Matthew Agius
Malta
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Articles by Matthew Agius
Sodden Mundi Mundi offers music fans complimentary day as sun finally shines on Broken Hill festival
Thousands had to be turned away from the Mundi Mundi Bash outback music festival in Broken Hill after record rainfall turned its campground into a field of mud this week. But two relatively dry days — and welcome sunshine for the final day — has seen organisers open the gates for hangers-on to come into the festival free of charge.
Disability advocate removed from Virgin flight over wheelchair motor dispute
By Matthew Ward Agius By Sophie Landau Virgin Australia says it is reviewing an incident which left a disability advocate feeling “humiliated” after he was removed from a plane before its departure. Shane Hryhorec, an Adelaide-based disability advocate with C5 incomplete quadriplegia, regularly travels by air for work with his service animal and a wheelchair with a portable electric motor.
Adelaide bucks national trends to see median house prices rise, now fourth most expensive capital
Adelaide's housing market is bucking national trends, with median prices rising 4.8 per cent in the June quarter. According to Domain's latest House Price Report, Adelaide's median house price is now a record $1.125 million, up from $970,165 a year ago. It was the fastest-rising market among Australia's capitals in the past quarter. Dr Nicola Powell, chief of research and economics for Domain, told 891 ABC Adelaide that the city was "bucking the national trend".
What’s at steak: myths about masculinity and meat eating pose a challenge for the climate crisis
Two-thirds of Australian blokes eat meat. Of those, more than half consume at least 198g of meat products every day – exceeding daily recommendations. Composite: Getty Images Eating too much of it risks chronic disease, growing it contributes about an eighth of human-made climate pollution, and there is evidence linking it to certain cancers. But there’s no denying meat – especially red and processed meat – remains a firm fixture on dinner plates.
Asteroid 2026 JH2 — no need to worry about it hitting Earth
This big asteroid was discovered less than a fortnight before its flyby Earth. But any time you see a headline about asteroids flying by the planet, you can relax. Big and small asteroids fly by Earth all the time. Picture the scene: An asteroid is hurtling towards Earth. It's the size of the Eiffel Tower, shaped like a peanut and potentially hazardous — sounds scary, right? Take asteroid 2026 JH2. It was first detected on May 10, 2026.
The frog poison that killed Alexei Navalny likely lab-made
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EU leaders welcome US tone shift in Rubio's Munich speech
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Oz call for measles vaccine uptake 'too little, too late'
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TrumpRx promises cheap drugs for the US ― but how cheap?
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Why Trump and his Republicans can't take over US elections
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Is US President Trump more popular than polls suggest?
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Arctic scientists 'feel pretty uncomfortable' on Greenland
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International Space Station crew to make emergency return to Earth
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Exiled crown prince Pahlavi cheers Iran protests from US
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Why Trump wants to push Venezuela's Maduro out of power
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Who's working over Christmas?
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Trump targets Maduro's end, but for democracy or legacy?
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Guns: How Australia's tightening laws compare globally
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2026 is a critical year for India's space ambitions
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Charlie Kirk, la voz del conservadurismo juvenil en EE. UU. – DW – 11/09/2025 - Hecho en California con Marcos Gutierrez
Con tan sólo 31 años, el activista conservador de derecha Charlie Kirk, asesinado el miércoles (10.09.2025) de un disparo en Utah, poseía un perfil extenso e influyente en el corazón de una poderosa corriente que conectaba a la juventud de Estados Unidos con el movimiento Make America Great Again (MAGA).
Donald Trump, la justicia y el Estado de derecho en EE. UU.
Los observadores siguen cuestionando si Donald Trump debería haber sido sentenciado a prisión, si se tendrían que haber presentado otros cargos en su contra y qué significa su regreso como convicto a la presidencia para el Estado de derecho en Estados Unidos.
Qué esperar de la segunda toma de posesión de Trump – DW – 16/01/2025 - Hecho en California con Marcos Gutierrez
La investidura presidencial de Estados Unidos tendrá lugar el lunes 20 de enero, como es tradición. El presidente estadounidense saliente, Joe Biden, dejará la Casa Blanca, y, por primera vez desde Grover Cleveland en 1893, un expresidente volverá a ejercer un mandato no consecutivo. La toma del mando de Donald Trump lo confirmará como el 47º presidente de Estados Unidos, además de ser el 45º de 2017 a 2021. ¿Cómo es una toma de posesión presidencial en EE. UU.?
Perjury investigation into Identità official 'did not find anything', witness claims simple confusion
An Identità employee who was investigated for perjury after he testified in a case about fake documents allegedly issued by the agency, has told a court that he had been confused while giving his previous testimony.
Court rejects request to declare Lilu King arrest invalid
A magistrate has rejected a bid to have the arrest of Libyan boxer and alleged drug dealer Mohammed Ali Ahmed Elmushraty declared illegal, after the prosecution substituted the charge of slight bodily harm to grievous. The decision was taken by magistrate Kevan Azzopardi in the most recent case against Elmushraty, who is the accused in a number of ongoing cases.
Cabinet’s Villa Rosa kowtow indicates its priority ‘is not the common good,’ ADPD says
The 2016 Public Domain Act, protecting Malta’s coast from speculators, is being “practically ignored” by the same government which enacted it, said ADPD during a news conference on Saturday in which they called for a policy “that puts the people at the centre of politics and not unrestrained speculation.” Addressing a press conference this morning, following a protest against the approval of a construction project at Villa Rosa, ADPD Chairperson Sandra Gauci said she found it “alarming that...
Malta to continue calling for increased support to small island developing states, Borg tells CHOGM.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg called for unity and innovative ways to harness the potential of Commonwealth nations while addressing this year’s CHOGM summit on Friday, choosing to steer clear of discussions on calls for the United Kingdom to pay reparations for its historical role in the slave trade.
‘The People will fight back’ : Residents, Local Councils and NGOs denounce Villa Rosa project as ‘an affront to democracy’
Residents from Swieqi and St. Julians will be joining with representatives from their Local Councils and eleven non governmental organisations at St. George’s Bay on Saturday to protest against amendments to planning restrictions that would accommodate a massive construction project at Villa Rosa.
Bouncers released on bail after injuring group of youths in Paceville
Two bouncers were released on bail, Friday, after pleading not guilty to grievously injuring a group of youths in Paceville, ten days ago. Ivan Marjanovic and Milos Stojkovic, both Serbian nationals residing in Msida, respectively 43 and 37-years-old pleaded not guilty to attacking and grievously injuring four German youths while working as security guards at a club without being licenced to do so.
Man admits to smashing car mirrors while drunk
Matthew Agius 1 min read A young man from Argentina has admitted to having smashed 10 car wing mirrors in Sliema while drunk. 23-year-old Alejandro Gusman, a waiter, was arraigned under arrest before magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech on Friday by Police Inspector Ian Azzopardi, accused of offences relating to criminal damage and public drunkenness. Gusman pleaded guilty to the charges.
Man charged with shooting and killing neighbour's pigeons, breaching bail conditions
Police have charged a man from Marsaxlokk with aggravated theft and weapons charges after he allegedly shot a number of a neighbour’s domesticated pigeons. Gregory Carabott, 35, who told the court he was a part-time fisherman was arraigned before magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech on Friday, accused of theft, aggravated by violence, criminal damage, breaching the peace, shooting domesticated pigeons or doves, which were the property of someone else.
Five charged with assaulting police officers in Ħamrun released on bail
All five of the individuals charged with assaulting police officers in Hamrun last month were released on bail this afternoon. 46-year-old restaurant owner Elton Anthony Borg from Hamrun, 44-year-old Kurt Borg, also a restaurant owner from Hamrun, Erica Borg, 42, a housewife from Msida, Redeimen Aquilina, 23 from Hamrun and Christian Mansueto, 33 from Siggiewi were arraigned on September 23.
Labour MEP wants police to press charges against Nationalist MEP Peter Agius
Matthew Agius 2 min read Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba has written to the police commissioner to formally request that rival PN MEP Peter Agius be charged under the Identity cards Act, alleging that the PN politician did not reside at his registered address.
Pensioner admits to obtaining, sharing child porn
A pensioner from Bormla was released on bail, pending a sentencing hearing, after admitting to obtaining and sharing pornography that involved children. Ronnie Farrugia, 64, was arraigned before magistrate Monica Vella on Thursday by senior police inspector Elton Buckingham and police inspector Carl Pace from the Cybercrime Unit, on charges of both acquiring and sharing the illegal material.
Court recommends perjury charges for two police officers who gave misleading testimony
A court has recommended that two police constables face perjury charges after video evidence showed they had heavily embellished their testimony about an altercation with a man at a San Ġwann kebab shop. This emerges from a judgement handed down on Monday by magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, in a St. Julian’s district case against a Serbian man named Lazar Mitic. Mitic was accused of having assaulted or resisted two police officers in San Gwann, on 26 September 2021.
Colombian prostitution trafficking ring: No further prosecution witnesses, all defendants granted bail
Matthew Agius 1 min read Seven men accused of running a prostitution ring which trafficked women from Colombia to Malta were granted bail, two months after they were first charged in court. Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech released Luke Farrugia, Clint D’Amato, Denzil Farrugia, Nicolae Efimov, Kane Vassallo, Dylan McKay and Gordon Cassar from arrest after the prosecution declared that it had no further witnesses to produce.
Man broke former partner’s arm during argument, court hears
A man who broke his former partner's arm during an argument has been sentenced to probation. The victim had previously reported the defendant twice to the Unit against Domestic Violence, prior to him breaking her arm. The prosecution recalled how the accused, Daniel Attard, 40, from Żejtun, was in a relationship with the woman. The couple had only been together for a year, with the victim reporting the defendant twice to the Unit against Domestic Violence.
Man charged over false address declaration in Siġġiewi 'phantom voters' case
A 66-year-old man from Siġġiewi has been charged with making a false declaration to the authorities in relation to the Siġġiewi gerrymandering case. The case dates back to April, where 99 voters were found to have been falsely registered as residing in Binja Silvio Parnis, a social housing project still under construction at the time. A court had ordered that the voters’ official addresses be transferred back to their current place of residence and instructed the police to investigate the matter.
Benefits fraud Presidential pardons in doubt after official documents remain unexhibited
Questions over the validity of the hundreds of Presidential pardons, granted to beneficiaries of social benefits fraud, continued to mount on Wednesday. A representative from the Office of the President exhibited documents which refer to the pardons in court, but not the pardon itself.
Man, 35, accused of helping teen girlfriend run away from home
A 35-year-old man from Żurrieq was remanded in custody on Tuesday, after being charged with helping a 16-year-old girl, who is the subject of a protection order, to abscond from her designated address. Omar Trabelsi was arraigned before Magistrate Nadine Lia by police inspector Mark Cremona, accused of the crime, as well as with stealing a wheelchair and failing to comply with a police order to attend a police station. He was further charged with living an idle and vagrant life and recidivism.
Former permanent secretary seeks damages, blasts Vitals expert's 'substandard' report
Matthew Agius 1 min read A former permanent secretary who stepped down after being charged over the fraudulent Vitals hospital deal is seeking damages from one of the experts appointed by the inquiring magistrates, claiming the expert’s report was substandard and full of mistakes. This emerges from a judicial letter filed this morning against Jeremy Harbinson and Harbinson Forensics Limited by Ronald Mizzi’s lawyers, Stefano Filletti and Maurice Meli.
Daniel Muka did not suffer any breach to his fundamental rights by being denied bail
Alleged double murderer Daniel Muka did not suffer any breach to his fundamental rights by being denied bail, Malta’s highest court has confirmed. In a judgement handed down on Monday, the Constitutional Court, presided over by Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti together with judges Anthony Ellul and Giannino Caruana Demajo, dismissed the Albanian’s appeal to his unsuccessful October 2023 constitutional challenge before the First Hall, also ordering him to bear the costs of the appeal.
Pharma employee in the dock over messages offering cocaine to addict
An employee at a local pharmaceutical and medical equipment supplier has denied offering to sell drugs to a vulnerable young woman through an online messaging app. Rishuf Jo, 27, an Indian national residing in Luqa, was arraigned before magistrate Nadia Helena Vella on Friday accused of offering to procure cocaine for third parties, as well as trafficking cannabis.
Woman claims her family threatened to have her killed unless she dropped domestic violence charges
A 25-year-old Syrian man has been released on bail despite being charged with beating his wife and threatening to kill her, after the woman told the court that her parents had forced her to lie about him on pain of death. The defendant, a Marsaskala resident who said he worked in construction, was arraigned before magistrate Jean Paul Grech on Thursday by Police Inspector Sherona Buhagiar. He pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting and threatening the woman.
Judge slams magistrate for taking case files home and failing to return them
An appeals court judge has deplored a magistrate’s unexplained failure to return case files which she had taken home, stressing that it had translated into unnecessary and lengthy delays for the parties. This emerges from a communique that was sent to the Justice Minister, the Chief Justice and the Registrar of Courts earlier this month, by Mr. Justice Lawrence Mintoff.
Man guilty of possession of child porn featuring ‘horrific’ sexual abuse
A 30-year-old man from Birkirkara has pleaded guilty to charges of circulating and possession of pornography involving children under the age of nine being subjected to horrific sexual abuse. The Maltese defendant, who works as a nursing assistant at a home for the elderly, was arraigned on Wednesday before magistrate Joseph Gatt by police inspector Carl Pace, accused of the possession and circulation of pornography involving children under the age of nine.
Alleged sex traffickers spent hundreds of euro on sex toys, condoms and lubricants
Local traders have testified to having sold flights to and from Colombia and hundreds of euros worth of sex toys, lubricants and condoms to individuals now accused of running a human trafficking operation. This emerged as Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech presided over a sitting on Tuesday, in the compilation of evidence against Luke Farrugia, Clint D’Amato, Denzil Farrugia, Alexandra Suhov Procora, Nicolae Efimov, Kane Vassallo, Luca Emanuele Corito, Dylan McKay and Gordon Cassar.
Brian Tonna’s fundamental rights breached by Speaker’s ruling
Brian Tonna’s fundamental rights were breached by a ruling by the Speaker of the House and the Parliamentary Accounts Committee’s witness guidelines, a court has ruled today. Mr. Justice Giovanni Grixi, presiding over the First Hall of the Civil Court in its Constitutional jurisdiction, handed down judgement in the constitutional case filed by Tonna, the former owner of accountancy firm Nexia BT, over a May 2021 ruling by the Speaker during Tonna’s grilling over the Electrogas deal.
Habitual criminal given 44-month jail sentence for grocery store robbery
A man with a criminal history stretching all the way back to 2004 has been jailed for three and a half years after being found guilty of stealing cash from a grocery store. Matthew Camilleri, 38, was jailed for 44 months by magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech yesterday, upon his conviction for aggravated theft, breaching bail and breaching a probation order in 2019. Magistrate Frendo Dimech had taken over the case from another magistrate in February this year.
Steward Healthcare CEO Armin Ernst misses court hearing over hospitals concession charges
Steward Healthcare’s Malta CEO Armin Ernst did not appear in court on Monday, when he was due to face charges in connection with the hospitals concession deal. One of Ernst’s lawyers, Jose Herrera, told magistrate Rachel Montebello that his client was not in attendance, both because he had only received a summons very recently, but also because his wife was seriously ill.
“Lebanon cannot become a new Gaza” - Macron calls for halt in arms supplies to Israel
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a halt to the delivery of weapons and military supplies to Israel, in view of its bombardments of Gaza and Lebanon. "I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza," Macron said during a pre-recorded radio interview that was aired on Saturday, adding that France was not selling weapons or ammunition to Israel.
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