Maltese government

Super-rich Russians, Chinese and Saudis have secured unrestricted access to the EU via a Maltese cash-for-passports scheme that requires them to spend less than three weeks in the country, a leak from a passport brokerage has revealed.

One of three men accused of murdering Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017, changed his plea to guilty in a Valletta courtroom today.

Vince Muscat told the court that he was admitting to all charges, in a shock development that could prove crucial in the high-profile murder case.

58,000 asylum applications in the EU have been filed since the beginning of this year, the European Asylum Support Office said. Half are denied. Although migratory pressure on the EU is declining, asylum applications are increasing. Malta is one of the first to welcome migrant boats.

Hijackers claiming to have a grenade took over a Libyan plane Dec. 23 and diverted it to Malta before releasing everyone onboard and surrendering to authorities, officials said.

"Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers," Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter.
Minutes later he added: "Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody." 

A reconnaissance plane working for the French Defense Ministry crashed in a ball of flames at Malta's international airport on Oct. 24, killing all five people on board, three of them being French Defense Ministry officials.

The plane plummeted into the ground shortly after take-off, killing the five French nationals on board, officials said according to AFP.