Janet Richard and Jared Micallef Crowned Athletes of the Year

Nov 25 2023

Janet Richard and Jared Micallef were awarded the highest honour as Malta’s best athletes for this year after bringing home a number of prestigious results for Malta and themselves.

Janet Richard retained this title for an impressive third time, with another successful season garnering a number fine performances at the Games of Small States of Europe (GSSE) held on our shores earlier this year. She ended a phenomenal week for her and her country winning no less than four medals. Individually, she brought gold for Malta in her preferred speciality, the 400m and a bronze in the 200m, while as part of the national relay team she won her second gold in the 4×100 and a silver in the 4×400. Just a few weeks later she achieved a prestigious second place on the 400m at the European Team Championships held in Silesia, Poland, establishing a new national record completing the one-lap race in 52.37.

Jared Micallef also triumphed at the GSSE winning a spectacular 800m race in front of the jubilant crowd in Marsa, and also took home bronze in a very competitive 1500m. Micallef also improved the 800m national record with an extraordinary performance in Karlsruhe, Germany, with a time of 1:46.50.

The other open winners included Luke Bezzina and Janet Richard (Sprints), Ian Paul Grech and Claire Azzopardi (Jumps), Bradley Mifsud and Joanne Mifsud Vella (Throws), Luke Micallef and Rosalie Borg (Hurdles and Steeplechase), Jared Micallef and Gina McNamara (Middle Distance) and Jordan Gusman and Lisa Marie Bezzina (Long Distance).

Antonella Chouhal and Rachid Chouhal claimed the Masters Athletes of the Year for women and men respectively.

Athletics Malta also awarded the best athletes for their respective age categories and the winners of the National Road Running Series. In the latter, Lisa Marie Bezzina took home the women’s title, ahead of Roberta Schembri and Joelle Cortis, while Dillon Cassar won the men’s title, ahead of Luke Micallef and Simon Spiteri. Among the teams, Pembroke Athleta won the women’s category, with Mellieħa AC triumphing among the men.

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Backlash in Mosta After Replacement Trees Decorated With Christmas Lights

Nov 25 2023

In the latest development of the Mosta tree saga, BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana has expressed his disapproval of the mature trees, replacing the recently uprooted ficus trees, being decorated in Christmas lights.

Taking to Facebook, Sultana, together with a number of environmental activists and outspoken members of the Mosta community, expressed their concern on the matter, particularly on its affects towards roosting birds attempting to find shelter.

One user wrote “poor birds, one trauma after the other”, whilst others voiced their frustration via memes. At the time of writing, Sultana’s post had 330 likes, 147 comments and 74 shares, with more and more members of the Mosta community getting increasingly frustrated at the situation.

Last week, Moviment Graffitti’s Andre Callus was handcuffed and dragged by police after the organisation planted themselves at the Mosta Square to protest the uprooting of the ficus trees.

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80-Year-Old Woman Dies After Being Hit By Coach in Żurrieq

Nov 25 2023

An elderly woman’s life was claimed after she was hit by the coach she was disembarking in Żurrieq on Friday.

After being notified of the incident, the police went on site of the incident in Triq Ħal Far, Żurrieq to investigate, finding that the 80-year-old Ħal Għaxaq resident was hit by the Iveco Coach driven by a 52-year-old male from Ħal Għaxaq.

Civil Protection Department Officials and a medical team were called to assist the victim but she was, unfortunately, certified dead on site. Two other female passengers, aged 64 and 63-years-old from Tarxien also sustained some injuries and were taken to Mater Dei Hospital via ambulance.

It was later revealed that the 63-year-old woman suffered grievous injuries while the other’s situation is still pending.

An investigation is currently under way.

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Metsola Urges For Teacher Empowerment Ahead Of Strikes

Nov 24 2023

Taking to social media, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola encouraged the Maltese authorities to empower the teachers of the island ahead of strikes set to take place next week.

‘Teachers have a unique and special role in our society’, wrote the EP President. ‘For long hours throughout the week, we entrust them with our children.’

‘The reality is that our country did not invest enough in educators. Maybe there were times where they were taken for granted. But if we truly want our children to be given the best education, we need a strong and serious investment, not just into the building of schools but also in the persons who will give our kids the best future.’

‘We have dedicated teachers, who invest their time and energy to offer the best classroom environment. Instead of discouraging them, let’s empower them, give them what was promised to them and incentivise them.’

‘This is the only way that we can secure the future of our children and that more youth are attracted to the profession itself. We are still in time.’

This comes ahead of a Monday strike called upon by unions after no deal was struck between them and the government.

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