Update 1850 – PM announces public inquiry into Sofia’s death
After meeting with the parents of Jean Paul Sofia at Castille, Prime Minister Robert Abela made a significant decision to appoint a public inquiry into their son’s death. This decision came as a U-turn, which occurred following the magistrate’s extension of the inquiry by another 60 days. The Prime Minister had been exerting pressure on the magistrate to conclude the investigation, and the extension seemingly sparked his change of stance on the matter. In a press briefing this evening, the PM formally apologised to Sofia’s parents for the delay and for what he described as a perceived lack of emotion expressed in recent weeks as he sought to balance his feelings as a parents and the need to defend the institutions.
Joseph Zammit McKeon will be appointed as President of the inquiring committee.
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26-year-old dies in construction incident
Construction has taken the life of another young man, this time 26-year-old Mohammed Kasem Hashem Alkhateeb. The young worker died four days after falling at a construction site near Rabat. In a statement, the Dean, Deputy Dean and Heads of the Faculty of Social Wellbeing said that policymakers and politicians need to act honourably and expediently against these horrendous situations being brought about by greed. “The relentless abuse, injuries and deaths, especially in the construction industry (but not only), require that all the available legal and procedural tools and structures in this country are mobilised to ensure and guarantee the protection of workers,” the statement said. (Times of Malta)
Maltese passengers stranded after Catania airport fire
Several Maltese passengers are currently stranded in Sicily due to a fire that broke out at Catania airport yesterday evening. The fire reportedly started on the lower floor and spread to the center of the terminal, leading to the immediate closure of the airport and evacuation of all workers and passengers. Though the situation was brought under control in a few hours, the cause of the fire remains unknown. As a result of the incident, several flights to and from Catania have been canceled or diverted to other airports. The closure of Catania’s airport is expected to continue until Wednesday at 2 pm. Among those affected are many Maltese passengers who were scheduled to return to Malta on Sunday at 11 pm. (TVM)
60% of students successfully pass O-level, but almost a fourth fail in Maths
Approximately 60% of the students who took their O-level exams successfully passed, based on an evaluation of around 36,000 exam papers that were taken in May. In comparison, last year, the pass rate was slightly higher at 62%. The University of Malta released a comprehensive breakdown of the results for all subjects. Notably, the report reveals that 32% of students did not pass in at least one of their exams, which is 2% more than the previous year. Additionally, approximately 7% of students who were registered for an exam did not show up to take it. Among the subjects, Mathematics recorded the highest number of students failing, with 976 out of 4,295 students who registered for the exam not passing. (Newsbook)
Morning Briefing
Hit and run car identified, driver still on the run
A car suspected to be involved in a hit-and-run accident on the Rabat road in Mrieħel two weeks ago has been located and seized by the police. However, the driver of the vehicle is still at large and being sought by the authorities. The victim of the accident is a Finnish e-scooter rider named Toni, who suffered severe injuries, including multiple skull fractures and liver damage, when the car struck him while he was crossing the road. Toni, who requested anonymity by withholding his surname, expressed his frustration last week to Times of Malta, as the police had not yet interviewed him regarding the incident. Since the occurrence on July 2, Toni has been experiencing impaired hearing and vision, and he revealed that he has been enduring nightmares and continuous pain, making it difficult for him to sleep. (Times of Malta)
PN leader says Labour MPs should have expected backlash on Sofia vote
PN leader Bernard Grech criticized Labour MPs who are now facing a furious backlash for opposing a public inquiry into the death of Jean Paul Sofia, stating that they should have considered the consequences beforehand. “Obviously, you will receive backlash, but you should have known this before the vote on Wednesday”, he argued. Several MPs, speaking anonymously to MaltaToday, disclosed that they have been receiving angry emails and messages from their constituents following the parliamentary vote. One Cabinet member reportedly said that there is backlash even from within their own party’s grassroots, as their position is perceived as lacking empathy towards Jean Paul Sofia’s parents. Meanwhile, a vigil organised by his family is scheduled for this evening in Valletta. (Maltatoday)
EC approves new licencing system for contractors
The European Commission has approved the implementation of a Legal Notice by the Maltese government. This Legal Notice will establish a licensing regime for contractors, aiming to regulate activities in the demolition, excavation, and construction sectors. The approval came after the Maltese government presented a comprehensive proportionality test to the Commission, as required by the EU Directive whenever legislation affects the functioning of any profession. (The Malta Independent)
