Updated 1300
Valletta residents unhappy with plans for new hotel
Valletta residents slam new plans for Evans Building: Valletta residents are upset over plans to convert the Evans Building into a tourist site, claiming it neglects community needs for commercial gain. The government intends to grant a 65-year concession to Valletta Luxury Project, offering €1.2 million yearly, the highest bid. Despite its tourism potential, the area is mainly residential, surrounded by social housing and a school. Social media reactions reflect residents’ discontent, with calls for protests against what they see as the capital’s mismanagement prioritising profit over community welfare.
MHRA President confident of agreement on skills card in March
The Government and MHRA are continuing discussions on the skills card scheme’s operational details over the next two weeks. MHRA President Tony Zahra expressed confidence in reaching an agreement before its launch in March. He outlined MHRA’s priorities, citing positive tourism indicators for January and the early months of the year. Effective next month, the skills card mandates language and hospitality training for third-country nationals in tourism. Zahra cautioned that those who don’t comply will face consequences. The foreign workforce in accommodation and food services tripled from 5,566 in 2016 to 15,200 by mid-2023, out of a total of 106,406 foreign workers. Zahra highlighted a gap in the local workforce to fill necessary positions, necessitating an influx of foreign labour.
Parliament debates new climate change legislation
MPs have initiated a discussion on a new legal framework featuring a Climate Action Authority and National Climate Action Council. Environment Minister Miriam Dalli stressed the urgency of addressing climate change and its impact on extreme weather. The proposed bill aims to establish government bodies to coordinate national strategies, engage stakeholders, and ensure public participation. The Climate Action Authority will lead climate policy, awareness efforts, and adaptation/mitigation measures, collaborating with government and private sectors. Dalli noted it would replace the Malta Resources Authority via an amendment to the Environment Protection Act. Nationalist MP Albert Buttigieg supported the idea but cautioned about enforcement challenges. The debate will continue today.
Morning Briefing
Facade of Gżira construnction site tumbles
On Tuesday afternoon, scaffolding and the facade of a construction site tumbled onto Triq Belvedere in Gżira, narrowly avoiding pedestrians by metres. The police verified that the collapse had been reported around 1.30 pm. Promptly, rescue workers were dispatched to the site to search for any potential injuries among pedestrians or workers. Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri shared on Facebook that initial reports indicated no injuries. The site, earmarked for development into a 116-room, nine-floor hotel, had received planning permission in 2021. (The Malta Independent)
Times of Malta website targeted in cyberattack
The Times of Malta website fell victim to cybercriminals who executed a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. This malicious activity involved inundating the website’s servers with millions of requests in a brief timeframe. The unprecedented attack, striking Malta’s largest website, commenced around 6 am and was successfully mitigated by approximately 9.30 am. At its zenith, the DDoS overwhelmed the Times of Malta servers, surpassing existing security measures and resulting in a 45-minute period of unavailability for most readers. The source of the attack remains unidentified. The media house insisted that this attack attack did not lead to any data breaches. (Times of Malta)
Police arrests Paceville workers without valid working permits
Law enforcement apprehended 10 individuals lacking valid working permits in different establishments throughout Paceville.
Police conducted inspections at 24 establishments, uncovering 10 foreign nationals without the required working permits. Among them, several were fulfilling roles as club bouncers. The arrests included five Serbian nationals, three Macedonians, one Bulgarian, and one Bangladeshi individual. (Maltatoday)
