Malta’s grey ‘delisting’ shows reforms worked says Prime Minister

Jun 18 2022

Addressing a press conference on Friday evening, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that Malta has proven that it is a serious and reputable jurisdiction by managing to get off the grey-list.

Abela said this was another confirmation of the commitment of the administration to modernise the country, of good governance and that institutions are doing their jobs.

Abela said that the fact that Malta managed to get delisted from the FATF grey list in just 12 months was proof that the reforms were being implemented before June 2021. Abela said that Malta’s case was described as a success story and that this was a challenge the country overturned.

The reforms are leading to a cultural change, Abela emphasised, but went on to say that he believed the island should never have been blacklisted. Thanking various institutions for their work, he went on to highlight the economic growth in the first quarter of the year which ranked at 8%.

In response to the delisting, PN spokesperson for finance Jerome Caruana Cili said that the news was a poise one but that we should not let our guard down. He said the cabinet is ‘painfully aware’ of the long shadow which was cast over Malta due to the initial grey-listing.

The positive news, he said, needs to be followed up by a clear vision to make Malta a reputable jurisdiction of choice once again.

#MaltaDaily

5am to midnight police patrols along Sliema Promenade

Jun 18 2022

The Sliema Local Council have just announced that, as of Monday 20th June 2022, police patrols across the Sliema Promenade will be taking place between 5am until midnight.

The decision was struck following talks between the local council, the Prime Minister and Internal Affairs Minister. The police will be patrolling the promenade stretch from Exiles to the Strand areas.

The local council also revealed that further talks will be held to make sure that patrol times will be extended from midnight to 5am as well in due time.

This move comes following several recent incidents in the area after Sliema Mayor John Pillow had a can thrown at him by a group of public urinators and a 62-year-old jogger was assaulted by two men.

The move also comes after Polish student Paulina Dembska was murdered and raped by Abner Aquilina in the same area at the beginning of the year.

#MaltaDaily

Teen suffers serious injuries after falling five storeys

Jun 18 2022

Police were informed today at around 0230hrs that their assistance was needed in a construction site in the area of Triq ir-Ramla, Mellieha.

Police convened on site and preliminary investigations showed that two male teens from Austria, aged 18 and 19, had entered a construction site. The 19-year-old teen unfortunately fell into a shaft whilst on the roof, falling a height of around 5 storeys.

The teen was given medical assistance by a medical team and Civil Protection Department. He was subsequently taken to Mater Dei where he was certified to have suffered grievous injuries.

An inquiry has been opened as police investigations continue.

#MaltaDaily

Record breaking heat waves hitting Europe; Malta braces for infernal week

Jun 18 2022

Several European countries, including France and Spain, are bracing for an absolutely scorching June weekend which is set to break previously held temperature records.

With France registering temperatures slightly above 40 degrees Celsius, the peak of a June heat wave is set to scorch records in several Western European countries.

French weather forecaster Meteo France has warned that the June temperature records have already been beaten in 11 areas on Friday, reaching up as high as 42 degrees Celsius in some areas on Saturday.

This all backs constant warnings by scientists about climate change, with the phenomenon of heat waves hitting earlier than usual. In Spain, forest fires have started to ravage acres of land, forcing people from their homes and up to 3,000 people from a theme park in Central Spain.

But what about Malta? According to local weather forecast portals, Saturday is set to be partly cloudy with temperatures feeling like 29 degrees Celsius. This is set to increase to 31 degrees Celsius by tomorrow however, and climbing up throughout the week to a whopping 37.

According to Facebook page Malta Weather, strong northwesterly winds and the odd thunderstorm could interrupt the heatwaves as high pressure settles over Northern Europe. What do you make of all this?

#MaltaDaily