the European Union’s parliament, died at a hospital in Italy early Tuesday, his spokesperson said.EU Co...

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 09:34:00 +0000
Outline application for Magħtab incinerator recommended for approval, will go before PA on Thursday
The outline application for the construction of a waste to energy plant at the Magħtab landfill has been recommended for approval, and is set to go before the Planning Authority’s board on Thursday.The flagship waste management project aim...

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 07:56:00 +0000
Italy targets the unvaccinated with new virus restrictions
 Italy targeted the unvaccinated with a host of new coronavirus restrictions Monday, with proof of vaccination or recovery from a recent infection required to enter public transport, cafes, hotels, gyms and other popular venues.The new “su...

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 07:54:00 +0000
Live Covid updates: China locks down third city, raising affected to 20 million
BEIJING (AP) — A third Chinese city has locked down its residents because of a COVID-19 outbreak, raising the number confined to their homes in China to about 20 million people.It wasn't clear how long the lockdown of Anyang city, home to 5.5 m...

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 08:14:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: 2022 elections and the challenges ahead
The 2022 election will see two new party leaders face each other. Neither has contested a general election as leader of their party.The past two years have seen a lot of changes made. Joseph Muscat was made to resign, Konrad Mizzi is no longer a Labo...

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 09:39:00 +0000
Biker injured in San Gwann accident
A biker was grievously injured in a crash in San Gwann on Monday evening.The accident happened in Naxxar Road, at 8pm.The biker, a 30-year-old man from San Giljan, was involved in a crash with a Kia Sportage driven by a 35-year-old Libyan who resides...

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 08:10:00 +0000
Australia and Serbia leaders discuss Novak Djokovic's visa
The prime ministers of Australia and Serbia on Tuesday discussed Novak Djokovic's precarious visa after the top-ranked Serbian tennis star won a court battle to compete in the Australian Open but still faces the threat of deportation because he is no...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 19:47:00 +0000
David Thake blames cash flow problems for VAT dues, says he preferred to pay his employees
PN MP David Thake blamed cash flow problems the outstanding VAT dues of one of his companies, saying that he preferred to pay his employees than pay the government on time.Fielding questions from journalists about VAT issues which two of his companie...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 17:11:00 +0000
‘Direct frontal attack on this office’ – Ombudsman reacts to civil service head’s comments
Ombudsman Anthony Mifsud has fired back at civil service chief Mario Cutajar, accusing the latter of unleashing a “direct frontal attack” on his office in a recent report.The Ombudsman was referring to a report titled ‘Governance Ac...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:41:00 +0000
New Covid-19 cases continue to drop as elderly woman dies
437 cases of Covid-19 were reported by health authorities on Monday, as Malta reported another death related to the virus.Health authorities said that an 84-year-old woman had died while she was positive for Covid-19.489 people have now died in Malta...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 18:17:00 +0000
Mellieha ODZ land set out for beekeeping will not be touched, Prime Minister tells PN MP
A tract of ODZ land in Mellieha which was offered up as a tender for beekeeping “will not be touched”, PN MP Robert Cutajar told his followers following a meeting with Prime Minister Robert Abela.Cutajar, who was elected from Mellieha&rsq...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 19:59:00 +0000
Two departments at Mater Dei Hospital to be named after Albert Fenech and Victor Calvagna
Two departments at Mater Dei Hospital will be named after Albert Fenech and Victor Calvagna, two giants of the medical profession who recently passed away.The news was announced by Health Minister Chris Fearne in Parliament on Monday.The Cardiology D...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 16:40:00 +0000
Andy Ellul officially co-opted to Parliament
Andy Ellul has been officially co-opted to Parliament after he was chosen for the post by the Labour Party.Ellul was sworn in on Monday when Parliament reconvened after the Christmas holidays.He replaces Silvio Grixti, who resigned after it emerged h...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 11:45:00 +0000
Malta has highest Covid booster rate and lowest hospitalisation rate in Europe – Fearne
Malta currently has the highest rate of Covid-19 boosters administered in Europe, and subsequently the lowest number of Covid-19 patients in hospital in the continent as well, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Monday.Quoting a dataset from the web...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 14:35:00 +0000
PN wants Covid-19 quarantine period slashed to five days
The Nationalist Party has supported a call by a business lobby group to further reduce quarantine periods for Covid-19 cases to five days, as has been done in the United States.In a statement, the PN said that it supported the call of the Chamber of ...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 10:18:00 +0000
Mariella Dimech appointed as executive chairperson of Cannabis Authority
Mariella Dimech has been appointed as the first Executive Chairperson of the Authority on the Responsible Use of Cannabis which has been established by means of Act LXVI of 2021, which came into force on the 18th of December 2021, the government...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 15:47:00 +0000
EU Parliament president Sassoli hospitalized in Italy
European Parliament president David Sassoli has been hospitalized in Italy due to abnormal functioning of his immune system, his spokesman said Monday.Roberto Cuillo said in a statement that Sassoli has in the hospital since Dec. 26 and all his activ...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 17:21:00 +0000
41 IVF pregnancies in 2021
There were 41 pregnancies from the IVF cycles in 2021, a government statement read, adding that it was a positive year for the Embryo Protection Authority and that this was a higher number than in 2020.In 2021, the authority was relocated to a new bu...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 08:40:00 +0000
DB project - Local councils, NGOs continue ‘battle against greed’ in court
Three local councils together with several organisations and residents have filed two court actions against the approval of the massive db Group project on the ex-ITS site, a statement by the group of dissenters read.One court action appeals the appr...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 16:43:00 +0000
Maltese vaccine certificate rules make it harder for Maltese residents to travel – MIA
New vaccine certificate rules have imposed an unnecessary hurdle for Maltese residents to travel, Malta International Airport has warned.MIA urged the health authorities to halt the introduction of further unnecessary and haphazard travel restriction...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 11:51:00 +0000
Application for tourism bungalows on site of explosives factory on Dingli ODZ land withdrawn
A Planning Application proposing the redevelopment of the Pulvic Explosives Factory in Dingli to tourism bungalows has been withdrawn by the applicant, the Planning authority's website shows.The application had proposed the demolition of the existing...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 11:55:00 +0000
Darren Debono it-Topo to testify this month in reopened HSBC heist compilation of evidence
Darren Debono, known as it-Topo, is set to testify about the 2010 attempted armed robbery of the HSBC headquarters later this month as the compilation of evidence against Vincent Muscat continues.Debono was last week sentenced to 10 and a half years ...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 14:14:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: The politics of favours
It took one of Malta’s new MPs who wasn’t a career politician to speak out about something which we know happens on an all-too-common basis in Maltese politics.Oliver Scicluna, who was co-opted to Parliament last year by the Labour Party,...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 16:32:00 +0000
Digital strategy to be implemented for local councils
Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government José Herrera announced an investment of €750,000 to implement a Digital Strategy for the local governments.This comes after it was said that there are shortcomings in the t...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 14:12:00 +0000
Pope on Covid vaccines says health care a 'moral obligation'
Pope Francis suggested Monday that getting vaccinated against the coronavirus was a “moral obligation" and denounced how people had been swayed by “baseless information” to refuse one of the most effective measures to save lives.Fra...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 06:43:00 +0000
Live Covid updates: Spanish PM calls for debate on treating Covid-19 as endemic
MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says that amid falling lethality rates for COVID-19, Spain wants European officials to consider whether to move away from the detailed tracking that the pandemic has required until now t...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 16:19:00 +0000
David Thake suspends himself from PN parliamentary group, but denies being ‘tax evader’
PN MP David Thake has resigned from the Nationalist Party’s shadow cabinet and suspended himself from the party’s parliamentary group pending the outcome of a standards investigation into him.The news comes after Thake was the subject of ...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 09:00:00 +0000
‘Politicians should not be afraid to speak about favour requests for fear of losing votes’ – PL MP
Politicians should work for all the Maltese and Gozitans, not just for the people in their district, PL MP Oliver Scicluna told The Malta Independent on Sunday.“We should lead by example because certain people will not stop asking favours for v...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 13:35:00 +0000
Concrete legislative action required on Caruana Galizia Public inquiry proposals – Malta Chamber
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry said that it is pleased to note that the Opposition has taken the initiative and put forward concrete legislative proposals to address the shortcomings identified by the public inquiry into the m...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 11:43:00 +0000
Yorgen Fenech in quarantine after coming into contact with positive case, court told
Suspected Daphne Caruana Galizia murder mastermind Yorgen Fenech is in quarantine, a court was told on Monday.The 17 Black owner was due to appear in court for a an appeal filed by the Office of the State Advocate against a contempt of court ruling g...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 06:14:00 +0000
Updated (4): Australian judge says Djokovic can stay but saga not over
Tennis star Novak Djokovic won a court battle Monday to stay in Australia to contest the Australian Open despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19, but the drama might not be finished, with the government threatening to cancel his visa a second t...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 09:00:00 +0000
Grave injuries remain following New York City fire that killed 19
Hospitals worked Monday to save the lives of multiple people gravely injured by smoke in a fire that killed 19 people, including nine children, in a Bronx apartment building.Dozens of people were hospitalized, and as many as 13 were in critical condi...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 12:38:00 +0000
New Covid-19 cases down to 563 as another patient passes away
The number of Covid-19 cases reported by health authorities has continued what appears to be a downward trend, with 563 new cases of the virus reported on Sunday.However, a 63-year-old man became the 488th person to pass away while positive for the v...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +0000
'He picked up a brick and told me to be quiet or else, then he raped me' - former prostitute
In 2019, government started a debate on the decriminalisation and regularisation of prostitution in Malta. The main aim of the reform would be to “protect vulnerable people from being exploited as sex workers and at the same time further enhanc...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 08:30:00 +0000
Paulina Dembska… just another femicide?
Last Sunday Malta woke up to the grim news that a young Polish girl had been found murdered in Sliema.The circumstances of the crime immediately gripped the attention of many, and the social media was taken by storm as everyone wanted to have a say o...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 06:40:00 +0000
Bob Saget, beloved TV dad of 'Full House,' dead at 65
Bob Saget, the actor-comedian known for his role as beloved single dad Danny Tanner on the sitcom “Full House” and as the wisecracking host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” died while on a stand-up tour. He was 65.De...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 09:30:00 +0000
They call him a czar, but he has little power
Justyne Caruana is only the latest in a list of Labour politicians who were found to have breached ethical standards in their behaviour in public life.Caruana resigned in the week leading up to Christmas after the Standards Commissioner established t...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000
Caretaker governments should not pass laws, issue permits or give out public land – PN
Caretaker governments should not be allowed to pass new laws and issue permits or allocate government land and housing, a draft Bill drawn up by the Opposition proposes. The draft Bill is one of twelve put forward yesterday by Opposition Leader Berna...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 07:30:00 +0000
‘Welfare of animals has improved, but we can never stop working’ - Alison Bezzina
Despite challenges and setbacks, including those caused by the global pandemic, many of the recommendations put forward by the Animal Welfare Commissioner have made it to full or partial implementation, while others are in the process of being implem...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 06:26:00 +0000
Arsenal out of FA Cup, Liverpool and Tottenham avoid upsets
Third-round exits in the FA Cup don't come along very often for Arsenal.Unless, that is, Nottingham Forest is the opponent.Failing to transfer its improved Premier League form to the world's oldest knockout competition, Arsenal was beaten 1-0 by seco...

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 06:29:00 +0000
More frustration for Mourinho as Roma waste lead over Juve
José Mourinho left Italy more than a decade ago as a Champions League winner, Serie A champion and Italian Cup victor after guiding Inter Milan to a memorable “tripletta” — treble.Flash forward a dozen years and the outspoken...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 12:29:00 +0000
Bernard Grech ‘has no moral authority to act against those who put him in his role’ – Robert Abela
PN leader Bernard Grech has no moral authority to take action against those who “put him” in his role as party leader, Prime Minister Robert Abela said as the opposition leader faces pressure over his handling of one of his MP’s tax...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 12:45:00 +0000
Labour government does not have the public’s interest at heart – PN leader
The current PL government is not capable, or does not want to do the right thing, despite the damage it has caused over the past few months, said Opposition leader Bernard Grech in an interview with NET News on the program Analiżi.“The rea...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 06:33:00 +0000
Live Covid updates: German vaccine mandate may take months to pass, parties say
BERLIN (AP) — Germany's ruling parties are hitting the brakes on plans for compulsory coronavirus vaccinations, saying it may take months for lawmakers to properly debate the contentious measure in parliament.Berlin daily Tagesspiegel on Sunday...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 16:10:00 +0000
Biker grievously injured in Zejtun crash
A biker was grievously injured in a crash in Zejtun on Saturday evening, the police said.The accident took place in Toni Zahra Street at 8pm.The biker, an Indian man aged 26, was riding a Sym Symphony which was involved in a crash with a Toyota Vitz,...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 16:06:00 +0000
Man reported missing found ‘safe’
A man who had been reported missing a few days ago was found “safe and sound”, the police said.Englishman John Davis, who lives in Kercem, had been reported missing on Friday.The police said Sunday that the man was found by officers durin...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 15:06:00 +0000
FEATURE: The Pharmacy at the Sacra Infermeria
An important element of the Valletta Sacra Infermeria of the Knights of St. John was the pharmacy, known as the spezieria. Its role was to prepare the medicines to be used within the Infermeria itself, as well as in other places, such as the Order&rs...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 10:30:00 +0000
Getting to know… Twanny Scerri and his passion for music, Italy
For more than 40 years, Twanny Scerri has been a hallmark of radio broadcasting, first on Malta’s national radio stations and now on Calypso Radio.It was always his wish to be behind a microphone, and his love for Italian music and connections ...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +0000
TMIS Editorial: When a priest preaches hate
When a priest preaches hate, you know that there’s something very, very wrong. When a priest says that being gay is worse than being possessed by a demon, you know that we still have a long way to go as a country, as far as tolerance goes. Towa...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 12:46:00 +0000
Will he stay or will he go? Djokovic's hearing looms large
After four nights in an Australian immigration detention hotel, Novak Djokovic will get his day in court Monday in a deportation case that has polarized opinions and elicited heartfelt support for the top-ranked tennis star in his native Serbia.Djoko...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +0000
Cartoon 9 January 2022

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 08:08:00 +0000
Off to Gozo? You will likely experience delays for months as Ghadira road works take place
If you’re planning to go to Gozo in the next few months, you will likely experience delays arriving at Cirkewwa as road works at Ghadira begin on Monday.Infrastructure Malta said on its Facebook page that it is working with the Water Services C...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 07:59:00 +0000
Thousands of jellyfish wash up at Armier
Thousands of jellyfish washed up at Armier over the weekend, a phenomenon that occurs every year according to marine biologist Alan Deidun.Adult mauve stingers, he wrote on Facebook, come up from the bottom of the sea to lay their eggs before they di...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 12:35:00 +0000
Covid-19: Number of patients in hospital up, two more deaths
The number of people requiring hospital treatment is up by four on Saturday, compared to Friday, while two more patients have died, health authorities said.On the brighter side, the number of mpeople who recovered from the virus, for the second day r...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 12:24:00 +0000
MUMN seeks urgent meeting to discuss problems related to ‘different quarantine days’
MUMN is seeking a meeting with the Health Minister related to “the problems which employees are going to face regarding the different quarantine days issued to persons (and their children) according to their boosters.”How can parents who ...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 18:41:00 +0000
Two women hurt as car overturns in Rabat
Two women were injured when the car they were in crashed into a wall and overturned, the police said.The accident took place in Mdina Road, Rabat, at 11 am on Saturday.The car, a Volkswagen Bora, was being driven by a 25-year-old man of Mosta.The two...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 12:47:00 +0000
PN presents bills to fight corruption, implement recommendations made by Daphne public inquiry
The Nationalist Party on Saturday announced a package of 12 legislative bills aimed to implement the major findings of the public inquiry into the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and to fight corruption.In a press confere...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 07:14:00 +0000
Pharmacies opening today between 9am and noon
Valletta: Royal Pharmacy, 271, Republic Street; Ħamrun: Darwin Pharmacy, 152, St Joseph High Road; Santa Venera: Collis Williams St Venera Pharmacy, 532, St Joseph High Road; Birkirkara: Mint Care Pharmacy, 5B-71 Brared Street; Msida: Brown's Ph...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 16:56:00 +0000
UK government advisers recommend against 4th vaccine dose for now
U.K. government advisers have recommended against giving a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to nursing home residents and people over 80 because data shows that a third shot offers lasting protection against admission to the hospital.For people over 6...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 17:20:00 +0000
FAA speaks of ‘connivance’ to ruin Sliema
Sliema residents on Saturday gathered in support of Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar and the Sliema Local Council in denouncing what the organisation described as “the Planning Authority’s connivance with developers to ruin Sliema&rd...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 08:59:00 +0000
Employers want right to seek vaccination status of their workers – Malta Chamber
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry said Saturday that the latest announcement on quarantine letters oblige employers to be aware of their employees’ vaccination status. Consequently, it is imperative that employers have the ...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 07:57:00 +0000
Paulina Dembska murder: Polish ambassador ‘profoundly touched’ by Maltese solidarity
Polish Ambassador to Malta Tomasz Czyszek has said he was “profoundly touched” by the solidarity shown by the Maltese citizens as well as Poles living in Malta following the gruesome murder of a 29-year-old Polish girl last Sunday.Paulina...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 07:33:00 +0000
As omicron spreads, Europe scrambles to shore up health care
Troops have been deployed to London hospitals. Health care workers infected with COVID-19 are treating patients in France. The Netherlands is under a lockdown, and tented field hospitals have gone up in Sicily.Nations across Europe are scrambling to ...

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 06:28:00 +0000
Newcastle's season reaches new low with FA Cup humiliation
At least Newcastle’s fight to stay in the English Premier League won’t be hampered by a deep run in the FA Cup.In further embarrassment for a club with the world’s richest owners, Saudi-controlled Newcastle was beaten by third-tier ...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 09:37:00 +0000
Updated (2): Court documents show Djokovic had Covid-19 last month
Novak Djokovic's lawyers filed court papers Saturday in his challenge against deportation from Australia that show the tennis star tested positive for COVID-19 last month and recovered, grounds he used in applying for a medical exemption to the count...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 07:39:00 +0000
Live Covid updates: Germany toughens restaurant rules, Romania tightens measures
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Tighter pandemic measures came into force in Romania on Saturday as authorities hoped to quell sharply rising coronavirus cases amid concerns that the next virus wave could overstretch the country’s health care s...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 09:50:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Paulina Dembska’s murder is a wake-up call for us to deal with misogyny
The murder of Paulina Dembska is one which shocked the nation.The Polish language student was found dead last week in a garden in Sliema which she used to frequent to feed the colony of cats that lives there, with an autopsy later finding that she ha...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 07:41:00 +0000
'A hurricane': Virus storm sends test-makers into overdrive
As countless millions of people in Europe waste hours in lines for COVID-19 tests and scour their nasal passages with self-test kits at home, at the other end of the chain, workers are straining to meet the demand.At NG Biotech, production lines are ...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 11:13:00 +0000
ABBA leader says ‘zero’ connection with murder suspect
ABBA party leader Ivan Grech Mintoff said Saturday that there is no connection between the party and the suspect in the murder of a Polish woman.In a statement, Grech Mintoff said that “the blatant attacks on Christian entities (parties, church...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 16:27:00 +0000
Investment company fined over €300,000 by FIAU over anti-money laundering shortcomings
An investment company has been handed a hefty fine by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) over a number of anti-money laundering shortcomings which saw millions be invested without robust controls in place.Southern Cross SICAV plc were fi...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 12:39:00 +0000
Covid-19: Recoveries higher than new cases for first time in almost a month
The number of Covid-19 recoveries reported on Friday exceeded the number of new cases found for the first time in almost a month, health authorities shared in their latest update on the pandemic.786 new cases of the virus were reported by health auth...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 19:25:00 +0000
PN leader appeals for more action against violence on women
There needs to be more action to avoid as much violence in society as possible, as well as to increasingly protect women, said Opposition leader Bernard Grech on a video post on Facebook.This is in light of the fear which has been reigning women afte...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 09:40:00 +0000
Police union invites AG 'to the next gunfight', expresses dismay at HSBC plea bargain
The Malta Police Union is dismayed and disappointed by the plea deal struck in the HSBC heist case.Darren Debono, known as it-Topo, sensationally pleaded guilty to his involvement in the 2010 heist on the eve of the beginning of the trial b...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 10:25:00 +0000
Police to issue hate speech charges against priest who said being gay is worse than being possessed
The police will issue online hate speech charges against Fr David Muscat, the priest who said on Facebook that being gay is worse than being possessed by devil, MaltaToday reports.It is expected that he will be arraigned towards the end of January.Re...

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 08:31:00 +0000
Djokovic and 2 others now in Australian Open visa drama
Novak Djokovic isn’t alone in having his visa canceled after flying in for the Australian Open without the required evidence to support a medical exemption to the country’s strict COVID-19 vaccination rules.Djokovic was denied entry when ...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 14:10:00 +0000
MDA objects to Marsaxlokk FC plans, says club would be 'unfairly competing with private developers'
The Malta Developers Associated has objected to a planning application filed by Marsaxlokk Football Club, saying that the proposal gives the club an unfair advantage over private developers. The application is for the football club to expand its...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 17:03:00 +0000
Englishman reported missing
Police have appealed for assistance in finding an elderly Englishman, who has been reported missing.John Davis, aged 71, lives in Kercem, Gozo.He was last seen in Cirkewwa wearing a brown-red shirt, black trousers, and sandals.  He was carrying ...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 17:15:00 +0000
Oscar winner and groundbreaking star Sidney Poitier dies
Sidney Poitier, the groundbreaking actor and enduring inspiration who transformed how Black people were portrayed on screen, became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for best lead performance and the first to be a top box-office draw, has...

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 10:25:00 +0000
Archbishop issues formal warning to priest who said being gay is worse than being possessed by devil
Archbishop Charles Scicluna has issued a formal warning to controversial priest David Muscat, referred to in Canon Law as a penal precept, instructing the priest to cease making inflammatory and hurtful comments in public forums or face prohibition f...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 06:46:00 +0000
PA denies claims of collusion in relation to former Barracuda restaurant
The Planning Authority has categorically denied claims of “collusion” made in public in relation to illegal works carried out on the former Barracuda Restaurant in St Julian’s. As a matter of fact, the PA said in a statement, althou...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +0000
Why NFTs will continue to boom in 2022
NFT or Non-fungible Token is a type of token representing any particular asset in digital form. The term non-fungible means the items that are irreplaceable for their innovative attributes. Now, this could be anything, starting from art to real estat...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 07:05:00 +0000
Live Covid updates: Germany mulls new COVID restrictions as omicron advances
Germany's leaders are set to consider possible new restrictions and changes to quarantine rules on Friday as the new omicron variant advances quickly.Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the country’s 16 state governors are likely to build on restriction...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 15:45:00 +0000
No room for hate speech towards sexuality – Minister
There is no room for hateful acts or comments which are based on sexuality, Minister for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing Julia Farrugia Portelli told The Malta Independent on Friday.She was asked about what she has described as "homophobic" towards ga...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 15:51:00 +0000
Government signs €2.9 million investment agreement with Inspire Foundation
The government signed a €2.9 million investment agreement with the Inspire Foundation, to further assist persons with disabilities, Inclusion Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli said. The investment saw a €1.1 million increase from the precedi...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 12:58:00 +0000
Long list of toys recalled as they do not comply with safety requirements
The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) said a long list of toys are being recalled as they do not comply with safety requirements. They include toys obtained via online purchases.The products are being recalled as they do n...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 12:33:00 +0000
Victor Calvagna’s funeral to be held on Wednesday 12 January
The Celebration of Life for beloved doctor Victor Calvagna will take place on Wednesday 12 January, Puttinu Cares has announced. The funeral will be held at the Mosta rotunda at 3:30pm. Calvagna passed away on Tuesday, a week after he was h...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 09:17:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Paying golden handshakes to disgraced former ministers
Disgraced former minister Justyne Caruana is set to receive a €30,000 ‘golden handshake’ after she resigned in the wake of a damning standards report, according to reports. To make matters worse, this will be the second time in the s...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 07:09:00 +0000
Study offers reassurance on Covid shots, women's periods
One of the first studies to track whether COVID-19 vaccination might affect women’s periods found a small and temporary change.Research published Wednesday tracked nearly 4,000 U.S. women through six menstrual cycles and on average, the next pe...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 09:13:00 +0000
Updated: Romanian man pleads guilty to 2015 theft, sentenced to 21 months in jail
A Romanian man was sentenced to 21 months in jail in connection with a theft in Santa Venera, which took place in November 2015.In a statement, the police said that the man was arrested in Spain and brought over to Malta.Electronic equipment and jewe...

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 07:30:00 +0000
Updated: Police launch investigation into priest’s ‘homophobic’ rant
An investigation has been launched into what a controversial priest wrote about gay persons on Facebook, police sources have confirmed.Mosta priest Fr David Muscat has angered many after he wrote that if the person who is a suspect in the murder of a...

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 12:37:00 +0000
Two more Covid patients die as active cases now over 15,000
Two more Covid-19 patients have died as a result of the virus, health authorities announced on Thursday, while 1,144 cases were reported.Authorities said that a 56-year-old woman and a 67-year-old woman had died while Covid-19 positive, taking Malta&...

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:13:00 +0000
PN and Repubblika call for Attorney General to explain reasons behind HSBC heist plea bargain
The PN and the NGO Repubblika have said that the Attorney General has an obligation to explain the decisions which it has taken in connection with the botched HSBC heist.The statements come after Darren Debono, known as it-Topo, sensationally pleaded...

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 16:26:00 +0000
MSC Grandiosa will not stop in Malta after Covid-19 cases found on board
MSC Cruises has said in a statement that the MSC Grandiosa will not enter Malta on Thursday after a “limited number” of positive Covid-19 cases were identified on board the ship.The company however denied reports that there were “hu...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 06:58:00 +0000
Djokovic's detention becomes political issue in Australia
On a tennis court, Novak Djokovic’s timing is perfect. But when he arrived in Australia to play the first Grand Slam of the year holding documents allowing him to enter the country without a COVID-19 vaccine, his timing hardly could have been w...

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 12:25:00 +0000
Darren Debono 'it-Topo' jailed for 10 and a half years after admitting guilt in HSBC heist
Mr Justice Giovanni Grixti has jailed Darren Debono known as it-Topo, after he pleaded guilty this morning to involvement in an unsuccessful 2010 attempted armed robbery at the HSBC headquarters.Debono’s lawyers and the Attorney General’s...

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 18:10:00 +0000
David Thake files libel case against One News editor, journalist over VAT article
PN MP David Thake has filed a libel case against a One News editor and a One News journalist over a news article published under the title 'Thake iħallas biss wara li nkixef li ma ħallasx il-VAT' (Thake only pays after it is revealed that h...

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 13:11:00 +0000
Situation in hospital ‘stable’: Most Covid-19 cases in hospital were there for other reasons – Gauci
The situation at Mater Dei Hospital pertaining to Covid-19 has been described as “stable”, with Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci saying in an interview that the majority of people are in hospital not due to Covid-19, but for o...

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 06:53:00 +0000
Roma errors hand Milan a 3-1 win in Serie A
Jose Mourinho was left gesticulating in apparent disapproval after two grievous errors from his Roma players handed AC Milan a 3-1 win in Serie A on Thursday.First, striker Tammy Abraham stuck out his arm to block a shot that resulted in a penalty fo...

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 13:37:00 +0000
Plans to lease Mellieha ODZ land for beekeeping raises many questions and doubts - PN MP
PN Whip Robert Cutajar has said that plans by the Lands Authority to lease out land in Mellieha for beekeeping has raised questions and doubts.The issue surrounds a lease by the Lands Authority of an agricultural site located outside the development ...



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