These are the main news as reported by Malta’s news portals.
Corporate Dispatchreports that Italian News Agency ANSA is reporting that France and Germany are ready to take 100 persons from Malta as diplomatic efforts have intensified at European Level to find a solution to the impasse which is leading to the situation of 49 people on board to rescue boats off Malta’s shores. German interior minister Horst Seehofer said, “I find this a healthy balance between migration management and the humanitarian action.”
A minister’s spokesman said that there are currently 298 persons which need to be redistributed, 249 of whom are already in Malta and the others on the two NGO ships. ANSA says that the redistribution numbers offered are not sufficient to satisfy Malta’s request to transfer the 249 arrived in December. It is reported that this the reason why the EU Commission proposes to transfer only those who have the possibility of obtaining asylum.
40 NGOs demonstrated outside Castille this afternoon urging government to allow the people on board the Sea-Watch 3 and the Sea Bird to disembark in Malta. LovinMalta quotes a joint statement which acknowledged the complex issues involved but says that human lives are a higher priority. The NGOs said they are appalled that the situation has not been resolved after 18 days, according to The Shift News. Meanwhile, Net News the NGOs requested a meeting with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat but were not received.
Update: OneNews reports that Malta’s Government is following the situation closely and has declared that it will provide the necessary support in any emergency situation that might evolve in the case of the two ships off the Maltese shores.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna appealed for European leaders to come to the right decision about stranded migrants. Newsbook reports on comments Mons. Scicluna gave to Italian newsroom TG3.
Meanwhile, the two rescue vessels sheltering in Maltese waters will move eastwards into calmer seas with rough seas expected at their current location. The Malta Independent today visited the Sea-Watch 3, which is carrying 32 migrants on board.
Children are accessing pornographic material from ages as early 9-11. TVM covers an interview with counsellor Matthew Bartolo who said that 19 of the most popular websites among children between the 6 and 14 are porn sites.
A Turkish investigative journalist was handed a prison sentence for exposing Maltese companies linked to the Turkish Prime Minister’s sons. The Times reports that Pelin Unker was jailed for 13 months for defaming and insulting Prime Minister Binali Yildrim.
Figures for November show that unemployment fell by 19.5 percent compared to the same month in 2017. One News quotes results by the National Statistics Office showing just over 1,800 people registering for work in the eleventh month of the year.
