Lawyer Andy Ellul to become a Labour MP

Jan 4 2022

Lawyer Andy Ellul’s co-opting to parliament through Prime Minister Robert Abela’s nomination was approved by the Labour parliamentary group.

The nomination was also approved by the Labour’s executive, with Ellul having had a past in several legislative forms especially those concerning social and familial spheres.

Head of Malta’s delegation at the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee, he was born in 1975 and will be contesting the upcoming general election on the 3rd and 4th districts.

He will be replacing former MP Silvio Grixti who resigned from parliament in December after being interrogated by police over an investigation into irregular medical sick notes.

Ellul became a lawyer in 2007 and specialised in administrative law. He also thanked the Prime Minister for the co-option, saying he would ‘work tirelessly for the national good.’

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Photo Source: Andy Ellul FB

One month jail term for man who spat on police officers

Jan 4 2022

A 28-year-old Nigerian man was sentenced to one month in prison for harassing and threatening police officers.

Ekele Orogodo was brought to Court accused of spitting and shouting at the Police in Marsa Road on New Years’s Eve whilst drunk.

He was approached by police after he was caught urinating in a public space and was fined also €800. The fine could converted into a jail term as well if the sum is not paid within three weeks.

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Photo Source: Kamra tal-Periti, Malta Police Force FB

WATCH: Over 3 hour waiting times at University for booster shot

Jan 4 2022

People are reporting waiting up to 3 hours to get jabbed with the COVID-19 booster shot at the University of Malta. With Malta pushing forth with its vaccination rollout, health authorities are highlighting the importance of the jab and its aim to boost most of the population.

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However, due to the amount of people and long queues forming, there are calls being issued for more vaccination centres and people administering vaccination. This also comes amidst reports of wild goose chases between MCAST and UOM for the vaccination.

People are also reporting being told to first go to one establishment to get their shot but then later told to go to another after their previous appointment location had closed up shop. Photos and videos sent to this newsroom show the long lines forming at UOM as people await their turn to get the jab. Despite indicating a sense of necessity to get boosted or vaccinated, the long waiting times are raising major concerns as people have to work around their schedule to get their vaccine.

As of the writing of this article, 1,075,996 vaccine doses were administered, 227,648 of which are booster doses. This also comes as Omicron starts to account for a majority of new cases.

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Animal rights NGO starts funding campaign for Paulina Dembska memorial

Jan 4 2022

Local animal rights group ‘Real Animal Rights Foundation (RAR Malta)’ started a crowd-funding campaign for those who would like to sponsor a memorial statue to Paulina Dembska.

Dembska, a young 29-year-old Polish woman, was found murdered on 2nd January, in Sliema’s Independence Garden at 6:30 am. The local council paid tribute to Dembska who was known to regularly feed and play with cats in the garden.

The NGO said that they ‘would like to immortalise her kindness and love for this stray cat community.’

‘RAR would like to (a) start a fundraising appeal of the cats which Paulina Dembska used to feed at the Independence Gardens in Sliema and (b) is asking for sponsorship of a memorial statue to be placed at the site where she tragically lost her life.’

The murder shocked the entire nation, with 20-year-old Żejtun youth Abner Aquilina being arrested by police after her body was discovered. Interrogations were suspended after he was admitted to Mt Carmel.

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