Court grants Caruana Galizia heirs request for Pilatus inquiry
A court has granted the request of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s heirs for a copy of Pilatus Bank inquiry to be presented as evidence in Joseph Muscat’s libel case against them. This document was the final piece of evidence needed by the assassinated journalist’s husband and sons to defend themselves against the defamation claims filed by the former Prime Minister. The claims arose from a 2017 story published by Caruana Galizia in her Running Commentary blog, where she alleged that the secret offshore company Egrant belonged to Muscat’s wife, Michelle. Muscat had responded to the story by requesting a magisterial inquiry to investigate the allegations, wich in turn concluded there was no documentation linking the Muscat family to the Panama company. (Times of Malta)
San Ġwann supermarket plans withdrawn
Plans for a massive supermarket project outside the development zone in San Ġwann have been withdrawn following a public outcry two days earlier. Objectors received an email from the Planning Authority on Monday stating, “Please be informed that the application has been withdrawn.” An application to build a 7,000-square-metre supermarket adjacent to a private secondary school had been filed. Prime Minister Robert Abela was among those who opposed the project, calling it a “non-starter” and noting that the town’s Labour-led council would object. The proposal involved building a two-storey supermarket with underground parking on a 7,000-square-metre site on Triq tal-Balal and Triq tal-Prepostu, in an area of San Ġwann known as Ta’ Ġnien Tut. (Maltatoday)
Turkish firm to develop wind turbines in Malta
Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that GIMAS, a Turkish company, will invest €7.5 million in a new plant in Malta to manufacture wind turbines. This will be the company’s first plant outside of Turkey, creating 44 full-time jobs within the first three years. The investment will cover an area of 10,000 square meters in the Ħal Far Industrial Estate and will include a training academy. Additionally, the company plans to increase its investment to €10 million after several years. (TVM)
