Updated 1401 – Imported case not linked to re-opening of airport
Air Malta said in a statement that the person who tested positive in the past 24 hours was a passenger on a repatriation flight to Malta from Amsterdam. The airline said that it advised all passengers on repatriation flights to carry out a swab test on their return to Malta.
Updated 1240 – Covid-19 Update
There was one new case of coronavirus in Malta in the past 24 hours as well as one recovery. This means that active cases remained stable at 13. 981 persons were tested yesterday.
The Health Department said that this case was imported.
Updated 1111 – Daniel Micallef to contest Deputy Leadership post
Daniel Micallef, current President of the Labour Party, has announced his intention to contest for the post of Deputy Leader for Party Affairs. The post was vacated after former Deputy Leader Chris Cardona was forced to resign.
After a change in the Party’s statute, current MPs have been prohibited from contesting for the post.
On Facebook, Daniel Micallef said that he made this step “with humility, determination and love for the party I grew up and worked in”.
Updated 0840 – Newspaper Review
L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said he was confident that Malta will pass the Moneyval test. Addressing the PL General Conference, Abela said the government will be focused on this challenge.
The Independent quotes the president of the Employer’s Association Doris Sammut Bonnici who warned that grey-listing by Moneyval would be as economically crippling to Malta as the coronavirus pandemic.
The Times reports that the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life submitted the findings of an investigation into gifts from Yorgen Fenech to former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. A parliamentary committee will convene to discuss the conclusions.
In-Nazzjon reveals that Assistant Police Commissioner Ian Abdilla, who has been removed from the Economic Crimes Unit, has now been appointed director of the IT and Communications department.
L-Orizzont speaks to Dar tal-Providenza director Fr Martin Micallef after starting his treatment for cancer. He said that the Covid-19 crisis left an impact on the organisation’s finances and appealed for help.
The Times follows the compilation of evidence against the men accused of causing the death of Miriam Pace in a house collapse in March. The victim’s daughter revealed that Pace was seeing a psychologist to treat her anxiety over construction works next door.
The Independent asks Owen Bonnici whether he had any concerns over deals made by Konrad Mizzi while he was Justice Minister. The now Education Minister said he has faith in the judiciary.
In-Nazzjon says that a Gozo Channel trip left Malta on Monday carrying only a fuel bowser. The paper says this is a breach of policy because dangerous goods are delivered on Tuesday and Thursday, and certainly not on public holidays.
Malta’s Moneyval test remained high on the agenda yesterday, with Prime Minister Robert Abela expressing conviction that Malta would be passing this important hurdle with excellence Addressing an extraordinary general conference by the Labour Party, Abela said he would not be satisfied if Malta merely scraped through the test.
The conference saw Labour delegates unanimously approval a change in the party’s statute regarding the post of Deputy Leader for Party Affairs, where it was decided that persons contesting must not be Members of Parliament, and those holding the position will not be allowed to contest a general election for two years after leaving the post.
A parliamentary committee has been called to consider the findings of an investigation into the expensive gifts that entrepreneur and alleged murder mastermind Yorgen Fenech had given to Joseph Muscat as prime minister. The conclusions of the investigation, concluded earlier this week by Standards Commissioner George Hyzler, have not been made public. The Times of Malta reports that “the urgency of the move suggests there could be prima facie evidence of an ethics breach by Muscat, as by law in such cases, the committee must be summoned.”
It was former AD chairperson, now independent candidate, Arnold Cassola, who asked for an investigation, after reports that Muscat had accepted three bottles of Pétrus – a Bordeaux red wine – costing about €5,800 in all.
Covid-news
Malta registered an important step Covid-free status, with three persons recovering during the past 24 hours. As there were no new cases during the same time frame, the number of active cases has now gone down to 13.
CDE News
