Updated 1700
TVM says that this weekend Malta will be hosting Ministers for Home Affairs and Immigration from Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain for discussions on a common stand on migration.
The Times of Malta reports that the opposition will continue to insist that a public inquiry should be held into the collapse of a Corradino building on December 3 which cost the life of Jean Paul Sofia, Bernard Grech said on Thursday.
Maltatoday follows the compilation of evidence against three men charged over the fatal stabbing of a Romanian man in Paceville.
Newsbook says that at a mass for new University of Malta graduates at the St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Archbishop Charles Scicluna expressed his hope that they will be “an instrument of the change that this country needs, a change of heart.”
Updated 1230
Strong start of the year for the property market – MDA: The Malta Developers Association has rejected claims of slowing property market and said February sales “exceeded expectations and beat all forecasts.” Presenting fresh data, the MDA said that the total combined value of promise of sale agreements concluded this February was €85 million, or 29% higher than that 12 months before. Property sales registered in January and February this year “accounted for 17% of all sales for 2022,” the MDA said, with sales values €153 million higher than sales registered in January and February 2022. (Times of Malta)
Sheep farm plans scaled down after backlash: Proponents of extensive commercial use for a Bidnija sheep farm have downscaled their projects after significant public backlash. In particular, the new plans have removed the proposed accommodation on the green site. However, the inclusion of an “agri-products retail outlet” and an “agri-educational tasting area” remain. The property covers some 3,200 square metres in Wied tal-Ħżejjen, in Bidnija. (Newsbook)
Scooter-rider suffers injuries in Rabat incident: A 49-year-old man who lives in St Paul’s Bay was admitted to hospital having sustained injuries this morning following an accident with his scooter in Rabat. The national broadcaster says that it appeared that the man collided with a car driven by a 28-year-old woman who lives in Imtarfa. (TVM)
Morning Briefing
Govt will push for urgent hearing in case of Steward appeal
Prime Minister Robert Abela has announced that in the event Steward appeals the Court verdict ordering the hospitals to be returned to the Government within three months, he will ask for the case to be heard with urgency. A court on Wednesday slashed 10 days off the timeframe to appeal a ruling that annulled contracts which handed three state hospitals to private investors. This means that Steward Health Care now have 20 days, rather than the usual 30, to appeal the landmark ruling passed last week by Mr Justice Francesco Depasquale. The plea was made by Malta Industrial Parks, Indis Malta, the Lands Authority, the Prime Minister and the Attorney General. (Times of Malta/TVM)
Fenech’s request to have Arnaud removed from case rejected
Yorgen Fenech’s request for the removal of Superintendent Keith Arnaud from the investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was reejected, with a court declining to exercise its jurisdiction on the grounds that Fenech should have filed a criminal complaint, followed by challenge proceedings before the court of Magistrates if he had incriminating evidence against Schembri. Fenech is accused of involvement in the murder of Caruana Galizia. Fenech had claimed that Arnaud had a conflict of interest due to his relationship with Keith Schembri, the former Prime Minister’s chief of staff, and a former acquaintance of Fenech. (Maltatoday)
PBS silent despite Court ruling – PN
Opposition leader Bernard Grech slammed the national broadcaster’s inaction following the court ruling that found them guilty of partiality. Addressing a press briefing, Grech said that instead of serving the people and their interests, PBS was being used in the interests of Abela and his friends, and neglecting to tell people the truth. “Not only is the news not being disseminated, but it’s also ignoring and distorting everything that the opposition is saying,” Grech insisted. (The Malta Independent)
