Inflation doubles in October, remains lowest in eurozone / Malta News Briefing – Friday 29 October 2021

Morning Briefing

Inflation doubles in October, but remains lowest in EU

The cost-of-living continued to increase around Europe, but Malta reported the lowest increase as other countries struggled with high energy prices. Malta’s rate in October reached 1.4%, which is still double that reported the previous month. Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 4.1% in October 2021, up from 3.4% in September according to a flash estimate from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Looking at the main components of euro area inflation, energy is expected to have the highest annual rate in October (23.5%, compared with 17.6% in September), followed by services (2.1%, compared with 1.7% in September), non-energy industrial goods (2.0%, compared with 2.1% in September) and food, alcohol & tobacco
(2.0%, stable compared with September).

Govt to double EV charging points

Government plans to double the number of electric car charging points across Malta to 362 by the end of the year, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli said. Drivers will be able to locate the charging stations through a on a mobile app called Charge my Ride, which will also be launched by the end of the year.
The Energy Ministry says that by mid-November, there will be 160 pillars providing 202 charging points. This investment, which is expected to reach €3 million, is being partly covered through EU Funds.

Covid-19 claims 461st victim

Active Covid-19 cases declined to 204 after 23 recoveries and just eight new cases were reported on Friday. However, a 69-year old passed away overnight, becoming Malta’s 461st victim. Four patients remain in ITU.

Morning Briefing

PM Abela describes ONE’s singling out of journalist at Repubblika protest as ‘unacceptable’

PM Robert Abela has described as ‘unacceptable’ a report by ONE presenter Karl Stagno Navarra which had singled out Lovin Malta Tim Diacono while reporting on a Repubblika protest which is being held in front of the Police HQ, during which the NGO is calling for action against former Labour Minister Konrad Mizzi. A spokesperson for the OPM told The Times of Malta that the Prime Minister “condemned any comment that may hinder journalists whilst carrying out their job”. He added that “singling out Mr Diacono while doing his job is unacceptable”. Similar sentiments were echoed by Energy Minister Miriam Dalli, herself a formal journalist, who insisted that journalists should be allowed to work with “serenity”.

Meanwhile, addressing the media on Thursday afternoon, Repubblika President Robert Aquilina stated that the end of the three day sit-in is not the end of the protest against the mentality of impunity which is being allowed to function by police commissioner Angelo Gafa and Prime Minister Robert Abela.

Stagno Navarra said that “I did my duty as a journalist and made my observations. “I can’t accept people branding me as inciting hate or violence for the comments I made. That was never my intention.”(Times/Independent)

Court finds no breach in Degiorgios pre-trial detention

Covid-19 Update: Fifteen new COVID-19 cases were reported on Thursday and 11 virus patients were receiving hospital treatment, including four in intensive care, the health authorities said.