Update 1800 h News Headline Review = Perjury charges have been filed against former FIAU manager Jonathan Ferris over claims he made during the Egrant inquiry. Ferris, who is also a former police inspector, had claimed during his inquiry testimony that he identified a $600,000 transaction from an Azeri politically exposed person to Buttardi, a company owned by a close friend of Michelle Muscat. – Times of Malta
Archbishop Charles J Scicluna said that Christ’s face is today covered with a mask, a mask which symbolizes love and care not betrayal. Duing his homily on Sunday the Archbishop continued to explain how each and every one of us is obliged to wear a mask to protect ourselves but it is also an act of love towards others. On Sunday, the Archbishop was celebrating the mass for all Saints Day at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. During mass he also welcomed three candidates for the Ordination to the Diaconate and the Priesthood. Newsbook.com.mt
Newly co-opted MP Miriam Dalli insists there were no conditions attached to her decision to quit her European Parliament seat to join the Maltese Parliament. In an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, Dalli said that, while this was not an easy decision, she accepted Prime Minister Robert Abela’s request because she believes she can contribute to local politics.
During October various sections of the Police Corps were committed to maintaining safety on various roads around Malta and Gozo. Traffic controls were coordinated by District Police, in some cases assisted by officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit (RIU), the Anti-Drug Squad, the Canine Section, the Police Garage and members of the Armed Forces. TVM
The Nationalist Party has dissociated itself from 13th district general election candidate Ryan Mercieca. In a statement, the party said that following consultations with leader Bernard Grech, secretary general Francis Zammit Dimech called on the PN’s ethics committee to investigate what was reported on Mercieca. The investigation comes following a casual election on the district in light of MP Fredrick Azzopardi’s death earlier in October. MaltaToday
Update 1230 h– Covid19 Health Update – 140 new COVID-19 cases were detected between Saturday and Sunday, health authorities said. 131 patients recovered leaving 1,832 active patients. The new cases were identified following 3,414 swab tests. Of the 6,182 COVID-19 cases reported since March, 4,286 have recovered while 64 patients have died.
Update 1200h – Political leaders interviews – Government authority heads should not have private practice when occupying a role with the state, Prime Minister Robert Abela said. The PM was speaking at a Labour Party event held in St George’s Square, Valletta. MaltaToday. The PM added that the budget for next year did not only target the current coronavirus situation but it was a visionary budget for the next ten years. Newsbook.com.mt
Opposition leader Bernard Grech has slammed the government’s indifferent approach by attributing COVID deaths to underlying conditions suffered by patients “These are people with families who were still living their lives. We cannot assume that they had reached the end of their lives, and even if this was the case, they still deserve to be cared for”, Grech said during an interview on NET TV. Times of Malta
Update 1000h Covid19 claims two more lives
An elderly man and women passed away overnight while positive for Covid-19, the Health Ministry said in a statement on Sunday morning. The woman was 91-years-old and passed away late last night at Mater Dei Hospital. The man meanwhile was 80-years-old. He too passed away overnight at Mater Dei.
A 16-year-old is in a critical condition after he was injured at a construction site on Saturday. The police said the accident happened in Triq il-Qratas, Swieqi at 11.35am.
Morning Briefing
Labour politician linked to 2010 HSBC Bank robbery
The Times of Malta this morning leads with a claim by Vincent Muscat, who stands accused of being one of the assassins of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, that a Labour politician was involved in the planning of the 2010 HSBC bank robbery.
Vincent Muscat, known as il-Koħħu, is seeking clemency by speaking out not only on the Caruana Galizia murder but also on other crimes.
The crime is yet unsolved, with investigators believing it was an inside job, given the knowledge of internal security details that the persons carrying out the heist seemingly had.
The Times says it believes that the politician implicated by Muscat is different than the one brought up to yesterday by Nationalist MP and lawyer of the Caruana Galizia family Jason Azzopardi yesterday, who alleged that a Cabinet minister is implicated in a serious crime by Vincent Muscat.
Azzopardi did not mention the Minister by name but said that the person involved “was not a lawyer”.
Muscat’s lawyer, Marc Sant, has accused the prosecution of playing for time in the interests of “prominent third parties”, in delaying a decision over Muscat’s request for a presidential pardon.
PN says public sector employees should be urged to work from home
Employees within the public sector should be urged to work from home as part of efforts to slow down the spread of COVID-19, the Nationalist Party said.
Addressing a virtual press conference, PN MPs Clyde Puli and Claudette Buttigieg said the government should immediately ensure its employees are encouraged to work from home. This, Puli said, would help avoid having the country go into full lockdown as seen in other countries.
“Looking ahead, the government should start looking at the necessary changes that need to be carried out to ensure once the pandemic is over, remote working continues,” Puli said.
Labour MP claims PN MPs spent free nights at Hilton
Labour whip Glenn Bedingfield has claimed Nationalist MPs have requested favours from Yorgen Fenech by spending nights at the Hilton Hotel at Portomaso, for free.
Bedingfield’s claim on Facebook was made in the wake of the self-suspension of the MFSA’s chief executive Joseph Cuschieri, who has been revealed to have travelled to Las Vegas with the Tumas magnate Yorgen Fenech, in May 2018.
Covid-19 Update
For the second day running, the number of recoveries exceeded that of new cases. 100 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours, with 165 recovering. This takes the tally of active Covid-19 cases down to 1825. The positive cases were identified from a record number of tests: 3,698. Malta also registered its 62nd death on Saturday, an 80-year old woman.
CDE News
