Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541988
LEADING Labour figures have voiced a mixed bag of reactions as debate intensi- fies over large-scale devel- opment in Malta's historic town centres. The debate has been fuelled by three recent development proposals: a 12-apartment development in the heart of Tarxien's UCA, which at- tempted to circumvent re- strictions by placing its main entrance on a side street outside the protected zone; a project envisaging 45 garag- es and about 10 apartments in the core of Żejtun's UCA; and a care-home develop- ment in Żabbar's historic centre. YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER 2025 • ISSUE 1363 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY Dear Santa maltatoday Height limitations Sheep farm refusal A new hotel exceeds The Strand's height limit by two storeys, with the PA approving the additional floors CONTINUES PAGE 3 CONTINUES PAGE 4 PAGE 9 Gaffarena's Zebbug 'sheep farm' on rural land set for refusal PAGE 11 PAGES 6-7 KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Alex Borg marks 100 days as PN leader, with an imagined letter to Santa €2.20 MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt MUT President calls for implementation of language policy at state schools GOVERNMENT should be implementing a language policy in state schools en- suring lessons, where pos- sible, are taught in Maltese, Malta Union of Teachers President Marco Bonnici has said. He resisted the notion that Maltese and foreign students be separated so they can learn through lan- guages they understand, saying it goes against the principle of integration and inclusion, but would also be logistically impossible to carry out. Bonnici was speaking during an interview with MaltaToday in the wake of the shocking stabbing of a 14-year-old student, where the victim and attacker were both Libyan nationals. The attacker's nationality has prompted wide-spread xenophobia on social media portals, but has also raised questions on state schools' preparedness to adjust to the new cultural realities. Surgeon Charles Swain helped advance plastic and reconstructive surgery in Malta. He was awarded a National Order of Merit during the Republic Day award ceremony by President Myriam Spiteri Debono SEE PAGES 12-13 Mixed Labour voices on historic centre assault Labour Party headquarters (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) President Myriam Spiteri Debono delivers Republic Day speech