Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1450614
PAGE 10 TRUTH IS OF NO COLOUR WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT/COVID19 SUNDAY • 30 JANUARY 2022 • ISSUE 1161 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY maltatoday JAMES DEBONO THE government has identi- fied a 900sq.km zone of shal- low waters around Hurd's Bank, and a 6,500sq.km belt around the island as two areas where it intends issuing con- cessions to private companies for the production of renew- able energy, the production and storage of hydrogen, fish farms and the establishment of "artificial islands". government is al- fast-track planning permits for such projects to a maximum du- ration of three months from the submission of all required documents. Apart from Hurd's Bank, which is designated as Area 1 of Malta's Exclusive Econom- ic Zone, the entire offshore belt extending between 12 nautical miles to 25 nauti- cal miles, which spans over 6,500sq.km, is designated as Area 2. Up for grabs: Malta seabed identified for concessions Comeback tour starts with Facebook livestream PAGE 2 KIDS' SELF-DEFENCE Concessions to be awarded to private companies in tendering procedure with planning and environmental permits awarded within three months after submission of all documentation ELECTION RUMOURS Get up to speed with our political math PAGES 4-5 Young victims of violence are being thought the art of fighting back PAGES 14-15 Govt's 2019 deal considered sale of Gozo campus to separate company STEWARD M.O.U. "We are nature; be in MT2 MATTHEW VELLA THE Muscat administration considered allowing Steward, the private hospitals concessionaire, to sell off the Barts medical and nursing school in Gozo to a property investment company and lease it back. A key demand by Steward, the 2019 memorandum of understanding was nev- er signed given the December political crisis that foreshadowed the departures of Joseph Muscat and Konrad Mizzi PAGE 12 The finance ministry presented industry stakeholders with its plans to commercialise Hurd's Bank into an economic zone for energy projects and for the aquaculture industry MUSCAT DOES MEDIA COVID & DRUGS COVID lockdown closed off drug routes to OCGs PAGE 6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 FEBRUARY 2022 COMMENT What are we skinning? The possibilities and pitfalls of having 17K a month to spend. Why are we skinning it? Just go with it. Okay, how do you wanna play this? Oh, you can start. What would you do if you had €17,000 a month to your name? Well, first of all I'd have to process the complex feelings that some with that sudden injection of privilege, given how the minimum wage is what it is and inflation for basic items is actually a news headline again. Thank you for informing me that you do in fact have a conscience and at least a smidgeon of self-awareness. So the first chunk of that money will be going to therapy, I presume? Yes, that would help 'flatten' my feelings of guilt so that I could then continue spending without fear or favour. Good. I mean, whoever said that money can't buy peace of mind? But what if these feelings crop up again? You can always take on a job – literally anything within your professional comfort zone – that will require you to work weekends on occasion. Then you can claim, without even batting a well-manicured eyelash, that real sacrifices have been made. then what? Now's the fun you spend it on? So that would be the logical option, then? Yes, but it'll remain an option for a long while yet. Those boring sit-down sessions with your accountants, lawyers and real-estate agents can wait. What would you like to SPLURGE on first?! Come to think of it, I really need a new pair of noise-canceling headphones. My neighbour has decided to extend their property by two floors and it's driving me nuts. Don't worry, you'll be able to take your revenge on them by building THREE floors of your own, if you wish. What's next? I'd like to be in nature when I build my own property. Would it be possible to block off a rare, scenically beautiful piece of land for my own? Oh yes, that 17K/ month package will slot you firmly within the circle of people who can dictate that kind of thing. You will even be able to block off the foreshore for ramblers, by simply scrawling mis-spelt 'PRIVATE – NO ENTRY' graffiti by whatever makeshift gate you choose to put up. Does it have to be mis-spelt? Yeah, you need to project 'illiterate ogre' vibes to scare off passerby. It's gonna be lonely at the top. True. But it'll be worth it. Do say: "Just because economic inequality is a fact of life the world over does not mean we cannot question it when it shows up so explicitly at our We're no Hollywood of the Med CHARLIE CAUCHI PAGES 8-9 The Skinny Malta, shrunk down JOSANNE CASSAR Feeling down and out? Here's a cheque for you PAGE 6 MICHAEL FALZON The end of femicide? PAGE 7 No 125 – Mo Money Mo Problems EMMA PORTELLI BONNICI 'Tal-pizelli jew tal-irkotta'? PAGE 13 EDITORIAL 70 million reasons to spend tax cash PAGE 2 "There shouldn't only be one Luzzu. That sort of output should be a constant... But how turn this into a maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 FEBRUARY 2022 Ray Calleja CLASSIFIEDS & COMMERCIALS ARTS • TV • WHAT'S ON "If you could travel in time, where would you go? Ancient Eg ypt. Ideally when things were calm. 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