Good evening,
These are the main news from Malta as reported by the main news portals.
The Leader of the Opposition, Adrian Delia, has asked for privacy during a difficult moment for his family. He was replying to online reports published by Manuel Delia on his blog that his wife has requested a separation. In a statement Delia said “My wife Nickie and I are passing through a difficult period. I will keep doing my utmost to protect the wellbeing of our family and our children and to this end I humbly ask for our family’s privacy to be respected, at this delicate moment more than ever.” The Malta Independent
A man is in critical condition after being shot during an argument in Dingli during an argument with another man. Police were informed of the case at 6.30am when the man went to the Mosta Health Centre for medical attention. The argument happened in the area of San Ġakbu in Dingli. The victim is 43 years-old and is a Dingli resident is currently suffering from grievous injuries, while the other Dingli local is 53 years-old and is currently under arrest. Newsbook / Net News
A magistrate on Tuesday expressed dismay that neither the Education Minister nor his top officials thought it fit to call in the police when faced with corruption allegations. The court also noted it failed to understand why, once informed, the police charged the person making the claims with defamation rather than probe the bribery claims. Finding contractor Giovann Vella not guilty of defaming Edward Caruana, a former senior official at the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools, Magistrate Ian Farrugia said he could not understand why serious claims of wrongdoing made by Mr Vella were not communicated to the police to be investigated. Times of Malta
The Superior Court of Criminal Appeal has upheld a jury’s acquittal of Melchior Spiteri in a 2016 murder trial. Spiteri, 43 from Cospicua, had been accused of the murder of businessman Vittorio Cassone. Cassone had been shot dead during a hold up at the “Chef Italy Gastronomia” restaurant in St Julians, on 13 January 1993, by a hooded man. The shots had been fired after the cashier was unable to open the till. MaltaToday / One News
Malta Freeport Terminals has deployed a temporary protective boom outside Birżebbuġa’s Pretty Bay as a precautionary measure after a significant amount of oil residue was observed at the end of the terminal’s basin. This incident happened earlier on Wednesday when Freeport employees noticed a rainbow-coloured oil slick near Terminal One. Times of Malta
By 3pm Wednesday afternoon, around 90 tonnes of organic waste were collected from 50 localities, a government statement read. The Ministry for Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change “welcomes the encouraging results as a large number of people understood their obligation to separate organic waste. This is more positive when compared with the average of 21 tonnes of organic waste that was collected daily as part of a pilot project.” The Malta Independent
EU citizens expect reassurance that taxes they pay are not being “abusively pocketed by unscrupulous individuals”, Labour MEP candidate Alex Agius Saliba said in a letter asking the European anti-fraud agency to investigate claims made against David Casa. Agius Saliba wrote to OLAF, asking the anti-fraud agency to probe allegations made by a former Casa aide that staff salaries paid by the PN MEP’s office were purposely inflated so that all funds allocated for the purpose could be claimed. MaltaToday
Attorney General Dr Peter Grech is presently indisposed for reasons of medical treatment. A statement issued by the Office of the Attorney General states that until such time as the AG resumes his duties, the Attorney General’s functions will be carried out by Assistant Attorney General Dr Victoria Buttigieg as acting Attorney General, as provided for by the Constitution and public service regulations. TVM
