A night full of stars

About 50,000 people descended on Floriana on Tuesday for the star-studded annual Isle of MTV concert. The show featured breakout star duo The Chainsmokers alongside platinum-selling artists DNCE and DJ Jonas Blue, and one of the UK’s biggest up-and-comers Raye.

What made the headlines

PN ‘will support’ marriage law: Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil insisted the party would support the proposed Marriage Equality Act saying same-sex marriage already existed “in substance”. The Sunday Times of Malta had reported that about five PN MPs wanted a free vote on gay marriage.

Archbishop sticks to his guns: Speaking during Mass at Siġġiewi, Archbishop Charles Scicluna said that while the proposed Marriage Equality Act will do away with the terms man and woman and father and mother, marriage would remain the exclusive and everlasting unity between a man and a woman with children being the fruit of their love.

Cassola bows out: Arnold Cassola announced his resignation as chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika, telling the Times of Malta it was time for the party to move on. Prof. Cassola said he took note of the election result in which AD got 0.8 per cent of the popular vote. He said he would remain active within the party which he helped found in 1989.

Chris Said in PN leadership bid: Nationalist MP Chris Said will be contesting the leadership of the Nationalist Party. He is the second contender after Birkirkara lawyer Adrian Delia announced his bid over the weekend. Dr Said, 46, a former PN general secretary, Cabinet minister and parliamentary secretary, said he has the energy, motivation and political experience to bring together all those with the country and party at heart, to rebuild the PN and reconnect it to the electorate.

Cana Movement warns MPs over gay marriage: MPs should carefully weigh the repercussions of the proposed gay marriage law as it could pave the way for surrogacy, the Cana Movement, which promotes the core values of Catholic marriage, warned. It also pointed out that same-sex marriages discriminated against children who would not have both a father and a mother.

Pietru Pawl Busuttil dies: Pietru Pawl Busuttil, the man framed for the political murder of Raymond Caruana in December 1986, died aged 74. Mr Busuttil had vehemently denied any involvement in the killing and the Nationalist Party had immediately cried foul saying his arrest was a political frame-up. In July 1987, Mr Busuttil was acquitted by a court and was subsequently awarded €93,000 in damages. He later served as the mayor of Safi for 18 years. PN leader Simon Busuttil said Mr Busuttil epitomised the struggle for democracy, justice and freedom in Malta at the height of the political tensions in the 1980s. Mr Busuttil’s funeral was held on Friday and was attended by PN leader Simon Busuttil, former prime ministers Eddie Fenech Adami and Lawrence Gonzi, Nationalist MPs, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Speaker of the House Anġlu Farrugia.

Malta misses deadline on money laundering: Malta missed a June 26 deadline to implement the EU’s fourth anti-money laundering directive, the Times of Malta revealed on Friday. The legislation imposes stricter client controls on banks and other financial intermediaries and broadens the definition of a politically exposed person. Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said the delay was due to Parliament having been dissolved early because of the June 3 election and the new rules would be pushed through before Parliament rises for the summer recess.

FIAU officials dismissed after minister’s comments: Two top officials at the government’s anti-money laundering agency (FIAU) were sacked soon after Finance Minister Edward Scicluna asked if reports involving Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi were “written to be leaked”, the Times of Malta revealed. Charles Cronin and Jonathan Ferris, who headed the compliance and financial analysis sections respectively, were given their marching orders on June 16. The Nationalist Party said the news was proof that Malta was now a lawless country. The FIAU has been in the headlines over the past year following its investigations into the Panama Papers scandal.

What trended

Law of the jungle

If the week that was has proven anything at all, it’s that there’s never been a better time to stick two fingers up to law and order, writes Bertrand Borg. From madcap drivers to carefree builders and reckless marine polluters, it’s been a rough seven days for the half a dozen locals who still believe laws apply to them.

A video of an excavator being lowered onto a truck in Rue d’Argens while motorists obliviously drove past caught plenty of readers’ attention, and while many reacted with a mixture of incredulity and sarcasm – “a promising candidate for the Cirque de Soleil,” one wrote of the truck’s trapeze artist – there were a good number of readers who felt the matter was being blown out of proportion. 

“Whoever is saying these people are crazy need to go abroad and see some construction work in London and Dubai,” wrote one irate man. “You never been out of this island to say these people in Malta are crazy.”

Boat ride touts have taken over Sliema’s promenade, with our reporter counting an incredible 46 pop-up kiosks over a one-kilometre stretch of paving.

“You can’t walk on that side because of these kiosks. You can't walk on the other side because of the restaurant chairs and tables. You can’t ride a bike in the road without risking getting run over. And then we wonder why we are obese!” fumed one reader reacting to the story.

Another was more sanguine. “I understand people need to run a business and advertise it, but it's not a good look, and I think it puts people off,” he wrote.

Many slammed operators for refusing to budge for fear of losing out to their competitors, though one reader read of the outrage with puzzlement.

Video footage of a black liquid being pumped into the sea at Ricasoli went viral this week, with dozens of people sharing the video to their social media feeds.

Many immediately assumed it was oil, and when the environmental regulator confirmed that the liquid came from a nearby tank cleaning facility, those suspicions appeared to have been confirmed.

“It is not a coincidence or an unfortunate accident, it was deliberate and ceased when ERA stepped in,” one of many outraged readers wrote.

“For discharge from a small boat the fine used to be Lm1,000 (€2,329). Let’s see how much this company is going to be fined,” another mused.

What they said

“They brought us Christians to a point where we have to declare we do not agree with the law of the State.”

Archbishop Charles Scicluna criticising the proposed gay marriage legislation.

“Let’s look at V18 as the next chance to surprise.”

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat reflecting on Valletta’s upcoming stint as European Capital of Culture, after Malta’s successful EU presidency.

“Brexit is far from the end of our relationship – it is simply a new chapter in it.

British Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis, writing in the Times of Malta about how the special relationship between Malta and the UK will not be affected by Brexit.

“Until such time as the common good is sought Malta will continue its course towards becoming an environmental hell-hole.”

Din L-Art Ħelwa president Maria Grazia Cassar writing in the Times of Malta about the fact that planning in Malta is developer-driver.

“The conservative and the liberal factions [of the PN] must co-exist together, even if this entails delicate and controversial decisions which have to reflect societal changes.”

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil speaking to the PN General Council about the need for the party to adopt a united stand on the issue of gay marriage.

“Many who came to live here have come to accept that this is a village that is enthusiastic about fireworks and where church bells peal, but for some these are alien traditions.”

Għarghur mayor Ġiljan Aquilina on the growing social tension between the village’s original residents and newcomers who fail to understand village life culture.