Citizenship of three IIP applicants revoked during entire scheme

Mar 16 2022

According to parliamentary secretary Alex Muscat, three applicants to Malta’s IPP had their citizenship revoked throughout the entire run of the scheme.

The news was revealed to MaltaToday by Muscat, who said that three applicants had their citizenship revoked due to misconduct on their side after the Maltese passport was issued.

The three applicants were of Egyptian, Chinese and Russian nationality, but Muscat reiterated that no applicants have been placed under sanctions as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.

The government will still be taking action against sanctioned individuals who acquired Maltese citizenship however. This applies to anyone who received a passport through the citizenship by investment scheme and those who acquired it by other means.

The European Parliament and European Commission are on the same page for calling time on elites who use Malta to buy citizenship. There has been an impetus by the EU to crack down on European citizenship-by-investment schemes, a.k.a golden passport schemes.

Almost all of the European Parliament voted in favour of a legislative proposal which asks Brussels to propose a law shutting down golden passport schemes. Malta’s four Labour MEPS were the only members of the S&D group not to vote in favour of the report.

#MaltaDaily

Vote PN to reduce gap for democracy says Bernard Grech

Mar 16 2022

Opposition Leader Bernard Grech appealed to voters who want to see a gap reduction between parties to vote Nationalist as this would strengthen democracy in Malta.

Addressing a political rally in Balzan, Grech appealed to the voters who wanted a stronger opposition, saying that a gap reduction would be a positive for his party.

This comes as surveys indicate a win for the Labour Party, but also a bigger amount of non-voters. He asked the Laborites who were considering not voting for their preferred party to reduce the gap and send a message to Robert Abela that they had enough of his ‘arrogance.’

‘If you are focused on reducing the gap, by voting PN you would be strengthening the Opposition and democracy in Malta’ he said.

Speaking to those who wanted to see the PN win the general election, Grech said that the responsibility could be handed to the party which has recognised its shortcomings after 10 years and is finally prepared to govern.

Grech then reiterated previous clams of the Labour government taking back the wage supplement from businesses, as well as calling out Abela’s ‘lies’ about his illegal house building and environmental improvement.

#MaltaDaily

A university is offering an entire course on Kanye West

Mar 16 2022

It is obvious by now that Ye, the being formerly known as Kanye West, is at the centre of many entertainment news reporting due to his art but also his peculiar lifestyle.

But who would have thought that this would warrant an entire university course all about the rapper. Professor Yassin Alsalman is now taking it upon himself to study the mind of Ye through a course at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

The professor announced the news on Instagram, revealing that he will be teaching the course called ‘Kanye vs Ye: Genius by Design.’ The course aims to spark conversation about creativity in the rapper’s designs, music and media.

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A post shared by IRAQAFELLA (@narcynarce)

The academic wants to give students a fresh perspective about art and design, whilst also exploring conversations regarding the controversies surrounding the artist. This means going into themes of community, responsibility, accountability, fame and even mental health.

Alsalman is a musician himself, known by his stage name Narcy, and is set to drop his first single IRAQAFELLA on March 18th. He had taken interest in musicians as he did with Kanye before, saying that such courses bring something new and fresh to students.

Studying Kanye West goes well beyond just looking at the latest Pete Davidson feud or his relationship with Kim Kardashian. Academics looking at Hip Hop culture have studied the artist and his place in the industry, but this could be the first Ye centred course.

#MaltaDaily

Russia set to exit the Council of Europe due to pressure

Mar 16 2022

Russia’s foreign ministry revealed on Tuesday that it was initiating procedures to exit the Council of Europe. This follows pressure for Moscow being expelled from the rights group.

The ministry issued a statement on its Telegram account, saying that it was launching the procedure to exit the council and that it had given notification of its departure to Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric.

Ukraine had also demanded Russia be expelled from the council on Monday. Ukrainian representatives said that Russia had no right to remain a member after sending troops to a pro-EUropean country.

After Russia was suspended from all its rights of representation a day after troops entered Ukraine on February 24th, the foreign ministry lambasted the discriminatory move in its statement. It said that in such conditions, the country will not remain in the Council of Europe.

After having joined the council in 1996, the foreign ministry of Russia said that they part from the council without regret.

#MaltaDaily