Latest Update- News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta says the Twenty people admitted to hate speech charges in court on Friday after they posted inflammatory comments on Facebook.
MaltaToday reports that Giovanna Debono’s husband acquittal was confirmed on appeal
Newsbook reports that President George Vella has no qualms in paying his respects to murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia by visiting her grave, or the murder scene in Bidnija, or the memorial in Valletta, if her family does not object.
TVM says that Martina Fenech is one of many who up to today did not know whether they could become homeowners because although she has been cured of cancer, she could not take out life insurance.
Updated 1240
Covid-19 Update: 42 new cases of Covid-19 were reported on Friday while 55 recovered, taking the active case tally up to 691. 3,439 swab tests were carried out the day before.
Scicluna on defensive regarding Pilatus claims: Edward Scicluna has denied claims that
he had defended Pilatus Bank: “I admit to defending my country and its regulatory
institutions when I felt they were being unfairly treated by the European institutions. But
I never defended a particular bank, least of all Pilatus”, the former finance minister said.
Yesterday, the Opposition called for his resignation in the wake of a record €4.9 million
fine and criminal proceedings against the bank.
Two test events planned for September: Two test events with less Covid restrictions will
be held at the end of September, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced. Outdoor
standing events for 100 people will be allowed to start from Monday, for those who are
fully vaccinated with masks being worn at all times. This will be extended if the situation
remains controlled, with indoor standing events for 100 people being allowed indoors
from September 13 with the same protocols. Chris Fearne also said that booster jabs for
the Covid-19 vaccines for elderly people in nursing homes will be administered earlier
after separate clusters reported positive in two homes
Updated 0838 – Newspaper Review
The Times reports that the police have pressed charges against the former head of legal at Pilatus Bank, Claude-Anne Sant Fournier, who also served as money laundering reporting officer. A magisterial inquiry recommends criminal action against eight other officers.
The Independent says that the court has granted bail to the former top legal official at Pilatus Bank, charged with money laundering offences. Bail was granted against a deposit of €10,000 and a personal guarantee of €40,000.
In-Nazzjon says that Pilatus Bank has been formally charged with money laundering activities following a magisterial inquiry into the bank’s operations. The court ordered the bank’s assets to be frozen.
L-Orizzont quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne that booster jabs for the Covid-19 vaccines for elderly people in nursing homes will be administered earlier after separate clusters reported positive in two homes.
In-Nazzjon announces a new campaign unveiled by the Nationalist Party ahead of the Independence Day celebrations. During a press conference, PN secretary General Michael Piccinino launched a new website for the party.
The Times says that standing events are to be permitted again from Monday for up to 100 vaccinated attendees who must wear a mask. The government is planning pilot projects for larger events with fewer restrictions.
The Independent reports that people over 70 living in the community will be offered Covid-19 vaccine booster shots from October. Health authorities are assessing the situation before extending the programme to the rest of the population.
L-Orizzont follows an EU summit on the situation in Afghanistan. Foreign Affairs ministers agreed that the bloc should help those who worked with member states in the last 20 years but did not mention issuing humanitarian visas.
Morning Briefing
Charges brought against Pilatus Bank and former official
Claude-Ann Sant Fournier, formerly Pilatus Bank’ Money Laundering Reporting Officer, as well as the Bank itsef, were charged with money laundering offences. Inspector Pauline Bonello said that Sant Fournier was arrested earlier this year but refused to answer any questions. After a request by the defence lawyer Stefano Filletti, Magistrate Joe Mifsud granted Sant Fournier bail, in consideration that she is a mother of minors. Pilatus Bank was fined a record €5 million by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) earlier this week.
PN launches new site
The Nationalist Party launched a new and improved website focusing on a Be the Change (Kun il-Bidla) campaign.
PN general council president Mark Anthony Sammut said the website (kunilbidla.org) was a “massive upgrade” that would be constantly updated with interactive new features.
Record year for recycling
Estimates available to date show that for 2021 around 18,000 tonnes of good quality material will be recycled and returned to the economy. In a statement, Government said that such an achievement is even more impressive when one considers that the €500 million investment in the new ECOHIVE project has not yet started to bear fruit. In terms of the main streams of recyclables, these figures translate into around 5,500 tonnes of cardboard and paper; 3,500 tonnes of metal; 7,000 tonnes of glass; and 2,000 tonnes of plastic.
Covid-19 Update
There were 75 new cases registered in the past 24 hours. Malta registered 54 recoveries as active cases stood at 704. 3,709 swab tests were taken. A total of 34 Covid positive patients were currently being treated at Mater Dei hospital, 2 of whom are in the ITU.
