10 years ago - The Times

Monday, January 5, 2009

Malta forces EU to freeze plans for more rights

The EU has abandoned plans, at least for now, to introduce new legislation granting more rights to refugees because Malta refused to lift its objections to such a move. EU Council sources said Malta continued to maintain its original stand in refusing to accept the proposed “additional obligations”.

EU sources said that despite various attempts by the French presidency at the 11th hour, the other Member States failed to convince Malta that the EU’s directive for long-term residency should be extended to cover refugees and people granted subsidiary protection – “humanitarian status” – normally given to people who are at risk but who do not qualify as refugees.

Most of the refugees and illegal immigrants arriving in Malta are given this type of recognition. The directive proposed by the EU grants third-country nationals rights which include the same access to employment as EU citizens.

Thieves shoot at cash register to steal money

Two hooded men, one of them brandishing a shotgun, broke into the Cerviola Hotel in Marsascala early yesterday morning and stole €3,000 after firing a shot at the cash register.

25 years ago - The Times

Wednesday, January 5, 1994

Toddler, young man die tragically

Two other tragic deaths, including that of a child, occurred yesterday, bringing to four the number of people who have died tragically in as many days into the new year.

The latest victims are a two-year-old toddler from Qala and a 16-year-old from Xewkija. The youth, Jason Camilleri, who has been staying in Malta for some months, was resting on the bastion at City Gate bus terminus at 5am yesterday. At one point, Jason, who was accompanied by a friend, dozed off and fell into Crown’s Ditch below. He died in hospital at around 6am.

The other death happened in Qala yesterday at 8am when two-year-old Christian Bajada accompanied his mother as she bought soft drinks off a truck which had stopped just outside their home in Conception Street, Qala. The child went unnoticed under the truck, which when driven off went over him. Christian died from his injuries in hospital at around 8.30am.

Nine firearms seized in police swoop

The police yesterday swooped on a house in the limits of Binġemma and seized nine firearms, including a sniper rifle.

Half a century ago - Sunday Times of Malta

Sunday, January 5, 1969

Maltese students back from cruise

Students from Malta who returned from their school-ship cruise yesterday were given a warm welcome on the Uganda’s arrival. The cruise, despite severe weather at times, and the fact that at three of the ports visited – Tripoli, Naples and Palma – the shops were closed, was most enjoyable. The cruise would probably have been a bigger success had it been held at a warmer time of the year.

Cathedral Museum inaugurated

Governor General Sir Maurice Dorman yesterday inaugurated the new Cathedral Museum at the Old Seminary, Mdina.

In a ceremony at the Cathedral church, Mgr E. Coleiro, who was in charge of the transformation of the old seminary into a museum, said: “Our purpose is the preservation, presentation and exhibition of a fine collection of artistic objects mainly of Church interest.”

A legal act by which the Archbishop put the museum premises at the disposal of the Cathedral Chapter was signed before the opening ceremony.