Alex Aguis Saliba Re-Elected as One of The European Socialists Vice Presidents

Jun 26 2024

Re-elected as one of the nine vice presidents of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament is Alex Aguis Saliba.

The Labour MP declared his intention to continue serving the interests of the Maltese and Gozitans as he announced his re-election on Facebook.

December 2021 marked his initial election to the position. Aguis Saliba is a member of the S&D Group’s Bureau, which oversees the group’s political actions, as one of the nine vice presidents of the organisation.

Specific EU policy portfolios and cross-committee matters are overseen by individual vice presidents.

Maltese Maestro Vinny Vella Dies Aged 96

Jun 26 2024

Valletta’s Maestro Vinny Vella Senior passed away on Wednesday at the age of 96. A renowned clarinet and saxophone player, Vella’s career spanned from the 1940s to the 1990s.

He led the band Vinny’s Blue Jackets and performed with notable artists like Albano Carrisi, Bobby Solo, and Wilma De Angelis. Vella was closely associated with venues such as The Premier, Phoenicia, Strait Street, and Chalet.

His grandson Jamie shared with Times of Malta that Vella was among the musicians who performed at a ball in Malta attended by then-Princess Elizabeth.

On Facebook, Jamie remembered him as a “true legend” and “nannu Vinny,” the heart of their family, expressing gratitude for his love, wisdom, and music.

As news of his death spread, many paid tribute to Vella on social media. Fellow musician Mark Spiteri Lucas credited Vella with shaping Malta’s musical scene in the latter half of the 20th century.

Vella is survived by his three children, Tania, Carmen, and Vinny Jr., who continued his father’s musical legacy.

#MaltaDaily

New Shrek 5 and Donkey Spin-Off Movie in the Making

Jun 26 2024

As the twenty-fifth anniversary of the debut of the first Shrek movie, there’s good news as it won’t be too long until we see the cast of this film on our screens again.

In a recent interview, Eddie Murphy revealed some exciting news for fans of the beloved Shrek franchise. Not only is a new Shrek movie in the works, but Eddie Murphy also revealed that Donkey, one of the most adored characters in the franchise, will have a stand-alone movie.

“We started doing Shrek 4 or [Shrek] 5 months ago,” Murphy disclosed. I completed the recording of the first act, and we plan to continue this year. Donkey will have a feature film of his own, and Shrek will be released. We will also be doing Donkey. Thus, we will be producing a Donkey and a Shrek movie. Murphy gave more details about the plans for his character’s standalone feature. Murphy has been the endearing and amusing voice of Donkey since the 2001 release of the first Shrek movie.

The next adventure is in the works, with an estimated release date of 2025. It promises more heart, more humour, and more Donkey. For more on Shrek and Donkey’s future, keep checking Collider.

#MaltaDaily

Prison Official Suspended Over Yorgen Fenech Meetings

Jun 26 2024

Police have questioned Svetlana Muscat, Head of Strategy at the Correctional Services Agency (CSA), following allegations that she permitted Yorgen Fenech to meet individuals in her office at Corradino prison.

This has led to Muscat being placed on forced leave pending further investigation. The issue was internally flagged and brought to the attention of the Home Affairs Ministry last Friday, with police conducting questioning on Saturday.

Fenech, a prominent business figure awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, allegedly met undisclosed individuals in Muscat’s office. Lawyer Jason Azzopardi suggested on social media that these were “business people.”

It remains unclear whether these meetings occurred more than once, and prison regulations stipulate that all visits to inmates must occur in designated areas under CCTV surveillance, except for conjugal visits.

Access to offices like Muscat’s requires specific written permission. The Home Affairs Ministry confirmed that they promptly alerted police upon learning of the allegations, resulting in Muscat’s immediate administrative leave.

Police will now determine whether criminal charges or disciplinary actions are warranted. Muscat, formerly a journalist and ministerial aide, has held her current position at the prison for several months.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party’s Shadow for Security and Reform Darren Carabott issued a statement demanding the government immediately and publicly clearing the situation in regards to this situation.

He called on Minister Byron Camilleri to clarify the situation without delay. Carabott also called on the Minister to confirm or deny that being reported over these secret meetings.

The statement calls on Camilleri to give the reasoning behind the forced leave, what steps will be taken and whether the meetings involved any court procedures.

UPDATED

In reference to the statement issued by the Opposition and its spokesperson, the Ministry reiterates what it told the media when asked, namely, that as soon as the incident came to light last week, an immediate report was made to the Police and an investigation was triggered.

‘Pending this investigation, the concerned individual is on forced leave.’

‘In the Agency, it is not politicians who speak, but results. Today, the prison is free of drugs, major reforms have been made and are ongoing, and the Government continues to invest daily in more professionals, more rehabilitation programs, and even in infrastructure.’

#MaltaDaily