1745- Latest News update
Times of Malta says tens of protected Marsh-harriers were massacred overnight in the Delimara area, BirdLife said on Tuesday, adding that law enforcement is ‘out of control’.
MaltaToday says prosecutors have described a man on trial over an attempt to smuggle 50kg of cannabis resin from Tunisia as the “head of the pyramid” in the plan to import double that amount.
Newsbook says the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has called for more coronavirus wards on Tuesday, as it announced that more directives have been issued to nurses and midwives working at Mater Dei Hospital.
TVM says a 35-year old Vittoriosa man was jailed for three years after he admitted committing three thefts, while a man and a woman involved in one of his thefts, pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody.
Updated 1300 – Mid-Day Briefing
Ukrainian mother of two gifted newly inherited flat: A man has donated a newly inherited flat to a Ukrainian mother of two. Mother-of-two Anastasiia Diadiuk is one of the displaced Ukrainians who ended up in Malta when a friend told her and her sister-in-law, they would be offered free accommodation by a local. Anastasiia Diadiuk left everything behind to come to Malta when she was told that a man would be offering his apartment. The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he has received many donations to the family.
Trial over 50kg cannabis shipment kicks off: The trial by jury of an Egyptian national started today. Ahmed El Fadali Enan, 52, who has lived in Malta for the past 29 years, is indicted for conspiracy to import the drugs with the involvement of a Maltese former footballer who was arrested in Tunisia in connection with the planned drug shipment. He is also indicted for recruiting other individuals who took part in the alleged crime. At the time of Enan’s arrest, a Maltese man had been arrested in Tunis in connection with an alleged plan to send 50 kg of cannabis to Malta. The man, ex-Msida S.J. footballer Tano Farrugia, is expected to be the star witness in Enan’s trial.
Covid-19 update: Malta has reported 282 new positive cases of coronavirus overnight. The number of known active cases has gone down to 6,734 from yesterday’s 7,153, with 701 people deemed to have recovered.
Morning Briefing
Bernard Grech makes major shake up in new Shadow Cabinet
PN leader Bernard Grech has announced his shadow cabinet, implementing a major shake-up, handing important positions to newly-elected MPs, while leaving out of the list former Ministers Mario De Marco, Chris Said and Carm Mifsud Bonnici. Young MPs such as Jerome Caruana Cilia, Mark Anthony Sammut and Justin Schembri get finance, energy and education respectively. Former PN leader Adrian Delia was made responsible for the transport, mobility, and capital projects portfolio. Newly-elected Nationalist Party MP Darren Carabott will be the new chair of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, succeeding party veteran Beppe Fenech Adami. (Times of Malta)
Two resignations hit Opposition
Former election candidate and local councillor Alessia Psaila Zammit has resigned from the PN, together with her husband and former MEP candidate Frank Psaila. The couple, who formed who formed part of the PN’s executive committee, submitted their resignations to PN general secretary Michael Piccinino on Monday. Psaila Zammit was a PN councillor on the Siggiewi local council, has resigned from her local council position. (Maltatoday)
Għargħur man denied bail after threats to children
A man from Ħal Għargħur allegedly threatened to shoot three children, including his 10-year-old daughter on Easter Sunday. In Court yesterday prosecutors said that the man allegedly held his autistic 10-year-old daughter, his 15-year-old foster daughter and her friend, also 15-years-old, against their will at their Ħal Għargħur home. Inspector John Spiteri arraigned the 37-year-old man before duty magistrate Nadine Lia on Monday. The accused was denied bail. (Newsbook)
Covid-19 update: The number of known new COVID cases continued to decrease on Monday, with a total of 199 new COVID cases reported overnight.
