Latest Update- News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta reports that two men who targeted various outlets of a local chain store, stealing foodstuffs to feed themselves after running into serious financial problems, were remanded in custody pending judgment.
MaltaToday reports that Melvin Theuma has been asked to show proof that he owned a Mosta flat allegedly used in the 2010 HSBC bank heist as a safehouse by the criminals.
Newsbook reports that the Malta Employers’ Association is calling for the phasing out of the Community Work Scheme as it insists that a rising shortage of employees in Malta needs to be addressed with urgency.
TVM reports that a passenger was injured and had to be admitted to Mater Dei following a four car collision in Bugibba yesterday afternoon.
Mid-Day Briefing
Covid-19 Update: 82 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Wednesday while 293 persons recovered. These numbers, identified through 3,346 swab tests, lower the active case tally to 1,333. A total of 30 Covid-positive patients are currently being treated at Mater Dei, five of whom are in intensive therapy.
Malta registers drop in retail trade: Malta has registered the highest drop in the eurozone in terms of retail trade in the eurozone June 2021 compared with the month before, at -3%. Austria and Croatia had similarly negative outputs with drops of 2.7% and 2.6% respectively. The data was published by Eurostat today. Among Member States for which data are available, the highest monthly increases in total retail trade were registered in Ireland (+9.4%), Germany and Latvia (both +4.2%).
MCCF Denies transfer of third-party data to Binance charity: The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation has categorically denied that patient data or information was ever to be transferred to any third party including the Blockchain Charity Foundation. All patient information is treated as strictly confidential and in accordance with the law. The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation further reiterates its steadfast respect towards the protection of all patient information and their private details.
More than 5,800 children vaccinated: 5,803 children between the ages of 12 and 15 have been fully vaccinated, according to the Health Ministry. In data published by Maltatoday, the ministry said that 16,200 invitations had been sent out to this cohort, with 10,892 having had at least one dose of the vaccine.
Morning Briefing
Updated 0840: Newspaper Review
The Times says that Assistant Police Commissioner Ian Abdilla has been suspended days after his name was mentioned several times in the publication of the Caruana Galizia report. Until recently, he headed the Economic Crimes Unit.
Malta Today quotes a spokesperson for the police that Assistant Commissioner Ian Abdilla has been suspended until an investigation is finalised. The senior officer was accused of inaction over reports of wrongdoing by government officials.
The Independent says that suspended Assistant Police Officer Ian Abdilla attracted criticism for his handling of economic crimes investigations involving politicians. He served as the liaison officer with the FIAU.
L-Orizzont says that the government is planning booster shots for the Covid-19 vaccine as lower levels of immunity are observed among certain groups of the population. Preparations for the roll-out are in their final stages.
In-Nazzjon says that the Speaker turned down a request by the opposition for an urgent session to discuss a no-confidence motion in Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis. The government said had objected to the debate.
Malta Today says that nearly a third of people in the 12 to 15 age group have received their full dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The Health Ministry said that slightly under 85 per cent of the population is now fully vaccinated.
The Times speaks with one of the two women who were arrested last week for using forged travel documents. She said that the six-month sentence has broken her family as her four-year-old son was placed in the state protection system.
The Independent quotes Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo that the government is seeking sustainable and quality tourism, focusing on specific niches. The minister said that Malta is experiencing success in new markets, citing France as an example.
In-Nazzjon says that the Gozo Business Chamber and the Gozo Tourism Authority welcomed proposals by the PN to extend the Mġarr Harbour and add two vessels to Gozo Channel. The party said that these investments will strengthen accessibility for residents in Gozo.
L-Orizzont reports that the Industrial Tribunal upheld the dismissal of former Malta International Airport CEO Marcus Klaushofer. He was accused of passing sensitive information to entities interested in acquiring shares in the airport.
Speaker turns down PN request for urgent debate on Zammit Lewis
Speaker Anglu Farrugia has turned down an Opposition request to convene Parliament for an urgent session in order to debate a motion calling for the resignation of Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis following revelations of a regular stream of chats with Yorgen Fenech. These messages included
mocking calls for justice made by then Opposition leader Simon Busuttil over the businessman’s secret company 17 Black – the Minister has since dismissed these exchanges as a reflection of the party line.
The Nationalist Party said that the Speaker’s refusal to debate the no-confidence motion with urgency meant that Prime Minister Robert Abela had failed in his first test to accept the Daphne Caruana Galizia inquiry conclusions.
Enemalta to postpone non-urgent scheduled cuts
Enemalta has postponed a series of scheduled cuts planned over the next few days. “In order to minimize public inconvenience, it has been decided that the schedule of regular maintenance works in the coming days will be revised and only essential work will be carried out,” the company said on Facebook. “All of Enemalta’s engineers and technicians have been deployed to carry out emergency repairs where needed. Therefore, in order to minimise public inconvenience, it has been decided that the schedule of regular maintenance works in the coming days will be revised and only essential work will be carried out,” the company said.
A revised list will be issued in due course.
Covid-19 Update:
69 new cases were reported on Tuesday as 134 people recovered. 3,157 swab tests were taken as active cases reached 1,544. The average age of yesterday’s cases was 34. In total, 31 Covid-19 positive patients are in Mater Dei, one of whom is in the ITU.
CDE News
