Mid-Day Briefing
Covid-19 Update
An 88-year-old man died from Covid-19, health authorities confirmed on Saturday, becoming the 436th victim since the start of the pandemic. Meanwhile, three patients are in intensive care and another 33 are being treated in hospital.
Active cases now stand at 664 after 68 new infections and 44 recoveries were reported in the last 24 hours. Just under 3,250 swab tests were carried out on Friday.
Organisations call out prison management
Nearly 40 professional associations and academic institutions are raising concerns about a lack of transparency at the Corradino Correctional Facility. Signatories of a letter calling for prison reform expressed alarm over a series of suicide attempts by inmates.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said that the ongoing inquiry will review the induction process for prisoners and assess mental health issues.
Yorgen Fenech tried to cash 17 Black cheques in Monaco
Sources claim that Yorgen Fenech sought to open a bank account in Monaco to cash cheques from his once-secret company Wings Development Limited, based in the UAE. The company had changed its name from 17 Black.
A Maltese businessman is believed to have introduced Fenech to Italian national Mirko Albertazzi who could facilitate contacts with banks, but Monacan institutions raised concerns related to compliance.
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Pressure mounts for prison reform
A number of NGOs, associations and academic institutions have joined forces to call for radical reforms in prison. In a press release issued this morning, 38 entities said they were deeply troubled by the lack of transparency and inadequate reaction that has followed a series of suicides within prison, as well as the lack of government action to introduce a “modern and effective corrections model” that is founded on the rehabilitation and social reentry rather than punishment and retribution. NGOs such as Aditus, the anti-poverty forum, the national youth council KNZ, gay rights movmement MGRM, and Moviment Graffitti, called for a long-term and deep-rooted review of current practices and for the institution of an Ombudsman for Prison and Probation.
Man injured in workplace accident
A man suffered serious injuries on Friday after he his hand got caught in an industrial fan. The accident took place at around 3:30pm at an establishment in Triq Ħal Farruġ, Siġġiewi, the police said. The casualty is a 31-year-old Nigerian.
Updated 0900 Newspaper Review
The Times follows the testimony in court of investigator Keith Arnaud who presented evidence that Yorgen Fenech planned to escape from Malta before he was arrested. Text exchanges with his brother and uncle show the businessman discussing the best route out.
The Independent says that Yorgen Fenech inquired about a last-minute flight to Nice by private jet before changing plans in favour of an exit by boat. The businessman was preparing for a stay in France paid in cash and without signed contracts.
L-Orizzont reports that Malta has been taken off the red list of the European Centre for Disease Protection as the rate of active cases declines. Classified as an amber-list country, Malta is now declared a safe travel destination.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech that Prime Minister Robert Abela is under the thumb of his predecessor Joseph Muscat. The opposition leader called on Abela to oust the former Prime Minister from the Labour Party.
The Independent says that over 500 grassfires have been reported around Malta so far this summer. The most heavily affected localities were Nadur and Xagħra in Gozo, and Rabat and Żebbuġ in Malta.
The Times reports that parents are struggling to find childcare services for their children as Covid-19 protocols mean reduce class numbers. Rules published at the start of the pandemic limit the capacity of nurseries to one child per six metres squared.
In-Nazzjon covers a PN press event criticising the government’s record in emissions targets. Spokesperson for the Environment Robert Cutajar said that the party will shortly announce details about a national climate change conference.
L-Orizzont says that EU members are set to resist the influx of refugees from Afghanistan, insisting that neighbouring countries should welcome fleeing persons. Critics of this position say the EU has a moral obligation towards Afghans after 20 years in the country.
Morning Briefing
Govt failing on climate change – PN
The Labour Party is ignoring the urgent need to combat climate change and is falling behind on EU targets, the PN said. In a press briefing on Friday, the Opposition said that the Labour Party has “not only been insulting the intelligence of Maltese and Gozitans for nine years”, but in “having negotiated permission to reduce Malta’s low carbon development strategy target to 19% from 36% is yet again displaying its contentment to fail to fulfil the EU 2030 climate change target,” the PN said. The PN said that the Maltese people have and will continue to be negatively impacted by climate change if the PL does not change its stance. These adverse effects include an increase in asthma, farmers losing a lot of their produce due to high temperatures; sea temperature and sea levels rising – killing biodiversity.
In a reaction, Labour said that the Nationalist Party is ignoring the numerous initiatives being taken by the Government, showing at the same time that it has no idea about how it will achieve targets in transport, energy, construction, waste management, water and other sectors.
Sant calls for permanent mechanism to assess prison situation
Former PM Alfred Sant joined calls for changes in the prison system, suggesting a “permanent mechanism” which independently assess situations arising within Malta’s prison system. The Labour MEP argued that “the matter of how the prison system is being run, whether too limply or too harshly, is too serious an issue to be let become a media game between the pro-prison administration & those against”. Writing on Twitter, Sant said that the mechanism would need to be outside the judicial process, “without becoming the poodle of either the prison management” or what he called the “prisoners’ lobby”.
Covid-19 update
51 new cases were reported on Friday while 53 recovered. Active cases remained stable at 641. Meanwhile, Malta has been struck off the EU’s travel red list, afte the recent decrease in cases.
CDE News
