These are the main news from Malta as reported in the local news portals.
Top PN officials have come to the support of embattled party leader Adrian Delia with strong messages of loyalty on their social media pages. Media head Pierre Portelli said there is no one better suited to lead the Nationalist Party than the present leader, in a post picked up by LovinMalta. Meanwhile, MaltaToday quotes General Council president Kristy Debono who cautioned not to ‘jump the gun’ on allegations related to Delia’s separation proceedings in court.
Meanwhile Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia has filed a libel suit against LovinMalta, claiming that he was defamed in an article published on the website. In an article signed by Tim Diacono, LovinMalta published a series of unfounded and malicious allegations, Delia claimed in his suit. The allegations were based on anonymous sources.
Alfred and George Degiorgio have filed another request for bail, including a demand for compensation for breaches of human rights. The Malta Independent reports the brothers are asking to be electronically tagged instead, a system not introduced in Malta. Net News says that the brothers have made several applications for bail. The two have been charged with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia and separate cases of money laundering.
The Netherlands offered to welcome some of the migrants stranded at sea aboard the Sea-Watch 3 rescue ship. Newsbook reported earlier that the EU Commissioner for Migration was speaking to member states individually to resolve the situation. 300 academics from around the world have called on the EU to shoulder responsibility.
Three bidders have submitted for the construction of a pedestrian and cycle bridge linking Blata l-Bajda to Ħamrun and Marsa. TVM picks up a post by Transport Minister Ian Borg announcing the average value of the bids standing at €2.4 million.
A newly-formed pressure group ‘Inħobbu l-Gżira’ are demanding changes to the Manoel Island project, claiming that the submitted plans will eat up part of the town’s promenade. The Times reports on a statement by the group saying that the development will reduce 40 percent of the benches to make way for access roads to the island.
Health Minister Chris Fearne visited the Mellieħa cemetery as a project to enlarge the facility has reached an advanced stage. The Minister said that expansion works are also expected to start at the Addolorata cemetery, increasing capacity by 2,800. One News says there is currently a demand for 2,000 places.
The probe into Danske Bank has extended to Italy as prosecutors in Milan are investigating the bank’s activities in the country. The Shift News says that the institution is also facing investigations in Denmark, Estonia, the UK, and US after suspicion about activities involving funds from Azerbaijan which have been described the ‘biggest money laundering scandal in history’.
