Updated 1745- News Portal Briefing
The Times reports Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti called on the government to appoint more judges to the bench as the effort being put in by the judiciary was not enough to solve the “biggest challenge” of court delays.
MaltaToday reports that the private security companies Signal 8, JF Security, and Executive, have been employed to provide services at the Safi and Hal Far closed centres for irregular migrants.
TVM reports that during these two days of meetings in Brussels, a series of issues currently dominating the international scene are on the agenda of European leaders.
Newsbook says that the Malta Stock Exchange has cancelled the status of Nexia BT Advisory Services Limited as a Corporate Advisor.
Updated 1244 – 37 Covid-19 cases reported
After a number of days where new cases of Covid-19 hovered in the twenties, the Health authorities reported 37 new cases today, the highest figure in a week.
The daily report indicaed that 43 patients have recovered over the past 24 hours, lowering the number of active cases slightly to 455.
Updated 0909 – Newspaper Review
The Malta Business Weekly says that Ryanair will resume flights between Malta and Nis airport in Serbia from this month. Flights between Malta and Milano Bergamo will also be reintroduced twice a week.
Business Today publishes an interview with Economy Minister Silvio Schembri who said that the budget will include new measures to support businesses. The minister said that domestic tourism has grown into a viable source of revenue for many companies.
The Times leads with the testimony of the head of the anti-terrorist unit, George Vella, who told the Caruana Galizia public inquiry that the police had been tipped off about a purchase of a firearm on the dark web addressed to Yorgen Fenech’s late father’s home, last year.
The Independent follows the Caruana Galizia public inquiry, during which the chairperson of the Accountancy Board, Peter Baldacchino, said that proceedings against Nexia BT and Brian Tonna started last week.
L-Orizzont quotes General Workers Union secretary general Josef Bugeja who warned against abuse by employers as a result of the coronavirus. Bugeja argued that the pandemic shows the need for workers to join trade unions.
In-Nazzjon quotes a rule of law report by the EU Commission which says that the government failed to investigate systemic corruption at the highest levels. The murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia caused ‘irreparable harm’ to freedom of expression in Malta, notes the report.
The Times quotes a report by the European Commission flagging ‘patterns of deep corruption’ in Malta. The report urged the government to implement the reforms recommended by the Venice Commission.
L-Orizzont says that an EU Commission on the rule of law in member states observes ‘significant reforms’ in the judicial system in Malta. The report was presented on Wednesday by Commissioner for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova.
The Malta Business Weekly reports that investigations at the Vatican have linked a Cardinal to a €100 million property deal in luxury apartments in London. Pope Francis forced Cardinal Becciu to resign last week.
The Independent reports on an announcement by the health ministry that gatherings in public spaces will be limited to 10 people with immediate effect. Minister Chris Fearne recently said that new measures might be introduced ahead of the influenza season.
L-Orizzont reports that PN leadership challenger Bernard Grech said during a debate with incumbent Adrian Delia that he is ashamed to say he is from Malta, when abroad, often telling people he is Greek instead.
Morning Briefing
Covid-19 Update
Malta’s COVID-19 mortality rate is topping European charts according to latest data by the ECDC. Taking into consideration the 14-day cumulative number of deaths, at 3.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, Malta has now overtaken Spain as the worst affected country in terms of deaths. 22 persons have lost their lives in Malta in September.
Speaking to The Times of Malta, Health Superintendent Prof Charmaine Gauci said that most COVID-19 victims had a pre-existing heart condition called congestive heart failure, which is most common in older people.
On the positive side, health authorities have reported a second-consecutive strong level of recoveries (78), which considering the number of new cases (23) has taken the level of active cases to 462, a drop of more than a 100 over the past 48 hours.
Public gatherings limited to 10
The limit for the number of people that can group themselves together was dropped from 15 people to 10 people. The Health Ministry announced this measure yesterday, with immediate applicability as from today.
The Ministry said that the measure is coming into effect after consultation with the Superintendent of Public Health in order to further limit the spread of Covid-19.
AG advised against action on Nexia BT
Attorney General Peter Grech had advised the Malta’s Accountancy Board not to sanction Nexia BT and its partners while investigations into them were ongoing. This was revealed during yesterday’s Court sitting in the public inquiry on the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
“We were always advised not to take disciplinary action until the judicial process was wrapped up,” board chairman Peter Baldacchino said.
“The attorney general told us that action by the Accountancy Board could obstruct ongoing proceedings,” he said, adding later that the board was “always” given that legal advice, including by private lawyers engaged by the board.
EU gives mixed assessment in rule of law report
The first-ever report by the European Union’s executive on rule of law gaps across the bloc, singled out challenges to media and the judiciary as key risks to upholding democratic standards.
The report said the coronavirus has served as a “stress test” of rule of law resilience across the bloc and that some emergency measures adopted by national governments to tackle the pandemic went too far.
The report provided a mixed reaction in its overview of development in Malta. It welcomed the recent approval of a string of new legislation aimed at improving the judicial system and separation of powers, but notes that the country’s track record in securing convictions in high-level corruption is lacking.
More on this story here.
CDE News
