One-year-old found dead in car at Mater Dei A one-year-old boy was found dead in a car at the Mater Dei Hospital car park on Thursday afternoon. Police were alerted at around 2pm. Sources said the child had been left unattended in the vehicle for several hours. Reports indicate that the parents, both respected professionals at the hospital, believed the baby had been dropped off at the nearby childcare centre. The tragedy unfolded when the mother returned to collect him and realised the child was still in the car. Despite immediate CPR, the baby was pronounced dead. A magisterial inquiry, led by Dr Monica Borg Galea, is under way. (Times of Malta)
Ian Borg’s Trump Nobel nomination sparks outrage Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg’s decision to nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize has drawn strong criticism online and among fellow Labour Party officials. Former journalist Sandro Mangion questioned how Malta could back Trump after recognising Palestine, accusing the president of “encouraging genocide”. Academic Carmen Sammut called the Gaza ceasefire deal “fake” and said supporting Trump meant being “complicit in genocide”. Labour Party president Alex Sciberras distanced himself from Borg’s move, saying Trump’s actions do not merit any peace accolades. Borg defended his letter of nomination, citing Trump’s role in mediating the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict. (Maltatoday)
Goalkeeper Justin Haber found guilty of sexually harassing teenage employee Former Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber has been found guilty of sexually harassing a teenage girl who worked at his Marsaxlokk restaurant, Pitch 16. Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit sentenced the 44-year-old to two years in prison, suspended for four years, and fined him €7,000. The former Floriana Labour councillor was also handed a three-year restraining order and placed on the sex offenders register. The offences occurred between 2020 and 2022, when the victim was aged 14 to 16. The court heard that Haber made repeated sexual advances, including inappropriate touching and requests for nude photos. His current football club, Hibernians, terminated his contract following the sentence. (Newsbook)
Experts to review social media’s impact on children Government has set up a committee of experts to propose ways of protecting society, particularly vulnerable groups, from the harmful effects of social media. Announcing the initiative, Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg said it forms part of Malta’s national family plan, which includes discussions on enforcing age restrictions for social media use. Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon said the task would not be easy, requiring cooperation from major international tech companies. He added that while cyberbullying and cyberstalking are already criminalised, other online harms must also be addressed responsibly. (The Malta Independent)
