Justice Minister says recent Chief Justice appointment would have been irresponsible
Justice Minister Clifton Grima has said appointing a Chief Justice in recent weeks would have been “irresponsible”, amid the fallout from Yorgen Fenech’s acquittal over the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Grima said decisions of such national importance should not give the impression they were being rushed because of circumstances facing the country. His comments came three weeks after Fenech was acquitted following a two-month trial. The Attorney General has since appealed the verdict, meaning a panel of three judges, including the Chief Justice, will eventually consider whether a retrial should take place. Grima said the appointment process should focus on choosing the right time and person rather than simply completing the process. He said he remained confident that an agreement could eventually be reached with Opposition Leader Alex Borg and justice shadow minister Joe Giglio, provided political considerations were set aside. (The Malta Independent)
Malta records more than double EU average for prolonged sitting
More than one in four people in Malta spend at least eight and a half hours sitting on a typical day, more than twice the EU average, according to a new Eurobarometer survey. Some 26% of Maltese respondents reported sitting for eight hours and 30 minutes or more each day, compared with 12% across the EU. However, Malta was broadly in line with the bloc in terms of regular exercise, with 48% saying they exercise or play sport almost daily or several times a week, compared with 47% across the EU. Some 35% said they never exercise or play sport. Everyday physical activity was lower, with 60% engaging in activities such as walking, cycling or gardening several times a week or more, compared with 71% in the EU. Lack of time was the main barrier, cited by 56% of Maltese respondents. The survey interviewed 505 people in Malta. (Maltatoday)
Full-time employment reaches 309,592 in April
The number of people registered as working full-time reached 309,592 in April, up 4.9% over the same month last year and 0.6% compared with March, according to figures published by the National Statistics Office. The number of people whose main job was part-time employment reached 37,136, an annual increase of 7.6% and a monthly increase of 0.8%. Full-time employment in the private sector rose by 5.1% over 12 months to 253,274, while increasing by 0.6% compared with the previous month. Public sector full-time employment reached 56,318, representing a 4.2% increase over April 2025 and a 0.4% rise over March. The figures also show continued growth in full-time employment among both men and women. The number of men in full-time jobs rose by 5% annually to 186,367, while the number of women increased by 4.8% to 123,225. (TVM News)
