Govt announces 500k scheme to support printed newspapers / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 21 May 2022

Updated 1215

Govt announces 500k scheme to support printed newspapers
Printed newspapers will be benefiting from a €500,000 government to cushion the impact of a hike in printing and paper prices due to the war in Ukraine.
In a statement, the government said Maltese printed journalism had been “impacted by the current extraordinary circumstances, in addition to the major challenges already being experienced by this sector.” (Maltatoday)

Malta-based Libyan airline commences Malta-Libya flights
Despite Libyan airlines being barred from EU airspace, a new Malta-based Libyan airline, MedSky Airways, began operating chartered flights from Misrata to Malta earlier this month. After all direct flights to Libya were halted in the aftermath of the civil war in 2014, the airline controlled by Mohamed Taher Issa — a Libyan businessman and close associate of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh – is the first Libyan commercial airline to travel to Europe. (Newsbook)

Covid-19 Update
Health authorities identified 73 new cases of coronavirus in Malta overnight, while 167 persons recovered, lowering the active tally case to 1,920. Covid-19 has taken the life of another person, the 717th victim since the onset of the pandemic in Malta in March 2020.

Morning Briefing

Maltese Courts slowest in handling money-laundering cases

The European Commission found that Malta’s courts are still the slowest in Europe in closing money laundering cases, taking about three years. Data published by the EU Justice Scoreboard shows how Malta’s courts took almost 1,200 days to settle money laundering cases in 2019. When compared to the rest of Europe, the country’s rate was the slowest – with the nearest country, Slovenia, taking an average of 900 days to settle its cases.

Judge wants less powers for State Advocate

After expressing dismay at the Attorney General’s intransigent refusal to provide the Attorney General with vital material in a case involving alleged gang member Adrian Agius ‘tal-Maksar,’ a judge has voiced confidence that MPs will modify the law to curb in her powers. Mr Justice Francesco Depasquale was presiding over a human rights claim brought by Agius in response to the courts’ repeated denials of his bail requests.

Covid-19 Update: Health authorities reported 69 new coronavirus cases while 136 people recovered. Active cases have dropped to 2,015. The death toll remains at 716.