Government has until 4th November to claim funds from Vitals – NGO
The Daphne Foundation has stated that if the Maltese Government does not submit proof of claim in a U.S. court by November 4, it risks losing any chance of reclaiming Malta’s funds through the bankruptcy proceedings filed by Steward. On May 6, 2024, Steward Health Care System LLC and its affiliated debtors filed voluntary petitions for bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The deadline for governmental units to submit claims in this bankruptcy case is November 4, 2024, midnight Malta time, it said. (Times of Malta)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to visit Malta next month – media reports
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov plans to attend a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Malta on December 5-6, according to Russian media. This would be his first visit to an EU country since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite EU sanctions on Lavrov for his role in the war, no travel ban was imposed to maintain diplomatic communication channels. Russia’s foreign ministry confirmed Lavrov’s intended trip, while Malta’s Embassy stated that invitations for the meeting will soon be sent to all OSCE delegations.
Union orders members to ignore circular limiting teachers’ media appearances
The Union of Professional Educators (UPE) opposes a new directive from Malta’s Department for Education that restricts educators’ media participation, requiring prior approval from line managers and alignment with Ministry policies. UPE argues this limits educators’ freedom of expression, risking self-censorship and undermining open public discourse. UPE President Graham Sansone stated that these restrictions violate the Maltese Constitution and European Convention rights, and urged members to assert their rights. UPE has requested an investigation from the Education Ombudsman, despite his initial refusal to address complaints from non-education employees.
