In the Press: Tanti case continues | FKNK collect 90,000 signatures

Reports on the court proceedings of the case of Erin Tanti, charged with the murder of his 15-year old student Lisa Maria Zahra, dominate all the front pages today.

Tanti himself took the stand during yesterday's hearing, revealing details of his own personal life as well as those on his relationship with Zahra, including the fact that he had given Zahra a book about death as a gift, that both of them had stuggled with psychological issues in the past and that the teacher had used the name Cliff Dingli in a drama exercise at school. For MaltaToday's report on the court proceedings, click here.

The Times of Malta

Multiple Sclerosis patients who were due to start a new drug regime this month have been left in the dark. The drug, Gilenya, which was included in last year's Budget and was added to the government's formulary list, was promised to patients by April.

Those already on the drug have been collecting it for free since last week. But new patients have had their appointments at hospital, where the first dose must be taken, cancelled unexpectedly, leaving them with no idea when they will be able to start taking the drug, a second-line treatment recommended for patients who do not respond well to first-line treatment or for those whose disease is progressing rapidly. 

In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reports that the driver of MP Charles Buhagiar threatened local wardens last Tuesday, after being issued a fine for parking Buhagiar's official vehicle illegally. At about 11:30am, the unnamed driver threatened two local wardens while hitting and kicking at their car. The newspaper points out that this is the fourth incident in the past two weeks, involving government or police officials, which the public was not informed of.

L-Orizzont

The FKNK has collected about 90,000 signatures on a petition appealing against a referendum on spring hunting. The petition calls for the protection of the interests and priviledges of minorities, including hunters, and the FKNK argues that allowing a referendum on spring hunting would pave the way for other minority rights to be subject to a popular vote.

The Malta Independent

The Independent reports on a press conference held yesterday, where MUT President Kevin Bonello pointed out that up to 70 teachers currently working in public and provate schools were issued with warrants, despite lacking the required pedagogical training.

The Union is objecting to the powers granted to the Education ministry by the Education Act, giving the minister the power to issue warrants at his discretion. The MUT want all prospective teachers to be vetted by the Council of Teaching Professionals and leave the issuing of warrants to that institution alone.