With just over a week remaining until President George Vella’s term concludes, the government and opposition have come to a consensus regarding the nominations for the new president and acting president. A joint statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition confirmed the agreement to nominate Notary Miriam Spiteri Debono as President and Lawyer Francis Zammit Dimech as acting President. Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech finalised the agreement on Tuesday, with subsequent confirmation in their respective parliamentary groups. Parliament is scheduled to vote on Malta’s new president later on today. (Times of Malta)
Diver dies, 18 rescued after facing rough sees off Ċirkewwa One diver lost his life while 18 others were rescued after facing difficulty in rough waters on Tuesday afternoon. Around 12:30 pm, the Armed Forces of Malta and the Civil Protection Department were dispatched to sea near Ċirkewwa following distress calls from two groups of divers. Harsh weather conditions, including strong winds and rough seas, posed challenges in the area. According to a police statement, four divers successfully reached shore independently, while the remainder required rescue operations conducted by the army and civil protection teams. The only casualty, a Dutch male, passed away in hospital. (Maltatoday)
€7.5m Green Mobility Scheme launched
The Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, in collaboration with Malta Enterprise, has introduced the Green Mobility Scheme, aiming to facilitate the transition towards more sustainable transportation methods. With a budget totaling €7.5 million, the scheme focuses on two primary areas of assistance: investing in recharging infrastructure tailored for vehicles essential to business operations, and the leasing of environmentally friendly or zero-emission vehicles. Businesses interested in investing in charging infrastructure can receive aid via an interest rate subsidy that covers 100% of the interest paid in the first three years of the issued loan and/or a tax credit given as a percentage of the eligible costs incurred. The tax credit may only be given if such an investment is carried out through a business’ own funds. (The Malta Independent)
