Priest cleared of hate speech charges following controversial comments

Sep 29 2022

Mosta priest Fr David Muscat, who has been outspoken about various issues and led to social media backlash before, was cleared of hate speech charges on Thursday.

Muscat was arraigned in January and accused of inciting hatred or violence directed at members of the LGBTIQ community, particularly gay people.

The priest had hinted at Abner Aquilina, the accused behind the murder of Polish student Paulina Dembska, being gay or bisexual. This, he said, was worse than being possessed.

He subsequently commented on a photo showing Aquilina donning a shirt with various colours, saying that Aquilina seemed to be coming from ‘gay pride.’

The priest was issued a formal warning by Archbishop Charles Scicluna and was ordered to stop making inflammatory and hurtful comments lest he be stopped from exercising his ministry publicly.

The court presided by Magistrate Ian Farrugia acquitted Muscat on Thursday, saying it found no criminal intent.

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Photo Source: Times of Malta

3.6 tonnes of waste collected in Malta Airport Foundation sea clean-up

Sep 29 2022

The Malta Airport Foundation collected 3.6 tonnes of waste from Senglea and Tigné during two seabed clean-ups organised in collaboration with Atlam and Calypso subaqua clubs.

The Malta Airport Foundation has been collaborating with the two local subaqua clubs since 2020. Having collected 1.6 tonnes of waste from Birżebbuġa and Wied iż-Żurrieq in the first year and 1.8 tonnes from Marsaxlokk and Marsalforn in 2021, the Malta Airport Foundation has been successful in clearing the islands’ seabed of a total of seven tonnes of marine waste since the start of this underwater initiative.

“Given that we operate in the tourism sector, we consider it our duty to do our bit to safeguard the Maltese Islands’ underwater world, which is a very attractive part of Malta’s tourism offering.

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Our collaborations with Atlam and Calypso over the past years have allowed us to identify underwater spots that were in dire need of a clean-up due to the accumulation of improperly disposed of waste,” said the Malta Airport Foundation Chairman Josef Formosa Gauci, whilst thanking the two subaqua clubs for their invaluable input.

Some of the items that were elevated from the seabed during this year’s clean-ups in Senglea and Tigné included glass bottles, several car tyres, a number of ceramic toilets, a marine engine and broken boat parts.

While a number of divers and land helpers volunteered to ensure the success of these initiatives, a crane was brought in to elevate the heavier waste items, such as steel construction material, at the Tigné clean-up.

In 2020, the Malta Airport Foundation had partnered with eNGO Żibel on the installation of two Seabins in the localities of Marsaxlokk and Marsaskala, where they are contributing to the maintenance of cleaner seas.

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22 year old grievously injured after Haż Żebbuġ traffic accident

22 year old seriously injured after Haż Żebbuġ traffic accident

Sep 29 2022

Police were informed yesterday evening at around 2145hrs that their assistance was needed in Triq l-Imdina, Ħaż-Żebbuġ.

After convening on site, preliminary investigations found that an accident had occurred between a Renault Megan Classic driven by a 22-year-old and a Toyota Dyna driven by a 25-year-old, both residents of the same locality.

Two passengers were present in the Renault: a 19-year-old male teen from Żurrieq and an 18-year-old female teen from Ħaż-Żebbuġ.

Civil Protection officers and a medical team also convened on site to assist, with an ambulance transporting the 22-year-old to Mater Dei Hospital. He was later certified as having suffered grievous injuries.

Investigations are still ongoing.

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Special Bus Service for Notte Bianca announced

Sep 29 2022

With thousands expected to make their way to Valletta on 1st October 2022 for this year’s edition of Notte Bianca, Malta Public Transport will be operating a Special Service to facilitate travel for people visiting this evening of celebration of art and culture in the Capital.

The special service will also coincide with the launch of free public transport for all those who have a valid personalised Tallinja Card.

Routes going towards Valletta will be run more frequently from 16:30hrs to cater for the expected high volume of passengers. Passengers can also take Route 133 along the Valletta ring-road, which will operate with extended hours between 17:00hrs and 00:00hrs.

On their way back people can avail themselves from the Marsa Addolorata Park & Ride that departs from Valletta Bay A1 to Marsa happening every 30 minutes from 23:00hrs till 01:00hrs. Similarly, the Pembroke Park & Ride departures from Valletta Bay A15 will take place every 30 minutes from 23:00hrs till 01:00hrs.

Furthermore, Special Service routes will depart from Valletta Terminus as follows:

· Route S10 will depart from Valletta Bay A2 every 30 minutes from 23:00hrs till 01:30hrs

· Route S50 will depart from Valletta Bay A3 every 20 minutes from 23:00hrs till 00:00hrs and every 30 minutes from 00:00hrs to 01:30hrs

· Route S60 will depart from Valletta Bay A4 every 20 minutes from 23:00hrs till 00:00hrs and every 30 minutes from 00:00hrs to 01:30hrs

· Route S70 will depart from Valletta Bay A5 every 20 minutes from 23:00hrs till 00:00hrs and every 30 minutes from 00:00hrs to 01:30hrs

· Route S80 will depart from Valletta Bay A6 every 15 minutes from 23:00hrs till 00:15hrs and every 30 minutes from 00:15hrs to 01:45hrs

· Route S90 will depart from Valletta Bay A7 every 15 minutes from 23:00hrs till 00:15hrs and every 30 minutes from 00:15hrs to 01:45hrs

· Route S20 will depart from Valletta Bay A8 every 30 minutes from 23:00hrs till 00:00hrs and every 20 minutes from 00:00hrs to 01:40hrs

· Route S30 will depart from Valletta Bay A9 every 15 minutes from 23:00hrs till 00:00hrs and every 20 minutes from 01:00hrs to 02:00hrs

· Route S40 will depart from Valletta Bay A10 every 20 minutes from 23:00hrs till 01:00hrs with the last trip being at 01:30hrs

· Route S41 will depart from Valletta Bay A11 every 15 minutes from 23:00hrs till 00:00hrs and every 30 minutes from 00:00hrs to 01:30hrs

· Route N13 will have departures from Valletta Bays A12 and A13 as per normal scheduled with extra trips allocated depending on public demand on the night.

· Route S212 will depart from Valletta Bay A14 every 30 minutes from 23:00hrs till 01:00hrs with extra trips allocated depending on public demand on the night.

For further convenience and safety additional buses, drivers and engineers will be present to be deployed as needed.

Malta Public Transport would like to remind the public that in order to benefit from free public transport from 1st October onwards, passengers are required to own a valid personalised Tallinja Card and tap it against the ticket machine every time they board the bus. Passengers without Tallinja Cards will need to purchase their ticket on board the bus.

For more information, including details of bus routes and FAQs on the free public transport scheme, once can visit here or call on 2122 2000.

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