Updated 1300
Suspected teen bomber files insanity plea
David Brincat, 18, from Santa Venera, pleaded insanity in court after being found with a garage full of explosive materials and plans to bomb key areas, including parliament. Arrested after a garbage bin explosion outside Labour HQ, Brincat’s mental state will be assessed by three psychiatrists. He has been charged with serious crimes, including terrorism. Prosecutors revealed his planning began in May 2023. The court, led by Magistrate Kevan Azzopardi, deferred the case pending the psychiatrists’ report. Brincat was remanded to the forensic unit at Mount Carmel Hospital. (Times of Malta)
Gozo Business Sentiment survey indicates employee shortage as main concern
The Gozo Business Chamber (GBC) and Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA) conducted the Gozo Business Sentiment (GBS) survey in September 2023 and March 2024 among 80 businesses each time. Results indicate stable conditions, with 60% reporting no change in business over six months. Key concerns include labor shortages and rising costs, though 60% do not plan immediate price hikes. Positive trends include employment growth (40% increased staff last year), with over half planning further hires, notably in tourism and manufacturing. About 60% recently invested, with ongoing investment plans, but only 45% acknowledge climate change impacts amid budget changes like minimum wage increases and tax adjustments.
151 people no longer receive severe disability benefits
This year, 151 individuals will lose severe disability benefits, as disclosed in parliament. In 2023, 3,712 people were receiving this allowance, amidst revelations of a fraud scheme involving former Labour MP Silvio Grixti. The scheme enabled fraudulent claims, with potential pardons for offenders reported in April. Family Minister Michael Falzon reported 3,621 current beneficiaries, with 53 new approvals and 43 rejections this year, following a parliamentary query by Nationalist MP Graziella Attard Previ.
Morning Briefing
Millions went to firm which allegedly paid bribes to Joseph Muscat – report
According to leaked emails, senior executives at Steward Health Care personally approved payments totaling millions of euros to a Swiss business that was allegedly paying bribes to the former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The emails were leaked by OCCRP, an international organisation, and published by The Times of Malta. Steward said that the payments to the Swiss payroll company Accutor were for “political consultants,” “jet expenses,” “lobbying,” and “payroll services” in internal invoices and emails. The leaked Steward emails show that the same month Muscat’s payments were “blocked”, Steward sent Accutor €400,000 from its Bank of America account, which was described in an email chain as an “Ali wire” to cover five months of consultancy payments. Muscat has denied these allegations. (Times of Malta)
Heatwave expected by end of week – MET Office
With temperatures expected to reach 35°C by the end of the week, it appears like the islands are in for a heatwave at the start of summer.
The MET Office predicts that between today and Sunday, temperatures will range from 22°C to 35°C, with Friday feeling particularly warm. The MET Office predicts that a heatwave may occur between June 20 and June 22. “Over the next days, a high pressure area will continue to linger over the Maltese Islands. As a result, air coming down from the higher atmosphere will get warmer as it descends”, the MET Office said. (Maltatoday)
600,000 visits to cinema in 2023
During the past year, Malta and Gozo’s cinemas had 594,087 admissions, with the gross box office receipts amounting to €4.4 million. According to NSO data, Malta currently has 23 cinema screens, in six cinema establishments, with a capacity of 3,881 seats. Last year a total of 385 film titles were shown over 30,742 screenings, an average of 80 screenings per film. For the screening of these films. (TVM)
