Good evening,
Your End of Day Roundup provides you with the main news from Malta’s news portals and the main headlines from around the world.
A 30-year-old man suffered very serious injuries when a truck on which he was working collapsed on top of him. The incident happened at about 14.00 this afternoon in Triq l-Industrija, Qormi. TVM reports how an ambulance and Civil Protection officials were called to the spot to provide assistance to free the trapped man. The man from Paola was taken to Mater Dei Hospital and was certified to have suffered very serious injuries.
Former Nationalist MP Franco Debono has said that, given the circumstantial evidence in the public domain, it is reasonable for one to assume that Egrant belongs to the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat “or someone close to him”.
“When Pawlu Lia [Muscat’s lawyer] wants he can sue me for libel, but from all the facts in the public domain one has the right to arrive at the political conclusion and argue that given the circumstantial evidence Egrant belongs to Joseph Muscat or someone close to him.” Writing in his blog, the criminal lawyer and current Law Commissioner said that rather than being a closed chapter, the secret Panamanian company will feature heavily in the upcoming MEP elections. Malta Today
The Malta Independent reports that the government has denied that the transfer of a tract of land in Paceville to International Hotel Investments (IHI), the owners of the Corinthia hotel chain, on a 99-year lease will breach EU state-aid and public procurement laws following a complaint submitted by a Maltese business consortium against the deal.
The consortium called Foresite, is said to be made up of Maltese businessmen with an interest in developing what they called Malta’s ‘Golden Mile’. Members behind the consortium who are not known sent a letter to MPs from lawyer Joseph Camilleri, writing in the ir name, asking to stop the €52 million deal for Corinthia to develop a six-star tourism and residential complex at a price they described as being “far below market price and without having issued a tender.” The story is also featured on One News.
The Times reports that the banking sector’s reticence when opening new accounts was in breach of EU rules, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat warned yesterday.
Speaking at the launch of the Malta Financial Services Authority’s Vision 2021, he said that though he appreciated the banks’ attempts to de-risk, he could not tolerate a situation where “legitimate” people and businesses could not open new accounts. He praised the MFSA recent campaign to remind entities that access to a basic bank account was a right they could insist on.
Lovin Malta reports that the President of France has sent a “big thank you” Joseph Muscat’s way, hailing the way he brought European nations together to address the migration crisis in the Mediterranean in recent months. “I want to reiterate a big thank you to Joseph Muscat for the exceptional mobilisation together with some others including us, for having these past months, always looked for efficient solutions, that are human and European to rescue operation in the Mediterranean,” President Macron said.
The Nationalist Party is promising to give its full support to all farmers as they have a lot to contribute towards the economy. This was the main gist of the discussion which today was held during a meeting between the Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia and representatives from a number of organisations which work with farmers. Delia, who was accompanied by PN’s Secretary General Clyde Puli and MEP candidate Dr Peter Agius, also announced a number of proposals on the subject. Net News
Other headlines
Pope Francis to become first Pope to set foot on Arabian Peninsula as he visits UAE
US announces its withdrawal from Nuclear Treaty
Italy’s coastguard blocks Sea Watch 3 in Catania’s port
Gibraltar’s status pose a new disruption for Brexit
Keeping Up Appearance actor ‘Richard’ dies at 82
Catalan politicians and activists transferred to Madrid ahead of trial
21 die from worst cold weather to hit US Midwest in decades
