Images of drowned Syrian toddler stir Europe into action

● Man goes on slashing rampage in Paceville ● Burglars have a field day in Sliema and St Julian’s

Albert Mizzi, the first chairman of Air Malta, passed away

The major news cycle this September surrounded migration, and the death of a three-year-old Syrian boy, Aylan Kurdi, shocked the world. He was found dead, face down in the surf on a Turkish beach.

This image sparked a stronger response from the EU to tackle the crisis. In a European Council meeting held later in the month, EU leaders agreed to relocate 120,000 refugees from Italy and Greece.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia was criticised for the amount of trips he took abroad during the duration of his position.

The IVF law amendments were in full swing, with Opposition leader Simon Busuttil calling for public consultation on the amendments.

Albert Mizzi, the first chairman of Air Malta, passed away. He was considered to be the doyen of Maltese entrepreneurs. He had a career spanning nearly 70 years in business that took him into real estate development, hotels and tourism, importation and distribution, manufacture and export, and retailing.

A knife attack shocked Paceville goers, and Richard Galea, a footballer, was injured. The Libyan man responsible was taken to court.

Crime in Sliema was also a topic that saw much debate, and police had asked residents to pass on information following a spate of thefts and burglaries in the area. This was said during a meeting, where hundreds of residents, the police, and the local council attended. The thieves were targeting apartment blocks. There were talks about possibly setting up a neighbourhood watch.

The ever persistent traffic problems continued, and Transport Minister Joe Mizzi announced that the controversial proposal, for changing school hours in order to try and alleviate traffic, was just that, a proposal.

Later in the month, former Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit resigned as Head of the Security for International Events, before the Valletta Summit on Migration could take place, and before CHOGM.

This year also marked the 450th anniversary of the Great Siege of Malta, and the official inauguration of the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre.