1745- Afternoon update
Times of Malta says The parents of a young pharmacist, killed when hit by a fast-driven sports car along the Gżira seafront almost five years ago, were awarded €162,000 in damages in a civil action against the driver and his car insurance company.
MaltaToday says Colonel Clinton O’Neill has been appointed brigadier and commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, the National Security Ministry said on Tuesday.
Newsbook says he European Commission is yet to decide on Malta’s request to once more provide state aid to Air Malta in a bid to save the beleaguered national airline.
TVM says a 15-year-old boy who lives in Siggiewi was grievously injured after he was involved in an accident while riding his skateboard.
Updated 1230
US couple to sue Maltese government over abortion denial: A US couple who was denied a request to terminate a non-viable pregnancy while holidaying in Malta and had to be airlifted to Spain intends to sue the Maltese government for “the heartbreaking ordeal” it had to go through. “Once we’re home and have dealt with the wreckage, we will take any action available against Malta. This was… inhumane and we want to do what we can to prevent it ever happening again. We intend to sue,” Jay Weeldreyer, 45, told Times of Malta the day after his partner, Andrea Prudente, 38, was discharged from the Spanish hospital where the pregnancy was terminated.
Housing prices now double what they were in 2013: A house that would have sold for €100,000 in 2013 would now cost €200,000 on the local property market, according to a new property report by Dhalia Real Estate and Grant Thorton. The findings of the study were presented by economist Daniel Gravino, with new insights on the selling and rental house markets. According to the study, house prices in 2022 were double what they were in 2013, with fast growth recorded in the five years leading up to 2019. Higher rates of growth in the housing market were recorded between 2013 and 2018, although a marginal negative change was recorded in the second half of 2019 – a period marked by political turmoil and uncertainty in Malta.
Morning Briefing
Three man to stand trial after attack on man in Sliema
A man, who was hit from one of two suspected ‘hitmen’ allegedly commissioned by his former son-in-law, testified about the incident which has left him shocked and traumatised. Rosario Spiteri, also known as Louis, took the witness stand on Monday against Matthew Joseph Schembri, 37, and Albanian nationals Xhovano Ndoci, 23, and Agostin Marku, 23, who are facing charges over the June 16 assault. All three suspects were arraigned and remanded in custody after pleading not guilty. After hearing today’s witnesses, the court declared that there was sufficient prima facie evidence for the three accused to stand trial. (Times of Malta)
No woman should risk life because of abortion law, PL MP says
No Maltese woman should risk losing her life because of Malta’s restrictive abortion law, Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar said, adding women need to have peace of mind. With reference to the case of American woman Andrea Prudente who was denied an abortion by Maltese doctors despite having an unviable pregnancy, Cutajar added: “Andrea Prudente’s case was an eye-opener to those who believe that abortion is done capriciously… abortion is sometimes suggested by doctors for medical reasons like her case”. The PL MP was speaking during an adjournment speech in parliament on Monday.
18 Ministers found in breach of ethics
Outgoing Standards Commissioner George Hyzler found 18 ministers and junior ministers in breach of ethics after they spent a total of €16,700 in public funds on “partisan” adverts in a supplement published by Labour Party newspaper KullĦadd. In February, rule of law organisation Repubblika demanded the Standards Commissioner to probe publicly funded government adverts on the Labour Party media. (Newsbook)
