MasterChef Malta Finalists Raise €8,419 For Karl Vella Foundation With Charity Dinner

Jul 5 2025

The db Foundation has raised €8,419 for the Karl Vella Foundation through a charity dinner featuring the three finalists from MasterChef Malta Season 2.

Held on 4th June at LOA Restaurant in St Paul’s Bay, the event welcomed over 100 guests who enjoyed a specially curated three-course menu prepared by Nicholas Bartolo, Florina Silvio, and Christina Mousu all in support of a worthy cause.

All costs for the evening were fully covered by the db Group, ensuring that the entire amount raised went directly to the Karl Vella Foundation. The foundation, set up in memory of Karl Vella who passed away from cancer in 2014, provides free psychological support to families coping with serious illness or loss. To date, it has assisted over 350 grieving adults and more than 700 children.

Dr Sandra Sladden, chairperson of the db Foundation, highlighted the value of community support, “Our collaboration with MasterChef Malta has already raised over €20,000 for charity through two fundraising dinners, and we look forward to continuing this tradition in the years ahead. It’s incredible how much value we can create for hardworking NGOs when we rally the community for good causes.”

A similar dinner hosted by finalists from Season 1 of MasterChef Malta last year raised funds for the Ursuline Sisters.

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Malta Secures €12.35 Million EU Funding For Second Phase Of Onshore Power Supply At Malta Freeport

Jul 5 2025

Malta has successfully secured European Union funding for the second phase of its onshore power supply project at the Malta Freeport. The Ministry for Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, in collaboration with the Malta Freeport Corporation, submitted a proposal early in 2025 under the Connecting Europe Facility Transport Call. Out of 20 submissions from EU member states, only four projects, including Malta’s, were approved.

The project aims to install high-voltage shore power connections at South Quay Terminal 2 and West Quay Terminal 1 within the Freeport. With a total investment cost of €18.4 million, the European Commission has approved a co-financing grant of €12.35 million for this initiative.

This funding follows the ongoing first phase of the project, which focuses on providing shore power at North Quay Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and is co-financed by the EU Just Transition Facility Fund. The current phase will be supported through the Connecting Europe Facility.

Malta is undertaking a total of four onshore power supply projects, two at the Grand Harbour TEN-T Core Port and two within the Malta Freeport at the TEN-T Core Port of Marsaxlokk.

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Libyan Man Accused Of Attacking Ex Partner With Fork

Jul 5 2025

A 50-year-old Libyan national has been ordered to remain in custody following allegations of domestic violence involving his former partner. The man, who is currently without a fixed address, is accused of injuring the woman with a fork and engaging in a pattern of harassment.

In addition to the assault charge, he stands accused of violating previous bail conditions and instilling fear of violence in the alleged victim.

The case was brought to the attention of the domestic violence unit, where the woman reported ongoing arguments during their relationship. She also stated that the accused had at times prevented her from leaving the residence.

A formal risk assessment classified the situation as one of “extreme danger.”

The court proceedings, overseen by Magistrate Monica Vella, proceeded without contesting the legality of the arrest. The accused entered a plea of not guilty and no bail request was made during the sitting.

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7,000 Accommodation Inspections Carried Out By Malta Tourism Authority In 2024

Jul 5 2025

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg, highlighted the importance of this quality-driven approach during a visit to Noru Hotel, a luxury four-star establishment in St Julian’s. Dr Borg met with the hotel’s management and staff to celebrate its first anniversary and the welcoming of its 15,000th guest this week.

The 83-room hotel, which opened last year, boasts modern facilities including indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, and two dining venues. The management is actively working to enhance service quality further and expand the brand internationally, with plans in progress to open a second Noru Hotel in Ispica, Sicily.

Dr Borg praised the hotel’s focus on quality as a way to attract discerning travellers. He emphasised that, in line with the Malta Tourism Strategy 2030 and Malta Vision 2050, the government is supporting the industry’s move towards offering higher value-added services aimed at increasing per capita tourist spending.

In partnership with industry stakeholders, the Ministry and the Malta Tourism Authority continually review and improve standards and policies across all forms of tourism accommodation, both collective and non-collective.

Deputy Prime Minister Borg also noted the Malta Tourism Authority’s ongoing commitment to enforcement and quality assurance through regular inspections and investigations into complaints from visitors and the public.

In 2024 alone, the Authority conducted approximately 7,000 inspections across various accommodation establishments.

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