26 Ukrainian refugees taken in by Malta reveals PM

Mar 9 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela revealed that 26 people who fled Ukraine as refugees have been granted refugee status in Malta and have already arrived on the island.

They are expected to stay in the country for the foreseeable future, but it is not clear whether they are staying with family members or are being housed by the government.

The Prime Minister did not give details as to how many refugees the country expects to take in as civilians as they flee the war-torn country as Russia continues the invasion.

Abela said that Malta is helping in every way possible but within the island’s limitations. The United Nations revealed on Tuesday that the amount of people fleeing Ukraine has reached 2 million, with most moving to Moldova, Poland and Romania.

Abela also revealed that talks have kicked off with Puttinu Cares to help young Ukrainian cancer patients to receive oncology treatment. The PM did not uncover how much the government has put aside to cover potential increases in fuel prices.

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“It’s not anti-life, it’s pro-choice”, Volt Malta’s Thomas ‘Kass’ Mallia discusses abortion policy

Mar 9 2022

During Malta Daily’s latest episode of ‘The Interview with Fabian Demicoli’, Volt Malta candidate Thomas ‘Kass’ Mallia breaks down the party’s stance on abortion in Malta.

When asked where they would draw the line if they are elected, Mallia highlight that both she and Volt don’t consider it as ‘murder’, stating that individuals with a pro-life stance could make that argument. The tenth and eleventh district candidate argued that such an issue could be approached from a philosophical standpoint – “for me personally, life begins after you are born”.

The Volt Malta candidate stated that it is equally understandable to believe that life begins at conception or that “life is always there, as it is ongoing.” From a policy approach, she stated that Volt’s main focus is not to be anti-life but pro-choice, highlighting that the main focus and concept is bodily autonomy, providing the opportunity of choice to the mother and father.

Watch the full clip below:

Do you agree with Mallia?

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€22 million investment to build pharmaceutical facility in Malta

Mar 9 2022

Multinational pharmaceutical company Torrent Pharma has announced a €22 million investment on Wednesday to build a new production plant in Hal Far.

The facility will include a large pharmaceutical lab and is expected to generate around 120 new jobs. Works are scheduled to start next month and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2023.

The news was addressed by Torrent Pharma Malta general manager Fredrick Schembri during a press conference. He said that the first phase of the investment will see the company develop logistical and packaging operations and sterilisation testing labs in Malta, passing 16,000 batches annually.

The company also plans on developing an oncology mediation testing facility by 2024. The company was founded in India and is the flagship company of the Torrent Group conglomerate.

The Prime Minister addressed the press conference, saying that he believes Torrent is going places. Enterprise and Energy Minister Miriam Dalli also said that the foreign direct investment would make Malta its European centre for testing and quality control. Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said the substantial investment showed the company’s trust in the jurisdiction and that the testing lab would be one of the largest in Europe.

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Courteney Cox revealed she doesn’t remember being on FRIENDS

Mar 9 2022

FRIENDS fans might remember every scene of the popular sitcom like gospel, but it seems Monica Geller actress Courteney Cox doesn’t remember most of her time on set.

The actress is best known for playing Ross’s cleanly sister Monica in the series which ran for 10 years and more than 200 episodes.

Now 57-year-old, Cox admitted that she really doesn’t remember much about her days on the show. She said she realised this when she met with the rest of the cast for the reunion special last year.

‘I should have watched all 10 seasons because when I did the reunion and was asked questions, I was, like, I don’t remember being there’ she said.

She also went on to say that she feels surprised when she sees random scenes of the show on TV and she cannot remember doing the scene or being in that location at all. She attributed this jokingly to a case of ‘bad memory.’

‘It’s really basic. I have like three memories. I don’t know why’ she said. ‘I’m kinda bummed that we didn’t spend more time taking pictures because I don’t have a lot to look back at.

Cox did however recall an amazing trip she and the rest of the cast enjoyed before they were famous. Friends director and sitcom legend James Jim Burrows flew out the cast to Las Vegas in 1994.

Allegedly, Burrows gave them each $500 to spend and told them to enjoy the trip as this would be the last time they would not be recognised in public. Cox had shared a photo of the trip back in 2019, captioning by saying that no one knew they were FRIENDS yet.

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