Updated 1700
The Times of Malta shares the story of an Indian engineer who was attacked with a hammer in a violent mugging as he waited at the Bombi bus stop in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Maltatoday says that anti-abortion doctors have urged MPs to hear Andrea Prudente’s court testimony before abortion law vote. The doctors insisted that her life was never at risk after suffering a premature rupture of membranes.
The Malta Independent reports that Malta will in the coming months officially be joining the route of the famous pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.
Newsbook quotes a Eurostat report which shows that house prices in Malta increase by 6.3% within a year.
Updated 1200 – Mid-Day Briefing
NAO reveals phantom routes, complete lack of controls in free transport system: Free school transport for non-state schools cost almost €30 million in 2021 but government has no control over this expenditure, the National Audit Office revealed. The NAO annual report revealed how despite the significant cost to government, the Education Ministry had no means to confirm the routes claimed by the service providers. “This exposed the ministry to potential abuse from the part of the service providers, ranging from dummy applications to inflated routes,” the NAO said, pointing to lack of internal controls that exposed the ministry to errors of overpayments and potential abuse.
MUMN head pushes Miriam Dalli as Health Minister: Miriam Dalli would be the ideal next health minister, specifically because she is not a health professional, according to the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) president. In comments to The Times of Malta, Paul Pace claimed the best health ministers in the country’s history were people who were detached from the healthcare profession, because they had no pressures to help their own colleagues when taking decisions. “I believe it’s time we have a woman minister and someone who will not be influenced by doctors, nurses or consultants,” Pace argued, adding that “the ideal replacement would be Miriam Dalli. I don’t see anyone as efficient and as capable as her to tackle the system’s problems.”
PM insists on simple majority vote for Standards Commissioner: The PM has presented the second reading of bill to amend Act on Standards in Public Life. He argued that the anti-deadlock mechanism, require a simple majority vote, should only be used when agreement is not reached, despite every attempt being made, including when the Opposition adopts political pique before the national interest as, he stated, is happening in this case of the appointed of the Commissioner for Public Life Standards. Opposition spokesperson for Justice, Karol Aquilina said that democracy will be hardly hit if this bill is approved, arguing that whoever is appointed needs the confidence of both sides of the House of Representatives.
Morning Briefing
David Xuereb appointed MCESD Chairman
David Xuereb has been appointed chairman of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development. Mr Xuereb, who becomes the seventh chairman of the group, was appointed following consultation with social partners. Xuereb, an architect by profession, served as president of the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise and has managed established companies during his career where he was entrusted with major projects both in Malta and abroad. (The Times of Malta)
Miriam Dalli says she acted on Birzebbuga foul smells
Environment Minister Miriam Dalli said that she acted immediately on the foul smells from the Birzebbuga tuna plant. In comments to the press, she said that entities under her remit have carried out regular spot checks to ensure issues of a foul-smelling odour are addressed. “Since the plant started operating, there were a number of complaints, and we ensured that entities, including entities which fall under my remit like the Environment and Resource Authority (ERA) and the Water Services Corporation are addressing the issues,” she argued. (Maltatoday)
Care workers in private sector should get in-work benefit, GWU says
Care workers who work in the private sector with atypical working conditions should also be eligible to the in-work benefit, the General Workers Union (GWU) has argued. The union said that government’s policy is aimed at incentivising people to work and increase their income. The in-work benefit is aimed to assist couples and single parents who are in a gainful occupation and have children under the age of 23 years, who are still dependent and living with them. (Newsbook)
