Maltese man stuck in Istanbul airport for 3 days due to bad weather

Feb 9 2023

Following the devastating earthquakes and the freezing weather that hit Turkey earlier this week, Maltese DJ and producer Mykill Cini documented via social media how his flights back home were cancelled numerous times.

Cini explained that he had been trying to leave Istanbul’s airport since Monday, with Turkish Airlines cancelling and rescheduling the flight back home three times.

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After another 2 hour delay whilst on the plane and driving around the airport, the passengers had to disembark the plane due to ‘technical issues’.

Flights from to/and from Istanbul and Malta experienced cancellations yesterday, most likely due to the bad weather currently battering the country. However, the current crisis caused by the earthquake could have also played a major role in the travel difficulties.

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Locals answer call by Turkish embassy in Malta for donations

Feb 9 2023

Images uploaded by the Turkish Embassy in Malta’s Facebook page highlighted the generosity and desire to help by the local population by donating to the country, which is currently still dealing with the massive earthquake repercussions.

‘The in-kind donations provided by our citizens and Maltese friends in Malta and Gozo were boxed today by the Maltese and Turkish volunteers and Civil Protection Malta’ the page explained.

The supplies were subsequently delivered to the Turkish Airlines Malta Office and sent off to the country.

This comes after Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri revealed that 175 boxes were filled up with supplies to be donated.

People can still donate, either through the embassy, the Gozo Ministry or through various other online means. It was revealed by Maltese CPD officers that the conditions in Turkey are dire as rescuing people in the freezing cold is proving immensely difficult.

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Local police seized record amount of cocaine in 2022

Feb 9 2023

Last year, the police in Malta made a significant seizure of nearly 3,000 kilograms of cocaine, valued at approximately €386 million.

This amount is almost three times the previous record seizure in 2021, highlighting the growing popularity of the drug in the country. In response to the rise of cocaine use, the police have taken strong enforcement measures and charged 54 individuals with drug trafficking.

Cocaine is the second most widely consumed illicit drug in the EU, with Malta being no exception. Times of Malta were informed by Police Superintendent Keith Arnaud, the head of the drug squad, there has been a significant increase in the use of cocaine in recent years.

The police have received reports of cocaine use at social events such as weddings, parties, and bars, with officers even witnessing its use in bathroom facilities.

Drug rehabilitation figures show that nearly a third of patients receiving treatment for drug addiction identified cocaine as the substance that created the most significant problems for them, up from 15% in 2015.

Furthermore, the proportion of individuals seeking treatment for cocaine use for the first time has risen from 36% in 2015 to 52% in 2020. The police and local NGOs continue to work together to combat the rising tide of cocaine use in Malta.

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Crowds cheer as rescuers pull children from beneath the rubble in Syria

Feb 8 2023

As search and rescue crews from Turkey, Syria and all over the world continue to unite their efforts to save as many people as possible from the aftermath of the recent string of earthquakes, new footage has surfaced showing crowds roaring as children are rescued from beneath the rubble.

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A now-viral video shows members of the Syria Civil Defense pull a humber of children from under the rubble, raising them in celebration as the surrounding crowds came together in a moment of joy.

The combined death toll in Turkey and Syria has surpassed 11,200 as nations from across the world continue to send resources and reinforcements following the wide destruction of infrastructure in the affected countries.

Beyond the effects of the earthquakes themselves, Turkey in particular finds itself in a moment of political turmoil as thousands believe that more could be done from the government to prepare for such earthquakes. Reuters reported that Turkish president President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that the problems with roads and airports would improve day by day.

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Photos/Videos: Sky News/ Middle East Eye / Karam Kellieh