Malta’s News Evening Roundup

Good evening,

These are the main news reported by Malta’s news portals.

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca urged EU leaders to show more consistency on matters of human rights. The President was replying to questions sent by MaltaToday after reports that five member states including Malta are refusing port of entry to rescue ship Sea-Watch 3, which has been stranded since Saturday.

Meanwhile, 18 human right organisations have urged the government to allow the ship to anchor in Malta, calling the weeklong dispute a ‘travesty of humanity’. The Shift News says that 32 people are onboard the Sea-Watch 3 after having been rescued from the seas, along with another 22 crew members.

Authorities are warning about possible negative effects to health as the ashes from the latest Etna eruptions are being carried over Malta by the winds. The Malta Independent says the authorities advise for fruit and vegetables to be thoroughly washed before eating and for people who have repository problems to take special care.

Professor Pauline Galea, Head of the Geosciences Department at the University of Malta, said that the Mediterranean is an area known for earthquakes, making Malta vulnerable to risks as well. TVM reports that 15 earthquakes with a Richter strength of 6 or more have been registered around the world this month alone.

A unnamed football club has been advertised for sale on The Times classified section. The club playing in the Italian Serie B is looking for investors in a ‘one-off bargain’ of €3.8 million. The website says the advert carries the number of lawyer Carl Peralta who runs football agency 77 Attackers.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna celebrated mass with inmates at the Corradino Correctional Facility, the day after Christmas. Newsbook quotes Mons. Scicluna who said in his homily that forgiveness is the key to inner peace.

An average of one car catches fire every two days, says LovinMalta. According to the police, two in every five are set alight on purpose with the highest rates of attacks reported in Qormi, Bormla, Ħamrun. Officials from the Civil Protection Department told the website that there are also several ways in which a car can catch fire by itself.

The Customs Department caught almost 8 million counterfeit cigarettes at the Malta Freeport. One News says that the consignment was on its way to Tunisia from the Netherlands. The website says that this brings the haul of contraband cigarettes this year to 56 million.

The case against Bojan Cmelik, who stands accused of the assassination of Hugo Chetcuti, is set to continue on the 9^th of January. Net News says that four medical doctors and three police officers are expected to take the witness stand in the upcoming sitting.