NewsUpdate
Car Splits in Two after accident in Mrieħel – A car split in two after crashing into a tree on the Mrieħel bypass on Sunday morning, seriously injuring the driver. The accident happened on a wet road at about 11am as the car was being driven towards Marsa. The rear part of the white Mitsubishi Evo came apart with the force of impact. The rest of the car was also badly damaged, with rescuers of the Civil Protection Department called to extract the driver, a 43-year-old man from St Julian’s, from the wreckage. (Times of Malta)
Covid-19 Update – 171 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Sunday, as 51 people recovered from the virus. The number of active cases has risen to 1,309. 48 Mater Dei Hospital patients currently have Covid, three of whom are in the ITU. (Independent)
Ukraine war may lead to shortages, price hikes – Imports of key commodities to Malta from Ukraine and Russia are critical, with certain products highly exposed to shortages and price hikes as a result of the war, the Malta Chamber of Commerce has warned. The manufacturing sector is particularly vulnerable, the chamber warned, as Russia’s invasion of its neighbour causes major disruption to world economies. (Times of Malta)
Political Surveys indicate a Labour Party Victory on March 26th but different gap
The Labour Party leads at the polls with an eight-point gap over the Nationalist Party, a one-point decline over seven days, MaltaToday’s rolling survey shows. At the end of the third week of the electoral campaign the PL registers 53.2% sup-port and the PN 44.8%. Third parties collectively have 2% support. The extrapolated result puts the gap between the two major parties at 25,996 votes, down from 27,265 last Sunday. The gap in the 2017 election stood at 35,000.
It-Torca’s survey, by pollster Vincent Marmara indicate a consistent trend, including the potential amount of absenteeism or undecidedness amongst voters. Through the methodology adopted by Marmara, the current polls done by Marmara show that the Labour Party is leading by 12.8%, which translates itself into a 39,000 vote gap.
Morning Briefing
Personal commitment to see M’forn breakwater ready – Abela
Prime Minister Robert Abela expressed a personal commitment to deliver the breakwater project in Marsalforn, Gozo. “The breakwater project will be concluded as per the masterplan and I offer my commitment for it.” The PL leader also shared Labour’s plans to reduce traffic in Rabat and for Gozo to reach climate neutrality. Abela touched on other issues including the developments in Ukraine, re-iterating a commitment that despite the increase in energy prices, Labour would ensure price stability.
Gozitan workers will be paid for ferry travel – PN
Gozitan workers who travel regularly to Malta will be paid for the voyage time, for the two legs of the journey, according to an electoral pledge presented by PN leader Bernard Grech on Saturday. While the Nationalist Party will focus on improving and investing in more work opportunities in Gozo, Grech said he is aware some workers will continue working in Malta. “That is why with us, your wage will include the moment you board the ferry in Gozo, until the moment you disembark the ferry again in Gozo,” Grech said in Għajnsielem. Turning to development, Grech re-iterated his question on whether Prime Minister Robert Abela was involved in a recent devision which approved a huge blockof apartments next to Sannat cliffs.
Covid-19 Update
A 99-year old man died while Covid-19 positive over the past 24hrs, the health authorities said. The active case tally continues to edge up, with 127 new cases and 86 recoveries. 1189 persons are currently infected, with 48 of them requiring treatment in hospital.
