Morning Briefing

Tourism takes a hit from coronavirus: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent speaks to Hotels and Restaurants CEO Andrew Agius Muscat who said that the tourism sector has been negatively affected by the Covid-19 outbreak but dismissed fears that the…

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Roderick Grech murder case opens in court: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont follows the case in court against Etienne Bartolo, accused of stabbing Roderick Grech to death. The court heard that in his last words the victim cried the alleged killer’s…

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Malta’s Editors’ Viewpoints

Thursday’s full newspaper racks provide us with a variety of discussion leads. While the recent Hamrun tragedy continues to dominate editorial reflections, the economy, migration and AI also make their…

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Air Malta to start flights to Ghana this year: The Headlines – The Malta Business Weekly

The Malta Business Weekly leads with plans by Air Malta to launch direct flights to Ghana from Malta in the second half of this year. The CEO of the Ghana…

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Trade mission to Ghana signs MOUs: The Headlines – Business Today

Business Today reports on a diplomatic and trade mission to Malta led by Economy Minister Silvio Schembri. The Maltese delegation signed five MOUs with counterparts in sectors including entrepreneurship and…

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Tourism feeling the virus threat: The Headlines – The Times

The Times carries an interview with Hotels and Restaurants Association President Tony Zahra discussing the effects of coronavirus on the industry. Zahra said that tourism has taken a hit as…

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Activist warns MPs on prostitution law proposals: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent follows a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs during which women’s rights activist Anna Borg argued that the legalisation of prostitution would be ‘a gift’ to…

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Social Partners meeting on coronavirus today: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont reports that constituted bodies will today discuss coronavirus developments at a special meeting in Castille and says that the General Workers Union will demand clarifications on issues surrounding quarantine.…

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Delia calls out construction reform failures: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reports on the reactions to the tragedy in Ħamrun by PN Leader. Adrian Delia said that it is now clear that the building reform “quickly announced” by Minister Ian…

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Ram Tumuluri says he turned down €5 million entitlement: The Headlines – Malta Today

Malta Today carries a reaction by former Vitals Healthcare Group CEO Ram Tumuluri who denied claims that he gave himself a €5 million payment. He acknowledged, though, that the contract…

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Six people in custody in connection with Ħamrun collapse: The Headlines – The Times

The Times leads with the arrest of six people over the fatal construction accident in Ħamrun om Monday that left a woman dead under the collapse of her own home.…

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Prime Minister to order revision of building regulations: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont says that House Speaker accepted a request by Opposition Leader Adrian Delia to discuss Monday’s catastrophe at a Ħamrun construction site. Prime Minister Robert Abela announced a revision of…

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Miriam Pace remembered by family and acquaintances: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent follows reactions to the tragic death of Miriam Pace who was described as a “kind and devoted woman” by people who knew her. Pace’s daughter wrote on social…

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Victim died in her birthday week: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that Miriam Pace would have celebrated her 55th birthday this coming Sunday. The paper says that there is complete silence in the area after the collapse, with a…

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Magħtab farmers meet Prime Minister: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont covers a meeting between Prime Minister Robert Abela and Magħtab farmers at Castille. The farmers are objecting to expropriation plans to expand the WasteServ facility in the area onto…

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Ħamrun accident victim identified: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reports the crumbling of the private house in Ħamrun and identifies the victim as a 55-year-old mother of two known to friends and family as Miriam Pace. The paper…

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Woman killed in house collapse next to construction site: The Headlines – The Times

The Times leads with the caving in of a house in Ħamrun on Monday afternoon, trapping 55-year-old Maria Assunta Pace under the rubble who was eventually found dead by rescuers.…

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Sex worker calls for decriminalisation: The Headlines – The Malta Independent

The Independent carries an interview with a sex worker who is advocating for decimalisation of sex work, arguing that it offers the safest conditions allowing workers to screen and refuse…

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Maltese Editors’ Viewpoints

The environment takes centre stage in the Maltese printed press this Tuesday morning, while politics and democracy dominate the English-speaking leaders. The latest Eurobarometer survey feeds the discussion for the…

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Maltese Editors’ Viewpoints

Four different topics are tackled by our local editors in Monday’s print, discussing some of the themes which would have made it to Sunday’s lunch tables. The Independent seeks to…

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Melvin Theuma called on Castille after murder: The Headlines – The Times

The Times reveals that self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma visited Castille for a second time three weeks after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. On this occasion he met with Keith Schembri’s…

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MEUSAC head confident direct EU funds could compensate for smaller budget: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent speaks to the head of the Malta-EU Steering Committee, Mandy Falzon, who said that if the country’s financial allocation in the EU Budget is reduced, Malta could still…

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MCESD to discuss Covid-19 implications: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont says that the Economic and Social Forum is expected to discuss the quarantine and leave mechanism at a meeting on the coronavirus this week. Health authorities will brief partners…

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Adrian Delia wants hospitals to be returned to the state: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who insisted that Malta can manage its own healthcare system and said that the opposition will not allow overseas companies to ‘rob families’ in…

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Adrian Delia trails Robert Abela by 37 points nationally: The Headlines – It-Torċa

It-Torċa publishes survey results indicating a 37-percentage point gap in trust ratings between Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Adrian Delia. The report says that the Labour Party would…

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Joseph Muscat coaxing international art dealer into launching precious wares freeport: The Headlines – Malta Today

Malta Today reveals that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has written to Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier proposing the setting up of a Freeport for precious goods in Malta. Known…

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European Commission urges Malta to prepare for sustainability challenges: The Headlines – The Independent on Sunday

The Independent on Sunday quotes the Malta Semester Report by the European Commission which warns that while the country’ economy is growing fast it is also facing long-term sustainability challenges.…

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Steward Healthcare owes millions in tax arrears: The Headlines – The Sunday Times

The Sunday Times speaks to government sources who said that US healthcare prover must pay back between €12 and €15 million in taxes and social security arrears or risk being…

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Leadership election casualties in the Labour Party: The Headlines- Illum

Illum says that following the sacking of Randolph Debattista from PL CEO, other officials within the party are being side-lined. Among them, a member of the Fearne leadership election team…

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New MPs for Districts 9 and 12 to be elected by mid-March: The Headlines – Kullħadd

Kullħadd reports that the causal elections for the parliamentary seats vacated by MPs Simon Busuttil and Marthese Portelli are likely to be held on March 13. There are 23 candidates…

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Magħtab farmers block major road in protest: The Headlines – Il-Mument

Il-Mument reports on a protest by Magħtab farmers on Saturday where they blocked the roads with farming equipment. Full-time farmers said that they were not consulted over plans to expand…

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Jump in Maltese dissatisfied with state of democracy: The Headlines – The Times

The Times quotes a Eurobarometer survey conducted over the last two weeks of November showing that 46 percent of people in Malta were dissatisfied with the state of democracy, a…

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Chamber of Commerce frustrated by lack of clarity over virus: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent says that the Chamber of Commerce is calling for ‘clarity’ on the coronavirus and its possible impact on industrial relations. The Chamber expressed disappointment at the cancellation of…

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GWU requests urgent MCESD meeting over Covid-19: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont says that the General Workers Union has written to the president of the Council for Economic and Social Development request a meeting to discuss the coronavirus. GWU secretary general…

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Magħtab farmers file judicial protest against WasteServ expansion: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reports that 25 farmers with land in Magħtab have filed a judicial protest against plans published in the government gazette to expropriate agricultural property to increase the WasteServ plant…

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Marthese Portelli resigns from Parliament: The Headlines – The Times

The Times leads with the resignation of Opposition MP Marthese Portelli from parliament. She announced her decision in a social media post on Thursday where she said she would “cherish”…

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Robert Abela fires Labour Party CEO: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reports on the sacking of Labour Party CEO Randolph Debattista by party leader Robert Abela. The paper says that Debattista was close to deputy leader Chris Fearne and the…

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Traffic police section gets new inspector, recruits: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent reveals that a new police inspector and 12 officers have been recruited by the traffic police unit to alleviate the shortage. The sector lost more than three-quarters of…

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Market prices for sanitizers spiralling: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont says that people are angered by the rising prices of hand sanitizers following the international outbreak of the coronavirus. The people spoke to an employee at a pharmacy who…

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Malta’s Editors’ Viewpoints

The recent wave of panic that has grappled certain sections of the Maltese population following a number of coronavirus-related deaths in Italy, has led a number of Editors to call…

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MFSA launches document on security token offerings

The Malta Business Weekly says that the Financial Services Authority published a document to answer questions about security token offerings. The release concludes a long process of consultation and feedback…

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Medical checks at Freeport to go ahead

Business Today reports that an agreement has been reached at the Malta Freeport to inspect all incoming ship crews. Port workers this week refused to board vessels and handle cargo…

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Calls for organisational overhaul within the police

The Independent speaks to academic and former police inspector Mary Muscat who said that the Malta Police Force first needs to build ‘organisational justice’ before it can regain the trust…

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Maltese Supermarket sales surge with virus fears

The Times says that major supermarkets in Malta reported double the average in sales on Tuesday after customers were gripped by panic buying over coronavirus fears. Some supermarkets saw sales…

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PM commits to government ‘liberal agenda’

L-Orizzont covers a meeting between Prime Minister Robert Abela and the Malta Gay Rights Movement. Abela said that the ‘liberal agenda’ of the government will continue and that discrimination will…

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MUMN president says Covid-19 preparations are not enough

In-Nazzjon quotes the president of the Midwives and Nurses Union, Paul Pace, who said that there are “only 14 beds” available across Malta and Gozo in the event of a…

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Editors’ ViewPoints

Today’s Editors deliver a number of strong messages on migration and the environment, calling for an increased sense of justice in Malta’s approach on these matters. Maltatoday’s midweek Editorial delivers…

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Vitals CEO helped himself to €5 million bonus: The Headlines – Malta Today

Malta Today reveals that the former CEO of Vitals Global Healthcare, Ram Tumuluri, had given himself a €5 million bonus in his third year at the helm of the privatised…

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Rebel PN MPs scrap duumvirate proposal: The Headlines – The Times

The Times speaks to one of the 17 Nationalist MPs calling for Adrian Delia’s resignation who said that plans for a separate leadership of party and opposition have been discarded…

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Health authorities reassure the public over coronavirus: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont follows a press conference on Tuesday addressed by Public Health Superintended Charmaine Gauci who said that authorities are using all available measures to take precautions against the coronavirus. The…

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Infection Control chief calls for calm: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent quotes Michael Borg, head of the Infection Control department at Mater Dei, who said that it is more important for people to sanitise their hands than to wear…

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Maltese couple ordered to stay indoors following Italy trip: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that PN Leader Adrian Delia will take part in a special edition of TV programme Sorsi Infurmati on Wednesday which will discuss the government’s transfer of three state…

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Justin Borg indicted for murder – The Independent

The Independent leads with the indictment of Justin Borg who stands accused of killing his former partner Chantelle Chetcuti by stabbing her repeatedly in the head. A court heard the…

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Chantelle Chetcuti father takes witness stand – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont follows the testimony in court of Eugenio Chetcuti, the father of Chantelle Chetcuti who was murdered this month in Żabbar. He said that the greatest pain for him was…

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Insufficient staff to operate coronavirus screening – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that there is not enough staff to manage the screening of arriving passengers at the airport and the cruise liner terminal. The government announced on Monday that thermal…

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Prisoner who died in cell identified – The Times

The Times identifies the 72-year-old inmate who was found dead in his cell in Corradino as an accomplice in the 2001 killing of traffic warden Fortunata Mizzi. The family of…

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Maltese Editors’ Viewpoints

In a refreshing change to politically-loaded editorials, two editors today focus on architectural and cultural progress and professional development. The Times celebrates Malta’s architectural style, which in recent years has…

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