Press Review • 21 February

The Times

Nation will pay hefty €35m for obesity health care

Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia said that if lifestyles do not begin to change soon, Malta's obesity problem will cost the country €35 million by the year 2020. If 4.3% of the obese population lost enough weight to be classified as overweight, the country stands to save €3 million a year in health care. 

In-Nazzjon

Prime Minister misses meeting to attend football match

The Prime Minister was missing from a meeting of the parliamentary select committee for privileges on Wednesday evening as he was in Italy watching a football match, reports In-Nazzjon. He was accompanied by Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Parliamentary Secretary Edward Zammit Lewis on his trip to Milan while the meeting devolved into a shouting match over procedure.

L-Orizzont

Under PN government, electricity thieves enjoyed an 8% discount

As the government and Opposition continue to disagree on the treatment of electricity thieves, L-Orizzont reports that documents in its possession show that under the previous government, those repaying Enemalta for stolen electricity were asked to pay only 92% of the total owed.

The Malta Independent

Franco Mercieca refuses to answer questions about career during news conference 

Questions about Franco Mercieca's career plans were met with a hostile reaction from the Parliamentary Secretary, The Independent reports. He neither confirmed nor denied reports on his future, stating that any questions unrelated to the National Dementia Strategy, which was being launched at the time, should be sent to his staff via email.