Morning Briefing

Malta: UK green list eludes tourism sector

The Times leads with the decision by the British government not to add any new countries to the travel green list. Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo said that the government had…

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Malta: Opposition slams government’s environmental record

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Bernard Grech who criticised the government track record in the environment sector and said that the PN has presented various proposals on the subject. Parliament was…

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Malta: Murder middleman was pressed to delete secret recordings

L-Orizzont quotes self-confessed witness Melvin Theuma who said that an individual had pressured him to eliminate all recordings related to the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. The person’s identity cannot…

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Malta: Transport authority applies for office space in public garden

The Independent reports that Transport Malta filed a planning application to build office space and a restaurant in Gżira as part of a wider yacht marina project. The one-story building…

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Malta: PN to announce mental health proposals

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who announced that the party is working on a plan for mental health reform. Speaking during a Q&A session, Grech said that the proposals…

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Malta: Public Sector to invest €200 in digital services

L-Orizzont quotes principal permanent secretary Mario Cutajar who said that Malta ranks fifth in the EU for digital society. Cutajar announced that the public sector is investing some €200 million…

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Malta: PN promises to buy private Ħondoq ir-Rummien land if elected

The Independent speaks to PN sources who pledged to buy the area around Ħondoq ir-Rummien and turn it into a public park, if elected to government. Residents and activists have…

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Malta: Lawyers skip Gozo court sittings in protest

The Times says that sittings at the Gozo law courts were postponed on Wednesday as lawyers failed to turn up in protest. In a joint statement, they highlighted a series…

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Malta: Police warn about surge in online scams

The Malta Business Weekly carries an interview with Cyber Crime Unit Sergeant Joseph Louis Xerri who warned that online scams are on the rise and appealed for vigilance by the…

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Malta: Government launches residence scheme for digital nomads

Business Today reports on the launch of a new Nomad Residence Permit aimed at non-EU remote workers, freelancers, and business owners. Candidates can obtain a one-year residence permit in Malta…

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Malta: Venice Commission disagrees with government on Constitutional amendments

In-Nazzjon says that the Venice Commission challenged attempts by the government to amend definitions in the Constitution relating to the administration to penalties by a simple majority in parliament. The…

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Malta: Murder suspects write to EU Commissioner for Justice

The Times reports that George and Alfred Degiorgio wrote to the EU Commissioner for Justice protesting a Cabinet decision against their pardon request. The brothers accuse the government of a…

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Malta: Covid-19 vouchers downloaded more than 80,000 times

L-Orizzont reports that more than 80,000 people have downloaded the Covid-19 vouchers announced by the government. Economy Minister Silvio Schembri urged people to get the vouchers in digital form. Another…

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Malta: Authorities cautious ahead of possible UK green-listing

The Independent says that British media is forecasting that Malta will be added to the UK’s green travel list this Thursday. Public Health Superintendent Charmain Gauci said that authorities are…

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Malta: Government raises employment concerns with food delivery operators

Malta Today says that food delivery companies were invited to a meeting with minister Carmelo Abela last week who warned the government would not accept a 50 per cent pay…

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Malta: Prime Minister non-committal about utility bills refunds

In-Nazzjon says that Prime Minister Robert Abela referred to a report by the Auditor General about the water and electricity bills issued by ARMS as a draft document. The paper…

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Malta: More than eight in ten lessees are foreign nationals

The Independent says that 14 per cent of lessees are Maltese nationals while 83 per cent are from overseas. The annual residential rental study by the housing authority showed that…

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Malta: Government mulling scrapping benchmark exams

L-Orizzont says that the Education Ministry is considering the removal of Benchmark examinations for children in the sixth year of school, favouring a system of ongoing assessment instead of end-of-year…

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Malta: Covid-19 certificates available from today

The Times leads with the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine certificates for fully vaccinated people. The downloadable passes allow holders to travel more easily, visit residents at homes of the…

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Malta: PN launches online service to double-check utility bills

In-Nazzjon says that the Nationalist Party launched an online form for households to submit and verify the amounts on their water and electricity bills. In a statement, the party said…

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Malta: Ombudsman slams selection process for police Assistant Commissioner

The Times reports that the Ombudsman was critical of the Police selection process for an Assistant Commissioner in 2016. Ruling on a complaint filed by Superintendent Raymond D’Anastasi, the Ombudsman…

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Malta: Women make almost half of public sector workforce

L-Orizzont says that the share of women working in the public sector rose from 35 per cent in 2008 to 48 per cent this year. Women currently make 36 per…

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Malta: Vaccination rate slows down

The Independent reports that some people have had their vaccine appointments postponed or were told that the administering centre had run out of doses. The paper observes that vaccinations went…

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Malta: Hundreds flock to PN HQ to have their utility bills checked

Il-Mument says that hundreds of people have visited the PN’s headquarters on Saturday after the party offered to check utility bills from ARMS for extra charges. Leader Bernard Grech said…

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Malta: General Workers Union calls for cannabis use reform

It-Torċa publishes a statement by the General Workers Union welcoming the white paper on recreational cannabis presented by the government. The union said it is in favour of reform on…

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Malta: Qala mayor demands ODZ status for Ħondoq ir-Rummien

The Independent on Sunday speaks with Qala mayor Paul Buttigieg who has been spearheading efforts to return Ħondoq ir-Rummien into ODZ. Buttigieg said that he was forced to stand up…

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Malta: Half of population agrees with capping of foreign workers

Illum publishes findings showing that half the population would favour quotas on the number of foreign workers in Malta. Just under a third are against any form or restrictions while…

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Malta: Apap Bologna steps down as Electrogas director

The Sunday Times reveals that Paul Apap Bologna has resigned as director of Electrogas following reports that he had set up a secret offshore company. He remains a director in…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma pardon covers involvement in multiple robberies

Malta Today says that state witness Melvin Theuma has been granted immunity for his involvement in a series of robberies on two HSBC banks and the Casino di Venezia between…

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Malta: PN registering complaints about utility bills

In-Nazzjon says that the PN received strong response to its call for information from consumers who were overcharged for their utilities. The party is inviting people to register their cases…

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Malta: Entertainment lobby aiming for July reopening

The Independent says that the Entertainment Industry and Arts association has submitted a set of proposals to authorities on the reopening of events. Association president Howard Keith Debono hoped for…

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Malta: Elderly care professionals concerned for residents

The Times speaks with the chair of the Care Homes Operators, Nathalie Farrugia Briffa, who warned that the mental health of elderly residents in homes is deteriorating quickly as Covid-19…

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Malta: Educators and parents disagree with benchmark exams

L-Orizzont says that parents and teachers have raised concerns about the benchmark exams for students in year six. An educator told the paper that the exams do not consider the…

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Malta: Shortage of staff hampers restaurants after difficult year

The Times reports that restaurants are facing a challenge in finding staff after many workers either left the industry or the country altogether. At least twelve restaurant owners have raised…

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Malta: PN Leader sets alternative energy goals

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who pledged to refund families for any extra charges in their utility bills. He said theparty wants to incentivise people to invest in alternative…

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Malta: Finance Minister welcomes MoneyVal assessment result

L-Orizzont quotes Finance Minister Clyde Caruana who welcomed the announcement that Malta has passed the MoneyVal test. He said the government will work to keep strengthening the country’s position. Read…

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Malta: Non-compliance ratings lifted by MoneyVal

The Independent leads with a statement by the Council of Europe declaring that Malta no longer has non-compliant ratings and has, thus, passed the MoneyVal assessment. The Council’s report said…

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Malta: Government to probe Eurovision promotion budget

The Times reports that the government has ordered an investigation into the funds used by the Tourism Authority and the Public Broadcasting Services to promote Malta’s entry in the Eurovision.…

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Malta: PN pledges refunds for cases of overcharging by ARMS

In-Nazzjon coves a press conference by PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that a report by the Auditor General confirms warnings by the party that eight in ten families were…

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Malta: United Nations questions army’s tactics with migrants

The Independent quotes a report by the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights which says that the Maltese army employed measures to impede migrants at sea from reaching Malta. The…

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Malta: New legal notice allows victims of crime can apply for refunds

L-Orizzont quotes Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis who announced a new legal notice that makes victims of crime eligible for refunds when they cooperate with authorities to solve criminal procedures.…

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More than 560 businesses supported by Malta Development Bank: The Headline- Business Today

Business Today speaks with the Chairman of the Malta Development Bank about the Covid-19 Guarantee Scheme which extended a lifeline to many businesses struggling during the pandemic. The instrument supported…

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Malta: Gaming Authority CEO confident about future of industry

The Malta Business Weekly carries an interview with Gaming Authority CEO Carl Brincat who said that the industry has shown resilience in a difficult scenario. He said the authority is…

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Employers urge government to publish names of persons of trust: The Headline – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon publishes a statement by the Malta Employers Association calling for the publication of persons engaged as ‘persons of trust’ in the public sector. The association appealed for transparency and…

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Malta: Divorce law amendments make it through second reading

L-Orizzont reports that parliament approved amendments to the divorce law in their second reading on Tuesday. The four-year waiting period before filing for divorce will be reduced to a few…

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Malta: National airline to circumvent Belarus airspace

Malta Today says that Air Malta will avoid flying over Belarussian airspace, following a decision by EU ministers on Monday. A spokesperson said the airline would follow the procedure even…

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Malta: General Auditor flags extra charges for utilities

The Times says that an audit into the effectiveness of smart meters and water meters by the Auditor General found that ARMS may have overcharged consumers for water and electricity…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma links freemasonry to murder plot

The Independent follows the testimony in court of self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma who said that an individual involved in freemasonry was to pay €100,000 for the murder of Daphne Caruana…

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Malta: PN launches prison reform plan

In-Nazzjon quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that the government is in talks with the church and stakeholders in the entertainment industry to explore relaxation of Covid-19 measures related…

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Malta: Degiorgrio brothers file judicial protest against Prime Minister

The Independent reports that brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio filed a judicial protest claiming that public comments by the Prime Minister last week describing them as “criminals” prejudiced their right…

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Malta: Enemalta makes €30 million loss in 2020

The Times says that Enemalta registered losses of about €30 million last year, the first time since 2015. A spokesperson for the electricity provider said that damage to the interconnector…

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Malta: Covid-19 herd immunity officially reached

L-Orizzont quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who announced on Monday that Malta officially reached herd immunity against the Covid-19 virus after 70 per cent of the adult population received at…

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Malta: PN says site for motorsport track identified

In-Nazzjon says that the PN has identified an area for a motorsport track that would not eat into rural land. Party leader Bernard Grech said that the sector includes a…

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Malta: Planning Authority chair comments irk NGOs

The Times says that Planning Authority executive chairman Martin Saliba came under fire from environmental NGOs for comments to a paper defending the fast rate of development. Activists said the…

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Malta: Prime Minister says caution is necessary over Covid-19

The Independent covers a speech by the Prime Minister on Sunday who defended the government’s plan to reopen businesses and social activities gradually. Robert Abela said that a sudden reopening…

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Malta: Milestone 500,000 vaccinations within sight

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who announced that the country is close to reaching half a million vaccinations. He said that this is n important milestone in the fight…

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Malta: General Workers Union sets up new educators’ section

It-Torċa announces the creation of a new section within the General Worker Union focusing on educators. The union said it wants to represent all education specialists with transparency and a…

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