These are the main news from Malta’s news portals.
The Insurers Association announced that almost 2,000 claims have been made in relation to the severe storm that hit the islands in February. MaltaToday says that, if all validated, the bill for the claims would add up to just under €9 million, setting a new record.
Environment Minister Jose Herrera and Transport Minister Ian Borg said that an updated fuel station policy will be published for consultation in April. The Malta Independent reports that the ministers met activists who camped overnight outside the Planning Authority offices in Floriana to protest inaction on the issue.
Government revenue increased by 6.3 percent and expenditure by 12.7 percent in 2018 over the previous year. TVM says that reports sent to the European Commission show the government registered a deficit of around €70 million in the year to December.
A car rolled over itself and caught fire close to the Lija cemetery causing heavy congestion in the area. LovinMalta says the driver was going at high speeds on the opposite lane before crashing into four oncoming cars.
The captain of hijacked tanker El Hiblu 1 said that Maltese authorities had initially denied permission to enter Maltese waters. The Times says that the AFM control centre instructed him to sail to Libya because he is Arabic.
The court of appeals upheld a court decision that dismissed a plea filed by the Prime Minister and Attorney General to split a case about the Gozo hospital into separate cases. Net News says case was filed by Opposition Leader Adrian Delia against the transfer of concession by Vitals Global Healthcare.
Newsbook follows the compilation of evidence in court in the case of suspected drug kingpin Jordan Azzopardi. The court upheld a request by the defence counsel to decide on granting bail in the next sitting when the more witnesses take the stand.
One News covers a visit by Culture Minister Owen Bonnici to the Lady of Mercy Church in Qrendi which is undergoing restoration works. The minister said this forms part of a wider restoration programme to improve the country’s tourism product.
The Shift News reports that the Electoral Commission has not fully corrected information on its website after the issue has repeatedly been raised. The portal says that the wrong details discouraged non-Maltese EU nationals from participating in the upcoming MEP elections, in which they are entitled to vote.
