Updated 1600
The Times of Malta reveals that businesses that hold accounts with Bank of Valletta will need to start paying three times as much in administration fees from next February. The bank sent out a letter to its business clients this week, informing them that the administration fee – previously known as the account maintenance fee – will go up from €10 to €30 monthly due to added costs related to regulatory checks and balances.
Maltatoday reports that according to Infrastructure Minister Aaron Farrugia supply chain issues and archaeological findings behind delays at Kirkop tunnels and airport intersection project.
TVM reports that a driver who injured another person in a collision in Ħal Tarxien 18 years ago has been ordered to pay the victim the amount of 36,519 euro interest on the 40,362 euro he had already been ordered to pay in compensation.
Newsbook says that a public call for four new magistrates will soon be issued, justice minister Jonathan Attard said in comments to the media on Friday afternoon.
Updated 1230
CBM revises 2023 growth downwards
Malta’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow by 6.8% this year, and by 3.7% in 2023, followed by growth rates of 3.6% and 3.5% in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The figures were revealed in a forecast by the Central Bank of Malta. When compared to the previous set of projections, the Bank’s latest forecast presents an upward revision of 1.6 percentage point for 2022, and downward revisions of 0.8 percentage point for 2023, and 0.1 percentage point for 2024. HICP inflation is projected to moderate to 4.5% by 2023, driven by lower contributions from all subcomponents, except energy inflation. Full story here.
Govt reviewing oil exploration licence
An application for a new oil exploration licence off Malta is being considered by the government, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana has revealed. Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference, Caruana said that the application is currently being evaluated, adding that if the application is given the green light “in the coming days”, the licence will be issued by the government’s continental shelf department. (Times of Malta)
Air Malta warns of delays after ground handling outsourced
Air Malta has warned its customers that they were likely to experience delays in the foreseeable future as a new ground handling company takes over after the national airline fired its own ground handling services in a bid to cut costs. Ground handling services have been outsourced to Aviation Services Handling Limited – a new joint venture between Rome-based Aviation Services Spa (60%) and Air Malta (40%).
Morning Briefing
Three Gozo Ministry officials charged with involuntary homicide
Three Gozo Ministry officials were charged with the involuntary homicide of Carmel Attard, who died after the ceiling of a public toilet collapsed on him while he was working in March 2021.Joseph Cutajar, 44, Vicky Xuereb, 44, and Joseph Xuereb, 55 were arraigned in front of Magistrate Leonard Caruana at the Gozo court, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. All three defendant had been interviewed during the course of the investigation and voluntarily signed the statements they had given to the police. (Times of Malta)
PM Abela says EP leadership acted too quickly on Qatar scandal
Prime Minister Robert Abela has criticised the European Parliament’s top leadership for reaching premature conclusions on allegations of bribery of MEPs by Qatar. In an indirect reference to EP President Roberta Metsola, the Prime Minister told TVM at the EU-ASEAN Summit on Thursday that the EP’s top leadership acted “too quickly”. The European Parliament decided on Thursday to suspend all work on legislative files relating to Qatar, particularly concerning visa liberalisation and the EU aviation agreement with Qatar, as well as all planned visits. (Newsbook)
PN presents proposals on local council reform
The Nationalist Party has said that in recent years people have lost confidence in Local Governments because residents were not receiving basic and essential services that they use on a daily basis and were being deprived of the provision of these services. As a result, the Nationalist Party has come up with a number of proposals in a document styled ‘True Local Government’, which is based on decentralization. The party said that the 46 proposals are studied and explained in detail. In a statement it was said that the choice of this theme is a response to the Government’s policy which he said is reducing the responsibilities of the Local Councils. (TVM)
