Updated 1508 – PM meeting with EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
PM Robert Abela is this afternoon meeting with Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in order to push Malta’s plight for further assistance with the increasing migration issue in the Mediterranean.
Prior to the meeting, the PM said that while Libya helped Malta deal with the issue, the EU showed a lack of concrete action. Timesofmalta.com reports that PM Abela said that “in the worst part of the pandemic, it was Libya that helped us. We speak of Libyans as our trusted friends.”
Updated 1245 – One new coronavirus case, one recovery
The Health Department said that there was one new case of coronavirus relating to a repatriated foreign citizen, resident in Malta.
There was also one recovery, leaving the number of active cases at 11.
A total of 930 swab tests were taken on Monday.
According to research by timesofmalta.com, Malta has the fewest active cases of coronavirus in the European Union.
Updated 0810 – Newspaper Review
L-Orizzont reports on the inauguration of an immigration coordination centre by Prime Minister Robert Abela and Libyan counterpart Fayez al-Serraj. The two countries will cooperate to stem the flow of irregular migration in the Mediterranean.
The Independent quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who, during a visit by Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj said that Malta considers Libya its friend. Abela announced that the countries would invest more in border control.
The Times reveals that Attorney General Peter Grech advised against steps by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit to seize Nexia BT’s servers in the wake of the Panama Papers revelations in 2016. The AG said it would be ‘highly intrusive’ and create unnecessary risks.
In-Nazzjon says that Air Malta employees are complaining about preferential treatment towards some colleagues at a time when the company is downsizing its staff and cutting back on employment benefits.
The Times says that PN MPs are expected to discuss Adrian Delia’s leadership in a parliamentary group meeting this evening. Sources told the paper that Delia’s chances of winning a vote of confidence vote are slim.
L-Orizzont says that PN supporters are divided over party leader Adrian Delia following media reports that he exchanged chats with business Yorgen Fenech. The paper says the revelations have sparked fresh calls for Delia’s resignation.
The Independent speaks to the Ministry for Home Affairs about homeless migrants who were seen sleeping rough in Valletta after being evicted from open centres. A spokesperson said that migrants are accommodated for a set period of time.
In-Nazzjon reports that a 78-year-old diver lost his life at sea in Wied iż-Żurrieq on Monday. He was given first aid on site by members of the Red Cross before he was taken to Mater Dei hospital where he was certified dead.
L-Orizzont says that Judge Francesco Depasquale chided Alfred Degiorgio, one of the three suspected triggermen in the Caruana Galizia assassination, for doing his best to delay criminal procedures.
Morning Briefing
A long day is on the cards for the Opposition with a Parliamentary group meeting this evening set to again ask hard questions to its Leader following revelations that Adrian Delia exchanged friendly whatsapp messages with alleged Caruana Galizia murderer Yorgen Fenech. Delia has denied the content of the messages but an increasing number of MPs are understood to have expressed their concern that his position at the helm of the Nationalist Party is untenable, not only because of these recent accusations but also after recent opinion polls.
Yorgen Fenech was also at the centre of a hard-hitting post by Matthew Caruana Galizia. Reacting to calls by the Civil Society Network that suggested Fenech should be given a reduced sentence if he provides information on corruption at a political level, Caruana Galizia said that this should not be considered when it comes to a cold-blooded murderer like Yorgen Fenech.
Police fraud
Yesterday, another seven police officers were charged with fraud after they failed to turn up to extra duties, in a second round of arraignments linked to lleged abuse at the traffic section. The accusation is that they still got paid for this work which they had not carried out.
In one case, a constable was allegedly paid for carrying out extra duties when he was on vacation leave while another is accused of unplugging the tracking device from his motorbike.
CDE News
