Two men arrested over massive 30kg drug bust

Feb 14 2022

Two Maltese men were arrested in connection to a bust of up to 34kg of drugs, suspected to be cannabis set for importation. It’s value is set to amount to up to €700,000.

The arrests were carried out after days of observation of the suspected persons who were bringing in drugs into Malta from Sicily. The men were using a garage in Ħaż-Żebbuġ.

The Police Drug Squad, assisted by the Rapid Intervention Unity (RIU), followed a van late on Saturday night after it landed in Malta from Sicily. The vehicle made its way to the Żebbuġ garage, out of which two cars emerged.

However, police surrounded the vehicles, arresting the two men. Police found a bag filled up with approximately €300,000 in cash. Due to suspicions of fake compartments in the vehicle, police dismantled the metal to find the drugs.

The two men, one 39-years of age and another 36-years-old, are being kept under arrest in the police general headquarters in Floriana. They are expected to be taken to court later today, accused of association with drug trafficking and possession of drugs as well as money laundering.

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A three-day Eurovision Song spectacle coming this weekend

Feb 14 2022

Right after XFactor Malta Season 3 came to an end this past weekend, Malta Eurovision Song Contest will be returning for a spectacle of song spread over three evenings.

Three shows will be presented between Thursday and Saturday. Between Thursday’s semi-final and Saturday’s final, the Friday show will be dedicated to singers who have represented Malta in past editions of the company.

Singers who won the competition in the past will be returning for a throwback on stage. We’re expecting some familiar beloved faces to remind the Maltese of their long-standing passion for the Eurovision Song Contest.

In the meantime, 22 songs will be competing for the winning prize and represent Malta in Turin, Italy in May after Maneskin won the competition back in 2021. Destiny Chukunyere represented Malta last year with her song ‘Je Me Casse.’

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New breakwaters and wharfs in Buġibba and Marsamxett

Feb 14 2022

Two new breakwaters and wharfs are being planned for Marsamxett and Buġibba, aiming to boost the localities’ and the country’s maritime travel. Infrastructure Malta released calls for these projects, with the Planning Authority approving the permits for the facilities in Marsamxett.

With work currently ongoing on wharfs in Sliema and Bormla, the chief responsible for maritime projects in Infrastructure Malta, architect Janice Borg, explained how works in Bormla are currently the most advanced. In the past few months, new aquatic infrastructure was built, with contractors descending approximately 3 storeys deep underwater. The wharf’s new surface was laid upon 19 new concrete pillars.

The new infrastructure will consist of mechanised walkways to help passengers board and get off boats with more security. Architect Borg revealed that the Bormla facilities will be used in the coming weeks, with the entire project being completed by the middle of this year.

A similar situation can be found in Sliema, with the new wharfs almost completed. The remaining work consists of finding and establishing spaces where passengers can find shelter and other facilities such as ticket machines. The newly issued calls are for the Marsamxett and Buġibba breakwaters, which are expected to be far bigger than the current ongoing projects. The investment into these projects is set to exceed €30 million.

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Photo Source: TVM

Malta among the 10 best countries for remote working

Feb 14 2022

The pandemic has really impacted how we view our working habits and lifestyle, with many businesses shifting to remote or flexible working throughout the virus’ annoying stay. Malta was no stranger to this move, with many taking to waking from their homes. Not all found it ideal, but the island has been ranked as one of the best places to work remotely.

Malta was ranked at 6th place from a list of over 100 nations, assigning scores to countries based on their weather, cost of living, health/safety and other categories. The top of the list is occupied by Portugal, with the ranking citing it’s political stability, excellent weather and high percentage of English speaking locals as the factors which draw in remote workers.

As for our island of Malta in sixth place, the list ranked Malta among the top 10 due to its health and safety and remote work scores. The low COVID rate was also factored in, describing the island as the ‘perfect place for a safe and healthy remote work location.’

They also touted Malta’s ‘recently established year long nomad residency permit’, which aims to bring remote workers to the country for some productivity balanced with rest and relaxation. Malta was overtaken by Spain, Romania, Mauritius and Japan in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place respectively. The island however managed to best Costa Rica, Panama, the Czech Republic and Germany.

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