Good evening,
These are the main Maltese news as reported in Malta’s news portals.
TVM covers the inauguration by the Prime Minister of new offices in Shanghai of a Malta-based company. Base Malta provides consultancy to companies from both country that are seeking to invest in the other. Joseph Muscat is leading a Maltese delegation to the International Import Expo in China.
Newsbook also reports on the Maltese delegation in China and says that a Chinese company will use Malta as an entry point to the European market. In the same article, the portal says that Bill Gates and Jack Ma were among the guests during an address by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat about Artificial Intelligence.
One News develop on Dr Muscat’s address at the Expo in Shanghai where he said that smaller countries can adapt and change quicker to innovation. The Prime Minister said that technology is one of the drivers of Malta’s economy and that AI holds potential to change the way we live.
The Malta Independent report that Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia is “here to stay,” a spokesperson for the Nationalist Party said. The PN told Times of Malta that reports that the party leader was “thinking of a dignified exit” were untrue.
The Times leads with the closure of Pilatus Bank after its licence has been revoked by the European Central Bank citing breaches of anti-money laundering rules. The portal says that bank directors had discussed the possibility with the MFSA and agreed in principle with winding the bank down.
LovinMalta reports on a heated court hearing on the case of five young people accused of beating up Liam Debono. Debono himself stands accused of attempted murder of an police officer on duty, in an unrelated case. The portal says the defendants acted aggressively towards the media, shouting and gesturing insults at journalists.
MaltaToday says that most apartment buildings in the Manoel Island project could rise by four meters after new proposals were submitted in September. The portal quotes Dr Claire Bonello from the Manoel Island Foundation who said that any change in heights must be counter-balanced in other parts of the development.
The Malta Independentcarries a reaction by PN MEP David Casa who called recent allegations against him “coordinated attacks based on fabrications.” The PN Head of Delegation was speaking after it emerged that an affidavit letter and a formal letter sent to the EU’s OLAF were created on the computer of an editor of the newspaper which, the following day, broke the story.
MaltaToday’s managing editor Saviour Balzan was quoted by One Newssaying that the fact remains that the accusations are there and are currently being investigated by OLAF and the General Auditor.
The Shift News reports Italy’s most powerful organised crime network, the ‘Ndrangheta, has worked its way into different European countries including Malta by establishing businesses as a cover for its illicit drug trafficking operations, Italian anti-mafia and counterterrorism prosecutors have said.
Net News leads with a story about the new waste system and says that bags with organic waste and mixed waste are being collected together. The outlet points to a Facebook post by PL Mayor of Żebbuġ Sarah Agius Saliba in which she said that, if organic waste is brought for collection late, it will be picked up with the mixed waste collection cycle.
The government said on Monday that it had had a “positive” meeting with the Venice Commission earlier in the day. The Venice Commission is an advisory body of the Council of Europe, composed of independent experts in the field of constitutional law. The delegation is looking into Malta’s legal and institutional structures, and the request reportedly came after concerns raised by a recent visit by MEPs, The Malta Independentreports.
iNews reports that the GWU is requesting the MCESD to discuss its proposal that every worker will be a member of a trade union of choice.
