Good evening,
What follows are the main news for today as reported by Malta’s main news portals.
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Liam Debono, the underage motorist who ran over and maimed a police officer conducting a routine traffic stop has been released on bail by the Criminal Court. Debono is accused of the attempted murder of PC Simon Schembri and 46 other charges, after dragging the policeman for a distance under his car. Schembri had stopped him over a seatbelt infraction, and ended up losing an arm in the incident, narrowly escaping with his life. Read more: The Malta Independent
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The Church Environment Commission (KA) today said it is baffled, like many citizens, by the decision of the Planning Authority (PA) to approve the extensive project proposed by db Group at St George’s Bay. The KA, like other concerned citizens, had already tabled its objections for the development in its communication dated 30 May 2018. Read more: The Malta Independent
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Opposition leader Adrian Delia insisted the PA decision to bring over a board member by private jet was symbolic of an incestuous relationship between government and its authorities but stopped short of calling for resignations. Read more: MaltaToday / NET
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Statistics published by the National Statistics Office (NSO) stated the level of debt in Malta as having been reduced by around €204 million. The same statistics show an increase in the Government’s expenditure, mainly linked to the increase in the social benefits (€22 million), infrastructural works (€26 million) and the money given to the Church schools (€17 million). One News
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According to an NSO survey, 18.8% of the Maltese population is elderly and by the end of 2017 the number of people aged over 65 totalled 89,517. Of these, 54.6% are females and compared to 2007 the ageing population had increased by 57.8%. Government expenditure on retirement pensions reaches €535.9 million – an increase of 6.6% when compared to last year’s figure with 25% of the elderly living in risk of poverty. Read more: TVM
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A shortage of nursing staff at Mount Carmel Hospital has resulted in care workers being asked to perform duties that only qualified nurses are supposed to carry out, according to Health minister and deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne. On Thursday, General Workers Union (GWU) Public Service Secretary Jeremy Camilleri said that care workers at the hospital were being forced to carry out nursing duties, despite not being qualified. “Everyone knows that not only in Mount Carmel Hospital, but in the whole healthcare system, nurses are a scare resource,” Fearne said. “Despite the lack of nurses, patients who require 24-hour supervision will not be denied such care.” Read more: MaltaToday
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A 29-year-old man is in danger of dying after he was involved in a traffic accident last night. The accident happened in Triq il-Mosta at around 11.20pm. The police said that it appears that the man, who is Nigerian, lost control of his Peugeot 306 which he was driving and hit the pavement, with the vehicle ending up in a field. Read more: TVM
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The public is being advised to take the vaccine against influenza since it is expected to be as bad as last year. The Ministry for Health launched a campaign against influenza during a press conference this morning. This year, the Ministry for Health ordered around 100,000 vaccines. As from the 15th October, the vaccines will be given to children under 5 years of age, adults older than 55 years and persons with chronic diseases at all health centres in Malta between Monday and Saturday, from 8am until 1pm during the week and until 12pm on Saturdays. The health centres in Mosta, Paola and Floriana will also be open between 2 30pm and 7 30pm. Read more: Newsbook
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Malta Public Transport is trying out a new shuttle service to the University of Malta from the Pembroke Park & Ride. The trial period will run until the end of 2018, after which take-up and trends will be analysed. “The new route will have a positive impact on the general traffic flow and parking situation in the areas surrounding University,” said Daniel Grech, Malta Public Transport commercial director. “Malta Public Transport considered the accumulated hours that students waste driving around looking for parking, and the negative consequences that this has on air quality in the area.” The University Students’ Council (KSU), which has a partnership with Malta Public Transport, welcomed the new service as a viable alternative to private vehicle usage. Read more: TimesofMalta / TVM / Illum
