Updated 1150
Lilu King in trouble again after post-curfew fight
Lilu King is expected to face charges in court following his involvement in a fight with a motorist on Thursday night, just five months after being granted bail. News reports indicate that Mohamed Ali Ahmed Elmushraty, a Paceville entrepreneur and social media ‘influencer’ known for flaunting his wealth online, assaulted a driver after a car accident in St Julian’s. The incident occurred after curfew hours, which could lead to serious consequences for the Libyan national. Lilu King was arrested and charged last year, along with two other suspects, for his alleged role in an organised crime group connected to drug trafficking and money laundering. (Times of Malta)
New CEO for Labour
Leonid McKay will be appointed CEO of the Labour Party following Randolph De Battista’s resignation, announced the party on Friday, just a day after De Battista’s departure. McKay, who was appointed CEO of Jobsplus last March after criticism of the agency’s handling of work permits, will succeed De Battista. In 2022, he also became CEO of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC). A sociology and social policy graduate, McKay served as Caritas director from 2014 to 2018 before taking on the role of executive head of the Housing Authority. (Maltatoday)
Maritime website claims Malta allowing ship-to-ship transfers of Russian oil
Malta has emerged as a key destination for vessels transporting Russian oil, following Greece’s decision to restrict such activities in its waters. This was revealed by an international maritime news website, which has alleged that between May and July, there were 54 instances of “ship-to-ship transfers” in Maltese waters, representing 44% of all such transfers in the Mediterranean during this period. No reaction by the Transport Ministry has been provided yet on the matter. This development is part of broader international efforts to impose sanctions on Russian oil exports following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia and Venezuela have been accused of using indirect vessels to transport oil to evade these sanctions. (Newsbook)
Morning Briefing:
Jason Micallef gets new Labour role after withdrawing from deputy leadership race
VCA chairman Jason Micallef has been appointed to a new role within the Labour Party, just two days after withdrawing from the deputy leader race. The Labour Party announced on Tuesday that Micallef will serve as the administration’s special delegate on implementing the electoral manifesto, reporting directly to the party’s central administration. Micallef had so far been the only person to confirm his interest to run. This evening, Labour will be calling an extraordinary general conference, in which it is expected to discuss changes to the statute that will allow members of the parliamentary group to hold the deputy leader role. (Times of Malta)
PN condemns Home Affairs Ministers’ silence on ID card scandal
The Nationalist Party criticised Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri for being “absent and completely silent” amid ongoing issues within his Ministry, during a press conference on Thursday. Nationalist Party MP Darren Carabott highlighted significant problems within the Identita agency, mentioning instances where people have received letters at their properties addressed to unknown individuals registered at their address. Carabott claimed that such cases are widespread. He further criticized Minister Camilleri for his lack of response to a Court request made by Jason Azzopardi for an inquiry into allegations involving 18,000 false ID cards. Additionally, Carabott noted that Camilleri has not addressed a Court order mandating a criminal investigation into Identita, following conflicting reports by two Identita officials regarding the issuance of false marriage certificates. (Maltatoday)
Malta Language Centre celebrates first anniversary with series of initiatives
The Centre for Maltese Language has highlighted its commitment to preserving and promoting the Maltese language, marking its first year of work with a series of initiatives aimed at fostering the appropriate use of the national language across various sectors. Executive Head Norma Saliba, who led the event at Esplora in Kalkara, outlined the centre’s achievements and future plans, stressing that the centre’s role is to drive a cultural shift in how Maltese is used and valued in daily life. Saliba detailed several key projects, including collaborations with public and private entities to improve the use of Maltese in audiovisual and published materials, public signage, and the teaching of Maltese to foreign workers. (Newsbook)
