Two Youths Arrested After Stealing Jewellery From Buġibba Shop

Jan 12 2024

Two 17 year olds from Sweden were arrested by police a few moments after allegedly committing a robbery from a jewellery shop in Buġibba.

Yesterday, at around 15:45hrs, police noticed two individuals who started to act strangely when they saw the officers doing their Triq il-Merluzz patrol.

The two youth promptly ran away, with the police giving chase and managing to catch one of the youth.

At the same time, the officials were informed that a robbery had taken place from a shop in Triq Dawret il-Gżejjer. The persons accused matched the caught person and the other escaped person.

When the captured youth was getting into the police care, he was allegedly seen throwing away an object, which turned out to be a gold bracelet.

The search for the other youth culminated in the police discovering his place of residence and resulted in his arrest. There, the police also found another gold bracelet and a gold watch stolen from the shop.

The two are expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days as police continue their investigations.

#MaltaDaily

900 Persons To Benefit From Increase In Rent Benefit

Jan 12 2024

From January 2024, around 900 tenants will benefit from an increase in the Rent Benefit.

This was announced by the Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation, Roderick Galdes, in a press conference.

Minister Galdes recalled that since the government introduced the reform in the Rent Benefit in 2019, this will be the second substantial increase.

He stated, ‘Once again, this increase will not only be assisting people in paying their rent but will also be improving their quality of life after paying the rent.’ He also announced that with this increase, any individual currently receiving less than €125 per month as Rent Benefit will no longer receive less.

Minister Roderick Galdes explained the changes as follows:

For a single person, an increase from €3,600 to €4,200;

For a family with one child, an increase from €4,800 to €5,400; and

For a family with two or more children, an increase from €5,000 to €6,000.

The Chief Executive of the Housing Authority, Matthew Zerafa, emphasized the importance of affordability and stability in the rental market.

He stated, ‘Ensuring that this sector remains strong from every aspect while making sure that benefits like these are always more accessible.’

The Permanent Secretary, Emanuel Psaila, was also present at the press conference.”

#MaltaDaily

“We Do Not Know If We’ll Graduate”, MCAST Students Lament

MCAST Students Lament State Of Classes, Impact Of Strikes

Jan 12 2024

Speaking to MaltaDaily, MCAST students have lamented over various issues which they and their peers are facing as ongoing directives impact the release of exam and assignment results.

Speaking to MaltaDaily, it was explained that the lack of agreement between the Malta Union of Teacher and MCAST is causing a strain on students as they do not know where they stand in terms of results and how this will impact their graduation prospects.

The students that spoke to MaltaDaily explained to this newsroom how they are still expected to hand in assignments on time despite receiving no feedback. “Considering that we are in our final year, this adds on more stress on us, apart from the thesis”, said one particular student who wanted to remain anonymous.

Furthermore, the state of the classrooms were pointed out to be horrible, with the students in question sharing images of said classrooms.

The students are refraining from striking themselves as they “want to get their education” and “pretend/expect to get feedback on assessments.”

All the students that spoke to MaltaDaily wished to remain anonymous.

#MaltaDaily

EU President Roberta Metsola Interviewed By Time Magazine

Jan 12 2024

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was interviewed by TIME Magazine’s Adam Rasmi, detailing the President’s career in the position and her upcoming goals and aims.

“When Metsola was first sworn in as President of the European Parliament, she could hardly have anticipated the two events that have defined her tenure.”

“Somebody asked me on the day of my election, ‘What will you do?’” she is quoted in saying, pointing to priorities like rolling out the E.U.’s COVID-19 recovery package, focusing on the European Green Deal, and pushing to overhaul the bloc’s asylum and migration rules.

The article highlights the launching of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as well as Qatargate 10 months later as the two key moments of Metsola’s presidency.

But there’s reason to believe the European Parliament’s powers will continue to grow, even if the more sweeping proposals don’t come to pass. A lot has changed since the days when Metsola first got involved in European politics some two decades ago, when the institution’s work was more easily dismissed. “Now, [MEPs] are called legislators, in all areas,” she says. “And if we are not, we fight for it.”

#MaltaDaily