Latest news portal update
Latest Update- News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta says it is time to discuss whether we should have fewer electoral districts, if we should allow prime ministers to appoint technocrats to cabinet and whether MPs should work full-time, prime minister Robert Abela told young people during Youth Parliament on Friday.
MaltaToday reports that the magistrate compiling evidence against a former official at Pilatus Bank has declared that there is sufficient prima facie evidence to proceed with an indictment on money laundering charges.
Newsbook reports a motorcyclist was grievously injured last night in a collision with a car.
TVM says that Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) and Għargħur residents welcomed the Planning Commission’s postponement of its decision on a permit for what they described as a ‘bastion of concrete’ in Ħal Għargħur.
Mid-Day Briefing
Covid-19 Update: 14 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Friday, while 30 patients recovered. During the last 24 hours a 66-year-old male died while Covid positive. Five patients are currently being treated at Mater Dei Hospital, none of whom in ITU.
IM rejects Malta-Gozo tender appeals: Infrastructure Malta has shot down requests by two eliminated bidders to have the Malta-Gozo tunnel tender be cancelled and restarted from scratch. Bidders Malta Gozo Fixed Link and the CGYI Malta Gozo consortium argued Infrastructure Malta was wrong to disqualify them at the pre-qualification stage of the tender. Infrastructure Malta said CGYI was disqualified for failing to meet minimum requirements in relation to key health and safety criteria while Malta Gozo Fixed Link, is a newly incorporated company with no experience in tunnelling and was, therefore, reliant on third parties to see the project through.
Final breakthrough in Pembroke – the Ta’ Qali underground tunnel: The Pembroke – Ta’ Qali underground tunnel, a Water Services Corporation (WSC) project, has reached its most important milestone yet with the completion of a third and last phase of work. Spanning 9.5km, this tunnel connects the Reverse Osmosis Implant in Pembroke with the Ta’ Qali reservoirs. With an investment of €30 million, this project will lead to better quality water around Malta, as well as more efficient operations and increased sustainability. The Reverse Osmosis Implant in Pembroke is the largest WSC implant, where currently works are being finalised to complete the connection between said implant and the reservoirs situated in Ta’ Qali. This connection will ensure more sustainability as the water will be treated and tested to consume less energy, increasing efficiency.
PN challenges Steward to provide proof of investment: The PN has hit out at Steward Health Care, challenging them to provide audits and receipts to prove that it has invested in the three hospitals. Reacting to a statement by Steward Health Care, the PN said that the report Steward submitted is only “photographic report, without any additional documentation to support this supposed investment. The Opposition said that “the report they presented and this declaration shows that, despite the fact that over a period of five years they received tens or hundreds of millions from the government, they failed to show where their investment is. It would be good for them to explain to the public where they have spent money.” The PN said that the investment in the Barts medical school is the only substantial investment Steward made.
Morning Review
Malta moved to green list by ECDC
Malta was ‘promoted’ in the EU’s travel green list after spending the summer months on the red and orange lists.
Malta was struck off the list on July 12, when it was classified as red after a spike in COVID-19 case. Malta’s two-week case notification rate currently stands at just over 60, while the island’s positivity rate is around 0.89.
Yacht Lift inaugurated in Ta’ Xbiex
With an investment of €3 million, Yacht Lift Malta Ltd, the first operator of floating boat lifts in the Mediterranean, has built a new yacht lift in Ta’ Xbiex that will be offering an environmentally friendly, efficient and bespoke concept of boat servicing and maintenance. This yacht lift gives boat owners the option of taking up their vessel at sea instead of on land, saving time and money, whilst also reducing waiting times. Its innovative system offers the latest technology in yacht lifting systems by putting the least amount of stress on the boat’s hull, as the vessel is raised by the keel instead of straps. Furthermore, the yacht lift leaves no pressure on vessels and therefore prevents any damage from occurring.
Unemployment rate stable
The unemployment rate for August 2021 stood at 3.2%, remaining stable when compared with the previous
month and dropping by 1.7% from August 2020. During August 2021, the number of unemployed persons was 8,915, with the unemployed males and the 25 to 74 age group being the major contributors to the overall level of unemployment. The seasonally adjusted number of unemployed youths amounted to 2,750, whereas those aged between 25 and 74 years stood at 6,165.
In August 2021, the unemployment rate for males was 3.8 per cent, while the rate for females stood at 2.4%. Both males and female unemployment rates remained unchanged when compared with July 2021 estimate. The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 to 24 years (youth unemployment rate) was 10.8%, while the rate for those between 25 and 74 years old stood at 2.4%.
Covid-19 Update: 22 new cases and 27 new recoveries were reported on Thursday. 9 patients are
currently being treated in Mater Dei, 2 of whom are in the ITU.
CDE News
