FATF delegation in Malta to decide on grey-listing / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 6 April 2022

Updated 1235 – Mid-Day Briefing

FATF delegation in Malta to decide on grey-listing: Crucial days ahead for Malta with Financial Action Task Force assessors back on the island to meet with government officials before deciding whether to take the island off its so-called grey list. The Times of Malta reports that according to government sources, a panel of experts from the FATF arrived in Malta to carry out an onsite assessment of the country this week, sources within government said. The FATF team will be meeting with a specially set up team of Maltese officials to decide whether enough has been done to merit the island being taken off the organisation’s grey list.Malta has been on this list reserved for jurisdictions under increased monitoring, since June 2021.

Social spending reaches €1.11bn in 2021: By the end of 2021, spending on Social Security Benefits totalled €1.11 billion, 3.6% than the previous year. A €35.9 million rise in contributory expenditure was the primary reason behind the increase in spending, while non-contributory outlay increased by €2.4 million.

Debattista re-appointed PL CEO: Randolph Debattista will go back to occupy the role of CEO at the Labour Party, a position he held for three years until 2020. Debattista, who will also be co-opted to Parliament when it is convened, will replace George Azzopardi who will move to the private sector.

Covid-19 Update: 822 new cases of Covid-19 were reported on Wednesday, while 365 recovered, pushing the active case tally above 8,000. In the last 24 hours, one person died while positive for Covid-19. As a result, the death toll rose to 650.

Morning Briefing

Police launch investigation on Farrugia murder

The Police have launched a murder investigation after a dead body was found in Qormi in the boot of a car belonging to a missing man. Mario Farrugia, 62, was found in a car booth in Qormi Valley. The man as was last seen at his home in Pembroke more than a week ago, on March 28.

Arrigo not to re-context PN deputy-leadership post
PN deputy leader for party affairs Robert Arrigo has said he will not contest any roles within the party in the upcoming general council. The Sliema MP said he will step down as deputy leader once his term ends. “I hope the party understands what is going on, and how we can move forward,” he explained. He has been Deputy leader since November 2017. Robert Arrigo said on NET Live he will continue working for Malta and the Nationalist Party, while thanking the electorate and the general public for “their constant support”.

Covid-19 Update: Malta has reported 719 new cases of Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, a spike deemed reflective of activities just before and after the general election. This has taken the active case tally to 7,537. Five persons passed away during the same timeframe.