Updated 1725
The Times of Malta reports that Italy’s coastguard has recovered the dead bodies of eight people, including a pregnant woman, from Maltese search and rescue waters, according to Italian media.
Maltatoday says that construction magnate Joseph Portelli was voted back to the Presidency of leading football club Ħamrun Spartans.
Newsbook reports that two men were caught stealing from a construction site in Żabbar in the early hours of Friday morning.
TVM covers the appointment of Mauro Farrugia as the Commissioner for the Welfare and Development of Prisoners. Farrugia’s appointment has been made by President George Vella, on the recommendation of the Minister for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality Byron Camilleri following a decision by the Cabin
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Maltese most worried about climate change – EU survey
A Eurobarometer study has found that Maltese citizens are the most in the EU concerned about climate change, the possibility of a nuclear incident and the spread of the war in Ukraine to other countries. Despite these worries, Malta is among just three member states where a majority of respondents think things are going in the right direction in their country: Luxembourg, Malta (both 65 per cent) and Ireland (46 per cent). In the remaining 24 countries, the majority think things in their country are going in the wrong direction. Migration also featured prominently among Maltese concerns, with the country second in the bloc most concerned about the issue. (Times of Malta)
No financial crime by APS, CEO insists
None of the cases flagged by the financial crime watchdog when fining APS Bank for regulatory breaches resulted in instances of financial crime, the bank’s CEO said. Marcel Cassar addressed a media briefing as he sought to tone down concern in the wake of the €228,000 fine imposed by the FIAU over breaches of money laundering rules following a compliance visit in 2020. The bank, which has since strengthened its anti-money laundering structures and procedures, is not appealing the fine. “None of the individual cases flagged by the FIAU resulted in financial crime and hence the bank did not have to terminate its relationship with the clients. The FIAU findings indicated potential weaknesses in our systems that could lead to a higher risk of money laundering,” Cassar said. (Maltatoday)
Government approves hefty increase in traffic fines
New transport fines are set to come into force through a Legal Notice in the coming weeks after they were approved by Cabinet, the government has said.
Among the changes, the fine for a person found guilty of driving through a red light will increase from €100 to €200.Another change, would see the fine for driving through a no entry sign rise from €46.59 to €75. Speeding over 15 km/h over the speed limit will see the fine increase from €69.88 to €100. (The Malta Independent)
Morning Briefing
Former Book Council Chair claims discrimination for exposing corruption
Mark Camilleri, the former chairman of the Malta Book Council has claimed in court testimony that he was discriminated against because he had dared criticise the Labour government. Camilleri was testifying in constitutional proceedings filed against the National Book Council and the State. He authored of “A Rent Seeker’s Paradise”, a publication that reported corruption and bad governance by the Labour government. The book stirred controversy when it went on sale in 2021. Camilleri felt aggrieved when his request to the council to have his work reviewed in a weekly spot reserved for such purpose in a newspaper was turned down. (Times of Malta)
Mosta valley building application withdrawn
An application for a five-storey apartment block outside development boundaries at the edge of Wied iċ-Ċawsli in Mosta has been withdrawn after the case officer described the proposal “objectionable in principle”. The site is at the edge of the picturesque valley and hosts a number of pomegranate and almond trees, which the owner wanted to transplant to another site. More than 200 residents andtThe Superintendence for Cultural Heritage had objected to the development. (Maltatoday)
Industrial prices rise by 4.29% at end of year
During December 2022, the industrial producer price index registered an increase of 4.29 per cent when compared to the corresponding month of 2021. The NSO said that when compared to December 2021, the industrial producer price index increased by 4.29 per cent. Price increases were registered in all the main industrial groupings except energy. The highest increase was registered in the consumer goods (8.42 per cent) followed by intermediate goods (3.53 per cent) and capital goods (2.39 per cent).
Industrial producer prices for the domestic market increased by 7.89 per cent. Price rises were recorded in the intermediate goods (15.59 per cent), consumer goods (12.01 per cent) and capital goods (5.07 per cent).
