Spain kept Scotland from becoming the first team to secure a place at the 2024 European Championship by beating the visitors 2-0 Thursday for its 25th consecutive home win in qualifiers.

Scotland only needed a draw to clinch a spot at its second straight Euros and was still level at 0-0 after more than 70 minutes. But two late goals for Spain in Seville ended Scotland's perfect qualifying record and kept first place in Group A up for grabs.

Scotland still leads the group with 15 points, three more than Spain — which has a game in hand — and five more than Norway, which won 4-0 at Cyprus with two goals by Erling Haaland. The top two from each group will qualify automatically for Euro 2024 in Germany.

Scotland would still qualify if Norway fails to beat Spain at home on Sunday. Spain can move to the top of the group if it wins in Oslo.

“One of the challenges here was to come and compete with a top European side, which Spain are. We did that,” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. "If the result doesn’t go our way when Norway host Spain then we’re well equipped to take the point or points we need in the remaining two games next month. We are in that position because of the enormous work we’ve done in the group so far.”

Israel was supposed to host Switzerland in Group I on Thursday, but its match was postponed until November because of the war with Hamas. Israel’s game at Kosovo scheduled for Sunday was also postponed. Israel is now due to play three qualifiers in the one-week international break next month designed for just two games.

Álvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet scored for Spain, which extended its home winning streak in European qualifiers in a run that started after a 1-0 loss against Greece in 2003.

Morata broke the deadlock with a header from a cross by Jesús Navas in the 73rd minute and Sancet sealed the win from close range in the 86th at La Cartuja Stadium.

“We undestood exactly how Scotland play," Morata said. "They have tough, good footballers and we needed to ‘slow-cook’ the match. Eventually that worked and we got the three points.”

Scotland, which had no attempts in the first half, thought it had taken a 1-0 lead in the 60th when midfielder Scott McTominay scored with a superb free kick from a tight angle, but the goal was disallowed for an apparent offside by Jack Hendry.

Scotland played at Euro 2020 in what was its first appearance at the tournament since 1996.

There were nearly 4,000 very loud Scotland fans on hand among the crowd of more than 40,000 at La Cartuja. The Scots had complained after Spain midfielder Rodri called Scotland’s style of play “a bit rubbish” for wasting time and provoking opponents. His comments came after Scotland beat Spain 2-0 at home in March. Rodri said Thursday he didn't mean any disrespect toward Scotland's national team.

Spain's Bryan Zaragoza and Fran García made their national team debut by entering the match after halftime. Sancet also made his debut in the second half.

Spain was without Nico Williams because of a back issue. Lamine Yamal and Yeremi Pino had already been dropped from the squad because of injuries earlier in the week.

NORWAY STAYS IN CONTENTION

Haaland scored a pair of second half goals to end a three-game scoreless streak and lead Norway to victory at last-place Cyprus.

Alexander Sorloth had put the visitors ahead in the first half, and Fredrik Aursnes closed the scoring with a late goal.

OTHER GROUPS

Romania missed a chance to take the Group I lead after a 0-0 draw at Belarus, while Kosovo kept alive its chances with a 3-0 win at Andorra.

Albania stayed in front in Group E by beating the Czech Republic 3-0, while Poland moved to second place with a 2-0 win at the Faeroe Islands.

Turkey moved ahead of Croatia in Group D with a 1-0 win in Croatia. Latvia won 2-0 against third-place Armenia at home in the other group match.

RUSSIA IN ACTION

Russia defeated Cameroon 1-0 in its first men’s senior international game since the invasion of Ukraine against an opponent from outside Asia.

Russia had previously played three Central Asian nations, plus Iran, Iraq and Qatar. It has been banned from Euro 2024 qualifying because of the war in Ukraine.

Cameroon's soccer federation president Samuel Eto’o is under pressure while facing an investigating by the Confederation of African Football for alleged “improper conduct.”

Sweden defeated Moldova 3-1 in another friendly on Thursday.

The Israeli military prepared for a possible ground invasion in Gaza on Thursday as it pounded the tiny coastal strip in retaliation for the unprecedented weekend attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas.

In a deliberate show of support for Israel, a U.S. official confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit on Friday, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Suffering in Gaza, meanwhile, rose dramatically with Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine and the territory’s only power plant shut down for lack of fuel. The morgue at Gaza’s biggest hospital overflowed Thursday as bodies came in faster than relatives could claim them.

Israel said Thursday that a complete siege would remain in place until Hamas freed 150 hostages taken during its incursion. Egypt has engaged in intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point, which remained closed on both sides Thursday.

The war has claimed at least 2,800 lives on both sides, and displaced 423,000 people in Gaza.

Here's what's happening on Day 6 of the latest Israel-Hamas war:

JERUSALEM — Israel’s military on Friday ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza, a region that is home to 1.1 million people, within 24 hours, a United Nations spokesperson said.

The order, delivered to the U.N., comes as Israel presses an offensive against Hamas militants. U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the evacuation would be “impossible” without “devastating humanitarian consequences.”

This could signal an impending ground offensive, though the Israeli military has not yet confirmed such an appeal. On Thursday, it said that while it was preparing, a decision had not yet been made.

Israel’s military directed the evacuation on Friday of all of the hundreds of thousands of civilians living in Gaza City ahead of a feared Israel ground offensive. The directive came on the heels of what the United Nations said was a warning they received from Israel to evacuate 1.1 million people living in the north of Gaza within 24 hours.

The Israeli military order, which comes on the seventh day of a war declared by Israel following an unprecedented Hamas incursion and deadly attack, directs residents of Gaza City to flee deeper south into the Gaza Strip, a narrow coastal territory. Israel’s directive charged that Hamas militants were hiding in tunnels under the city.

“This is chaos, no one understands what to do,” said Inas Hamdan, an officer at the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza City while she grabbed whatever she could throw into her bags as the panicked shouts of her relatives could be heard around her. She said all the U.N. staff in Gaza City and northern Gaza had been told to evacuate south to Rafah.

“This evacuation is for your own safety,” the Israeli military said, in a warning it said was sent to Gaza City civilians.

The flurry of directives could signal an impending ground offensive, though the Israeli military has not yet confirmed such an appeal. On Thursday it said that while it was preparing, no decision has been made.

Israel delivered an even broader evacuation order — giving almost half of tiny Gaza’s population 24 hours to flee to the territory’s south — to the U.N., spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The Israeli military did not immediately confirm the broader evacuation order.

The broad order for all of Gaza's north also applies to all U.N. staff and to the hundreds of thousands who have taken shelter in U.N. schools and other facilities since Israel launched round-the-clock airstrikes Saturday.

“The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences,” Dujarric said.

“The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation,” the spokesman said.

Another U.N. official said that the United Nation is trying to get clarity from Israeli officials at the senior most political level.

“It’s completely unprecedent,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

Panicked rumors of an evacuation had begun to spread in north Gaza in the early morning Friday.

A ground offensive in Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas and where the population is densely packed into a sliver of land only 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

Hamas’ assault Saturday and smaller attacks since have killed more than 1,300 people in Israel, including 247 soldiers — a toll unseen in Israel for decades — and the ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed more than 1,530 people in Gaza, according to authorities on both sides. Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead in Gaza are Hamas members. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

As Israel pounds Gaza from the air, Hamas militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel. Amid concerns that the fighting could spread in the region, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes on Thursday put two Syrian international airports out of service.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “crush” Hamas after the militants stormed into the country’s south on Saturday and massacred hundreds of people, including killings of children in their homes and young people at a music festival.

Amid grief and demands for vengeance among the Israeli public, the government is under intense pressure to topple Hamas rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

The number of people forced from their homes by Israel’s airstrikes soared 25% in a day, reaching 423,000 out of a population of 2.3 million, the U.N. said Thursday.

On Thursday, the Israeli military pulverized the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, prepared for a possible ground invasion and said its complete siege of the territory — which has left Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine — would remain in place until Hamas militants free some 150 hostages taken during their grisly weekend incursion.

A visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with shipments of U.S. weapons, offered a powerful green light to Israel to drive ahead with its retaliation in Gaza after Hamas’ deadly attack on civilians and soldiers, even as international aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Israel has halted deliveries of basic necessities and electricity to Gaza’s 2.3 million people and prevented entry of supplies from Egypt.

“Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home,” Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on social media.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters Thursday that forces “are preparing for a ground maneuver” should political leaders order one.

Law enforcement authorities continued conducting traffic inspections on Maltese and Gozitan roads, the police said.

On Wednesday night, traffic inspections were conducted on the Marsa/Ħamrun by-pass, coordinated by the Police Force along with Transport Malta, Jobs Plus, and Detention Services, it said.

"On several occasions, a significant number of inspected vehicles were found to be in compliance with traffic regulations and met the appropriate standards. However, on Wednesday evening, around 90 vehicles were stopped, with some of them found in violation of regulations related to unregistered and unlicensed vehicles, as well as some with dangerous defects that posed a risk, of which seven vehicles were impounded." Alcohol breath tests were conducted on drivers suspected of driving under the influence, it said.

Three individuals were arrested in connection with irregular residence status in Malta. Another driver was arrested for attempting to flee from the inspections, lacking a driver's license and insurance coverage, while the vehicle's license was also unpaid, the police said.

The Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs in the Maltese Parliament has "expressed its grave concern about the escalation of tensions in Israel and Gaza following the terroristic attacks committed by Hamas."

The Committee "unequivocally and categorically condemns the coordinated terror attacks by Hamas which have led to the loss of innocent civilian life of so many, including children"

Such terroristic attacks are a blatant violation of international law, it said. "These acts of terror, together with the indiscriminate barrage of rockets into Israel are deplorable and completely unjustifiable."

"They must cease immediately."

The Committee said that it is "equally concerned about the well-being of civilians, including women and children, particularly Israeli civilians who were abducted by Hamas and taken into Gaza. We call on the immediate and unconditional safe release of all hostages."

"This Committee reiterates Israel's right to defend its territory and its people. This right should however be exercised within the remit of international law."

"We express our grave concern on the present situation on Gaza where indiscriminate attacks and actions are creating innocent victims caught in this conflict. We ask that Israel abide to the rules of International Law and demand the international community and all those with an influence in the conflict to mobilize all efforts towards the finding of a peaceful solution to this grave situation developing around us," it said.

During a committee meeting held on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg said of the situation that "the levels of violence are not the solution. We (the government) believe a political solution is needed."

He said that over the years, Malta always worked for there to be a political resolution for this conflict, a two state solution, based on frontiers of 1967.

The Maltese government, he said, remains of the understanding that this conflict can only be solved by having two states that can live together in peace.

Malta has an Ambassador in Tel Aviv and a representative in Ramallah, he had said. "The government was in contact with Maltese who were present." He mentioned that seven flew back to Malta. "The flights and airlines flying there have drastically reduced and there are few connections left due to what happened, and it seems that right now, there are no more Maltese who are ready to leave," he said, in reference to "Maltese who possibly could be there."

Minister for Education Clifton Grima has denied allegations by the PN that he misled Parliament in answers to parliamentary questions regarding the publication of an auditing report that should have taken place, and on which a decision on a five-year extension of the licence for the American University of Malta was determined in August 2022.

In a statement on Thursday, Grima "categorically condemned" what PN MPs Rebekah Borg, and Justin Schembri alleged, as well as their request for the Speaker to investigate Grima after the Standards Commissioner refused to do so.

The statement read that Grima emphasized that he has never misguided Parliament, contrary to what PN MPs are claiming.

"Minister Grima was correct and clear in his responses to parliamentary questions and provided the requested information," it read.

It read that the "baseless allegations" of PN MPs will continue to be exposed because they are intended solely to hinder the work being carried out in the Higher and Further Education sector.

"Among their allegations, the PN is trying to cast doubt on the audit report, not only when it was conducted but also its public availability. The false and defamatory allegations of the PN MPs are intentionally aimed against what is known to be right, as well as publicly known facts," the statement read.

It also said that the Minister "will not allow anyone to politicize and use false and partisan allegations for purely partisan purposes, the significant work that the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) is doing."

The statement read that Grima maintains absolute confidence in the MFHEA and all the information provided by them.

Booking policies and procedures are critical for the successful transition to the new Malta airline, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association has said.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) referred to the transition to the new airline replacing Air Malta, set to fly on 31^st March 2024, exactly 50 years less 1 day from the first flight of Air Malta on the 1^st April 1974.

MHRA reiterates that a national Airline is a clear must for Malta and this not only for the tourism industry, but also for manufacturing industry that exports by air, for the stretcher cases that need treatment abroad, and a myriad other sectors that are not catered for by the low cost airlines.  MHRA said it will continue to lobby government and other authorities for a successful launch of the new airline and to ensure as much of a seamless transition as possible.  

"In this regard, everyone without exception, is expected to contribute towards this success. It is therefore essential that with immediate effect, flights on the new airline are open as from the 31^st March and a booking system and policy is in place to cater for bookings. If there are any regulatory matters to be dealt with, MHRA expects those in charge to play their part efficiently and effectively in the shortest possible time. Managing this part of the transition will require not only the joint support and involvement of all stakeholders but equally important a proper communication channel with passengers and corporate clients. Malta and the new airline must avoid any possible misunderstandings or unnecessarily doubts."

MHRA emphasised that the success of the airline rests entirely on keeping costs down, particularly those associated with aircraft leasing, fuel, and human resources. "There is no room for any leeway on costs - every single cost item must be challenged for the new airline to stand a chance of surviving. Nothing must stand in the way of ensuring the viability of the new airline."

MHRA President Tony Zahra stated: "The emergence of the new national airline fosters optimism for an enhanced future within Malta's travel and tourism industry and ensures that Malta retains its ability to decide its own destiny. It is imperative for all stakeholders, government entities, regulators, and other partners to exert their utmost efforts in safeguarding this once only opportunity to instigate innovative and operate a new airline. Malta needs everyone to contribute positively towards this success."

The ŻiguŻajg - Arts for Children and Young People Festival 2023 is back for its 13th edition and will be held between the 10th and 19^th November 2023.

During a press conference, the Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government Owen Bonnici explained the festival's role in the cultural and artistic development of children.

“The power of the arts in allowing children and young people to communicate in a number of special ways through the art of dance, drama, and music is immeasurable. This underscores the transformative power of the arts in nurturing creativity and offering a space for young individuals to explore and develop their artistic talents,” stated Minister Bonnici.

Rupert Cefai, Chairman of Fondazzjoni Kreattività, stated “This festival has proven to be a remarkable source of entertainment, but more importantly, it is a source of inspiration for our future generations. ŻiguŻajg's significance lies in enriching the cultural and artistic experiences of its audience, particularly young individuals.”

Festival Director Marta Vella reaffirmed the festival's dedication to providing unforgettable experiences for young audiences and nurturing their passion for the arts. “Since its inception in 2011, we have witnessed the incredible impact of this festival on the lives of children, fostering their creativity and nurturing their love for the arts," concluded Ms Vella.

For more information, tickets, and updates, visit www.ziguzajg.org

From Sunday 15^th October, individuals and businesses caught depositing waste in the wrong waste bags will be liable to fines of up to €150, as the six-month educational period on the new mandatory waste separation regulations ends this week.

In the coming weeks, ERA officials and other enforcement officers will be continuing inspections across Malta and Gozo, to ensure that households and businesses are separating waste properly in the three waste bags specified by law – the white bag for organic waste, the grey or green bag for recyclable waste and the black bag strictly for other waste.

Enforcement officers are authorized by law to check bags taken out for collection by households and businesses, and to issue warnings and fines when waste items are found in the wrong bag:

From July 2024 transparent black bags will become mandatory instead of the current black bags for municipal waste collection, making it easier for enforcement officials to check the content of bags without opening them.

Meanwhile, separate fines of €150 continue to apply for persons taking out waste bags on the wrong day. In January, regional councils launched a new municipal waste collection schedule for all localities. Organic waste bags are collected on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while black bags are collected on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Grey or green bags for recyclable materials are collected every Thursday. Glass is collected on the first and third Friday of the month.      

Mandatory waste separation regulations were introduced in Malta last April, as ERA launched a six-month educational campaign to help the public gradually adapt to this new waste management system.  During the last six months, ERA enforcement officers conducted more than 2600 inspections in different localities to ascertain compliance with national waste schedule and educate on waste separation. 

ERA encourages everyone to properly separate waste, to contribute to a more sustainable future and avoid the consequences of non-compliance. By properly separating waste, households, businesses, government entities and other organisations can help increase the sustainable management of waste, to be recycled or processed to generate clean energy, while reducing the negative impacts of landfilling on the environment. 

Through the Long-Term Waste Management Plan 2021-2030, Malta is working to reduce landfilling to 10% of total municipal waste by 2035.

For more information, visit wastecollection.mt, the online waste separation and collection guide available in ten different languages.

MEP David Casa has secured a European Parliamentary debate on the state of the rule of law in Malta, six years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a European People's Party statement said Thursday.

The legislature will debate the state of impunity on government corruption which continues to deepen the culture of impunity, identified by the independent public inquiry, as a direct cause of Daphne’s brutal assassination. After the debate, the European Parliament will also adopt a resolution and make specific recommendations in reaction to the scandals exposed by Maltese journalists in past weeks, the statement said.

“We have a Prime Minister who has failed to act to root out corruption and now openly admitted his failure when he said that corruption is the way things work in Malta,” Casa charged. “But this is not the way things should work in Malta. Certainly, not in my name,” he continued.

Casa recalled the recent revelations that were deliberately kept hidden by Prime Minister Robert Abela for two years until journalists finally exposed the story. It involved a concerted effort of fraud, forgery and corruption to award monthly disability benefits to people with no disabilities simply to buy their vote.

The same happened with the driving tests scandal, whereby licenses were given to those who would have otherwise failed their driving tests if they and their families were found to be sufficiently ardent Labour supporters.

The Msida Creek project plans proposed by Infrastructure Malta have been approved by the Planning Authority, Infrastructure Malta said in a statement Thursday.

The initial plans, first filed in 2019, had been changed following backlash and calls to rethink the project, and although changes were made some criticism of the project still remains.

The project, which had undergone a redesign, will involve the construction of a new flyover intended to replace the existing traffic light junction and will incorporate facilities for alternative modes of travel, including cycling and walking, the agency said.

"The project will also provide for a major upgrade and embellishment of the surrounding areas with new recreational zones."

Infrastructure Malta said it proposed that 60% of the Msida Creek Project be dedicated to open public spaces. "The new open spaces and recreational zones being created by this project will include a new 2,200 metres squared piazza in front of the Parish Church and a seawater channel, the latter also forming part of a plan to prevent flooding."

This 300-metre water channel will be surrounded with pathways in a landscaped area designated for relaxation in a serene environment, it said.

This project includes the redesign and reconstruction of the traffic lights junction connecting Triq il-Marina (to and from Sa Maison and Valletta), Triq il-Wied tal-Imsida and Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli (to and from the Tal-Qroqq Skatepark roundabout) and the upgrading of a number of nearby junctions with other roads leading to and from Gżira, Sliema and Ta' Xbiex, it added.

"The plans of the road design will eliminate traffic light waiting times and reduce travel times and accident risks along this arterial route, whilst improving air quality in this part of Msida and other nearby residential and recreational areas."

The road corridor extending from the Sa Maison area of Msida to the Tal-Qroqq Skatepark roundabout is one of the country's principle network nodes, connecting Valletta and the Grand Harbour region with the northern and southern regions of the island. Infrastructure Malta said.

"Over 4,500 vehicles go through the Msida Creek traffic lights junction every hour to travel to and from Valletta and other nearby localities. The new 200-metre long bidirectional flyover will directly link Triq il-Marina with Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli, to reduce the impact of this through traffic on the nearby recreational and residential areas and promenades of Msida. As part of this investment, Infrastructure Malta will also improve public transport connections along this route where the bus service is widely used," it said.

Wider pavements will also be built, along with a part of the new segregated cycling and walking track by the seafront, that eventually will connect Tal-Pietà with Ta' Xbiex and Triq il-Wied tal-Imsida, it said. "Pelican pedestrian crossings will be added for safe connections when travelling on foot or cyclists. A new solar-covered parking lot with 115 spaces will also be developed. The landscaped zone and public garden will cover a total area 5,500 metres squared."

The project plans include a comprehensive underground stormwater system to alleviate the area's flooding problem that has been dragging on for decades, Infrastructure Malta said. "Also, the Msida Creek Project tender is the first major road infrastructure project that includes a comprehensive 10-year operations and maintenance period on it."

"The upgrading of this important network node forms part of Infrastructure Malta's ongoing commitment to improve the quality, efficiency, safety and sustainability of Malta's land transport infrastructure, and to provide the necessary capacity to overcome existing challenges and meet future requirements."

In a seperate statement about the project, the Planning Authority said that a two-level public car park which can take up to 115 vehicles will be constructed adjacent to the bus interchange and connected with the public open spaces through footpaths and passageways away from main roads.  

A Maltese doctor who was reported missing in South Africa has been found safe and sound, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed with this newsroom.

Police in the Maitland precinct in the capital Cape Town had been seeking the assistance of the public to help them trace 29-year-old Stefano Corso who had last seen by his colleagues on 11 October 2023 at approximately 3.35pm, a note by the police on Facebook said.

“He is a visiting doctor from Malta who was attending a medical seminar in Paarden Island at the time of his disappearance,” the note said. Reports suggest that he stepped out of the conference to attend to a phone call, but had not returned. Video footage available to the South African Police Service shows him leaving the seminar.

But a spokesperson from the Foreign Affairs Ministry has now confirmed that he was found. No other details are as yet available.

Posting on Facebook, Stefano's brother, Roberto, expressed gratitude to the Maltese and South African institutions, "as well as the public in general for their assistance in my brother’s search and rescue mission. All the family is delighted to confirm that we have had visual confirmation that Stefano is indeed alive. We do not have more information about his disappearance at this stage. We look forward to having Stefano back home. Thank you again to each and every one of you."

The Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare has launched an extensive animal awareness campaign. The campaign comprises of a series of radio messages, in both the English and Maltese languages, broadcast across multiple radio stations. In addition, a digital display campaign further disseminates the same messages in a visual format across Google platforms and local websites.  

The selected communication channels have been strategically chosen to effectively reach a diverse audience - individuals of varying ages and backgrounds and extend beyond those who already possess a strong affinity for animals or champion their cause.

Collectively, the messages advocate for various aspects of responsible and compassionate treatment of animals, responsible pet ownership, the importance of reporting instances of cruelty and extending support to organisations dedicated to animal rescue. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of adhering to leash laws, adopting responsible clean-up practices, administering preventive care to pets, and ensuring the microchipping of dogs and cats.

Additionally, this campaign seeks to foster a culture of pet adoption from shelters, fostering a community where the greater good triumphs over personal preferences. " Such campaigns go beyond mere information; they play a vital role in our community. They serve as a poignant reminder of a fundamental truth: our shared responsibility is to coexist harmoniously with the creatures who share our world.

These initiatives are not just about educating; they're about instilling a sense of duty and compassion. They prompt us to recognise that we're not alone on this planet; we're part of a larger ecosystem, and it's our moral obligation to treat our fellow inhabitants with kindness and care." - Commissioner for Animal Welfare, Alison Bezzina.

A collision between a car and a motorbike left a rider grievously injured on Thursday morning, the police said.

The accident happened in Mosta Road, St Paul’s Bay, at 6.30am.

It involved a Toyota pick-up driven by a 48-year-old woman of St Paul’s Bay and a Kymco Agility bike.

The rider, a 50-year-old man from St Paul’s Bay, was taken to hospital with grievous injuries.

A full-time Parliament which assesses and scrutinizes government and an anti-corruption agency were among the 20 proposals put forth by NGO Repubblika, Occupy Justice Malta and Manuel Delia for "a clean Republic".

The groups addressed the media on Thursday.

Repubblika President Robert Aquilina and Delia spoke about the 20 proposals which manifest 20 reforms they said government must push on the national agenda, as the reality is that little discussions on a national level are being held to address current issues Malta is plagued with.

For the commemoration of the six years since journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder, Aquilina said that the proposals focus on the system failures which facilitated her assassination, and which exist till today.

"The 20 proposals are ideas the country should consider as priorities to cure the country of the illness it currently suffers," Aquilina said.

He said that the organisations wish to dialogue with political parties on the proposals, to include them in their electoral programmes.

Manuel Delia, who is also a Repubblika executive official, explained the proposals which he described as "modelled on laws which exist, are normal in other countries, can be executed in a short amount of time, and are simple as we can model them from others."

The first proposal is to have a full-time Parliament which scrutinises government, and keeps government accountable, an issue which is a pending recommendation from GRECO and the Venice Commission reports, and which have not been touched upon in Malta, Delia said.

The proposal entails reforming Parliament in order to provide it with the tools and independence needed to be able to exercise vigilance over government and control its conduct.

The proposal also calls for a full-time Parliament so that even members of the party holding a majority in Parliament would not depend on government for their living, and truly represent their voters, not the government, a document containing the proposals read.

The second proposal calls for surveillance over members of Parliament - in the case of a breach of the code of ethics, to be conducted by someone outside of politics with competence and experience on ethical behaviour, "providing independence and transparent vigilance". The Westminster parliament model could be used, Delia suggested.

The third proposal calls for an agency to fight corruption, as the Permanent Commission against Corruption has been deemed ineffective, they said.

Delia said that in the 33 years this Commission has existed, not a single case led to a conviction, making it clear that this institution does not work.

"We need an agency with the power and initiatives to fight corruption, and also educate the community. There is a culture, which was brought in by bad example from the very top, that one can be part of the corruption or tolerate it because it suits them," Delia said.

The proposal calls for an agency with the resources to investigate and the power to start prosecutions, instead of the Commission. It calls for resources which are needed to educate the public about the rights and duties of every citizen to fight corruption.

The fourth proposal calls for true protection of whistleblowers, with Delia saying that there are large defects in the current whistleblower law, one of which is that the decision for protection of a whistleblower is in government's hands, despite instances where the whistleblower has the potential to uncover government misdeeds.

"The government should not have any control over whether a whistleblower should be protected from repercussions by Government itself," the organisations said.

The fifth proposal calls for full-time inquiring magistrates, to which Repubblika acknowledged that government took a step in the right direction in this regard, to have magistrates solely focusing on inquiries.

Delia said that what is important, however, is the resources, and the proposal also calls for a team of judicial police officers who have the power to gather proof, to help the magistrates.

The organisations insisted for a "truly serious quality of prosecution" in the country in their sixth proposal, with Delia saying that the Office of the Attorney General's success rate in prosecutions is "absurd," and "very low", and there is the need for investment towards resources, and training for the country to have the best lawyers in its prosecutor's office.

"The state should train and provide adequate pay to those who dedicate their lives to ensuring that justice is done with victims and society," it said.

The seventh proposal calls for a limit on the amounts contractors can provide to political parties for financing, and that financing of political parties should be better controlled by independent surveillance.

On this, Delia said that practically 99% of the financing of political parties is private financing, making the party a "slave of their interests." He said that the proposal does not call for banning of private financing, but for serious consequences for those who hide that they are breaking the law.

The proposal entails that most of the financing they receive should be paid for by the state according to objective criteria. Anyone trying to hide illicit donations should be imprisoned, it said.

The eighth proposal calls for public appointments to be made by fair competition, and those made by government for persons of trust should be limited and clearly defined. Any other appointments should be open to competition and choices should be made according to objective criteria of competence and experience, and not loyalty and closeness to a minister or a party, the organisations said.

The ninth proposal calls for a halt to the sale of Maltese citizenship.

"Citizenship is a right for the poor as much as it is for the rich and should not be a product that may be sold to millionaires," the organisations said.

The tenth proposal calls for an anti-mafia law, which was among the recommendations from the public inquiry into Caruana Galizia's death, where it showed that there is an infiltration of the mafia in politics, Delia said.

"Not only those who pull the trigger are guilty of a crime. Anyone who gets rich through their association with a mafia organisation forms part of the mafia and deserves to go to prison," the proposal says.

The organisation called for the need for a law against organised crime to catch whoever publicly hides their wealth while enjoying the wealth deriving from crime accomplished by others in his/her name.

The 11th proposal calls for the confiscation of unexplained wealth, and that if anyone enjoying this wealth cannot prove legitimate sources, they should be presumed to be benefitting from illicit wealth.

This wealth should be taken from the person following trial in court, even if the obtention of this wealth through criminal means is not yet proven, they propose.

The 12th proposal then calls for this wealth confiscated from criminals to be invested back into the community, for social initiatives that compensate from the damage done by the criminals.

The 13th proposal calls for real public broadcasting, "free from government." It entails regulating the public broadcasting by a law that ensures independence from government, they said.

"State broadcasting should have the best journalists and presenters/broadcasters who critically and assiduously exercise vigilance on the behaviour of the people in power and give voice to minorities and the marginalised," they said.

The 14th proposal calls for political parties and broadcasting to be separate from each other.

"Mixing political parties with the media that are supposed to keep vigilant over them erodes democracy and polarises public discourse. Political parties should have a voice, but they should not own television stations, radio channels or newspapers," the organisations said.

The 15th proposal calls for fair rules for government spending in the media, saying that today, government rewards media that favours it, and punishes media that investigates and criticises it.

The organisations said that public spending on advertising and subsidies given to the media should have nothing to do with how critical of, or favourable to, government the media is. Rules of transparency are needed to stop partisan discrimination, it said. Delia said that currently, these decisions are made by the Minister behind closed doors.

The 16th proposal calls for a serious law against SLAPP suits, so that people with money are not allowed to use the courts to silence those who reveal their wrongdoings, for protection from court cases intended to silence journalists and activists.

"It is alarming that after six years after Daphne Caruana Galizia's death, we are only now waiting for a bill which seriously addresses this," Delia said.

The organisations insisted for a cleanse of elections from corruption in their 17th proposal, and for proper enforcement of the law which has existed since the 1930s, and "is absolutely ignored by police and the Electoral Commission, which is also a product of the main political parties," Delia said, urging against the buying of votes.

The 18th proposal calls for the punishment of abuse of power, and whoever uses power to become rich or to reward their friends, whoever takes advantage or gives advantage to anyone who will return the favour by exploiting information acquired through their office, should be found guilty of crime.

They should also be removed from public office, the organisations said. This ties in with the 19th proposal, which also calls for the punishment of those who obstruct justice.

The proposal calls for whoever lies to the authorities enforcing the law, misleads them or gets rid of proof before it is brought before the investigators, whoever uses their power to create obstacles for investigators, knowingly wastes the investigators' time or limits their access to proof of crime, should be charged with criminal offences.

On this, Delia said that the current laws are defective as well, and that criminal codes adopted from other countries should help prosecutors.

The final proposal calls for autonomous Local Councils with real power to improve people's lives. Local democracy should be strengthened so that local councils may collect local taxes and act in the interests of their community, not of central government, they said.

Delia said that the country has seen a "reversal of power" for local councils, and said that having their competencies removed is another aspect which is eroding the country's democracy.

Asked by the media on having full-time MPs, the organisations said that today, the money being spent on a "ceremonial" Parliament is a waste, as there is no scrutiny on what government does.

Despite being an unpopular proposal, as it would entail increasing the pay of said MPs to a full-time basis, whose pay comes from citizens' taxes, the organisations said that if the country truly wants a democracy, it needs to pay for it to happen, otherwise it will always be in the hands of the rich.