Updated 1745- Latest News update
Times of Malta says that The Vatican has informed the Maltese government and church authorities that Pope Francis plans to visit Malta on April 2 and 3, Times of Malta is informed.
MaltaToday says that Nationalist leader Bernard Grech says Prime Minister should exercise political maturity.
Newsbook says that the annual inflation rate in Malta in December 2021 stood at 2.6%, up from 0.2% a year earlier, data published by Eurostat shows.
TVM says that a 36-year-old woman of foreign nationality pleaded not guilty to charges of domestic violence against her husband after she reported he had raped her
Updated 1330 – Mid-Day Briefing
Business activity receded in December – CBM: Annual growth in business activity receded somewhat in December according to the Central Bank’s business conditions index. Nevertheless, this remained strong from a historical perspective as economic activity continued to recover from the low levels recorded in 2020. The bank noted that the European Commission’s confidence survey shows that sentiment eased in December compared with a month earlier but remained well above its year-ago level and only marginally below its long-term average. When compared with November, confidence fell in all sectors, with the exception of the retail sector.
Read more here.
Tuesday night expected to be coldest January night in three years: Tuesday night is expected to be the coldest January night in three years as temperatures are forecast to drop to a frosty 5°C from a maximum of 11°C, according to the Meteorological Office. “Usually, the maximum temperature at this time of the year is 15.6°C. This means that today is expected to be the coldest day of the year so far,” a Met Office spokesperson said. If the temperature drops to the forecast 5°C, it would be the lowest for the month as well as the lowest January temperature since 2019, when a minimum 3.7°C was recorded.
Covid-19 update: A total 323 new COVID-19 cases were registered on Tuesday, as another two men died while positive with the virus. The victims were aged 61 and 77. There were 542 recoveries.
Updated 1015: The migrants were rescued by the Italian Coast Guard. Seven persons were found dead.
Updated 0610 – 280 migrants in distress in Malta’s SAR
NGO Alarm Phone has raised the alert on around 280 migrants who are currently within Malta’s search-and-rescue area. The migrants were in touch with the organisation, but contact was lost due to strong winds in the area.
It said that the authorities have been informed, and appealed for the migrants to be assisted.
PN’s mega-governance bill makes it through first Parliament hurdle
The first reading of the bill submitted by the PN in connection with the recommendations of the public inquiry was approved in Parliament on Monday evening. Opposition Leader Bernard Grech presented a motion in the Parliament to pass this bill from the first reading and it will be discussed in a second reading stage on Thursday.
The so called ‘mega-bill’ would, if adopted, grant the president extra powers, set up a special inquiring magistrate to focus on corruption, detail rules for a caretaker government once an election is called and establish media freedom as the fourth pillar of democracy. While at first the Labour Party had refused to discuss the bill arguing that only sitting Ministers could present legislation with financial implications, the PN re-submitted the proposals after such monetary provisions were removed.
Morning Briefing
Grey-Listing: Govt submits report to FATF, no commitment on timelines
Government has submitted a report to FATF assessors in view of the country’s efforts to get off the institution’s enhanced monitoring procedure, known as grey-listing. Speaking to journalists, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana was non-committal on the timeframes involved to get off the list. “What I can say is that we have submitted the work that we have done since the announcement up until December or January to them,” Caruana said.
The Minister added that this work had been submitted in the form of a report as that the FATF’s assessors would come back with n opinion on the way forward in the coming days. “As a ministry we have submitted our report with our updated work,” he said, adding that the ball was in the international regulator’s court now. (The Malta Independent)
Health authorities defend shorter vaccine certificate expiration dates
Health authorities defended the imposition of shorter vaccine expiration dates, compared to those implemented by the European Commission, after complaints by the latter as well as by European airports. Malta’s rules stipulate that COVID-19 certificates expire a mere three months after the second dotes, with the EU executive allowing for nine months. European airports had asked Brussels to ac tagainst Malta for choosing to further restrict the validity of COVID certificates for travel. However, health authorities insisted this decision was within the responsibility of Member State. “The delegated act under the EU Digital Covid Certificate gives member states the discretion to decide on whether to ease restrictions on the basis of vaccination certificates,” a spokesperson for the Health Ministry said. (Times of Malta)
Financial crime police also raided Muscat’s offices – report
Police have searched former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s Sa Maison office as part of a corruption probe into the Vitals Global Healthcare hospitals deal, according to a report by Maltatoday. The portal said that the search was carried out last Wednesday, on the same day Muscat’s private residence was also raided by the police. Muscat’s Sa Maison office is government property which he has been using since his resignation as PM.
Financial crime investigators entered Muscat’s house at 7am and spent at least three hours on the property, seizing his mobile phone, along with those of his wife Michelle Muscat and their two daughters. (Maltatoday)
Covid-19 Update: 202 new cases were reported on Monday health authorities said, as 1253 recoveries continued to lower Malta’s active case tally, now at 4,708. 103 persons remain in hospital, six in ITU. The death tally climbed to 534 with two men passing away overnight, aged 55 and 90 respectively.
