Update 2120 – Two more persons die with Covid-19 – The Department of Health announced that two persons died of Covid-19. The two victims bring the death toll for the day to 4.
Two men, one 63 and one 83 died at Mater Dei and Mount Carmel Hospital respectively.
Earlier the Health Ministry reported two further deaths this evening, two elderly men aged 86 and 87 respectively.
Updated 1745 -News Portal Briefing
The Times of Malta reports that the Justice Minister has expressed “grave concern” over “alleged manipulation of the media” after a lawyer offered hundreds of euro in cash to a Times of Malta journalist. Minister Edward Zammit Lewis also welcomed investigations by the police and the Chamber of Advocates into the behaviour of lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran, who tried to hand over a set of €500 notes to journalist Ivan Martin – Times of Malta
The Independent says that the public inquiry into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia continued on Wednesday with the testimony of Nexia BT partners Brain Tonna and Karl Cini. Tonna and Cini both availed of their right to remain silent as they faced a barrage of questions from judges leading the inquiry and lawyers representing the Caruana Galizia family.
Newsbook reports that the family of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has requested the Court to order a police investigation and an inquest into the alleged bribery of a journalist by the defence lawyers of murder suspect Yorgen Fenech. Fenech, a former businessman and Electrogas director, as well as the owner of the secret offshore company 17 Black, stands accused with complicity in the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Maltatoday leads with a judicial protest by Daphne Caruana Galizia murder suspect Vincent Muscat ‘il-Koħħu’ filed a against the Prime Minister, after he described Muscat as an “arch-criminal” in comments to the same portal earlier this week.
TVM reports that the flu vaccine is expected to be given again in the middle of this month after 100,000 people were inoculated within one week last month.
Updated 1643 – Two more Covid-19 deaths
The Health Ministry reported two further deaths this evening, two elderly men aged 86 and 87 respectively.
Both men were admitted to Mater Dei on 1st November. The former was diagnosed with Covid-19 on the same day, while the latter tested positive a day after. The Ministry added that both men had underlying conditions.
The Jesuit community in Malta earlier confirmed the death of Fr Robbie Wirth, 86, of COVID-19.
This means that 67 persons have now died with Covid-19 in Malta.
Updated 1231 – Covid-19 Update
Health authorities reported 84 new cases in the past 24 hours, with 167 recoveries, bringing the number of active cases down to 1853.
The new infections were identified through 3044 swab tests. Meanwhile Health Minister Chris Fearne has expressed refusal at a proposal by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) introducing a temporary licence for those snacks bars which operate like a restaurant. “A legal notice is a legal notice,” Fearne told The Malta Independent.
Updated 0915 Newspaper Review
Malta Today leads with Ryan Mercieca’s nomination to fill the vacant PN parliamentary seat in the 13th District, despite the party disassociating itself with him. The PN took the decision after an internal investigation by its ethics committee.
The Times says that one of its journalists was offered hundreds of euros at the end of a 20-minute meeting with members of Yorgen Fenech’s legal team. Lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran confirmed the incident but said it was ‘remuneration’ for the journalist’s time.
In-Nazzjon sends questions to Minister Carmelo Abela following allegations of criminal involvement by a senior Labour politician. The minister said he will not allow anyone to harm his reputation.
L-Orizzont quotes Economy Minister Silvio Schembri who announced new investment by companies in the drones industry. Schembri said that drones are a new growing niche within the wider aviation industry.
Malta Today speaks to OPM Minister Carmelo Abela who denied claims that he was involved in any criminal activity after Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi said that Caruana Galizia murder suspect Vince Muscat holds information on a sitting Cabinet member who is not a lawyer.
The Times reports that the Malta Tourism Authority is considering issuing catering establishments with a temporary license while the shutdown on bars and snack bars is in place. Cabinet is believed to be against the idea.
In-Nazzjon reports on the US Presidential Election on Tuesday which it describes as the most divisive in the country’s history. The pandemic meant that many more votes were sent in by mail than regularly is the case.
L-Orizzont says that a seven-year-old girl under protection order has not yet been found, three weeks after she was reported missing by her foster parents. The girl is believed to have been illegally taken out of Malta by her natural mother.
Morning Briefing
Minister Abela distances himself from Koħħu, Azzopardi claims
Minister Carmelo Abela has strongly denied being implicated in an alleged crime which the Caruana Galizia suspect Vincent Muscat claims to have information about.
Abela was recently questioned by Nationalist Party media over reports that Muscat had told police he had information on a Labour politician implicated in a major crime – the HSBC heist of 2010. PN MP Jason Azzopardi, the lawyer of the Caruana Galizia family had said that Prime Minister Robert Abela knew of the allegation, and hinted that the minister was “not a lawyer”.
Abela, a former HSBC bank manager, insisted: “If Jason Azzopardi has evidence, I call on him to mention his name. If he is referring to me, I am ready to take all steps necessary to defend myself. I will not allow anyone to sully my name,” he re-iterated.
Journalist refuses cash offer by Yorgen Fenech’s legal team
Times of Malta journalist refused a cash offer from Yorgen Fenech, according to the same paper. Lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran offered what was described as a bundle of €500 notes at the end of a meeting between the two. The journalist handed the money back and informed his editors.
The law company said that the journalist led it to believe he was offering to help “neutralise the bias in the reporting in the media “Ivan Martin led us to understand that we could use his services to help neutralise the bias in the reporting in the media. We are obviously not privy to his contract or terms of employment within the Times of Malta. It was only after he was offered remuneration for his services, that he mentioned that he was full time with the Times of Malta.”
The Chamber of Advocates said it had asked its committee for advocates and legal procurators to “investigate the alleged conduct” of the lawyer, one of the team defending Fenech, who stands accused of complicity in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
65th Covid-19 victim in Malta
An 82-year-old man died after being diagnosed with COVID-19, becoming the 65th Maltese victim of the virus. He was admitted to hospital from a home for the elderly on Sunday and tested positive on Monday. He died late on the same day, having also suffered other chronic illnesses it said.
A total of 106 new COVID-19 cases were detected between Monday and Tuesday, health authorities said. Another 108 patients recovered leaving 1,937 active patients as of 12.30pm on Tuesday.
CDE News
