Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1141804
YOUR FIRST READ AND CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT maltatoday 2 today SUNDAY • 14 JULY 2019 • ISSUE 1028 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY ABORTION No change in Malta's anti-abortion attitudes PGS 14-15 MATTHEW VELLA RUSSIA has blocked a Maltese at- tempt at placing oil smuggling sus- pects Darren Debono and Gordon Debono on a United Nations sanc- tions list, with a last-minute veto on a Security Council designation. Despite enjoying the full support of the UN Security Council and various other UN members, Malta's designations of the oil smuggling suspects – who were at the centre of a €30 million fuel smuggling ring with Libya and Italian Mafia asso- ciates at its heart – were foiled at the last minute. Russia, a permanent member of the UNSC, 'broke the silence' at the eleventh hour, putting a hold on the designations of the Maltese nationals who are facing prosecu- tion in Catania, but are out on bail in Malta. The draft version of the designa- tions are usually circulated among UNSC members for five days for any changes or amendments. Mal- taToday is informed Russia broke the silence some two hours before the deadline of the procedure, pre- venting the text being adopted by all participants. Breaking the silence often implies the participant still has fundamen- tal problems with parts of the text and is therefore the exception rath- er than the rule. A high-level source told this newspaper that Malta received messages of support from other countries who are seeking to stem the bunkering and traffic of smug- gled fuel on the high seas. Darren and Gordon Debono (no relation to each other) were ar- rested in September 2017 by Italian police on the island of Lampedusa and in Catania, respectively, just a month after the arrest of Libyan smuggling kingpin Fahmi Slim Bin Khalifa by militias. PGS 2- 3 Malta's attempt at getting United Nations sanctions on suspected fuel smugglers Darren and Gordon Debono thwarted by last- minute veto from Russian government maltatoday This Week Playwright- director Tyrone Grima and actor Jacob Piccinino Q and A Amy Micallef Film Knife + Heart 2 The all new pull-out section INSIDE • LISTINGS • TV • LAW • CLASSIFIEDS T. 2379 4794 | www.franksalt.com.mt | fs@franksalt.com.mt Y E A R S O F R E A L E S T A T E 1 9 6 9 2 0 1 9 For the last 50 years we have put integrity at the core of everything we do, driven to give you more than you expect. Local. Experienced. Personal. Frank. Since 1969. Russia blocks Malta smuggling sanctions on Darren Debono mt survey INSIDE MT2 PLANNING WARS DB Group to sue Planning Authority over revocation LOUIS GALEA 'I'm just a simple facilitator,' says former minister and PN grandee now tasked to oversee party's internal reforms INTERVIEW 16-17 €1.95 today today malta SUNDAY • €1.95 SUN WISDOM PAGE 10