Over 5,000 New Students Welcomed To University Of Malta Community

Sep 30 2024

On Monday, 30 September 2024, the University of Malta officially launched the Academic Year 2024/2025, welcoming over 5,000 new students into its academic community.

Among them, more than 2,650 students will begin undergraduate programs, while over 1,600 will pursue postgraduate degrees. Additionally, 360 Erasmus+ students are set to join, along with 390 visiting students registered for Micro-credentials.

Over 1,000 new students will also enrol at Junior College, bringing its student body to 1,900 in total.

During the Opening Ceremony held at Sir Temi Zammit Hall, University Rector Prof. Alfred J. Vella and KSU President Mr. Luke Bonanno addressed the incoming students.

Prof. Vella, echoing this year’s motto, “Do not be afraid to state your mind,” encouraged students to see their university years as a time for both academic and personal growth. He emphasized the importance of developing knowledge and maturity.

Mr. Bonanno urged the new students to fully embrace their university journey. “Make the most of this experience, not merely as a means to an end, but as an opportunity for growth,” he said, highlighting the significance of standing up and making their voices heard.

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Revolut Hits Record €296 Million in Monthly Transactions In Malta

Sep 30 2024

Revolut has seen significant growth in Malta, with the number of Maltese businesses using the platform increasing fivefold in the past year and retail customers tripling since January, Times of Malta reported.

The fintech company reported that by July, business accounts had surged by over 170%, growing faster than in other Southern European countries.

According to a ToM report, by early September, monthly business-to-business transactions in Malta through Revolut reached a record €296 million, more than double the €142 million in Greece and matching figures in Portugal, despite Malta’s smaller population.

Maltese businesses transferred nearly half the amount of those in larger economies such as the Netherlands (€660 million) and close to a third of France’s (€860 million).

Experts suggest that businesses are drawn to Revolut for its convenient payment methods, such as transactions via phone number or QR code.

While Revolut’s growth is impressive, local banking experts believe that businesses are unlikely to abandon traditional banks completely, instead opting to use Revolut for specific services alongside their existing accounts. Globally, Revolut now serves 45 million customers across 38 countries.

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Last Turtle Nest Of Summer 2024 In Gozo Hatches

Sep 30 2024

The last nest for the summer 2024 season in Gozo finally hatched – with volunteers now being able to take a well deserved break.

‘This last nest decided to hatch in a bit of a rush with no prior signs at 3.45am on Thursday morning. The majority of the hatchlings all came out in one go, they made their way down the runway and safely in to the sea.’

‘Today, after the 3rd night of hatching, we excavated the nest under the presence of ERA, and found a 9 more live hatchlings. These were safely released in to the sea, other than 2 hatchlings which appeared to be struggling so these have been taken in for observation by our vet.’

Nature Trust thanked all the volunteers who helped out in keeping the nests safe and for all their dedication.

‘Nesting season this year had many surprises and challenges, including periods of strong wind and waves which took an enormous amount of effort from our volunteers to build a sand wall to keep the nests safe. We also had a daylight nesting for the first time, and all 3 of our Gozo nests hatched earlier than expected this year!’

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Jason Azzopardi Plans To Appeal Court Decision

Sep 30 2024

Jason Azzopardi has vowed to appeal the court’s decision in a libel case brought against him by former minister Carmelo Abela, after being ordered to pay €7,000 in damages.

The case stemmed from a 2021 Facebook post in which Azzopardi accused Abela of involvement in the failed 2010 HSBC Qormi armed robbery.

Despite the ruling against him, Azzopardi is determined to challenge the judgment, citing both legal and factual grounds for appeal.

Azzopardi pointed to what he believes is a factual error in the court’s decision, specifically the claim that Abela was a private citizen at the time of the robbery.

Azzopardi insists that Abela was, in fact, a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker at the time, making him a public figure. Azzopardi stated that this error and other arguments will form the basis of his appeal.

While the court, presided over by Magistrate Rachel Montebello, ruled that Azzopardi’s allegations were defamatory, the former PN MP remains firm in his stance.

He argued that the truth is immutable, and if necessary, he is prepared to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to ensure justice is served. Azzopardi also alleged that a cover-up involving the police and criminal elements remains hidden, and he is determined to expose it.

The original libel suit was filed after Azzopardi claimed that Alfred Degiorgio, one of the alleged hitmen in the Daphne Caruana Galizia assassination, had received plans and false keys for the HSBC robbery just days before the heist. He also accused convicted hitman Vince Muscat of attending a meeting with Degiorgio at a Fleur-de-Lys apartment, where the bank plans were allegedly exchanged in the presence of Abela and former minister Chris Cardona.

Following the court’s ruling, Azzopardi accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of attempting to orchestrate a smear campaign against him, claiming that individuals linked to the Prime Minister’s office were instructed to publicly attack him. Despite these allegations, Azzopardi declared that he would not be silenced and remains focused on uncovering the truth.

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