Updated 1300 – Covid-19 Update
Coronavirus cases were above the three-digit mark again after a hiatus of a couple of days, with 134 new positive cases identified between Friday and Saturday. The cases were found from 2,772 swab tests, a lower number than the amount carried out on the previous two days.
The number of fatalities has edged up to 279, with two patients passing away over the same period.
Updated 1230 – Plans for financial crime agency shelved
Timesofmalta.com revealed that plans to set up an agency dedicated to fighting organised crime have been scrapped. The portal received confirmation of this news through a Finance Ministry spokesperson who explained: “The current work which is being done by the authorities is sufficient so there is no need to set up a new entity”.
Former Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, now heading the Central Bank had argued in favour of such an agency rather than having the police investigating financial crimes.
President calls conference for national unity
President George Vella has announced that a conference on Malta’s national unity will be organised at the Verdala Palace on Feb. 27.
Vella said that the aim of this conference is to the discuss varied topics and raise some awareness on whether Malta and its citizens are united as a country. The conference will address the lack of unity and ask pertinent questions on what the causes are of this lack, and what can be done to address certain issues.
“Although the pandemic has brought about many negative repercussions, it has also forced the Maltese to reflect upon certain issues and unite. This unity and solidarity are seen from the way people come together to support those who have been hit by the virus, the way people respect medical frontliners, and it has also allowed people to realise how important foreign workers are for this country,” Vella said.
Morning Briefing
Updated 0835- Newspaper Review
The Independent says that Malta scored a total 7.68 on the 2020 Democracy Index, lower than that in 2019 and thus remaining in the category of ‘flawed democracy’ for the second consecutive year.
The Times says that plans to establish a new government agency to combat financial crime have been shelved with a spokesperson for the Finance Ministry describing efforts by the current authorities as sufficient.
In-Nazzjon carries a PN statement condemning social media attacks on party MP Kevin Cutajar. The representative from Gozo said that “stupid comments” he received about his disability only serve to strengthen his resolve.
L-Orizzont publishes an interview with Chamber of Commerce president David Xuereb who said that the country’s economy needs to go through renewal in order to be more competitive and sustainable.
The Independent quotes Minister Miriam Dalli who told parliament that the Business Start scheme which offered seed funding to start-ups between 2015 and 2020 awarded a total of €1.5 million.
In-Nazzjon reports on the publication of the Caritas study on a minimum essential budget for a decent living focusing on three low-income household categories. The study does not include expenses such as car maintenance or unsubsidised monthly rent.
L-Orizzont quotes a study by Caritas which found that a medium family of four needs a minimum €13,950 annually to get by and an elderly couple needs €8,150. The agency is calling for a revision of the COLA mechanism.
The Times reports the police arrested a man who set an apartment on fire while two people were in it on Friday morning. In a search at the suspect’s home in Gżira, the police found ecstasy pills and half a kilo of cannabis.
In-Nazzjon asks Family Minister Michael Falzon about concerns by people living in rental properties based on the pre-1995 contracts system. The minister said that this was an old problem that needed attention.
Melvin Theuma feared Yorgen Fenech would try to kill him
Self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma testified that he was afraid Yorgen Fenech would try to eliminate him after Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered. In Friday’s testimony, which formed part of the compilation of evidence against three men accused of executing the murder, Theuma said he threw away food and wine gifts from Fenech out of fear the businessman would try to poison him.
“I feared he would poison me. I was scared of everything coming from him,” Theuma said. He had also cancelled at the last minute, a trip to France financed by Fenech.
Questioned by parte civile lawyer Jason Azzopardi, Theuma said he was going to kill himself by jumping off a roof, but the mental image of Yorgen Fenech “sitting cross-legged with a cigar in his mouth” after getting away with murder had stopped him from doing so.
Covid vaccination process two weeks ahead of schedule
Health Superintendent Prof Charmaine Gauci said that “Tthe country’s vaccination process is presently fifteen days ahead of the planned schedule.”
During her weekly briefing, the Health Czar remarked that 33,477 doses of vaccine have been administered in Malta, adding that this is a very fast rate even when compared to other European countries. The Public Health Superintendent explained that out of this total number, 6,457 constitute the second dose.
Nearly all elderly persons aged 85 and over have been vaccinated. The 80-to-84 years group started being vaccinated with effect from Wednesday. These persons are receiving their vaccinations in ten health centres and 20 different clinics.
Man arrested after setting fire to apartment
A 29-year old man has been arrested after setting fire to an apartment in Gżira while two people were inside. The police said that the case is being considered as attempted murder, adding that they received a call at 7am from a 36-year-old man claiming that while he was at his apartment in Triq ix-Xatt, an individual broke in, poured petrol around, lit it and escaped.
The man and a 40-year-old woman who was with him at the apartment managed to put out the fire.
Covid-19 update
Malta registered 57 new cases and 134 recoveries on Friday. 3,327 swab tests were carried out. During the previous 24 hours, four patients died while Covid-19 positive.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Chris Fearne said that Malta’s COVID-19 vaccination programme will be brought forward by a couple of weeks because of the arrival of the Astra Zeneca jab on Sunday. Health authorities said today that 33,477 vaccine doses have been administered, 6,457 of which are second jabs.
CDE News
