Updated 1645 – Afternoon Portal Review
Times of Malta reports that a tree planted in memory of murder victim Pelin Kaya has been uprooted in an apparently random act of vandalism.
Maltatoday quotes President George Vella, who said today that efforts should be in place to prevent the Maltese language from becoming “a relic studied by archaeologists” as Malta faced an influx of foreign workers and tourists.
TVM says that a 62-year old man was sentenced to 13 month imprisonment, suspended for two years, after he was found guilty of having lured two 12-year old boys to have sexual acts with him.
Newsbook reports that the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses is claiming that nurses working at Mater Dei Hospital are facing coercion, abuse and bullying at the hands of the hospital’s management as they observe existing directives in the face of nurse shortages in the hospital’s wards.
Updated 1230
HSBC reports 113% increase in profit
HSBC Malta has reported a profit before tax of €57.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of €30.4m or 113% over 2021. The bank said on Tuesday that the improved profitability was driven by rising interest rates, favourable market movements impacting insurance revenues, higher trading income, continued good progress on cost management and a significant recovery on a commercial non-performing loan. The directors are recommending a gross final dividend of 5.6% per share. (Times of Malta)
Armed robbery targets Birkirkara shop
An armed and masked man robbed a shop in Triq Ġużè Orlando, Birkirkara on Monday at around 8pm. The police said the thief held the cashier, a 31-year-old man from Ħ’Attard at knifepoint as he threatened him to hand over the cash. Nobody was injured in the incident. Magistrate Gabriella Vella is leading the inquiry. (Maltatoday).
We gave Fr Seguna money voluntarily, parishioners testify
Marsaxlokk parishioners testified that they gave their money to Fr Luke voluntarily for the needs of the parish. They were testifying in the criminal inquiry where the former priest of Marsaxlokk is charged with fraud, misappropriation of money and money laundering. Fr Seguna is pleading not guilty of appropriating some €500,000 from 150 parishioners. The latter testified that Fr Seguna created a €10 donation scheme per month but also testified that a similar scheme existed under the priest before him. (TVM)
Morning Briefing
Maltese travelling abroad reach pre-covid levels
The number of people who went abroad during the last three months of 2022 reached pre-pandemic levels, NSO data has shown. Fresh data shows that 109,979 outbound trips made for holiday purposes between October and December of 2022. This compares to 63,104 in the same three months of 2021 and 4,836 in 2020. In 2019, a total of 110,512 trips were made for holiday purposes. According to the NSO, almost 110,000 people traveled on holiday, while around 46,000 people visited their relatives and friends. (Times of Malta)
Serious accident in Żebbuġ leave young person in hospital
A car driver was hospitalised for treatment following a serious accident in Triq l-Imdina, Ħaż-Żebbuġ. The national broadcaster reported that a 20-year old youth was involved in the accident which occurred at around 6.15pm . The young driver lost control of The car was heavily damaged during the impact with the result that its engine ended up on the road. (TVM)
Licensing of contractors in construction will improve standards
Public Works and Planning Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that the licensing of contractors in the construction industry is aimed to ‘improve standards’. Last week, construction industry stakeholders expressed their support on a legislation to license building contractors, but wondered when this will ever come to be. Zrinzo Azzopardi inssited that the government remains committed to introduce a system by which contractors are issued with a licence. This change, coupled with other initiatives that have been implemented so far such as the need for insurance policies covering the interests of third parties, bank guarantees as well as other requirements that need to be adhered to prior to and during the commencement of works in a project, will improve this sector, the minister said. (The Malta Independent)
