1745- Latest News update
Times of Malta says approximately one in 10 voters have yet to collect their voting documents with just over one week to go until polling day.
MaltaToday says Malta’s population hit a record 516,000, according to preliminary figures from the 2021 Census released by the National Statistics Office on Friday.
Newsbook says the international group of anti-money laundering experts will carry out its onsite visit in April.
TVM says that Silvio Mallegni, 53, who lives in Munxar was fined €3,100 after admitting that in August of last year he drove dangerously, without an insurance policy, without a driving licence, and with causing damages to other cars.
Updated 1255
Malta lands €48m pharma investment: Pharmaceutical company KELIX bio will be investing €48 million in a world-class manufacturing and distribution centre in Malta. The company said that through this investment it will be able to develop and commercialise affordable specialty generics for emerging economies. It was announced by Energy Minister Miriam Dalli, who said that it will create 100 quality careers over the next three years, was announced by Enterprise Minister Miriam Dalli during a visit to the company at Ħal Far. KELIX bio is a specialty generic business that focuses on selected therapy areas and product forms of oncology, diabetes, anti-infectives and inhalers, injectables and biosimilars, exporting to more than 40 countries across the globe. [Times of Malta]
FIAU fines firm on Venezuelan links: A financial trust company was fined €12,500 by the FIAU for failing to submit a suspicious transaction report against its client, a Miami-based Venezuelan businessman with links to tax evasion and Venezuelan money laundering. Malta’s FIAU reprimanded a trust company for offering registered address services to a company owned by Isaac Moises Sultan Cohen, a Venezuelan businessman with reported ties to politicians and drug traffickers. [Maltatoday]
ADPD publishes summary of proposals: The ADPD is putting a focus on party transparency, proposing that the limit of donations is decreased from €25,000 to €5,000. In a summary of its proposals published today, it proposed that state financing for parties obtaining at least 1% of the national vote and that commercial companies owned by political parties are regulated properly.
Covid-19 Update: 301 new cases were reported on Friday, as active cases have now reached 2073. Two women died, taking the tally to 621. 46 persons are currently in hospital.
Morning Briefing
Lies are Labour’s remaining weapon – Grech
PN leader Bernard Grech said that lies are the only weapon the Labour Party has left. “Since they started this campaign with a lie, they continued with lies and will finish it with lies, as that is the only weapon they have left.” He noted how Labour was trying create baseless allegations surrounding his property to cover the recent scandals which have seen Robert Abela involved in a property deal with Christian Borg as well as with regard to his Zejtun Villa. [The Malta Independent]
Cheques are important for recovery – Abela
Robert Abela rejected criticism about the government sending out cheques to people on the eve of an election. “Bernard Grech says sending cheques is bad governance. The help was needed now, so we gave it now,” Abela said about the timing. Since Monday, people have started receiving the annual tax refund and an additional cheque to compensate for cost of living increases. The prime minister also repeated his appeal for everyone to have their say on election day. “Pick up your vote. Everyone deserves a say in the country’s leadership”.[Times of Malta]
Food inflation hits high levels
Inflation continued to edge up in February, moving to 4.2% up from 4.1 per cent in January 2022. A monthly comparison of inflationary components shows that the largest upward impact on annual inflation was measured in the Food and non-alcoholic beverages Index, with a 1.5% increase, NSO data shows. When such analysis considers yearly differences, food tops increases by a staggering 8.4%, followed by housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (5.2%). On the other hand, the lowest annual inflation rates were registered in Communication (-1.6%) and Alcoholic beverages and tobacco (0.7%).
Covid-19 Update: 304 new COVID-19 cases were registered overnight. An 84-year-old woman died, bringing the total number of deaths to 619. 50 people are in hospital, one of which is in the ITU.
