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KMB festschrift: Labour PM with ‘little political nous’ cradled Mintoffianism to its death
In saving the sullied legacy of his difficult premiership, SKS toasts the loyalty of Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici to the socialist ideal. His critics too are…
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Matthew Vella
He banged the drum: The story of Tony Carr, Maltese jazz percussionist who gave Donovan solid backbeat and congas
In Strait Street to Abbey Road, Cedric Vella brings to life the story of jazz drummer Tony Carr, adding an important piece of history to the canvas of…
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Matthew Vella
Undeterred by EU’s gavel, Maltese trappers hope bird ringing data can save an illegal hobby
Undeterred by an EU Court judgement, trappers want paid bird ringers to document the birds they trap – and release – hoping that data might keep their…
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Matthew Vella

September 2024

€27 million for private schools: the unspoken truth is that the Maltese still worship segregated education
The reforms of the last decades for a more inclusive educational pathway for all students, have many times been pushed back by conservative educators…
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Matthew Vella
Malta’s anti-trafficking efforts still lack muscle, US report says
The arrests of an organised crime ring of human traffickers last week came in the wake of yet another United States government downgrade of Malta’s…
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Matthew Vella

July 2024

Trump, Russia, and the war on woke: Inside the weird world of Neville Gafà
Joseph Muscat loyalist Neville Gafà has a bone to pick with Abela’s Labour, but all his broadsides come from the far-right world of strongman leaders…
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Matthew Vella
Dalligate redux: OLAF’s lax probity in snus investigation
John Dalli reappears, to toast former OLAF chief Giovanni Kessler’s conviction on an illegal wiretap. But Dalligate never seems to end…
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Matthew Vella
Over 1,000 in Malta have lost €20 million in SMS, email phishing scams and crypto frauds
Data provided by the police to Arbiter for Financial Services finds over 1,000 individuals in Malta have fallen victim to phone-banking scams, a loss of…
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Matthew Vella
Ta’ Qali was meant to be used for National Archives building. Instead, a car park will be built...
An electoral manifesto pledge to site a new National Archives institute at Ta’ Qali – uncommonly supported by both sides of the political divide – was…
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Matthew Vella

June 2024

European Elections: Quick note on the non-mainstream vote, whose winner was Cassola, defeating the conspiratorial right
Arnold Cassola, a man so comfortable in his own skin, sent a clear message against the far-right, and he slowed down their expected gains
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Matthew Vella

May 2024

Cannabis etiquette could prevent moralists from weaponising odours against smokers on a nascent civic issue in Malta
Smell the funk of wacky-baccy in the air? No matter which side you’re on, the etiquette of smoking cannabis in public, illegal though it may still be…
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Matthew Vella

April 2024

In the face of the Palestinian genocide, Western embassies use their soft power to get Maltese journalists to talk about... press freedom
Should it be at the behest of the embassies of states who do nothing in stopping Israel’s flagrant breach of international law and war crimes?
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Matthew Vella
© 2024 Matthew Vella
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