Newspaper Review

Keith Schembri’s phone back online during first PL parliamentary group meeting: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that the police have not issued any statement since Keith Schembri’s ‘lost’ phone line was reactivated on Monday. The paper says that Schembri’s phone went live during Robert…

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Robert Abela takes oath of office: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent follows the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Robert Abela officiated by President George Vella. Shortly after taking the oath of office, Abela held his first parliamentary group…

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New Prime Minister promises unity: The Headlines – The Times

The Times covers a televised address by new Prime Minister Robert Abela who pledged to unite the nation. Abela said that he will continue to implement the 2017 PL electoral…

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GWU urges Robert Abela to put workers first: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont carries a statement by the General Workers Union congratulating Robert Abela on his appointment as Prime Minister. The union urged Abela to prioritise the interests of workers and the…

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Neville Gafa’ attends Robert Abela swearing-in: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that Chris Fearne failed to attend the swearing in ceremony of Robert Abela on Monday. The paper notes that, on the other hand, people close to Joseph Muscat,…

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New PL Leader determined to bring change: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont carries the inaugural speech of elected Labour Leader Robert Abela on Sunday in Paola. He told the party faithful that he is determined to carry out all the changes…

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Adrian Delia calls for removal of the Attorney General and Konrad Mizzi: The Headlines – IN-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that the country deserves institutions that are free to operate and a serious government that is free from criminality. Delia said that…

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Chris Fearne does not attend first event by new PL Leader: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent covers the first speech of Robert Abela as Labour Party leader in which he said that the PL emerged united from the election process. The paper observes the…

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Robert Abela pledges return to PL principles: The Headlines – The Times

The Times quotes new PL Leader Robert Abela who told supporters that ‘the best is yet to come’ promising a return to the party’s principles. Abela told members that his…

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Labour Party elects Robert Abela new Leader: The Headlines – Malta Today

Malta Today leads with the election of Robert Abela as new Labour Party Leader and Prime Minister. The paper says that the staff of Joseph Muscat ‘evidently’ favoured Abela over…

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Strong lead by Abela at halfway mark: The Headlines – The Times

The Sunday Times says that by halfway mark of counting, Robert Abela was well ahead of Chris Fearne with 58 percent of the vote. The Labour Party said that around…

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Older PL members keener to vote: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent on Sunday quotes PL sources who said that older members of the party were more enthusiastic about voting in the leadership election than younger ones, likely feeling somewhat…

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Abela to take oath of office on Monday: The Headlines – Kullħadd

Kullħadd announces a strong turnout by Labour Party members in the PL Leader election. The paper says that Robert Abela will deliver a speech at the party’s Congress today before…

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Malta gets A+ rating by Fitch: The Headlines – It-Torċa

It-Torċa reports that credit rating agency Fitch awarded Malta an A+ rating. In its report, the agency said that despite the change in Prime Minister the country’s economy is expected…

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Abela’s election is a vote against government ministers: The Headlines – Il-Mument

Il-Mument says that the election of Robert Abela is a vote against the Cabinet of Ministers, who were largely backing Chris Fearne, by the Labour Party’s delegates. The paper says…

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Challenges ahead of Malta’s new PM: The Headlines – Illum

Illum says that the real challenge of the eight Prime Minister since Independence starts now that the PL Leadership race is over. The paper lists a series of issues that…

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Joseph Muscat remains ‘The Undefeated’: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont carries a special feature on the premiership of Joseph Muscat. The paper describes Muscat as ‘invictus’ and says that his political career was ‘from beginning to end’ without defeat.

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PN dismisses Muscat’s jobs record claim: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon quotes a PN statement in reaction to Joseph Muscat’s farewell speech on Friday accusing the Prime Minister of ‘hypocrisy’. The party said that Muscat claimed to have created better…

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Fearne removes chief of staff: The Headlines – The Times

The Times reports that PL leadership candidate Chris Fearne has dismissed his chief of staff Carmen Sammut as a sign of ‘good governance’ in response to a conflict of interest…

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Muscat stepped down for the sake of unity: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent covers the opening of the PL Congress on Friday in which outgoing leader Joseph Muscat delivered his final speech. He said he made the decision to resign to…

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Muscat concedes lack of judgement with MEPs: The Headlines – The Times

The Times publishes the report on the visit by the MEP delegation to Malta in December which quotes Prime Minister Joseph Muscat saying that he resigned because of mistrust in…

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Former Police Commissioner upheld Caruana Galizia security orders: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent quotes Peter Paul Zammit, police commissioner between 2013 and 2014, who told the Caruana Galizia public inquiry board that he had never reversed any order for frequent patrols…

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Police were probing Keith Schembri four years ago: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon quotes former police commissioner Michael Cassar who revealed that an investigation into Keith Schembri was launched four years ago after the FIAU flagged suspicious financial activity relating to the…

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PL Congress begins this evening: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont announces the opening of the PL Congress this evening that will start the process to elect a new party leader. Joseph Muscat will deliver his final address as Prime…

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Malta up 7 places in world start-up rankings: The Headlines – The Malta Business Weekly

The Malta Business Weekly quotes a report by StartupBlink which ranks Malta at 89th place in the world for start-ups, climbing 7 positions since 2017. The prominent sectors in Malta…

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Finance Minister defends tax system after comments by Robert Abela: The Headlines – Business Today

Business Today leads with reactions by Finance Minister Edward Scicluna to PL leadership hopeful Robert Abela who proposed the removal of tax benefits for foreign companies in Malta. Scicluna said…

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Keith Schembri’s phone went off grid just before arrest: The Headlines – The Times

The Times reveals that Keith Schembri’s personal phone was switched off the last time around an hour and a half before he was arrested in November. Sources said that the…

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Survey ship delivers footage of interconnector damage: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent reports that footage from a survey ship outside Ragusa in Sicily confirmed suspicions that the interconnector was damaged by a ship’s anchor dragging across the seabed. Enemalta is…

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Adrian Delia calls for investigation of Dubai holiday by the Muscats: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reports that PN Leader Adrian Delia formally requested the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life to investigate a holiday to Dubai taken by outgoing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in…

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Fire breaks out at Marsa migrant centre: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont says that the police are investigating the cause of fires at the Marsa migrant centre on Wednesday, which broke out in the dormitories. The paper says that the police…

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Anglu Farrugia did not endorse Joseph Muscat as PL leader: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent quotes House Speaker Anglu Farrugia who said that he never supported Joseph Muscat’s leadership while he was an MP and Labour Party Deputy Leader. Farrugia told the Caruana…

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Former police commissioner says all cases were investigated: The Headlines – The Times

The Times follows the Caruana Galizia public inquiry session on Tuesday during which John Rizzo, removed from police commissioner in 2013, said that he never discussed ongoing criminal probes with…

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Diane Izzo files judicial protest against Jason Azzopardi: The Headlines – Malta Today

Malta Today reports that Dizz Group owner Diane Izzo filed a judicial protest against PN MP Jason Azzopardi requesting a Facebook post in which he links her business to money…

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Muscat’s final Cabinet meeting: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont reports on the last Cabinet meeting led by outgoing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Tuesday. Minister Owen Bonnici later wrote on Facebook that this was ‘undoubtedly the best Cabinet’…

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Adrian Delia wants Karl Cini investigation: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that PN Leader Adrian Delia called on the police to investigate Nexia BT partner Karl Cini. Delia said that the people are ‘fed up’ of empty words and…

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Court says roads agency can go ahead with Central Link: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont reports that the Civil Court declared that Infrastructure Malta has the right to begin development of the Central Link project stretching from Mrieħel to Rabat. Objectors said the effects…

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Enemalta anticipates more short power interruptions: The Headlines – The Times

The Times quotes an Enemalta spokesperson who said that ‘automatic load shedding’ by supplementary energy turbines are expected to continue until the interconnector is fixed, resulting in power cuts lasting…

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Ian Borg dismisses suggestions of a pact with Chris Fearne: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent leads with Minister’s Ian Borg denial of suggestions that there exists any sort of pact with PL Leader hopeful Chris Fearne. Borg said that he wasn’t promised anything…

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PL confirms ‘circumstances’ in leadership race: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon quotes a statement by the Labour Party announcing that ‘circumstances’ in electoral process for party leader have been addressed. The paper says that this is cofirms allegations by Robert…

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Robert Abela files complaint against Chris Fearne’s team: The Headlines – The Times

The Times reports that PL leadership candidate Robert Abela filed a complaint with the party after members of Chris Fearne’s team were allegedly found updating the official register of eligible…

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Anti-corruption protest held in Valletta: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent says that hundreds of people marched down Republic Street in Valletta on Sunday afternoon in a protest organised by Repubblika. Addressing the crowds, activist Manuel Delia denounced politicians…

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Joseph Muscat says people still behind Labour: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont quotes Joseph Muscat who said that people had ‘every opportunity’ to abandon the Labour Party but they continue to show strong support instead. Muscat was giving his final interview…

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Adrian Delia to formally call for investigation into Karl Cini: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that PN Leader Adrian Delia announced he will call for an investigation into Nexia BT’s Karl Cini following revelations in the Egrant inquiry. Delia said that ministers failed…

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Robert Abela catching up with Chris Fearne: The Headlines – Malta Today

Malta Today says that Robert Abela has narrowed the gap with Chris Fearne as the PL leadership race enters its final week. Fearne is ahead on 55 percent with Abela…

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Former Pilatus director criticises Schembri-Tonna relationship: The Headlines – The Times

The Sunday Times reveals that a former non-executive director of Pilatus Bank criticised a €100,000 transaction between auditor Brian Tonna and his client Keith Schembri. The director told the Egrant…

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MCAST without Boards of Directors for almost two years: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent on Sunday reveals that MCAST did not appoint any Boards of Studies during the 2018/19 academic year, in direct breach of the Education Act. The last meeting by…

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New affordable housing scheme launched: The Headlines – It-Torċa

It-Torċa says that the Housing Authority is developing a social housing project in Fgura for people who do not qualify for free accommodation but cannot afford commercial rental rates. The…

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Konrad Mizzi linked with Air Malta role: The Headlines – Illum

Illum reports on rumours that Minister Konrad Mizzi will be offered a position at Air Malta after the departure of Joseph Muscat. The paper said that neither of the two…

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Oil scandal resurfaces in PL leadership race: The Headlines – Il-Mument

Il-Mument says that Robert Abela took a swipe at PL leadership rival Chris Fearne whose brother is in business with the son of Tancred Tabone, accused in an oil buying…

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Most agree that Muscat’s premiership was beneficial: The Headlines – Kullħadd

Kullħadd quotes a survey which says that the majority believe that Joseph Muscat’s leadership brought a ‘positive change’ in their lives. The outgoing Prime Minister will hold a final public…

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Kezman, 10, working on his new single: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont carries an interview with 10-year-old Kezman who is working on an original song to be released this year. The visually impaired boy said that God only takes something away…

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Enemalta plays down risk of further blackouts: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent covers a meeting with Enemalta by the Council for Economic and Social Development on Friday. Social partners were assured by the energy distributor that power outages in the…

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Dip in overall donations to traditional fundraisers: The Headlines – The Times

The Times reports that donations to traditional Christmas fundraising events this year collected some €8.5 million between charities and political parties. The paper says that only the marathon in aid…

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Social partners left frustrated by power cuts: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that social partners expressed their disappointment in the recent power interruptions, which had a negative impact on businesses and families. Members of the MCESD said that energy investments…

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Stricter AML regulations changing how gaming companies operate: The Headlines – The Times

The Times speaks to the chief financial officer of one of the largest gaming companies in Malta who said that anti-money laundering regulations require firms in the sector to ‘become…

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Urgent MCESD meeting over power outages: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent reveals that the Council for Economic and Social Development are holding an urgent meeting today to discuss the series of power cuts that occurred in the past weeks.…

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Christmas tourism to Gozo increasing: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont speaks to Gozo Channel Chairman Joe Cordina who said that indications are that tourism to Gozo over the festive period was better than the year before. He said that,…

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