Fireworks factory explosion – reports/ Malta News Briefing – Saturday 4 June 2022

Update 1615

A fireworks factory in the limits of Mosta went up in flames on Saturday afternoon. The loud blast was heard from several areas across Malta. The same fireworks factory had left a victim in 2010 following an explosion, The Times reports. Police units and the Civil Protection Department have rushed to the scene. Crowds have descended onto the Mgarr main road on the way up to Dwejra, with friends and relatives waiting for news from the people inside the factory, reported Malta Today.

Updated 1300

PN wants its media arm to be break even within 14 months – reports

Following years of losses, the Nationalist Party has set a 14-month timetable for its media wing to break even. Earlier last month, PN leader Bernard Grech disclosed the party was €32 million in the red during his statement to the general council in April. He said that the PN’s media company was losing tens of thousands of euros every month and that it could no longer be sustained. Media.Link staff were told in an internal meeting conducted on Thursday at the media quarters that the plan was to restructure such that they would break even in 14 months. (Times of Malta)

Biker suffers serious injuries in hit and run

A motorcyclist was grievously injured after a collision with another car, which fled the scene. The accident happened on Saturday at around 8.30am at Mdina road in Żebbuġ. Police said that from its preliminary investigations, it results that there was a crash between a Yamaha motorcycle, driven by a 31-year-old Pakistani from Żebbuġ, and a car which fled the scene. (Maltatoday).

Covid-19 Update

76 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in Malta on Saturday. This takes the total number of cases to 95,144, with 92,603 recoveries. (Independent)

Morning Briefing

Malta sees gradual increase in temperatures, less rainfall over past decades

Air temperatures in Malta have beeen increasing steadily over the past seven decades, with the mean maximum air temperature going up by 1.54°C in 2020, a climate report has shown. On Friday, the National Statistics Office (NSO) published The State of the Climate 2022 report to mark World Environment Day. The data has shown that Malta’s climate is becoming increasingly warmer and drier and more prone to weather extremes. The NSO report found that the mean sea temperature in Malta between 1978 and 2020 rose by 1.89°C while the highest mean sea temperature increased by 2.20°C. On the other hand, the total rainfall in Malta decreased by 71.27mm. Moreover, the mean rainfall recorded in 24 hours (rainfall intensity) decreased by 1.90 mm. (Newsbook)

Syrian to be charged with Gozo murder

On Friday, a court decided that a Syrian man accused of murdering a co-national in Gozo earlier this month be charged with a bill of indictment, ruling that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the case. The case against a man suspected of stabbing another in the heart during a quarrel in Marsalforn on May 7 was being heard by Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech. (Times of Malta)

Brigadier Curmi takes TM CEO role

Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi has been appointed chief executive officer of Transport Malta, the government announced on Friday. Curmi’s appointment at the transport authority will come into effect on 6 June. He had been serving as commander of the Armed Forces of Malta since December 2013. (Maltatoday)