Man Confesses To Portes De Bombes Graffiti: Fined €6,000

Oct 24 2023

Ionut Cezar Marin, a 42-year-old Romanian national residing in Msida, confessed to defacing Floriana’s historic Portes des Bombes monument with graffiti.

He explained that the inscription, reading ‘I love you Dali,’ was intended as a romantic gesture towards his partner. In court, Marin received a €6,000 fine and a two-year suspended jail sentence, valid for four years.

The Portes des Bombes, a monument dating back to the 1600s, is safeguarded as a cultural property under the Cultural Heritage Act.

Originally, Marin faced a potential fine of up to €250,000, with a minimum of €2,000, and a maximum imprisonment of six years.

He appeared before Magistrate Lara Lanfranco one week after the vandalism occurred. The defaced monument was swiftly attended to by restoration experts, supervised by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

Floriana councillor James Aaron Ellul noted the previous removal of a camera from the gate area, a concern that went unanswered.

Furthermore, the police announced their intention to bring charges against individuals linked to cannabis importation and for disobeying police directives.

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Engerer Appointed Socialist’s Negotiator on Rule Of Law In 2023

Oct 24 2023

MEP Cyrus Engerer has been appointed the Socialists and Democrats negotiator on the Rule of Law in the European Union and it’s Member States in 2023.

“During the past years I have worked on a number of resolutions dealing with the Rule of Law in Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Malta, while I have represented the European Parliament in meetings with the constitutional courts of Germany and Czechia and next week will be in meetings witht he Courts and other institutions in Washington DC, in the United States and Ottawa in Canada. Therefore, I am honoured to have been chosen at the end of this mandate to work on the report on the situation of the Rule of Law in the European Union this year”, Engerer said.

Engerer said that the monitoring of Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights is important to the European Union, as these represent the criteria needed for any country to join the European Union in the first place, known as the Copenhagen Criteria.

“Ever Member State of the European Union is monitored every year by the European Commission. Unfortunately, in the European Union, the biggest political group tires to hold back from debates on countries that have Rule of Law deficiencies simply because their Governments are of the same political famiy. Therefore, this report will be looking at all European Union Member States and the general situation of the Rule of Law in Europe”, Engerer stated.

A few months ago, Prime Minister Robert Abela praised Engerer’s work on the Rule of Law in the European Parliament during a Labour Party activity marking the fourth year of this European Parliament legislature.

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Youngest Maltese To Swim From Malta To Gozo Breaks Record

Oct 24 2023

A new Neil Agius in the making?

Liam Daly just broke a Malta Record for being the youngest Maltese boy to swim from Malta to Gozo.

The 12 year old swam a distance between Popeye’s Village in malta and Mġarr ix-Xini, Gozo, which amounts to approximately 11km.

With a time of around 3 hours and 54 minutes, Daly is known for his initiatives when it comes to raising awareness on clean seas and environmental protection.

Well done Liam!

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First 2 Maltese Cannabis Clubs Given Operational Licenses

Oct 24 2023

Addressing a press conference, Executive Chairperson of the Authority for Responsible Cannabis Use (ARUC) Leonid McKay announced that the first operational licenses for cannabis harm reduction associations have been handed to two organisations.

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This means that the organisations can begin cannabis cultivation and, later on, distribution – with the aim being early next year.

The associations are KDD Society and Ta’ Żelli, with their cannabis product undergoing rigorous analysis and testing by ARUC before being made available.

Four other associations have been handed in-principle licenses and are thus in advanced stages of getting their own operational licenses.

Here’s a brief recap of Malta’s Cannabis Model, following the announcement of the first two cannabis organisations being handed their operational licenses. More information here.

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