1745- News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta reports that Chris Fearne said Konrad Mizzi and OPM made plans with Steward Healthcare behind his back
MaltaToday reports that anti-corruption activists held a protest outside parliament as they renewed calls for full justice in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case.
Newsbook reports that Vince Muscat known as il-Koħħu will be witnessing against the Degiorgio brothers in the case in which they are accused of murdering investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
TVM reports that Police have confirmed investigations are underway on the illegal disposal of concrete in a conservation zone at Birżebbuġa that took place in recent days.
Updated 1240 – Covid-19 Update
175 new COVID-19 cases and another death were reported by the health authorities this afternoon.
The latest victim, an 89-year-old woman, died at St Thomas Hospital, raising the number of fatalities to 316.
With 216 recoveries, the number of active cases stands at 2,678. Until the end of February, just under 80,000 doses of the anti-Covid-19 vaccination was provided.
Updated 1108 – GDP down by 5.7% in 2020
Provisional estimates published by the NSO this morning indicate that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2020 amounted to €12,823.8 million, registering a decrease of €768.4 million, or 5.7 per cent, when compared to 2019. In volume terms, GDP fell by 7.0 per cent.
As expected in the context of the pandemic, in volume terms, the biggest decline happened in the services sector, driven by decreases in accommodation and food service activities (-64.7 per cent); transportation and storage activities (-43.1 per cent); wholesale and retail trade activities (-9.9 per cent); and Administrative and support services activities (-10.7 per cent). These losses were partially compensated by a number of sectors which experienced increases in 2020, such as Information and communication
activities (13.6 per cent); Arts, entertainment, and recreation activities (10.0 per cent); Financial and insurance activities (3.9 per cent); and Public administration (5.5 per cent).
.
Updated 0820 – Newspaper Review
The Independent leads with an objection letter by Din L-Art Ħelwa over a planning application for Ġnejna Bay. The NGO argues that the development could encourage illegal parking in the area and effectively reduce the size of the beach.
L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who announced that the government will extend a tax reduction scheme on promises of sale until July. Abela said the measure gives peace of mind to both buyers and sellers.
The Times reports that a police investigation into the 2014 murder of Jonathan Pace, who was shot while standing on his balcony, is making progress. The case has been reopened after Caruana Galizia hitman Vince Muscat started collaborating with the police.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that recent allegation about former minister Chris Cardona confirm that the Caruana Galizia murder case is far from over. He insisted that full justice must be served.
The Times says that a Mdina property owner deposited a sworn statement with the Standards Commissioner confirming a €46,500 commission paid to MP Rosianne Cutajar for her role in brokering a €3.1 million sales deal with Yorgen Fenech.
The Independent says that a record number of new Covid-19 infections were registered on Sunday as authorities announced 263 cases. The previous highest count was set only two days earlier.
In-Nazzjon reports the death of two men aged 57 and 76 after they contracted Covid-19, raising the number of victims to 315. There are currently over 2,700 active cases as the virus reproductive factor rose to 1.21.
L-Orizzont says that the EU Council of Regions is discussing a proposal by a French mayor to introduce a label for Mediterranean food products. The World Food Programme has recently highlighted the nutritional benefits of the Mediterranean diet.
Morning Briefing
PM Abela defends Rosianne Cutajar as new contacts with Fenech emerge
Prime Minister Robert Abela described Rosianne Cutajar’s decision to resign from her post as a Parliamentary Secretary pending the outcome of an investigation by the Standards Commissioner as a “mature” one. Cutajar has been under fire ever since it emerged that she allegedly pocketed thousands of euros from a failed property deal involving Yorgen Fenech. Abela compared Cutajar’s decision to Nationalist exponents who had remained in their positions despite, according to him, their wrongdoings.
In his speech, Abela also announced an extension to the period for the signing of a promise of sale on property in order to benefit from a reduction on stamp duty. The government had reduced the amount of tax on the purchase of property as part of the measures to help the market during the Covid-19 pandemic.
New revelations yesterday indicated that Cutajar was given a €9,000 cut from a pile of cash handed to her by Fenech after he went to Bank of Valletta in August 2019 to secure a loan for the property deal.
Caruana Galizia murder not fully solved – Bernard Grech
The Daphne Caruana Galizia murder investigation will not be closed when the prime minister says so, but when the whole truth is outed and all involved are held to account, including individuals who tried to obscure the facts and stage a cover-up, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said on Sunday.
Speaking at a political activity in Żabbar, Grech said this was a week of “shocking” revelations that once again exposed the ties between the Labour government and the circles of criminality in the country.
Grech also tackled the issue of the pre-1995 rent reform, suggesting that the announced changes, the Government will be sending thousands to the courts and will increase tension between tenants and owners. The speaker added that the Nationalist Party insists that the Government is obliged to provide social accommodation to those who deserve it, whilst ensuring a just balance between the rights of owners and for every person not to end up homeless.
Covid-19 Update
Authorities a record 263 new Coronavirus cases on Sunday. This brings the total of active cases to 2720. There were 192 recoveries and two fatalities.
