Migration
Rescue NGO Alarm Phone have alleged that some 60 asylum seekers on a deflating rubber boat have been pushed back from Malta’s search and rescue zone (SAR). In a tweet on Sunday afternoon, Alarm Phone said it lost contact with the people on the deflating boat, adding that “the merchant vessel Hafnia Malacca who approached the boat to assist them report a possible push back from Malta SAR. Stop these crimes at sea! No illegal returns to Libya!” Newsbook.com.mt
Montenegro Wind Energy Farm
The vice-president of Montenegro’s parliament will be demanding an investigation into Enemalta’s wind farm deal mired in corruption. According to the news portal MINA, Montenegro’s parliament’s vice-president Branka Bošnjak said she will officially request a parliamentary investigation following a meeting with Matthew Caruana Galizia, son of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. During the meeting, Bošnjak said that resolving the scandal was one of the electoral promises of the ruling parties as she pledged to bring whoever is involved in the scandal to justice. On his part, Caruana Galizia said that he was ready to make all his knowledge available to the inquiry committee and help shed light on the case. Newsbook.com.mt
Political Activities
The prime minister should “stop mocking people” and say when a general election will be called, because the uncertainty is causing business owners great distress, PN leader Bernard Grech said on Sunday. In an impassioned speech during a Nationalist Party event in Naxxar on Sunday, the Opposition leader called on prime minister Robert Abela to not “make fun of people” when he is asked about the impending election. – Times of Malta With rumours spreading of a November vote, Grech warned that businesses need to plan, order stock, and prepare for the Christmas period, not worry about an election. “Businesses have suffered enough, don’t increase their suffering with your cheek,” he continued. Despite the rumour mill going into overdrive, Prime Minister Robert Abela has so far failed to set a general election date, but has consistently refused to confirm whether the election will happen this November. – MaltaToday
Yorgen Fenech vs Melvyn Theuma
The lawyers of Yorgen Fenech are requesting that the police investigate the testimony Melvin Theuma has given in court against the man accused of masterminding the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fenech’s lawyers say Theuma, the middleman in the assassination, has lied about the role of Joseph Muscat’s former right-hand man, Keith Schembri, in the murder. “Theuma has given false testimony by repeatedly confirming untruths… everything he has declared about Yorgen Fenech of his involvement in the Caruana Galizia homicide is a lie from beginning to end,” the lawyers said. – MaltaToday
Gozo Ferry Support
The Association for Gozitan employees working in Malta (AGEM) has welcomed government announcements regarding the fast ferry. It praised Education Minister Justyne Caruana for the introduction of the EDU Fast Ferry Card which allows Gozitan educators and students “to use the fast ferry free of charge.” Minister Caruana had announced a monetary incentive targeting those Gozitan educators and students who, on a daily basis, have to commute back and forth between Gozo and Malta. – Malta Independent
Coronavirus Update
Twelve new Covid-19 cases have been reported by the health authorities in Malta. The number of active cases to 227. There are 12 undergoing care at hospital, 4 of which in Intensive Care.
Morning Briefing
Malta extends travel ban for unvaccinated persons
Malta has extended its travel ban that is currently applied against unvaccinated travellers from all the European Union and 67 third countries worldwide.
Persons who do not hold a valid vaccination certificate or another equivalent document are not allowed to enter Malta’s territory. The travel ban will continue to apply to all European Union and Schengen Area countries as well as other countries such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, among others. Persons who cannot get the vaccine due to medical reasons are allowed to enter the country as long as they present a negative COVID-19 test result carried out within 72 hours before arrival.
ADPD says big parties have no plans to better quality of life
ADPD the Green Party accused the two main political parties of failing to come up with measures that better quality of life, and instead only ask low-wage earners to work longer hours to make a decent living. Mina Tolu, ADPD International Secretary and candidate, said in a press conference that the Budget had failed to address the minimum wage, which according to her fails to ensure a decent living. Carmel Cacopardo, the Party’s Chairman, argued that the Budget had been based on assumptions of economic growth, despite what he called uncertainty over the recovery from the pandemic. Cacopardo stressed that projects like the proposed metro, that would have a massive impact on the country’s finances, were not mentioned in the Budget speech. (Maltatoday)
Recovery plan to focus on health and environment
Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi revealed that financial support for the purchase of electric-powered vehicles, the installation of charging pillars throughout the country, the building of a new mooring wharf at St Paul’s Bay, the building of a new and sustainable school that will be free of carbon emissions and the Shore-to-Ship Project so that vessels entering the Freeport are some of the projects in the pipeline expected to be financed by the Malta Plan for Recovery and Resilience. In all, 17 projects and 30 reforms at a cost of €345 million are being considered, with the EU committed to finance about 92% of the expenses. The RRF aims to fuel the EU’s recovery from the COVID-19 fallout and to support the energy and ecological transition of the European economy. (TVM)
Covid-19 Update
Active cases dropped further on Saturday with just new six cases and 21 persons recovering overnight. Of 236 current cases, 13 are in hospital, three in Mater Dei’s ITU.
