Morning Briefing

Malta: Social partners welcome aid measures

The Malta Business Weekly leads with positive reactions by employers’ associations and trade unions to the third aid package announced by government this week. Prime Minister Abela said that the…

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Malta: Bankers rebuff windfall tax recommendations

Business Today says that the Malta Bankers Association came out against suggestions of a windfall tax on profits made by local banks. The MBA defended ‘super-profits’ and said that banking…

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Maltese Editors’ Viewpoints

Today's Editorials take a step back to reflect on the repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis, thinking about the present but also about life in the coming months. The Times of…

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Malta: Adrian Delia insists on lower electricity rates: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said the government was being “reactive and selective” in its new financial aid measures. Delia also criticised the government for refusing to lower…

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Malta: Covid-19 cases are still rising

The Independent says that the number of confirmed cases rose to 110 after three more people tested positive by Tuesday. Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci warned that, despite a lower…

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Malta: Revised aid package to support 60,000 employees

The Times says that the new rescue package unveiled by the Prime Minister on Tuesday will guarantee a salary of €1,200 to around 60,000 workers. The state will fund €800…

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Malta: New incentives added to previously announced measures

L-Orizzont says that the new relief plan for business by the government will effectively pay a week’s salary for every employee in critical sectors that were forced to shut down.…

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Malta: Government unveils new rescue measures for business

Malta Today leads with the announcement of a third set of financial measures by the government focusing on businesses in the hardest-hit sectors. Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the…

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Covid-19 Bulletin Malta – Wednesday 25th March 2020

Update 1402 Opposition Leader Adrian Delia insisted that Government was reacting too late to developments related to the economic and health developments. Delia said that a number of companies had…

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Covid-19 Bulletin Malta – Tuesday 24th March 2020

Update 2054 PM Robert Abela has announced a third set of economic set of measures after a number of constituted bodies as well as economists had expressed their dissatisfaction…

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Maltese Editors’ Viewpoints

Today's Editors share their views on the current crisis, repeat appeals for collaboration and stronger economic support. The Times of Malta looks again at the economic impact of the current…

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Malta: Most Covid-19 cases were contact-traced

The Times quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who said that many of the Covid-19 are being actively traced by authorities and the number of patients reporting contagion themselves remains…

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Malta: Banks introduce concessions to help clients

The Independent says that several banks are offering moratoria and incentives for personal clients to ease repayments of home loans and other services. Banks said they are also engaging with…

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Malta: New relief initiatives for businesses to be launched

L-Orizzont reveals that new measures to support businesses and protect jobs will be announced by government following a Cabinet meeting on Monday night. The paper says the decisions came after…

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Malta: PN proposes specific Covid-19 fund for Gozo

In-Nazzjon says that the Nationalist Party proposed a set of measures addressing the needs of Gozo, including the setting up of a special fund. PN Leader Adrian Delia said that…

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Maltese Editors’ Viewpoints

Authorities are constantly in the news about their actions to contrast the health and economic impact. But the public have a significant role to play to ensure a rapid resolution…

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Malta: Non-essential businesses close indefinitely

The Times leads with government’s order for closure of shops and services that fall within the non-essential category to limit the spread of the virus. The mandatory shutdown is effective…

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Malta: PN Leader accuses government of penny-pinching with workers

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that the government is being tight-fisted with business and workers and called for an improved aid package that ‘re-invests’ the wealth created…

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Malta: Covid-19 cases reach 90 in two weeks

The Independent reports that 17 new coronavirus cases have been found by the health authorities, ten of which were travel related and the rest were locally transmitted. This brings the…

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Malta: Prime Minister hints at new stimulus package for companies

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that the government wants to rescue businesses and make sure that jobs are not lost, indicating that new measures to support companies…

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LiveUpdate: Covid19 Malta Bulletin – Monday 23rd March 2020

Update 2135 In a statement this evening, the Chamber of Commerce said that it was analysing the results of a survey conducted over the weekend with its members on the…

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Malta: Three in four concerned about impact on their finances

The Sunday Times publishes survey results showing that nine in ten people believe the virus outbreak will cause significant damage to Malta. Three-fourths of respondents said that the situation will…

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Malta: Equality Minister warns employers against taking advantage of crisis

It-Torċa quotes Justice and Equality Minister Edward Zammit Lewis who said that workers must not be used by employers to negotiate on their terms. The minister said that businesses should…

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Malta: Over 12,000 approved planning applications in a year

The Independent on Sunday says that 12,500 planning applications for dwellings were approved in 2019, around 400 less than the previous year. Apartments accounted for 85 percent of approved dwelling…

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Malta: Social partners urge government to beef up rescue plan

Illum speaks to trade unions and employers’ associations who said that, unless improved measures are introduced by government, businesses will fail, and jobs will be lost. They say that the…

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Malta: PN promises more proposals to support business

Il-Mument quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who urged government to allocate ‘serious and direct’ aid to safeguard the income of workers and their families. Delia said that the party will…

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Malta: Government relief plan does not go far enough

Malta Today argues that the Prime Minister must go all in to save the economy even if it means accumulating government debt. The paper says that the rescue package for…

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Malta: Covid-19 budget is higher than EU recommended minimum

Kullħadd says that the financial package announced by the government on Wednesday ‘exceeds the expectations’ of the European Council. The paper says that the €1.8 billion budget goes further than…

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Covid-19 Malta Daily Bulletin – Saturday 21st March 2020

Update 12:34 Prof Gauci announced that nine new cases were reported, from 233 swabs taken. These concern six Maltese nationals, a British woman, a Somali and an Indian. Two of…

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Malta: PN discusses outbreak with social partners

In-Nazzjon follows a meeting between the Nationalist Party and constituted bodies on Friday to discuss the virus emergency. PN leader Adrian Delia said that the party wants to provide peace…

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Malta: First Covid-19 patient with health complications

The Independent leads with updates from the Covid-19 situation in Malta as the number of confirmed cases rose to 64. One of the patients in the group of 11 admitted…

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Air pollution falls drastically over one month: The Headlines – The Times

The Times reports that nitrogen dioxide readings from morning rush hours have fallen by as much as 70 percent over the past month as schools remain closed and more people…

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Malta: Economist warns of virus impact on economic performance

L-Orizzont quotes economist Gordon Cordina who described the virus outbreak as a “shock” to economies around the world. He warned that the spread is likely to lead to a global…

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Maltese Editors’ Viewpoints

Two of today's Editorials analyse government's economic package, with the other two focusing on the required change in lifestyle imposed by the current situation. The Times of Malta’s Editorial looks…

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Malta: Employers and unions say rescue plan not satisfactory

The Times leads with reactions to the government business relief plan by employers and unions who were unanimous in their views that the proposals are not enough to save companies…

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Malta: Opposition lashes out at government aid measures

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Adrian Delia who criticized the rescue package laid out by the government. He said that the plan will only release €175 million in aid and not…

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Malta: Health authorities warn against false hope

L-Orizzont quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who warned that the fall in cases between Wednesday and Thursday is not a sign of a turning tide. She said that the…

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Malta: President appeals for national solidarity

The Independent quotes President George Vella who urged people to remind those who are in isolation that they are not forgotten. Vella assured the public that the health authorities are…

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Covid19 Malta Bulletin – Thursday 19th March 2020

Updated 12:51 "You are in good hands, and our healthcare system is one of the best. Be strong." This was the key message delivered by President George Vella in to…

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Malta: Government unveils €1.8 billion package for businesses

Business Today leads with the launch of a €1.8 billion rescue package for businesses. Government will pay €350 per employee on quarantine while companies that are requested to shut down…

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Malta: Special Covid-19 rescue budget launched

The Times reports on the government Covid-19 mini budget for business which will provide €700 million in tax deferrals, €900 million in loan guarantees and a direct boost of €210…

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Malta: Confirmed Covid-19 cases now 48

The Independent reports that Covid-19 cases in Malta rose to 48 by Wednesday and the disease has now infected two elderly persons for the first time. Public Health Superintendent Charmaine…

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Malta: PN presents proposals to aid affected businesses

In-Nazzjon publishes a series of proposals by the Nationalist Party to help businesses and sustain people’s livelihoods. The proposals include a 50 percent reduction of utility bills and a temporary…

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Malta: GWU appeals for employee equality

L-Orizzont Another report quotes a General Workers Union statement urging government to focus on priorities and not convenient decisions. The union said that all workers including third-country nationals must be…

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Malta: Coronavirus claims 8,000 lives globally: The Headlines

The Malta Business Weekly says that the global confirmed cases of coronavirus have reached 200,000, with virus-linked deaths exceeding 8,000. China reported 81,000 cases, the highest registered anywhere, followed by…

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Covid19 Malta Bulletin – Wednesday 18th March 2020

Update 20:21 Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that Government has prepared a 1.8 billion euro package to support the economy, business and families. Government's priority is that no jobs were…

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Maltese Editors’ Viewpoints

A time for civic responsibility is the key message shared by editors this morning. The Times of Malta uses its Editorial space to make a plea in favour of the…

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Malta: Coronavirus count rises to 38

The Independent reports that a three-year-old is among the latest patients to have been infected by the coronavirus. In her briefing on Tuesday, Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci said that…

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Malta: Economic recovery could take a year

The Times says that government-appointed economic experts warn that the Covid-19 pandemic could cause the economy to shrink by half and that it could take a year for the economy…

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Malta: Four new cases of local transmission

Malta Today says that Malta registered another four cases of local Covid-19 transmission between Monday and Tuesday. One of the latest patients contracted the virus at Mater Dei hospital while…

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Malta: Three-year-old Covid-19 patient doing well

L-Orizzont quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who said that the boy who tested positive for the virus first showed symptoms on Sunday but is in good health. The paper…

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Malta: Dead man found wrapped in plastic in Santa Luċija

In-Nazzjon identifies a person found dead and covered in garbage bags in Santa Luċija as the 63-year-old man who lived in the apartment with another man. The second resident has…

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Maltese Editors’ Viewpoints

Today’s Editorials remain focused on latest developments related to the spread of COVID19 with specific messages on education, health and the economy. The Times of Malta delivers quite a hard-hitting…

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Malta: First cases of local transmission

Keep up with the major coronavirus news and announcements with the Covid-19.Bulettin by CDEnews. Constantly updated.

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Malta: New directives order closure of social commercial venues

The Times leads with the government announcement that bars, restaurants, gyms and cinemas will remain closed from midnight to combat the virus contagion. The Prime Minister said that a plan…

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Malta: Harsher fines for skipping quarantine imposed

L-Orizzont announces a new legal notice which increases fines for violating quarantine to €3,000 daily. The paper says that over 375 spot check for mandatory quarantine were conducted by Monday…

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Malta: Coronavirus on parliament agenda for the first time

In-Nazzjon says that parliament will discuss the coronavirus outbreak today after the government accepted a request by the opposition. The paper says that Opposition Leader Adrian Delia has been pushing…

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