Updated 1300
Inflation drops to below EU average: In August, Malta’s annual inflation rate dropped to 5.0%, down from the previous month’s 5.6%, resulting in a decrease that once again placed the country’s inflation rate below the euro area average. Similarly, Eurostat data published on Tuesday revealed a marginal decrease of 0.1 percentage points in the inflation rate for the euro area, bringing it to 5.2%. Meanwhile, the European Union’s annual inflation rate is higher, standing at 5.9%, with the highest inflation rates in the EU generally recorded outside of the euro area. Hungary reported the EU’s highest inflation rate at 14.2%, although this was still notably lower than the previous month’s rate of 17.5%.
Country needs to rediscover its values – Grech: The country needs to rediscover its values as a means to achieve a better quality of life for its people, PN leader Bernard Grech said. He was speaking at the Tritons Fountain in Valletta as the PN kicked off its Independence celebration. Such values, he said, included rewarding hard work not rewarding people with a salary of over €70,000 solely thanks to political connections or because the prime minister needed to keep somebody quiet. Grech did not go into specifics, but his comment came hours after it was revealed that former TVM head of news Norma Saliba has been awarded a €72,000 contract as executive director of the new Centre for the Maltese Language, whose setting up is being challenged by various language organisations. Giving high salaries to people who did not deserve them undermined other people’s willingness to work hard to achieve more, Grech said.
Rider dies after bike incident
A 73-year-old resident of Imqabba who was engaged in a collision on Sunday morning has passed away in the hospital, as confirmed by the police on Monday. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Sunday on Mdina Road, specifically on the road heading towards Ħaż-Żebbuġ. The elderly man was operating his motorcycle when it collided with a car being driven by a 41-year-old woman from Mellieħa.
Morning Briefing
Private sector should drive economic change – Finance Minister
Finance Minister Clyde Caruana urged the private sector to take a more active role in charting a new economic course for Malta. Speaking during a Central Bank Seminar, Caruana said that goernment will lend its support as the private sector assumes the role of driving change. Caruana stressed the need for business leaders and entrepreneurs to lead the way in reshaping Malta’s economy. Simultaneously, the government should facilitate this transformation by addressing inefficiencies and issues that have characterised Malta’s economic model in recent years. He underscored that change should not primarily rely on the government but should instead be led by the private sector. (Times of Malta)
Man charged on filming, disseminating footage of sexual acts at Boċċi club
A 35-year-old man has been released on bail following accusations of recording and distributing explicit content without the consent of the individuals involved in a video that recently gained widespread attention. The Court heard that Mark Cachia Zammit recorded and shared sexually explicit videos without the participants’ consent during an evening at a Luqa Boċċi Club. The defence, based on legal grounds, submitted a not guilty plea, arguing that the individuals engaged in sexual activity were aware of being recorded and appeared to derive pleasure from the attention, thereby arguing that there was no intention to cause any harm. (Maltatoday)
Maltese language associations refuse to recognise Centre for the Maltese Language
Seven associations and academic institutions have declared the establishment of the Centre for the Maltese Language as “null and void” and have asserted their non-recognition of it. This declaration follows the National Council for the Maltese Language’s submission of a judicial protest against the Minister of Arts and Culture due to the lack of transparency surrounding the formation of a new entity led by Norma Saliba. Saliba, who previously served as the head of news at the public broadcaster, was appointed as the CEO of the newly established centre shortly after leaving her position at the public broadcaster. It was revealed that Saliba would receive an annual financial package exceeding €73,000 in her new role. (Newsbook)
