LATEST UPDATE Updated 1745- News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta reports that The EU on Friday signed an agreement sealing its commitment to support small and medium Maltese enterprises with an additional €28 million in a bid to set off the economic blow brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
MaltaToday reports that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can be transported in a liquid state at household fridge temperatures, the company said in an updated handling guide released today.
TVM reports that An agreement has been signed which will translate into an investment by Government of 100,000 euro in order to ensure the interests and rights of authors, illustrators and publishers are being safeguarded.
Newsbook reports that the proceedings against murder suspect Yorgen Fenech resumed today.
Updated 1245
Covid-19 update
The Health Department reported 94 new cases of coronavirus in the previous 24 hours, with 110 recovering. The number of active cases has reached 1606. 3558 swab tests were carried
out in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the number of deaths linked to Covid-19 has reached 183.
Tension in court as Yorgen Fenech compilation continues
There was tension in court as the last expected compilation of evidence for 2020 in the case of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder took place.
The case against Fenech, who is accused of complicity in Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, was scheduled for January 12, but the sitting has been pushed forward. There was a constant back and forth between lawyers in court. The defence claim that in
that phone tap, there was an allegation of a frame up.
But Investigator Keith Arnaud insists that has no information on phone taps, saying “how am I meant to know?”
Book council chairman’s resignation called on basis of foul language – Education Minister
Education minister Justyne Caruana insists that the call for National Book Council chairman Mark Camilleri’s resignation was carried out on the basis of foul language used and not on his critique of the public inquiry.
“The actions and decisions taken were done on the basis of screenshots with language that I felt was not appropriate,” Caruana explained.
She insisted that it was not in her remit to make judgements on the public inquiry. Mark Camilleri ensured that all is well between him and the ministry, with Caruana having
set her terms and conditions.
“Her terms are that I say what I want without using ‘popular’ language,” he said. “I think it is
an acceptable condition for a ministry of education.”
Updated 0930 – Newspaper Review
The Times leads with an announcement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that Covid-19 vaccinations in the EU will begin on Sunday 27. Health Minister Chris Fearne said that distribution in Malta will be made in five stages.
The Independent says that the first vaccines will be administered to healthcare workers at the Mater Dei intensive care unit and the infectious diseases unit, followed by staff at the Gozo General Hospital.
L-Orizzont reports on an out-of-court settlement between the General Workers Union and Evolution Gaming, which agreed to compensate 324 employees that were dismissed without notice last week.
In-Nazzjon announces the launch of a series of general meetings for the PN’s committees in localities. Party leader Bernard Grech said that the process of renewal is ongoing and urged more people to take part in the change.
The Independent quotes Book Council chairman Mark Camilleri who said that the Education Minister withdrew a request for his resignation, after he apologised for using foul language in a message exchange with Yorgen Fenech lawyer Juliette Galea.
The Times quotes a reasoned opinion by Advocate General of the European Court of Justice who said that the way judicial appointments are made in Malta was not in conflict with EU law. NGO Repubblika is challenging the method used since April 2019.
L-Orizzont reports on a court ruling in London, declaring that the death of a nine-year-old in 2013 was caused by exposure to pollution. The historical decision means that Ella Kissi-Debrah is the first person whose death certificate considers emissions as a cause.
In-Nazzjon says that the courts fined the Attorney General and the Police €5,000 for delaying procedures against a man charged with fraud for six years. The defendant’s lawyer argued that his rights were breached, and the courts agreed that the wait was unacceptable.
L-Orizzont says that the bodies of four children were washed ashore in Libya after a migrant boat they were in sank on its way outside of North Africa. The paper asks how many people were aboard and whether there were any other children among them.
In-Nazzjon reports the death of two Covid-19 patients, raising the number of casualties to 182. An 83-year-old woman was a resident of the Good Samaritan Long Term Facility while the second victim, aged 93, was receiving treatment at St Thomas Hospital.
Morning Briefing
Vaccination programme to start two days after Christmas
Malta start vaccinating its population against COVID-19 from December 27, Health Minister Chris Fearne has confirmed.
The start date was announced earlier by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter.
“It’s Europe’s moment. On 27, 28 and 29 December vaccination will start across the EU,” she tweeted.
Government had already announced that it will vaccinate first the most vulnerable groups, namely health care workers, people living or working in nursing homes and people aged 85 years and over.
ECJ Advocate General founds no breach in judiciary appointments
The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has found that Malta was not in breach of any rules with respect to the way members of the judiciary are appointed. In a report, Advocate General Gerard Hogan said that European law does not preclude the Constitution from empowering any member of the executive, such as the Prime Minister, to play a role in the process of appointing members of the judiciary.
Hogan was reporting after NGO Repubblika instituted a case in the European Court to see if the current system of appointments to the judiciary violated the European Union Treaty or breached Fundamental Human Rights.
Government welcomed the decision, saying that “Malta is a country where the principles of the rule of law are exercised in practice”. However, it expressed committment to further reforms to strengthen the rule of law and good governance.
Covid-19 Update
60 new COVID-19 cases were reported yesterday, as Health authorities announced two patients died and 154 patients recovered
The new cases and recoveries mean there were 1,623 active cases. Thursday’s new cases were detected from 2,637 swabs carried out over the previous 24 hours. This means that 2.28% of tests administered that day were positive.
CDE News
