Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/960495
MATTHEW VELLA THE developers of the 33-storey high-rise project Metropolis, in Gzi- ra, have said their project is stalled over the need to create more parking spaces around the tower's perimeter. Just days before the 2015 local elec- tions, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat officially laid the foundation stone for the high-rise – years after excavation had taken place – but since then the project has been dormant. But a representative of the Metropo- lis project, Aidan Barker, has denied that the company has not secured fi- nancing for the iconic skyscraper. "We are actually studying the pros- pect of excavating a further two sto- reys below sea level, which would incur quite a considerable cost, if we go ahead," Barker said, who explained that the company has been instructed to provide more parking spaces. The project, owned by Libyan en- trepreneur Jalal Husni Bey – part of the Libyan conglomerate HB Group – was expected to inject €120 million in the economy and to create 400 jobs by 2019 upon completion. But the company says it has been held up by a long legal tussle over how to best provide additional parking spaces. TIA RELJIC THE Maltese courts yesterday ordered the extradition of Alessi Diomiro, 33, to face charges related to organised crime. Diomiro was arrested against a Europe- an Arrest Warrant issued by the magis- trate of the Court of Palermo weeks after the arrest of betting boss Benedetto Bac- chi during an antimafia operation. The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) in December suspended the gaming li- cence of Phoenix International Ltd, fol- lowing raids as part of the Italian anti- mafia operation dubbed 'Game Over'. Diomiro voluntarily consented to the extradition, after the arrest of 30 people, including Bacchi – who reportedly con- trolled a network of 700 betting shops across Italy. Diomiro was charged with criminal association over the illegal col- lection of bets, of acting as a corporate representative in Malta of Bacchi, and of holding administra- tive positions in the Maltese companies... Newspaper post maltatoday today today SUNDAY • 1 APRIL 2018 • ISSUE 960 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY YOUR FIRST READ AND CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT PASSPORT CHARITY RUCKUS Is Malta's most prolific YouTuber missing out on over €600,000 in ad money? PAGE 11 €1.95 how to best provide PAGE 3 With your copy of MaltaToday YouTube gold holding administra- PAGE 4 Apr 2018 | Issue 100 www.vida.com.mt SPRING INTO STYLE HAIR TRENDS TO TRY NOW SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL TALENT CHATTING WITH MARCO PARASCANDALO DISCOVER SALONE DEL MOBILE 2018 MILAN WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL FREE MALTATODAY SURVEY The cost of outspokenness Who doesn't trust the Archbishop? The MaltaToday survey on trust on the religious denominations of the Maltese, trust in Church leaders, and the Catholic identity PAGES 12-15 Stalled Metropolis considering further excavation Betting Mafia associate extradited from Malta malta SUNDAY • SUNDAY • 1.95 The PM's live phone- in to a Puttinu Cares telethon to announce a €5 million donation raises the PN's hackles PAGE 2 FROM MALTA TO PUTTINU CARES