Updated 1530
The Times of Malta reports that hitman Vince Muscat has told a court that he drove George Degiorgio to Portomaso to meet with Chris Cardona and discuss a €150,000 hit on Daphne Caruana Galizia, three years before her eventual murder.
Maltatoday follows the court case against Abner Aquilina, the man accused of murdering a young Polish student on New Year’s Day, 2022. Aquilina had insisted with medical staff who examined him that he was in perfect health, the court heard on Wednesday.
The Malta Independent reports that The Malta Developers Association said that the 1,247 promises of sales (konvenji) of property in Malta and Gozo were registered during January 2023, which is the second highest in number for January in the last seven years.
Newsbook reveals that The Malta Film Commission spent €66,756 on three dinosaur statues to promote the Jurassic World.
Updated 1200
Teacher assaulted by student in Gozo
A teacher suffered a broken arm when after being assaulted by a student in a school in Gozo on Tuesday, the Malta Union of Teachers said. The injury may lead to a permanent disability. Condemning the incident, the Union said that it said it had requested an urgent meeting with the Education Minister to discuss the situation and is calling for support structures in all schools. (Times of Malta)
Employees report increased technology dependency
A Misco study has determined that employees are struggling with the increased role of technology, with more than two-thirds saying that their dependency on technology increased during and following the pandemic particularly for those in a managerial role. This had an impact of stress levels, with 42% of employees saying that tech intrusion has increased their stress and burnout levels while another 41% believe it makes it harder to achieve a work-life balance. The survey in fact found that 88% of respondents have access to different work-related tasks, including emails and calendar, from their phone and that of these, 55% find that having such access makes them continuously alert to what goes on at work. Moreover, 48% check their phone for work-related tasks multiple times a day outside their working hours. Males (55%) seem more likely than females (39%) to check their phones for work several times a day.
PN demands PM apology on Magistrate comments
The Nationalist Party on Wednesday called on the Prime Minister to withdraw the comments he made about the judiciary last Sunday, and apologise publicly for the “irresponsible and dangerous” declarations that he made. It is not acceptable in a democratic society that the PM boasts of having had a communication with a member of the judiciary, when he knows that they have the duty not to be in such communication, the PN said. (The Malta Independent)
Morning Briefing
Nexia partner refuses to answer to PAC
Nexia BT partner Karl Cini chose not to reply to any of the questions he was asked during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on Tuesday afternoon. The PAC is examining the Auditor General’s report on contracts awarded to Electrogas Ltd by Enemalta. The company had won the tender to build and operate a gas power station and LNG terminal. Cini was asked to testify as Nexia BT was on the financial committee that had evaluated proposals submitted for the project. (The Malta Independent)
MFA rejects Portelli player registration
The Malta Football Association’s executive board has refused the request made by Ħamrun Spartans to have their president Joseph Portelli registered as a player. Last week, the construction entrepreneur had stepped down from his role at the club to be able to register himself as a player before the transfer window ended. In a statement, the MFA said it had refused the request on the recommendation of its ethics committee, which convened to analyse the unusual request. The decision can be appealed yet but the Club has not indicated whether it will be doing so or not. (Times of Malta)
SSC contributions by foreigners top 200million euro
Social security contributions by foreign nationals totalled more than €200 million in 2021, a six-fold increase over 2012, information tabled in parliament shows. The increase corresponds with the exponential growth of foreign workers since 2014, which formed the basis of government’s economic growth strategy. The numbers tabled by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana in reply to a question by Nationalist MP Ryan Callus, show that the first significant year-on-year increase happened between 2014 and 2015. (Maltatoday)
