Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543612
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 4 MARCH 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 While speaking to MaltaToday, he noted that traffic had notably de- creased, and his office was around two-thirds full. Meanwhile, this newspaper also spoke to Malta's Ambassador to the UAE, Maria Camilleri Calleja, who described the present situation in the country as "unpredictable and somewhat tense." She clarified that local authorities are doing their utmost to keep ci- vilians, residents, and tourists safe, including by conducting defence operations. Describing the feeling on the ground, Camilleri Calleja said that the public is advised not to leave their homes or hotels unless nec- essary, adding that authorities are keeping people informed about on- going developments. "Remote work and remote school- ing is in place, nationwide. Enter- tainment centres and large-crowd events have halted to a standstill including recreational parks. The population is being encouraged to remain indoors as much as possi- ble to avoid crowds but to go about their daily life with limitations," she explained. The Maltese ambassador stated that Maltese nationals are being urged to follow the travel advice is- sued by the Maltese Foreign Affairs Ministry. On Tuesday, the Office of the Prime Minister announced that 215 Maltese citizens sought assistance from the Consular Directorate, as 169 of them were in the UAE. Gov- ernment added that evacuation plans for Maltese nationals were discussed to prepare for when au- thorities in the region reopen their airspace. Malta's ambassador stated that "repatriation of already-booked and pre-paid tourists who found them- selves stranded in the UAE when the military offensive commenced, started on 2 March 2026 with few and limited flights." Camilleri Calleja noted that the embassy and Foreign Affairs Minis- try are in contact with the relevant authorities to ensure that all Mal- tese nationals can be repatriated as soon as safely possible. Malta's Ambassador to the UAE Maria Camilleri Calleja In UAE, remote work and schooling is in place, nationwide, ambassador says France, Greece, UK move military assets to Cyprus amid Iran conflict spillover THE United Kingdom is deploying more military assets to Cyprus to protect its airbase in the wake of Ira- nian aerial attacks. British defence authorities are con- sidering sending a destroyer with specialised counter-drone defences to the Mediterranean island which hosts a UK military base. This comes after a drone targeted the RAF Ak- rotiri and crashed onto the base's runway while another two drones were intercepted. Residents near the British base were warned to take shelter and the fami- lies of British service personnel were moved away from the base. Cyprus is already set to receive a warship and anti-drone systems from France, while the island nation has also requested assistance from Ger- many. Meanwhile, Greece sent four F-16 fighter jets to the island, as well as two frigates. Latest developments to come out of the Gulf include what appears to be a drone strike on a port in Oman which hit a fuel storage facility. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that it has completed a large- scale attack on infrastructure in the Iranian capital which they said is key to the production of ballistic missiles. The price of oil has continued to climb over $70 per barrel, as forecasts suggest that the Strait of Hormuz's closure will lead to higher food prices and poorer crop yields, as the area is crucial for the transport of fertiliser ingredient. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Residents near the British base in Cyprus were warned to take shelter following a drone attack