Morning Briefing

Malta: Speaker blocks urgent debate on Justice Minister

In-Nazzjon says that the Speaker turned down a request by the opposition for an urgent session to discuss a no-confidence motion in Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis. The government said…

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Malta: Police suspend assistant commissioner

The Times says that Assistant Police Commissioner Ian Abdilla has been suspended days after his name was mentioned several times in the publication of the Caruana Galizia report. Until recently,…

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Malta: Authorities planning Covid-19 booster shots

L-Orizzont says that the government is planning booster shots for the Covid-19 vaccine as lower levels of immunity are observed among certain groups of the population. Preparations for the roll-out…

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Malta: Government seeking new tourism niches

The Independent quotes Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo that the government is seeking sustainable and quality tourism, focusing on specific niches. The minister said that Malta is experiencing success in new…

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Malta: A third of early teens fully vaccinated

Malta Today says that nearly a third of people in the 12 to 15 age group have received their full dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The Health Ministry said that…

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Malta: PN promises Mġarr Harbour extension

In-Nazzjon leads with proposals by the PN for the enlargement of the Mġarr harbour to cater for higher traffic between the two islands. The party’s policy cluster focusing on Gozo…

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Malta: Human rights expert flags imprisonment of two women

The Times quotes international human rights lawyer John Pace who raised concerns about the imprisonment of two Turkish women last week. Pace warned that the sentence ‘seriously infringes’ Malta’s international…

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Malta: People watched more TV during the pandemic

L-Orizzont reports that TV viewership increased by an average daily of 12 minutes during the pandemic. The Broadcasting Authority annual report found that people aged 12 and over have watched…

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Malta: Justice minister resists calls to step down

The Independent publishes comments to journalists by Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis who defended his record and vowed not to resign. He said that reports about a private chat with…

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Malta: Prime Minister says government is committed to rule of law reform

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela that the government is committed to implementing the recommendations outlined in the Caruana Galizia public inquiry report. He said his administration will meet this…

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Malta: Prestigious war medal misplaced while being transferred to museum

The Independent says that the family of Brigadier Alfred Gatt is appealing to the public to help find a Military Cross awarded to the late Gallipoli war veteran. The high-level…

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Malta: Police acquire intelligence on Dubai offshore companies

The Times reveals that tax authorities have handed over data about 20 Maltese individuals with offshore companies in Dubai to the police financial crime unit. Last month, the Commissioner for…

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Malta: Opposition seeks no-confidence vote in Justice Minister

In-Nazzjon says that the Opposition will request an urgent debate in parliament to present a no-confidence motion in Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis. PN leader Bernard Grech said that the…

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Malta: PN leader urges candidates to pursue national interest

Il-Mument quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech that the party is focused on the country’s success. Addressing a seminar for electoral candidates and MPs, Grech said that everyone has a different…

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Malta: Concerns about worker exploitation in fishing industry

It-Torċa reports on cases of employment abuse against non-EU fishermen working on Maltese vessels. The paper says that the contracts the employees are offered leave out basic details such as…

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Malta: Safety authority chairman calls for higher standards in construction industry

The Independent on Sunday speaks with the new chairperson of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, David Xuereb, who said that safety standards need to be raised, especially on constructions…

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Malta: Government negotiations with Steward Healthcare ongoing

Illum says that talks between the government and Steward Healthcare over the management of the former state hospitals are at an advanced stage. Health Minister Chris Fearne said that whatever…

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Malta: Public inquiry indicates interference by Keith Schembri in police work

The Sunday Times reports from the Caruana Galizia inquiry which found that, as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Keith Schembri attempted to influence police investigations into 17 Black and…

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Malta: Authorities lay down rules for mass events

Malta Today says that the tourism authority set out specific Covid-19 protocols for those attending cultural events this summer. Attendees will be required to wear facemasks when not seated and…

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Malta: Opposition Leader wants parliament to follow up public inquiry recommendations

In-Nazzjon leads with a demand by Opposition Leader Bernard Grech to form a parliamentary committee to follow the recommendations set out by the Caruana Public inquiry. Grech was speaking in…

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Malta: Equality Minister denounces hate speech against transgender person

L-Orizzont reports that Equality Minister Owen Bonnici condemned online hate speech targeting a transgender person. The minister said that social media should be a tool for networking not a platform…

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Malta: Toddlers in state care after their mothers were handed prison sentences

The Times reports that two toddlers have been taken into state care after their mothers were sentenced to six months in jail over forged travel documents. The women’s lawyer said…

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Malta: Caruana Galizia family warn about perils of propaganda

The Independent covers a press conference by the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation on Friday. The murdered journalist’s son, Paul, said that the public inquiry report showed how political propaganda and…

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Malta: PN Leader demands resigantions

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech that the public now expects the Prime Minister to announce who is going to take the responsibility for the Caruana Galizia murder. Reacting to…

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Malta: Prime Minister issues apology to Caruana Galizias

L-Orizzont follows a press conference by Prime Minister Robert Abela in reaction to the conclusions of the public inquiry. Abela said that, as the current Prime Minister, he extended a…

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Malta: Public inquiry blames OPM for climate of impunity

The Times quotes from the public inquiry report that an environment of impunity that left Daphne Caruana Galizia exposed was created from the Office of the Prime Minister and spread…

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Malta: Report condemns state failure to protect Daphne Caruana Galizia

The Independent leads with the publication of the Caruana Galizia public inquiry report which holds the state responsible for the journalist’s assassination. The panel concluded that state bodies failed to…

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Malta: MaltaEnterprise focuses FDI efforts on high-value industries

Business Today publishes an interview with the CEO of Malta Enterprise Kurt Farrugia who explained that the agency is shifting focus to investment by small-to-medium companies in specialised fields such…

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Malta: Top official says education sector is attracting people from other professions

L-Orizzont quotes the Permanent Secretary in the Education Ministry, Frank Fabri, that persons with backgrounds outside the education sector are entering the field. He said that the phenomenon needs further…

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Malta: Fewer births than average in the first months of the year

The Times reports that the monthly average of births between January and April was 365, slightly below that registered in the last five years. Global trends also indicate that a…

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Malta: Opposition Leader calls for a united voice on public inquiry conclusions

In-Nazzjon quotes a letter by Opposition Leader Bernard Grech to Prime Minister Robert Abela urging a common response to the conclusions of the Caruana Galizia public inquiry. Grech called for…

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Malta: eNGO applauds schemes for renewable energy initiatives

The Malta Business Weekly speaks with the director of Friends of the Earth, Martin de Giovanni, who welcomed a government 20-year commitment to finance renewable energy projects. He said that…

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Malta: Parliamentary debate on Rosianne Cutajar to resume today

The Independent says that the parliamentary ethics committee is meeting again today to discuss the Standards Commissioner report on Rosianne Cutajar. In the last meeting, the government disagreed with an…

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Malta: Nationalist Party demands police action against corruption suspects

In-Nazzjon quotes a PN statement calling on the Police Commissioner to act against those responsible for corruption. The party said that Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed because she knew too…

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Malta: Opposition Leader calls for bi-partisan effort to reform judiciary

The Independent quotes an opinion piece by Opposition Leader Bernard Grech urging the government to launch a bi-partisan effort to implement the recommendations of the public inquiry into the assassination…

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Malta: Caruana Galizia says Yorgen Fenech regretted Electrogas project

The Times reports on Matthew Caruana Galizia’s testimony in court on Tuesday where he claimed to have seen emails by businessman Yorgen Fenech expressing regret about his involvement in the…

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Malta: Spend on social benefits surpasses €580 million

L-Orizzont says that the public spend on social benefits rose to €583 million in the first half of the year, an increase of €27 million from the same period in…

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Malta: Teenager stabs young man in Sliema

Malta Today reports that a 14-year-old stabbed a 21-year-old in a fight in Sliema on Tuesday. Officers on patrol found the young man bleeding heavily and the two persons were…

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Malta: National upkeep drive collects hundreds of tonnes of waste

L-Orizzont reports that a national embellishment campaign by public service departments has collected some 630 tonnes of waste from roads, 270 tonnes from the coast, 2,700 tonnes of algae from…

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Malta: People divided over cash for passports scheme

The Times leads with survey results showing that 38 per cent of the population backs the selling of passports while 37 per cent disagree with it. People in the 45…

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Malta: AFM rescues migrants in distress

In-Nazzjon says that the Armed Forces have rescued 46 migrants including a baby in distress and brought them ashore on Monday. Three people in the group of arrivals are believed…

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Malta: Travel agents concerned about lost momentum

The Independent quotes a statement by the travel agents’ association warning that new travel regulations introduced by the government in June have drastically slowed down the rate of booking for…

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Malta: Bernard Grech vows to return country to FATF whitelist in 90 days

In-Nazzjon reproduces parts of an opinion piece by Opposition Leader Bernard Grech published in the Sunday Times this weekend. Grech pledges that a new PN government would take Malta out…

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Malta: Community Chest Fund chases donation pledge by crypto charity

The Times reports that the Community Chest Fund filed a civil suit to recover donation commitments made in 2018 by a charity set up by cryptocurrency exchange Binance. The value…

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Malta: Councillor says locality is safer after ban on alcohol in streets

L-Orizzont publishes an interview with St Paul’s Bay councillor Carlos Zarb two months after a by-law prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in public spaces was introduced. The councillor, who first…

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Malta: Activists to mount legal challenge to approved db Group project

The Independent says that activists are planning to file an appeal against the green-lighting of the City Centre development in Pembroke by the Planning Authority. Moviment Graffitti said that a…

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Malta: Local film productions to star Hollywood actor

Kullħadd reveals that a Maltese new film production featuring American star Frank Grillo is scheduled to start filming towards the end of the year. Lowell Dean will direct the movie…

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Malta: New PN council president confident about party’s future

Il-Mument carries an interview with the new president of the PN General Council Mark Anthony Sammut who said that the party is attracting new people that see it as the…

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Malta: Covid-19 patient dies at Mater Dei

It-Torċa reports the death of a 73-year-old woman from Covid-19 at Mater Dei hospital on Saturday. Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that 299 infected students who were in Malta to learn English…

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Malta: Public health chief fends off questions on quarantine

Malta Today says that the Superintendent for Public Health has declined to answer questions about shortening the quarantine period for contacts of Covid-19 patients to five days. The system is…

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Malta: Government requests information on Dubai holdings

The Sunday Times says that the government has requested access to information on offshore holdings in Dubai obtained by Germany. Senior officials told the paper that the data will establish…

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Malta: Nurses and hoteliers clash on Covid-19 measures

Illum reports on contrasting concerns by the medical and accommodation sectors. The union of nurses called for fresh measures to control the spread of the virus while the hotels’ association…

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Malta: MFSA to appoint first non-Maltese CEO

The Independent on Sunday says that the financial services authority has completed its search for a new CEO. The identity of the incoming officer is not revealed but sources told…

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Malta: Quarantine rules to be reviewed for contacts

The Times reports on plans by health authorities to shorten the current 14-day isolation period for people who come into contact with Covid-19 patients to five days if mandatory swab…

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Malta: Financial adviser warns of stricter controls for businesses

In-Nazzjon speaks with financial investment adviser Jesmond Mizzi who said that Malta’s classification as a High-Risk jurisdiction by the UK will intensify due diligence requirements for businesses and banks. Read…

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Malta: ICT jobs expected to grow by a fifth over ten years

The Independent quotes a report by eSkills Malta Foundation projecting an increase in demand of more than 20 per cent for ICT professionals in the next 10 years. Economy Minister…

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Malta: Walk-in clinics to administer Covid-19 jab in the evenings

L-Orizzont reports that more than 8,300 people visited the walk-in clinics to get their Covid-19 vaccine since they opened on Monday. Health Minister Chris Fearne said that the service will…

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