Malta's shot taxi driver's condition improves

The taxi driver, who was shot during an attempted robbery near Malta International Airport (MIA) on Thursday morning, is no longer in critical condition, local police said on Friday. Joseph Magro, 77, was shot in the face through his car's windscreen at a very close range after his passenger refused to hand over cash to two armed men wearing balaclavas. The police said that several people are being questioned about the attempted robbery in which the passenger was slightly injured. Preliminary investigations revealed that the getaway car had been a stolen white Peugeot. The number plates do not match the car's registration. The attempted robbery was the second in 7 days. Last Friday in Malta's Qawra, robbers looted 10,000 sterling pounds in a hold-up.