The 2024 local and European elections are being held today with hundreds of polling stations across Malta and Gozo welcoming voters from 7am to 10pm. Voters get to choose six MEPs and will fill seats for 68 councils. With the Labour and Nationalist Parties dominating both ballots, there are 39 candidates for the European election and 707 candidates vying for a place to represent their locality. Sorting of EP votes is expected to commence on Sunday after 9am, while local council votes will be counted between Wednesday and Friday. (Times of Malta)
Teenager planned to target Parliament, other structures
The 18-year-old teenager arrested in connection with a makeshift explosive device found near the Labour Party Headquarters in Hamrun on May 30th now faces charges including the manufacturing, possession, and transportation of explosives with the intent to destabilize the country’s fundamental structures. Investigators believe that the suspect, identified as David Brincat from Santa Venera, also planned to target other buildings, such as the Parliament building in Valletta and two pharmacies in Santa Venera and Birkirkara. Brincat was arrested overnight after being tracked to a garage in Santa Venera, following reports of him hurriedly leaving the area after placing the device outside the PL Headquarters. Following his arrest, Brincat was taken by police to a health center for treatment, then referred to Mater Dei Hospital, and subsequently to Mount Carmel. Initially cooperative, he became aggressive while being transported and had to be restrained by officials, even acting out towards medical staff. (Maltatoday)
Heatwave forecasted for next week
According to forecasts, real-feel temperatures could soar as high as 36°C next Thursday, 13 June as warm winds from the south bring an early burst of summer-like heat and humidity. “Summer in the Maltese Islands always starts suddenly,” noted the local weather page Maltese Islands Weather. “This year will not be an exception.” After a relatively average start to June, the islands are set to “jump from average or cooler than average to above average, in fact as high as heatwave levels, in just a couple of days”. Calm winds and abundant sunshine are predicted from this Friday through next week. Daily highs are forecast to average above 30°C, peaking at 36°C on Thursday before moderating slightly. (Newsbook)
