Second AstraZeneca jab earlier than planned for 7,000 people

Jun 24 2021

7,000 people will be getting their second AstraZeneca jab earlier than planned as the health authorities will be taking the precaution against the Indian Delta variant. The Malta Independent was informed about this rescheduling, revealing that people who got their first dose and had second appointments 10 weeks later are being given earlier appointments.

Messages are allegedly being sent to people stating ‘our aim is to get you fully vaccinated’, along with new appointment dates. The Malta Independent was informed by the Health Ministry that the interval between the two doses for this particular vaccine allows for a range between 4 to 12 weeks. Malta has allegedly enough stock to affect around 7,000 people. Malta is not the first country to move up jab dates, as the UK has done so following a surge in cases.

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Photo Source: BBC

Kevin Paul unsure about participating in X-Factor or MESC

Jun 24 2021

Writing on Instagram story, Kevin Paul opened up about why he is unsure about competing in either X-Factor or the Malta Eurovision Song Contest. This follows the news that the two contests will be two separate events, with X-Factor rewarding the winner with a whopping €50,000 instead of sending them as Maltese ambassadors to the annual Eurovision Song Contest. Kevin stated that he is confused as to which competition he would participate in or whether or not he should enter in the first place.

He stated that competitions worry him as, despite loving the stage and celebrating music, what happens after the competition is immensely demotivating. He asks whether artists competing in such competitions are still respected after the ‘opportunities’. He also asks whether being eliminated means that an artist is good enough or not. He stated he is afraid of participating as the beauty of art is that no one can be like anyone else and thus no comparison can be made.

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Photo Source: @kevinpaul_official IG

Bernard Grech calls FATF grey listing a punishment for the entire nation

Jun 24 2021

Opposition leader Bernard Grech described the decision by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to grey-list Malta as a punishment for the entire nation. In a brief video statement on Wednesday following the news, Grech expressed his dismay at the international decision. He emphasised how this moment is not the time to remind people why this point was reached. Rather, it is ‘time to work to achieve a national consensus.’

Grech urged the government to create a ‘unity task force’ by joining forces with the Nationalist Party. This task force will coordinate work to limit the damage caused by the grey-listing decision. Grech said that the FATF will be meeting in October and Malta should work to get back onto the white list by that time.

The Prime Minister later addressed the task force idea proposed by Grech but dismissed as there allegedly already exists a similar body. Abela stated that the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) is headed by Finance Ministry permanent secretary Alfred Camilleri.

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Photo Source: Bernard Grech FB

Maksar brothers deny link to seabed weapons arsenal

Jun 24 2021

The Maksar brothers have strongly denied any link to the weapons found under the sea near Migra l-Ferha. Having found around 40 rifles and machine guns, along with explosive devices compared to those used in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder, the authorities suspected a link between the stockpile and the brothers. Times of Malta was informed, however, that Alfred Abela, the lawyer of brothers Robert and Adrian Agius, denied the allegations made in their regard.

The stockpile of weapons was believed to form part of a Malta-Italy-Libya smuggling operation. Abela stated that ‘our clients strongly deny any allegations being made in their regard.’ He reminded the newsroom that they have been held in preventive custody since February 24th 2021 and have ‘since the very beginning declared their innocence and they will continue to do so.’

Abela added that the Agius brothers had not been questioned about the matter and were not made aware of the investigation in this regard. The brothers are in preventive custody in jail after being charged with complicity in the murders of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and lawyer Carmel Chircop.

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Photo Source: Times of Malta