Morning Briefing

Malta: Tourist boat out to pick up rescued migrants

The Times reveals that a tourist boat left Sliema on Thursday afternoon to pick up migrants rescued in Maltese waters. The Captain Morgan boat will initially take 57 people aboard…

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Malta: UĦM CEO says country is not at crisis point

The Independent publishes an interview with Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin CEO Josef Vella who said that statistics for March do not indicate any crisis situation but warned that it is too…

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Malta: GWU Secretary General says pandemic illustrates role of trade unions

L-Orizzont quotes General Workers Union secretary general Josef Bugeja who said that the ongoing emergency demonstrates how important it is for workers to be part of a trade union. The…

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Malta: Four-fifths of IIP funds channeled to rescue schemes

The Times quotes Finance Minister Edward Scicluna who told social partners that Malta’s GDP is forecasted to fall by 5.4 percent this year before rebounding by 3.9 percent in 2021.…

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Malta: Chris Cardona to stay on as PL deputy leader after resigning MP seat

In-Nazzjon says that PL deputy leader for party affairs Chris Cardona is entitled to stay in the position until after the next general election even if he resigns his parliamentary…

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Malta: UĦM calls for cancellation of Steward deal

The Independent publishes an interview with Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin CEO Josef Vella who urged the government to cancel the agreement with Steward Healthcare and use the subsidies to support household…

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Malta: Active Covid-19 cases stand at 120

L-Orizzont reports on five new Covid-19 cases discovered from more than 1,200 swab tests conducted on Tuesday. Meanwhile, 36 patients were confirmed recovered taking the number of active cases down…

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Malta: First case of Kawasaki disease reported

The Malta Business Weekly quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who said that a case of Kawasaki disease has been reported in Malta. The disease, which is thought to be…

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Malta: Two in five employers unsatisfied with state aid schemes

The Independent says that, according to a study by the Employers Association, 38 percent of companies find the government schemes in the government’s rescue package “extremely ineffective”. Another report publishes…

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Malta: Roadworks to continue after government sets dumping rates

Malta Today reveals that the government intervened to fix the price of construction dumping at €12 per tonne at the Wied Inċita quarry in Attard. Roadworks had to be suspended…

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Malta: Police decide against prosecuting ‘suspect’ Satabank customers

The Times says 25 of 54 customers of shuttered bank Satabank suspected of criminal activity have not been prosecuted by the police, allowing them to walk away with more than…

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Malta: Opposition urges MPs to side with the country over Steward deal

In-Nazzjon covers a press conference by the Nationalist Party ahead of a parliamentary motion discussing the revocation of the Stewart agreement. Party leader Adrian Delia said that MPs have a…

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Malta: GWU marks 1958 general strike

L-Orizzont leads with the commemoration of the April 1958 general strike by the General Worker Union. Josef Bugeja, secretary general of the GWU said that the nation is, once again,…

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Malta: Seven in ten professionals hit hard by the outbreak

The Independent leads with survey results indicating that 70 percent of professionals reported financial losses of more than half their regular income because of the Covid-19 disruption. The study was…

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Malta: Maltese companies stoking the conflict in Libya

The Times says that Malta-based companies feature in an international investigation tracing weapons and military equipment to Libyan revolutionary forces led by General Haftar in an ongoing war with the…

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Malta: One-month-old baby recovered from the virus

L-Orizzont reports that new-born who contracted Covid-19 has recovered from the infection but is being kept in hospital for other conditions. Meanwhile, two new cases tested positive for the disease…

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Malta: Local councils demand urgent action of halted roadworks

In-Nazzjon quotes a statement by the Association of Local Councils which urges the authorities to find an immediate solution to the building material disposal problem, after all roadworks came to…

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Malta: First day without new Covid-19 cases since start of outbreak

L-Orizzont announces that no new Covid-19 cases were recorded on Sunday, the first time in seven weeks. Health Minister Chris Fearne said that measures could be eased but warned about…

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Malta: Lifting of first measures expected this week

The Times claims that the first coronavirus restrictions are expected to be relaxed this week but says that ministers and government advisers disagree over which businesses should be allowed to…

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Malta: Adrian Delia says Steward hospitals must be given back

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that a Nationalist government would cancel the agreement with Steward Healthcare and return the hospitals to the public. Delia said that the…

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Malta: Crowds gathering on roofs cannot be legally disperased

The Independent says that the police have no legal right to stop residents of the former Paloma Hotel from gathering on the roof. Social media comments raised alarm over people…

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Malta: Pilots seeking early retirement at 50

Malta Today reveals that the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations has agreed to plans by Air Malta to lay off 108 pilots. The paper says that the pilot’s union…

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Malta: Maltese arms dealer charged over breaches in Libya

The Sunday Times says that a Maltese arms dealer, James Fenech, is facing charges for breaching EU sanctions on Libya by transporting private contractors out of the north African country…

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Malta: Former PN minister commends handling of pandemic

The speaks to former PN Health Minister Joe Cassar who praised authorities for following WHO guidelines closely and succeeding in flattening the curve. Cassar said he would not have made…

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Malta: Over €14 million in rescue funds delivered

Kullħadd says more than €14 million have been released by the government so far to address jobs under threat. The paper says that separate measures by the Economy Ministry and…

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Malta: Unemployment increase of 466 from February

It-Torċa quotes figures by the National Statistics Office which show an increase of 466 people on the unemployment register from February to March. The paper says that the government’s interventions…

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Malta: Adrian Delia demands lower utility rates

Il-Mument quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who insists that the water and electricity rates should be lowered by half to reflect the drop in oil prices. He said that families…

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Malta: Lockdown on shops unlikely to be eased

Illum speaks to shop owners following indications by Health Minister Chris Fearne that the restrictive measures on retail outlets will not be lifted anytime soon. The paper asks how longer…

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Malta: All roadworks to be halted

The Times reveals that all roadworks are coming to a halt as dumping sites for construction waste have reached their full capacity. Infrastructure Malta informed contractors to stop all project…

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Malta: Revised fuel station policy published

The Independent covers the publishing of a revised Fuel Station Policy by the Ministry for Planning. The new regulations envisage a cap on the number of petrol pumps as well…

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Malta: Adrian Delia says PN supports sustainable hunting

In-Nazzjon reports that PN Leader Adrian Delia visited the police headquarters on Friday to thank the police for their dedication in the Covid-19 emergency. Delia said that laws must be…

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Malta: Separated people facing difficulties in emergency

L-Orizzont speaks to lawyer Robert Thake about problems faced by separated people who lost their jobs in the crisis but are still required to pay their maintenance. The lawyer says…

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Malta: No agreement over collapsed block after a year

The Independent marks one year since the collapse of a block of apartments In Gwardamangia Hill. The residents said that, so far, no agreement, has been reached with developers working…

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Malta: National airline resumes talks with employees

The Times reveals that Air Malta is holding talks with unions representing its cabin crew and pilots in an effort to save jobs. The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations…

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Malta: No concerns by families of elderly patients treated at Gozo hotel

L-Orizzont speaks to relatives of patients who have been relocated from the Gozo hospital geriatric wing to the Downtown hotel in Victoria. Family members say that the patients are being…

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Malta: Adrian Delia expects European partners to help with migration

In-Nazzjon covers a special virtual summit of the European People’s Party leaders which discussed the impact of the Covid-19 emergency on immigration. PN Leader Adrian Delia said that the EU…

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Malta: Fearne anticipates lifting of Covid-19 measures

The Times quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who said in parliament that restrictive measures linked to the coronavirus spread could start to be relaxed in the coming days. He warned,…

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Malta: Birdlife denounces thousands of ‘illegal’ hunter’s licences

The Independent reports that Birdlife Malta has filed a criminal complaint over some 6,000 hunting licences issued by the Ministry of Gozo. The NGO said that, according to law, only…

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Malta: Company in Malta reported to OCCRP for fraud

The Malta Business Weekly reports that a Malta-based company has been reported to the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project over misleading face masks advertising targeting people in the US.…

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Malta: Chamber of SMEs says tourism has work cut out

Business Today carries an interview with Chamber of SMEs deputy president Philip Fenech who said that it will take the tourism sector a long time to reach the level of…

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Malta: Parliamentary motion to cancel Steward agreement

In-Nazzjon reports that the Opposition filed a motion in parliament requesting the revocation of the hospital concession deal with Steward Healthcare. The motion is expected to be debated in the…

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Malta: GWU rejects proposal to reduce public sector wages

L-Orizzont says that the General Workers Union is opposing a proposal by the Employers Association to reduce the salaries of employees in the public sector who are currently out of…

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Malta: Areas in Mellieħa could be handed over to hunters

Malta Today claims that the Prime Minister is considering a proposal to turn areas in Miżieb and L-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa into hunting grounds. The paper says that the plans were floated…

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Malta: Decision to allow high-rises in Mrieħel coincided with Castille meeting

The Times reveals that instructions to the Planning Authority CEO to allow high-rise buildings in Mrieħel were issued the same day that planning parliamentary secretary Michael Farrugia met Tumas Group…

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Malta: Gozo tourism operators worried about the future

The Independent quotes survey results by the Gozo Tourism Association which reveals that 84 percent of members see a difficult future for the island’s tourism after Covid-19. Respondents are calling…

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Malta: Unemployment back to 2017 levels

L-Orizzont says that unemployment levels in March were similar to figures registered in December 2017, counting 2,125 jobless. The paper says that the government’s rescue measures are limiting the impact…

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Malta: MEA demands lower electricity rates

In-Nazzjon reports calls by the Malta Employers’ Association for energy prices to be lowered with immediate effect to reflect international oil prices. The association says that consumers are paying more…

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Malta: Pilots to take Air Malta, Economy Minister to court

The Independent reports that the Air Malta pilots’ union filed a judicial protest against the airline and the Economy Minister after the dismissal of 108 members. The union said that…

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Malta: Pardon for Caruana Galizia murder suspect under consideration

The Times says that sources close to the Daphne Caruana Galizia investigation confirmed that authorities are considering granting one of the suspected hitmen, Vincent Muscat, a presidential pardon in exchange…

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Malta: Reduction in active Covid-19 cases

L-Orizzont reports that the number of active Covid-19 cases continued to decrease on Monday after eight patients were confirmed recovered and four new people tested positive. There are currently 302…

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Malta: Employers concerned over salaries

In-Nazzjon quotes a report by the Chamber of SMEs which says that the primary concern of businesses is the payment of salaries. The paper says that 87 percent of employers…

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Malta: Air Malta to sack four-fifths of pilots tomorrow

In-Nazzjon reports that Air Malta has called off meetings with its pilots and withdrew offers for pay-cuts. The paper says that the carrier is expected to lay off 80 percent…

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Malta: Supermarket chief says e-commerce increased fourfold

L-Orizzont carries an interview with Charles Borg, the CEO of PG Group which runs the Pavi and Pama supermarkets. Borg said that online shopping grew by four times since the…

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Malta: PM and Opposition Leader trade blows over criminal complaint

The Independent leads with a war of words between the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader over a criminal complaint filed by NGO Repubblika to investigate the deaths of migrants…

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Malta: Concerns over growing truancy patterns

The Times says that students missed an average of just under 12 days of school in the 2017-2018, continuing an upward trend in unauthorised absenteeism over the years. Authorities fear…

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Malta: A third of private sector employees concerned over jobs

The Sunday Times says that a third of employees in the private sector fear losing their jobs as a result of the coronavirus impact on the economy. A survey commissioned…

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Malta: Air Malta bracing itself for €130 million loss

Malta Today estimates that Air Malta will register a loss of €130 million by the start of summer between ticket refunds and direct losses. The paper says the airline says…

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