In the Press: US government holding Libya conference in Malta | Traffickers abusing Mare Nostrum operation

MaltaToday

The US government will be holding an 'internal conference' to discuss assistance to Libya, in Malta. The US ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones is currently working out of Malta after remaining in the embassy in Tripoli was deemed unsafe. Jones denied reports that a 'big conference' was due to be held at the end of the month.

The Times of Malta

Traffickers are aware of the Mare Nostrum operation and are using the Italian initiative to their advantage. Gil Arias-Fernandez, executive director of Frontex said that traffickers are loading more people into unseaworthy vessels, putting the passengers at further risk while making the operation cheaper for themselves.

In-Nazzjon

The Nationalist party has called ont he government to address complaints of a strong odour emanating from the Sant'Antnin waste treatment plant. Opposition speaker for the environment Charlo Bonnici brought up residents' concerns about the operation of the plant.

L-Orizzont

Families that have an income of less than €11,000 a year will be eligible for a child supplement - €400 for each of the first two children, €200 each for the third and fourth - on the condition that the children attend school for at least 95% of their lessons.

The Malta Independent

Alfred Bugeja, known as 'Il-Porporina', has defended his choice to go on a hunger strike, saying that prison authorities were singling him and others out. Bugeja claims the drug test at the prison, which tested positive for heroin, cocaine and cannabis, conflicts with the test done at hospital, which showed he was clean.