Latest update-1745
Times of Malta says that Yorgen Fenech’s lawyers are challenging the validity of statements he gave police investigators, claiming he was under the influence of cocaine at the time.
MaltaToday says that a court has been told how a man accused of a shooting in Iklin had admitted to the crime immediately and that the Police had also arrested the victim, whilst he was still in hospital, after receiving information that he had been trying to solicit money in exchange for changing his version of events in the investigation.
Newsbook says that the Planning authority approved the development of two towers, one of nine floors and the other of seven floors, on the site of the former trade fair grounds in Naxxar.
TVM says that the rent subsidy scheme for businesses has been extended
Updated 1338
Health Minister Chris Fearne announced that masks have once again to be worn again in the outdoors. “Mask-wearing and booster vaccines are effective to contain COVID-19,” he said, adding that the measure is applicable even when walking alone outdoors, in pubic spaces, workplaces and businesses. People will not need to wear a mask when sitting in a restaurant”, Fearne said.
Updated 1300 – Mid-Day Briefing
Tourism Authority planned hotel stay for staff over Christmas: The tourism authority planned to book rooms at the five-star Phoenicia Hotel just so that staff could be near a Christmas village, with taxpayers footing the bill. The Malta Tourism Authority’s events team had made arrangements to stay at the prestigious hotel for the two-week duration of the Christmas attraction, Fairyland, which the entity has organised outside City Gate, Valletta. It is understood that the MTA staff were told to change plans by the Tourism Ministry media questions about the matter earlier this week. In comments to The Times of Malta, Minister Clayton Bartolo said that he would not allow any squandering of funds and would not tolerate abuse, if any was found.
Court cancels Marsaskala waterpolo pitch permit following appeal: The court has decided to cancel the permit for a waterpolo pitch and restaurant in the heart of Marsaskala Bay following an appeal by residents and Moviment Graffitti. “The Court said the indicated zone is not for these types of developments and therefore revoked the permit,” Moviment Graffitti said this morning.
Covid-19 Update: A total of 81 new daily cases were reported today while 107 people recovered. 27 people are being treated in hospital, 4 of whom are in the ITU.
Morning Briefing
Caruana Galizia insists that EU-funded pipeline could benefit Yorgen Fenech
Matthew Caruana Galizia said in a press conference on Wednesday that the Electrogas consortium could still benefit from an EU-funded gas pipeline to Malta, regardless of whether the Maltese government would be liable or not to gas exit payouts to the company.
He insisted that Malta’s request for a €200 million Connecting Europe Facility grant for its gas pipeline to Sicily, should not be acceded to, because by the time the pipeline is laid out in 2028 it would still be Electrogas – the owner of the Delimara plant – that will be its sole owner and converting the gas into energy. “Part of the gas deal was for the Electrogas shareholders, including the person accused of masterminding my mother’s murder, to receive a huge payout once a gas pipeline is constructed,” Caruana Galizia said, referring to Yorgen Fenech, accused of masterminding the late journalist’s assassination. (Maltatoday)
PN will offer strong challenge – Grech
The PN will offer the government a “strong challenge” in the next general election, opposition leader Bernard Grech said during a fundraising marathon. There are challenges, but our intentions are good. Will give offer a strong challenge, if people want will choose us as a fitting alternative”, Grech said about the party’s election prospects.
Grech accused the Government of normalising corruption, insisting that “it is not true Maltese people agree with corruption, all they want is a level playing field”. The PN Leader also urged the government to extend the COVID-19 wage supplement to next March to support restaurants and hotels. (Times of Malta)
Covid-19 Update: 87 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Wednesday, while 61 recovered. The active case tally moves up to 1363, with 26 people in hospital, four of whom in ITU.
