The Times leads with an announcement by HSBC bank that it will close down eight branches and open a flagship branch in Qormi. CEO Andrew Beane said the bank does not make ‘long-term strategic statements’ but insisted that substantial investments are being made in Malta.
The Independent also reports on the closure of HSBC branches and quotes the official statement that the bank wants to focus on digital solutions. HSBC said that redundancies will only be voluntary.
L-Orizzont publishes the pre-budget document by the General Workers Union, focusing on distributing around wealth. Among the proposals the union recommends mandatory unionisation of all employees.
In-Nazzjon says that one of the three men suspected of carrying out the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia is fearing for his life in jail. The paper says Vincent Muscat has been refusing to eat prison food for several weeks.
The Independent carries a story about a woman who was raped by a man accusing her of attempted murder. The woman’s defence said that her former partner broke down her home’s front door and violated her last weekend.
The Times speaks to a mother who has been by asked her child’s primary school not to send an EpiPen injector with him because teachers are unable to use it. The woman said that her highly allergic son could die waiting for an ambulance.
L-Orizzont carries a story about the medicinal cannabis sector which it says is developing at a fast but cautious pace in Malta. The paper quotes the Prime Minister who said the industry is expected to export €1,000 million in goods within three years.
