Former Minister George Vella will be nominated President of Malta, announced the government. One News says that the nomination was unanimously backed by the cabinet and government-side parliamentary group. His term will officially start on April 4.
In reaction, the Nationalist Party said that in nominating a former Labour MP, the government has missed an opportunity to restore credibility to the country’s institutions. Net News reports that the party had proposed an appointment by two-thirds parliamentary majority.
Maltese SMEs are not taking enough advantage of a specially-designed EU loan scheme, said EU Commission vice-president Jyrki Katainen. MaltaToday quotes Katainen who said that European Fund for Strategic Investment supports investment when businesses are unable to secure financing from banks.
Speaking at the event, PN MEP Roberta Metsola said that a ‘one-size-fits-all approach’ to funding and taxation does not work for Malta. The Times quotes the MEP who expressed concerns about tax harmonisation policies within the EU.
The chairperson of the Gozo-Malta Tunnel steering committee, Franco Mercieca, suggested a car deck to be installed in the MV Gaudos to carry more passengers. Newsbook picked up a Facebook post by Mercieca in which he proposed a way to overcome logistical problems to introducing a fourth ferry.
The Malta Independent reports that thousands of dead fish have been found in St Paul’s Bay, more than a week after a severe storm hit the islands. A video uploaded by Raniero Borg warned that the situation could pose health and environmental risks.
Three Maltese artists won their respective categories in an international performing arts competition. LovinMaltasays that John Cutajar, Shazney Mangion, and Isaac Tom won the honours at ‘The Stars of Albion’ festival in London, while three other young artists from Malta made it to the top three in other categories.
Another gas cylinder explosion was reported in Qawra this morning in a Pastizzeria, says TVM. The Civil Protection Department was on site to put out the fires and cool down other cylinders. No one was injured in the incident.
The Shift News quotes the son of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Matthew, said that her family was never prouder of the journalist that the day she was killed. Addressing a conference by the University of Aberdeen, Caruana Galizia said that if his mother gave in, she would still be alive.
