Robert Abela announces €20 million motorsport race track

Sep 27 2021

After years of calls and anticipation, Malta’s motorsport community will be relieved to hear that the island will finally get its own professional race track in Ħal Far.

This was announced by Prime Minister Robert Abela in a Cabinet meeting held in Ta’ Qali, where he stated that the project has been a priority from the moment he became Prime Minister, where he directed Parliamentary Secretary Clifton Grima to give priority to the project.

The project is set to be unveiled over the next few days, with the €20 million race track poised to meet international standards after years of motorsport enthusiasts and the Malta Motorsport Federation itself calling for the long overdue project to set its course in Malta. The Prime Minister stated that the Motorsport community has waited long enough, with his most recent Facebook post highlighting that while wanting a professional set-up, the track must not be an inconvenience to the residents, which is why it was ensured that no ODZ land was to be used.

What do you make of this? Do you welcome the much-anticipated arrival of the race track?

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Ylenia Carabott finally makes her debut after 8 month injury

Sep 27 2021

Yesterday, Maltese attacker Ylenia Carabott finally made her Keynsham Town L.F.C debut after an 8 month long injury. Ylenia helped her team narrowly beat Chichester City, 2-1. The Maltese striker will be hoping for a good season after a tumultuous season.

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In an Instagram story she posted later, she started off by saying “A few words to thank the people that believed in me and helped me get back to playing”. She continued on by admitting that “It was hard being out for so long and at times I felt like quitting”, she said that the people who believed in her helped her not to quit. She also thanked her new club for believing in her, and letting her continue her dream.

This is the first time that Ylenia has played for an English team, but not the first foreign team. After a very successful spell with local club Hibernians where she scored 328 goals in 237 appearances and a fruitful season at Birkirkara she moved on to Italian side Chievo Verona. After Chievo she joined Belgian team RC Charleroi-Belgium.

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Alleged fraud by late notary Barbara sparks investigation

Sep 27 2021

Following the passing of notary Ivan Barbara, who died last April after contracting the COVID-19 virus, police have launched a money-laundering probe into his operations. With clients claiming they had been defrauded by the notary and left high and dry following his passing, many of them are claiming that they have been left in a state of ‘anxious limbo’ as they try to recover their deposits. They are also claiming that he committed acts of fraud and misappropriation.

Barbara passed away after he was airlifted back to Malta from India, just days after he managed to secure the adoption of his child. His widow Rosanne has allegedly, according to Notarial Council, renounced her late husband’s inheritance and thus forfeiting any assets or responsibility for pending debt. With an unclear legal heir, sources told Times of Malta that the police probe is not only looking at any wrongdoing done by the late notary but also any potential wrongdoing by his wife and employee.

Police could not confirm or deny if the investigation is in fact underway, with questions sent to Ms Barbara remaining unanswered as of time of writing. Police are also allegedly investigating the role played by banks and the possible lack of due diligence on their part.

The Notary Council allegedly asked the attorney general to hand over any deeds and wills published by Barbara to the government’s chief notary to fast track the process of checking for potential breach of contract last month. Keith Francis German, the government’s chief notary, was appointed as notary delegate of all deeds relating to Barbara with effect as of August 16th.

The magistrate court has yet to issue a decree on a request by several of the notary’s clients for a magisterial inquiry into the notary’s actions and those of his wife. Three clients made the request, stating that they had handed Barbara cheques amounting to €30,650 in relation to promise of sale agreements they had signed.

Through lawyer David Bonello, clients are insisting that the money they deposited with notary Barbara should have been deposited in client bank accounts and eventually passed on to seller when the final contracts of sale were signed.

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Photo Source: Victims of Notary Ivan Barbara FB

You can now play as Minister Ian Borg tearing down trees in new local app

Sep 27 2021

A game in which one plays as Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg clearing platforms of trees and ‘damaging media reporters’ has taken Malta by storm. Available for Android, the local app was released by ‘Gahan Studios’ and allows one to play as the local minister as he goes about bulldozing trees and ‘eliminating’ pesky reporters.

The game received a total of 17 reviews, all ranking at a whopping full 5 star score, with over 100 downloads. Some called it the best game of 2021 and others echoed the famous ‘Prosit Ministru (Well done Minister)’ catchphrase which often dominates Facebook posts by government entities.

The Minister himself did not as of yet comment on the game, seeing as it does openly criticise his infrastructural and environmental decisions. However, such satirical content does indicate a level of openness towards criticism of authority and, whether or not the game sits well with the Minister himself, it seems to have became immensely addictive for the Maltese population.

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