Russian journalist who protested Ukraine war hired by German newspaper

Apr 11 2022

The Russian journalist who protested Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on live television during prime-time news has just been hired by German newspaper Die Welt.

Marina Ovsyannikova, 43, ran up during a live broadcast with a protest saying ‘No War’, an act which is currently a criminal offence in Russia.

The German newspaper revealed that Marina is now a freelance correspondent for Die Welt, reporting from Ukraine, Russia and other places. This comes after she was detained for her protest and questioned for 14 hours.

She was subsequently released and ordered to pay a fine of 30,000 rubles, which is around $280. She could still however face further prosecution, risking even years in prison.

Marina was later handed an offer by President Emmanuel Macron for asylum in France, but the reporter refused. She revealed that, despite quitting her job, she wanted to say in Russia. Die Welt’s editor-in-chief Ulf Poschardt praised Marina’s courage at the decisive moment.

The journalist went on to commend Die Welt for standing for what is being defended so vehemently by the people of Ukraine, which is freedom.

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More nurses leave their job as shortage persists

Apr 11 2022

Around 120 nurses left their Mater Dei job last year, with the first three months’ figures of this year showing that more healthcare workers are keeping the trend going.

With the average annual resignations in 2019 and 2020 ranking at about 50, the figure more than doubled last year. The number of resignations in the first quarter of this year exceeded last year’s for the same months, according to Times of Malta.

This means that, should the resignations continue, the hospital is set to lose even more of its staff this year than it did 2021. The issue was repeatedly raised by the nurse’s union, with a warning last week highlighting the strained situation at Mater Dei as they feared COVID cross-contamination.

However, authorities shot down the warnings. Data shows that in 2021, resignations by foreign nurses rose up to four out of every five. This is more than the previous two years, which saw one out of every two nurse resignations.

Many nurses managed to secure better jobs in other countries during the pandemic as those working on the island say that the protocols are making their work more difficult.

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200,000 COVID jabs donated to Ivory Coast by Malta

Apr 11 2022

In its largest donation to date, Malta successfully donated another 200,000 COVID-19 vaccines to the Ivory Coast in West Africa. Transported by Air Malta, this makes it the second-longest cargo flight by the company.

The flight took place on the 7th of April, going on a five hour 45 minute flight to Abidjan, the economic capital of the Ivory Coast.

Malta’s vaccine donation humanitarian efforts resulted in the delivery of 710,000 vaccine doses. It is a joint effort led by the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Health alongside the Civil Protection Department.

Newly anointed Minister for Foreign Affairs Ian Borg took to social media to announce the donation.

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Parliament set to open on May 7th

Apr 11 2022

Sources close to Times of Malta revealed that the opening of parliament is scheduled for the 7th of May. This is six weeks after the March general election, with the ceremonial sitting serving to elect the Speaker of the House.

The head of state will read from the speakers chair an address written by the prime minister to set out the governmental programme. Initial reports speculated that Prime Minister Robert Abela had chosen former minister for the elderly Michael Farrugia as the next speaker.

However, Farrugia informed Times of Malta that he had not been offered the role. He has still not ruled it out completely, saying that if it were to come his way, he has the experience and energy to take on the position.

Meanwhile, lawyer Andy Ellul, now parliamentary secretary for social dialogue, is expected to be the whip of the Labour parliamentary group. Ellul did not answer questions on his appointment.

President George Vella is expected to chart the way forward of this 14th legislature.

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