12 year prison sentence for man who smuggled drugs tied to his legs

May 26 2021

A 41-year-old Brazilian man was sentenced for 12 years and 6 months in prison after admitting he smuggled drugs into Malta. Adalberto Alves Da Silva was stopped at the airport after landing from a flight from Dubai in 20th January 2019. Upon searching, several packets of drugs were found tied to various parts of both his legs.

A total of around 1 and a half kilos of 50% pure cocaine, which would have sold for around €27,000 to €120,000 were it sold on the streets. Da Silva admitted in court, with judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera issuing the 12 year sentence and a €28,000 fine which, if not paid after a year in prison, will increase in amount.

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Photo Source: Kamra tal-Periti, DW.com

Employment of persons with disabilities enforceable by law in new bill

May 26 2021

A new legal amendment requires companies that employ more than 20 persons to have 2% of the workforce be persons with disabilities. The amendment was passed in Parliament by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana and companies which fail to reach said quota will be subject to a €2,400 contribution. Current legislation provides for this, but clause has been largely ignore by employers across the island.

Companies which fail to reach the 2% quota will have to pay the aforementioned contribution for every person with a disability that should be in employment. The Minister stated that some companies were not on board with the contribution, and pointed out that ‘these people take a lot from this country, but towards these individuals they aren’t ready to contribute anything.’ He explained that this will ensure more inclusivity and that persons with disabilities will find their way into the work force.

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Photo Source: Clyde Caruana FB, Aurelius

16500 spectators for Champions League final in Portugal

May 26 2021

As the Champions League final on Saturday draws nearer, Portugal’s authorities have permitted up to 16,500 spectators to watch the match live. The UEFA announced the news on Tuesday and opened up ticket sales after having shifted the final from mid-May in Istanbul due to COVID-19. The figure is only one-third the capacity of the Estadio de Dragao, but spectators will need to provide negative COVID-19 tests to enter.

UEFA had already reserved 6000 tickets to Chelsea and Manchester, to which traditional invitations will be added as well as 1700 tickets for the general public. The tickets will operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is not the first mass event of its kind as countries all across the world are testing out how to carry on with such gatherings in a safe manner.

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Photo Source: The Stadium Guide

Over 50% of Msida and St. Pauls Bay residents were foreigners by 2019

May 26 2021

Latest digits acquired by MaltaToday from the National Statistics Office show that Msida and St. Paul’s Bay had more foreigners than Maltese residents by the end of 2019. 54.1% of people in Msida by December 2019 were foreigners, with 53.1% of people in St. Paul’s Bay being foreigners as well. This shifting demographic is the first instance that foreigners were more prevalent in a Maltese locality than Maltese nationals.

Gzira had the third highest ratio, with Sliema and St. Julian’s in fourth and fifth respectively. By 2019’s end, 20% of the population were foreigners (100,000). Localities with the smallest ratios of foreign residents were southern and western areas of Malta. These figures also predate the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw many foreigners returning to their country origin.

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Photo Source: Holiday in Malta