Good evening
These are the main news from Malta as reported by Maltese news portals.
President George Vella visited President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami who was unable to attend the ceremony on Thursday. Newsbook quotes the new president who said he wants to build on what his predecessors left.
A report by the Malta Developers Association says that property asking price levels rose by 20 percent between 2016 and 2017. The Malta Independent says that the housing affordability index saw a decrease ranging between 8 and 17 percent.
Meanwhile, MDA president Sandro Chetcuti says developers are concerned about who will succeed Joseph Muscat at the Prime Minister’s Office. MaltaToday quotes Chetcuti who said that he is disappointed that Muscat is not contesting a next election.
The Times spoke to employers about the Work-Life Balance directive approved by the European Parliament on Thursday. Employers Association director general Joseph Farrugia argued that, as a social measure, the bill for the 10-day parental leave proposal should be picked up by government.
The Shift News reports from the International Journalism Festival taking place in Perugia, Italy. Panel moderator Courtney Radsch referred to Daphne Caruana Galizia’s career to illustrate the challenges faced by journalists.
Fourteen different species of wild animals are kept in Malta, including apes, birds, cats, and crocodiles. The Environment Ministry informed Newsbook that there are 46 wild animals and seven licenced zoos.
Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi confirmed that a control centre for a mass surveillance system has been set up and plans are moving forward to start operations by the end of the year. LovinMalta says the system will first be used to monitor the Paceville area before expanding to Marsa and Birżebbuġa.
The driver who hit an elderly man in Sliema last night has failed a breathalyser test. TVM says that the victim, a 67-year-old from Ireland, is in Intensive Care at Mater Dei hospital.
Toly is relocating to a new factory in Bulebel, at an investment on €20 million. One News says the new 20,000 square-metre facility will be laid out on four storeys, and the company expects it to be completed by June.
