Updated 1745 – Newsportal Review
Maltatoday headlines with news that a decomposing body found in Birzebbuġa on July 14 was that of Carmelo Fino, the elderly man who walked out of St Vincent de Paul Home, almost 8km away, on June 28.
The Times of Malta reports that one third of Ukrainians who fled to Malta since the Russian invasion have already left the island.
Newsbook says that travel by Maltese residents is nearing pre-Covid levels. 139,083 outbound tourists were registered in the second quarter of 2022.
TVM provides extensive detail relating to the compilation of evidence against the Parish Priest of Marsaxlokk, Fr Luke Seguna, charged with fraud and money laundering.
Updated 1300
Jobless rate reaches all-time low: The unemployment rate in June was the lowest ever recorded, reaching as low as 3%, the Central Bank’s Economic Update for August has shown. The unemployment rate fell marginally when compared with May and also stood below last year’s rate. On the other hand, the EC Confidence Survey shows that economic sentiment in Malta edged down in July when compared with a month earlier, but stood at its long-term average.
‘My life has ended’, Marsaxlokk priest says: The compilation of evidence against the Parish Priest of Marsaxlokk, Fr Luke Seguna, continued this morning. He is charged with fraud and money laundering. His lawyer, Dr Matthew Xuereb, asked Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras to hear the case behind closed doors. He also objected to the request by Dr Stefano Filletti to appear as parte civile on behalf of the Curia. Magistrate Galea Sciberras denied the request for a hearing behind closed doors and denied the request for the testimony to be given through video conferencing.
Birkirkara traffic victim identified as Kristina Zivanovic: Kristina Zivanovic has been identified as the woman who died after being hit by a bus in Birkirkara on Wednesday. Zivanovic died after being hit by a public transport bus on Triq Notabile in Birkirkara. According to police, the accident happened at around 12:15pm. Members of the Civil Protection Department and a medical team were called for assistance and an ambulance took the Serbian woman to Mater Dei hospital. She was certified dead moments later. Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech is leading an inquiry and police investigations are ongoing.
Morning briefing
Three charged after police raid on Valletta drugs den and Marsa stables
Three people have been remanded in custody in connection with a police raid on properties in Valletta and Marsa which netted an undisclosed amount of various illegal substances. Some of the substances found were already packaged for sale. The arraignments come a day after the police stormed the properties in Old Hospital Street, Valletta and Triq it-Tigrija in Marsa, making 10 arrests. (MaltaToday)
Fines planned for e-scooter users who do not use parking bays
Users of e-scooters could soon be facing fines if they park outside designated parking bays. A new rule is currently being discussed by the transport authorities as they work on safety issues that emerged as the popularity of e-scooters continues to soar. According to Transport Minister Aaron Farrugia, people who park scooters outside designated parking bays will either have the deposit paid to use the vehicle forfeited, or their credit cards will be billed. (Times of Malta)
BirdLife in hard-hitting letter to the prime minister, as birds are massacred
BirdLife Malta has written a hard-hitting letter to the prime minister, complaining that the enforcement of bird protection laws has been ‘at sea’ ever since he became prime minister – a dig at his own passion for sailing. The NGO also insisted that if the prime minister could not get the police to enforce the law, the opening of the hunting season should be postponed to October 15 to avoid bird massacres. (Times of Malta)
