1745- Latest News update
Times of Malta says the man accused of murdering Rita Ellul told the police he had lacked the courage to look at the woman as he put both thumbs against her neck while she slept, closing his eyes as he pressed on, knowing it was a point of no return.
MaltaToday says Prime Minister Robert Abela said that no development will take place at Wied Żnuber Valley, despite an area being earmarked for the construction of a model aircraft airstrip.
Newsbook says Labour leader Robert Abela has brushed off a question on the value of his 2,270 square metre villa in Żejtun on Wednesday.
TVM says that t
Updated 1240
Employers’ associations want Labour to drop mandatory union membership proposal: The Malta Employers’ Association (MEA), Malta Chamber of Commerce, and Chamber of SMEs have strongly deplored Labour’s proposal on mandatory Union membership. The PL’s electoral programme, unveiled last Friday, says it agrees “with the principle of mandatory membership in a trade union” and promises to start discussions “on the implementation of this measure.” MEA director-general Joseph Farrugia said the three associations are “completely against” the proposal is not even “open for discussion”, adding that it goes against the European Charter of Human Rights, the Maltese constitution and the UN’s Charter for Human Rights
Gap between parties narrows marginally: The gap between Labour and the PN has continued to narrow marginally according to Maltatoday. The accumulated results as at 8pm on Tuesday 15 March showed support for the PL running at 52.9%, while the PN scored 45.1%. Third parties collectively registered 2% of the vote.
Insurance association concerned after yet another life lost on the roads: The recent spike of fatalities and injuries arising from road incidents, which this year is already above the average recorded in recent years, is a matter of serious concern, the Malta Insurance Association said on Wednesday. “This concern is exacerbated further when one considers that none of the electoral manifestos of the two main parties refer to road safety. We have to ask, does road safety stand any chance of being given the importance it deserves?” A 28-year-old motorcyclist from Luqa has died after a crash with another motorcycle on the Regional Road, Gzira, late on Tuesday.
Covid-19 Update: 229 new cases were reported on Wednesday, health authorities said. 82 persons recovered. There are now 1673 active cases. An 83-year-old woman passed away overnight.
Morning Briefing
PM denies wage supplement to be paid back
Prime Minister Robert Abela has played down claims by the Nationalist Party that businesses who receive the wage supplement will be indebted to the government. “What we gave to business and workers, is theirs and will remain theirs,” Abela told supporters at a Labour Party event held in Hamrun. The PM was replying to claims by Opposition leader Bernard Grech that businesses who received the wage supplement during the pandemic, will have to pay it back. [Maltatoday]
PN against forced Union membership
It is not acceptable to force workers to join a union, PN Leader Bernard Grech has said. “While we will continue to explain the importance of joining a union should people want, as it is better that workers are represented as they would have a stronger position and could fight for better wages and conditions, it is not acceptable to force workers to be members of a union. We believe that which is found in the constitution, that everyone has a basic right to join a union, but are not forced to join.” [Independent]
No need for interconnector with North Africa – Dalli
Energy Minister Miriam Dalli does not believe Malta needs to consider building an electricity interconnector or gas pipeline to North Africa. “Italy already has pipelines with Algeria and the East Adriatic through Sicily and its southern region of Puglia, so when we will be sourcing energy from Sicily with the second interconnector, we will naturally be tapping into these energy sources as well,” she said at a Labour presser. [Times of Malta]
Covid-19 Update: The number of new COVID-19 cases continued to creep up, reaching 194, but tHE number of cases referred to hospital remained relatively constant, at 43. Two patients are in intensive care. During the last 24 hours, two persons passed away.
