2 earthquakes registered off south western coast of Malta

Jan 18 2023

You might not have felt them, but two earthquakes were registered in the Mediterranean in the early hours of the morning today (Wednesday 18th January 2023).

The first was a 4.2 magnitude earthquake registered late in the evening of 17th January at around 2042hrs and had a depth of around 10.2 kilometres.

The second, slightly stronger, earthquake hit earlier this morning at around 0521hrs, with a magnitude of 5.0 and a depth of 10.0km.

The seismic activity was registered off the south to southwest coast of Maltese localities such as Żurrieq and Siġġiewi and did not have any registered impact inland.

Earthquakes with a magnitude of less than 6 are known to cause minor damages to structures, with only 350 of 5.5 to 6.0 magnitude earthquakes occurring each year.

#MaltaDaily

Car crashes into Gzira restaurant and leaves woman dead

Jan 18 2023

A woman was unfortunately killed this morning in Gzira after a car crashed into a KFC outlet after having reportedly damaged a petrol station early on Wednesday.

The incident reportedly took place around 1am in Testaferrata Street, with the driver currently in police custody.

The victim, a 30-year-old Turkish woman, was rushed to hospital but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries later on. It was revealed to Times of Malta by police sources that people who tried to assist the woman were aggravated by the driver.

The driver was also violent when in confrontation against police officers and had to be tasered down before being arrested.

This is an ongoing investigation and an ongoing story.

#MaltaDaily

Greta Thunberg detained by German police during eco-protest in small village

Jan 17 2023

20-year-old activist Greta Thunberg has been detained by the police during a demonstration in Germany protesting the demolition of Luetzerath.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Malta Daily (@maltadaily.mt)

The small village in Western Germany is being demolished to make way for a coal mine expansion, with a group of protestors gathering the make their voice heard on the concerning issue.

Police report that it is not the first time the Swedish activist has been approached by the police in Luetzerath, as she and other protestors “stormed” the edge of the reportedly “extremely dangerous” mine zone.

Politicians and climate activists across the globe have expressed concern at the tiny hamlet’s demolition, with the country moving forward to adapt its attitude towards coal use since Russia’s invasion of ukraine despite pledging a commitment to eliminate coal use.

Thunberg was carried away from the protest site and held with other demonstrators for identification.

#MaltaDaily

Matthew Grech to be charged in court for conversion therapy breach

Jan 17 2023

Matthew Grech, a member of the pentecostal evangelical group River of Love, has revealed that he has just been charged with breaching Malta’s gay conversion therapy ban following a live-streamed discussion.

Grech said that he had been charged, along with the producers of PM News, which is run by Mario Camilleri and Rita Bonnici.

Grech is a former homosexual who ‘converted’ through his Christian faith, renouncing his sexual orientation. Grech also formed part of the ABBA political party.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Malta Daily (@maltadaily.mt)

Grech said he will be arraigned in court on the 3rd of February on charges of breaching the ban on advertising gay conversion therapy. Gay conversion itself was banned in 2016 but advertising it became illegal this year.

Grech called this ‘political revenge’, pointing to how the charges come weeks after police charged satirist Matt Bonanno over a complaint by River of Love Gordon Manche.

#MaltaDaily