Leaders to go head-to-head in BA debate / Malta News Briefing – Monday 7 March 2022

1745 News Portal update

1745- Latest News update

Times of Malta says a libel suit filed by Joseph Muscat against lawyer Christian Grima over a Facebook comment claiming that the former prime minister “blew up” journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, has faced another setback after the magistrate recused herself.

MaltaToday says the 20-year-old man involved in Saturday’s crash in Baħrija has passed away.

Newsbook says Prime Minister and Labour Party Leader Party Robert Abela has announced five proposals aimed at business and investment in Malta.

TVM says that a 56-year-old partially blind man from San Gwann has been remanded in custody after being accused of sexually abusing his niece in 2018 when she was just five years old.

Leaders to go head-to-head in BA-organised debate

Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition leader Bernard Grech will go head-to-head in a debate organised by the Broadcasting Authority at the end of the electoral campaign. The BA said in a statement the debate will be held on March 23 and will be aired on Television Malta. The BA’s political broadcasting schedule consisting of a series of debates, news conferences,
interviews and productions, will kick off on Tuesday. Political parties and independent candidates contesting these elections will be taking part in the scheme.

Widow of Kazakh oligarch wins human rights case against Malta

The widow of a Kazakh oligarch who lived in Malta in exile has won a human rights case against the country because it complied with a freezing order requested by Kazakhstan without questioning it. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) awarded Elnara Shorazova €2,000 in compensation after ruling that she had been deprived of the enjoyment of her property.

Covid-19 Update: An 80-year-old woman died while COVID positive, the health authorities said. 72 people tested positive for COVID yesterday, while a further 80 recovered,

Morning Briefing

We accept our shortcomings, but must look forward – Abela
Prime Minister Robert Abela said the Labour Party understands its past shortcomings, but must now look to the future. “Yes, we could have done better, and you are not to blame for the party’s past shortcomings,” he told supporters at the packed Corradino Sports Pavilion. He said in January 2020 he became party leader “to help the party learn from its mistakes.” “I wasn’t perfect, but now is the time to look to the future so we don’t lose what have achieved,” Abela said. [Maltatoday]

Abela is dangerous and indecisive – Grech
PN leader Bernard Grech described PM Robert Abela as a “dangerous” leader saying he is indecisive, hides away from the truth and does not learn from past mistakes.
“Robert Abela is not only indecisive, he is also dangerous and does not learn from past mistakes. He continues to hide from the media, but does not mind splashing a journalist’s face on a billboard. This, during the same legislature in which a journalist was killed. He has learnt absolutely nothing,” Grech said. [Times of Malta]

Covid-19 Update
99 new COVID-19 cases have been reported overnight. There are currently 45 patients receiving treatment at Mater Dei Hospital, with three of those inside the hospital’s intensive treatment unit.