Updated 1600
Maltatoday reports that a 27-year-old man from Valletta has been charged with the aggravated possession of 3kg of cannabis and dangerous driving after a high-speed chase that resulted in the crash of several vehicles.
Times of Malta says that a total of 2.28 million tourists visited Malta last year, which was above the two million projection by the Tourism Authority but still down on the 2019 pre-COVID peak of 2,771,888.
Updated 1230
Maltese economic growth to drop by half inh 2023, EU forecast shows: In 2023, real GDP is forecast to grow at less than half of the pace registered last year, by 3.1%, following a wider economic slowdown in Malta’s main trading partners, an EU forecast has shown today. The strong impulse to growth from the recovery in tourism is also set to moderate in the months ahead, as tourist flows approach pre-pandemic levels. Inflation in 2023 is set to remain elevated at 4.3%, due to continuing pressures in food, transport, and imported goods prices, the report shows.
PN leadership change could be on the cards again: A possible change of leadership for the Nationalist Party appears to be on the cards after its leader Bernard Grech would not commit to continuing to lead the Nationalist Party into next year’s European Parliament elections. Questioned asked after the PN’s general council meeting whether he plans to remain party leader at least until the MEP elections, he only insisted that he is determined to take decisions in the best interests of the party. Yesterday, the Sunday Times of Malta had revealed that he told MPs in a meeting that he was prepared to do “whatever is best for the party and the country” as PN strategists pinned their hopes on Roberta Metsola eventually taking over the leadership of the struggling party. (Times of Malta/Sunday Times of Malta)
LESA can now enforce parking permits: Parking permits issued by local councils can now be enforced by LESA following the publication of a new legal notice. This move serves to unblock a situation of deadlock after a court ruled last year that Transport Malta did not have the right to transfer responsibility for issuing permits to local councils. (Maltatoday)
Morning Briefing
Students following an apprenticeship will get a wage – PM
Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that students following an apprenticeship will start to be paid an hourly rate equivalent to the minimum wage for the time spent during their apprenticeship work. Replying to questions by Labour TV’s news editor, Abela said that students that follow post-sec courses include around 600 hours of apprenticeship work will no longer get a reduced stipend but will receive their full stipend and grant, and the apprenticeship hours will be paid at the minimum wage. “Around 1,000 students will benefit from this scheme, and we will ensure that such a promise will not only provide more opportunities for our youths but also improve their quality of life,” Abela said. (Times of Malta)
Bernard Grech calls for humility within PN
Bernard Grech said that a perception of lack of unity within the Nationalist Party remained an “open wound” and impacting poll results. Addressing the party’s General Council, Grech said that “there are many people with good intentions but if we continue doubting each other, showing mistrust in each other and not believing in each other, it sends the wrong message,” he said. “These are open wounds. I have to address them because we have to forget ourselves and focus on the collective.” The PN leader added that the party still struggles with lack of humility. “We still look down on people. Nobody is worse than us. We are not better than others. Let us respect people’s intelligence. We are still not doing this enough.” (Maltatoday)
One dead, two seriously injured in three separate incidents
Anthony Marmara, 54, better known as Twanny, lost his life in the early hours of Sunday morning after he was hit by a car in Mdina. Not far away, a 56-year old man from Ħ’Attard is in critical condition after he was involved in an argument in Rabat on Saturday evening. The Police said the argument occurred at around 11pm and the victim was found unconscious in a parking lot. A third accident saw a 34 year old cyclist from Zebbug sustaining grievous injuries after an incident involving a car driven by a 37 year old from Sliema. The incident happened in Mgarr. (TVM)
