Tunisia’s Ministry of Agriculture says it must reluctantly continue with extreme restrictions on water use in the face of a continuing, five-year drought.
This means that a quota system for the supply of drinking water, initially introduced from March to the end of September, will now continue indefinitely.
Under the measures, tap water for residents is cut off between 9pm and 3am each night. The use of tap water to wash cars, water green areas and clean streets and public places has also been banned.
Anyone who breaks the rules faces a fine and imprisonment for up to six months.
Tunis, 20 October 2023
Maltese Public Service rocked by scandals
The Chief Executive of the Malta Chamber of Commerce has called for an independent audit of all job roles and responsibilities within Government Departments, Entities, and Authorities.
Marthese Portelli said over past weeks Malta had been hit by two major scandals which had rocked the people’s trust in services provided by the Government.
“Hundreds of people have received disability benefits they were not entitled to, while a racket to help driving test applicants obtain their licences was also exposed,” Ms Portelli said.
“We want a functioning Public Service; we want functioning Government Authorities and Agencies, free from undue political and partisan interference. If the Public Service functions properly and efficiently, there will not be the need for any Ministerial intervention.”
Valetta, 21 October 2023
Georgia President faces impeachment
Georgia's Constitutional Court has ruled that President Salomé Zourabichvili can be impeached for leaving the country to hold meetings in the European Union without Government approval.
This follows a request to the Court for a ruling from the governing Georgian Dream Party after it learned that Ms Zourabichvili had held unauthorised meetings in Berlin and Brussels.
Chair of the Dream Party, Irakli Kobakhidze said Ms Zourabichvili had held these meetings after the Government had sent her a letter specifically denying permission for the visits.
Ms Zourabichvili, a staunch campaigner for EU membership, was elected as a member of the Dream Party but has since left the group, accusing it of being pro-Russian and saying it is not committed enough to the cause of joining the EU.
Tbilisi,
20 October 2023
Andorra sanctions wealthy foreigners
Andorra’s Ministry of Finance has announced a temporary ban on foreigners buying property in the tiny Principality, sandwiched France and Spain.
Known for its ski resorts, mild summer temperatures, and generous tax breaks, Andorra is a popular destination for affluent expats, but their influx has caused a crisis as locals struggle with rising housing costs.
The three-month ban aims to tackle the housing crisis by barring non-residents from investing in real estate, a move that will later be replaced by a tax on all foreign property purchases. The revenue raised will then be used to build more affordable rental housing.
However, critics say that as the restrictions apply only to non-residents, there may simply be an increase in wealthy foreigners applying for residency permits.
Andorra la Vella, 20 October 2023
Double-dipping prison officers caught out
A Greek court has jailed two prison officers for first selling cell-phones to inmates, then charging them extra to keep them.
The court in Thessaloniki jailed a 60-year-old warden for nine years and two months, while his accomplice, aged 38, received an eight year and eight months term. It did not recognise any mitigating circumstances.
The judges unanimously found the pair guilty of importing and disposing of mobile phones in a jail as well as dereliction of duty.
Police were alerted after inmates complained they had been sold the phones for €1,000 ($A1,660) and then charged €250 ($A415) a month to keep the devices.
Athens,
20 October 2023
Major shake-up rocks bureaucracy
The Chief Secretary of Gibraltar has announced a “significant” restructure of the British Overseas Territory’s Public Service, with more than 120 officers, including several senior ones, transferred to new roles.
Darren Grech said the changes had been approved by the Governor, Sir David Steel, “in order to deliver the best service possible”.
No detailed reasons were given for the transfers, although wide-ranging reforms of the Public Service had long been predicted in leaks to the media.
Mr Grech said it was the policy of the Government to never comment on individual Public Servants “their performance or their positions within the Service”.
Gibraltar, 25
October 2023
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