LATEST UPDATE Updated 1745- News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta reports that A major residential and business development project on the site of Mercury House – the old telephone exchange in Paceville – got even bigger on Thursday.
MaltaToday reports that children can experience 15 days of science for free at Esplora this Christmas
TVM reports that children will be given influenza nasal sprays over the Christmas holidays
Newsbook reports that a man has died at the Luqa industrial estate
Covid-19 Update
60 new COVID-19 cases were reported today, as Health authorities announced two patients died and 154 patients recovered.
The new cases and recoveries mean there were 1,623 active cases. Thursday’s new cases were detected from 2,637 swabs carried out over the past 24 hours. This means that 2.28% of tests administered that day were positive.
Updated 1145
Gaming company NetEnt and the General Workers Union appear to have reached an out of court settlement, reducing the number of redundancies. This news emerged at the beginning of a Court session after the Union had issued an injunction against the layoffs, which were meant to reach up to 300, applicable immediately.
The plan appeared to be related to a €2 billion takeover by Evolution Gaming.
Lifeless body found near airport
A man was found dead close to Gate 1 of Malta International Airport early this morning. Despite the quick arrival of paramedics, the man was declared dead on the spot.
At this stage the man’s identity and cause of death are not yet known, however the initial indications by the Police were that it was a natural death.
Inflation slightly down – NSO
In November 2020, the annual rate of inflation as measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) was 0.2 per cent, down from the 0.6 per cent in October 2020, according to data released by the NSO this morning.
The twelve-month moving average rate for November stood at 0.9 per cent. The largest upward impact on annual inflation was measured in the Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Index, while the largest downward impact was recorded in the Clothing and Footwear Index.
Updated 0845 – Newspaper Review
The Malta Business Weekly publishes an interview with Environmental Health Director Clive Tonna who said that some 20,000 inspections have been carried out at bars and restaurants by Covid-19 task forces this year, handing out 668 citations.
Business Today speaks to Farsons Group CEO Norman Aquilina who rejected social media messages claiming that the company had to downsize because of the pandemic. Aquilina said that the management took ‘extraordinary measures’ to save every job.
The Times says that Lands Authority CEO James Piscopo will not face suspension despite being the subject of a police investigation following claims of bribery and corruption. Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said that Piscopo denied all allegations in a meeting this week.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that the Prime Minister’s criticism of the Caruana Galizia public inquiry board is not only misplaced, but dangerous too. Grech accused Robert Abela of trying everything to stop the truth from coming out.
The Independent speaks to St James Hospital CEO Maria Bugeja who said that the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine will solely be managed by the state and the public will not have access to the vaccine privately.
L-Orizzont carries an interview with Chief Justice Emeritus Joseph Azzopardi who said that the judiciary in Malta have three times the cases that counterparts in other countries have. He said that overload is slowing the process down.
The Times speaks to Finance Minister Clyde Caruana who revealed that JobsPlus is investigating the work contracts of food delivery couriers. The minister said that, according to law, non-EU nationals cannot be self-employed unless starting a business.
The Independent says that Animal Welfare Minister Anton Refalo denies that a reversal of the draft legal notice banning petting of zoo animals, shortly after it was published last week, came after pressure by zookeepers.
L-Orizzont reports that the government is considering amendments to the law to address the problem of overpopulation at the Corradino Correctional Facility. There is currently double the number inmates that the complex was planned for.
In-Nazzjon says that the number of Covid-19 victims rose to 180 on Wednesday after three more patients, aged between 75 and 90, died at Mater Dei hospital.
L-Orizzont says that the rate of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion dropped nearly three percent between 2015 and 2019, registering a total decrease of 2,000 persons over the period.
Morning Briefing
Book Council Chairman refuses to resign after social media spat
Malta Book Council chairman Mark Camilleri has refused call by his Education Ministry seniors to resign following a foul-mouthed exchange on social media with Juliette Galea, a lawyer for Yorgen Fenech. Camilleri had called on Government to allow the public inquiry to continue as long as its needed.
Permanent Secretary Frank Fabri asked Camilleri to consider resigning on his own free will, but the latter refused, instead saying that he plans to call the National Writers’ Congress on Thursday so that local publishers and authors can decide for themselves whether they have faith in him.
Back in 2019, the Council Chairman had threatened to resign over what he claimed was government interference.
Maltese Parliament approves budget
A proposed expenditure exceeding €4.5 billion proposed for 2021 was approved by Parliament after a vote on the Estimates of each Ministry, together with recommended resolutions was approved by 36 votes in favour against 27 against. Proposed Amendments by the Opposition were defeated by the same votes.
Ministry Resolutions proposed were amended to reflect Cabinet changes carried out by Prime Minister Abela in recent weeks when Budget discussion had already been terminated in Parliament.
A Legal Amendment regarding the appropriation of Government expenditure for the coming year was approved by 36 votes in favour and 25 against. Supplementary Estimates for this year of €930.214 million were also approved as well as an Amendment regarding the second appropriation for the year.
Malta chairs final 5+5 Defence Initiative for 2020
Minister for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement Byron Camilleri chaired the final meeting of the Maltese Presidency of the 5+5 Defence Initiative during 2020. The Defence Ministers of Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia participated in the meeting, which was held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Ministers discussed a series of activities and military exercises held jointly between the 5+5 member states during 2020. They discussed the challenges facing the countries of the Western Mediterranean, namely illegal migration, transboundary organised crime, and disruptive technologies such as cyberattacks.
Covid-19 Update
The Health Department reported 112 new cases of coronavirus in the previous 24 hours, with 96 recovering. The number of active cases has reached 1719. 3049 swab tests were carried out in the past 24 hours
Meanwhile, the number of deaths linked to Covid-19 has reached 180.
All Ministers recalled the crisis in Libya and welcomed the recent progress achieved by the UN mandated peace process. They stressed the need for continued dialogue between all stakeholders and to support the Libyan people.
CDE News
