Newspaper Review

Malta: Magisterial inquiry clears PM, AFM of migrant deaths

It-Torċa quotes a government statement which said that the denunciations against the Prime Minister and the Armed Forces over the deaths of migrants at sea “were not based on proof”.…

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Malta: Murder suspect relative raises doubts over police investigation

The Sunday Times carries an interview with a family member of Vince Muscat, one of the three suspected hitmen in the Caruana Galizia assassination. The unnamed relative questioned action taken…

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Malta: Police charge four people over Floriana FC street party

The Independent on Sunday reports that the police have charged four people and fined 43 others for breaking social distancing rules in a spontaneous gathering celebrating the announcement of Floriana…

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Malta: PN leader urges carefulness in lifting of health measures

Il-Mument follows an interview with PN Leader Adrian Delia by independent journalist Albert Gauci Cunningham Delia called for caution over relaxation of coronavirus restrictions and said that the economy can…

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Malta: Junior Minister dismisses HSBC exit rumours

L-Orizzont speaks to parliamentary secretary Clayton Bartolo who denied claims that HSBC Banks is planning to leave Malta. The junior minister said that the pandemic has given fresh impetus to…

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Malta: Court rules breach of Yorgen Fenech’s rights

The Times reports on a court declaration that an order by the Public Health Superintendent to suspend legal time-limits indefinitely because of the pandemic had breached Yorgen Fenech’s right to…

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Malta: Covid-19 claims two more lives

The Independent reports on the death of two Covid-19 patients on Friday, becoming the eighth and ninth casualties of the pandemic. The victims, both men, were aged 56 and 68,…

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Malta: Some businesses in Valletta remain closed

In-Nazzjon speaks to business owners in Valletta who said that trade in the city is slow and are hoping for the reopening of the airport to boost sales. The paper…

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Malta: Government to create special migration units with Libya

The Times says that Malta and Libya are setting up joint units to coordinate operations against illegal migration. The announcement was made by the government following a visit by the…

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Malta: GWU demands teleworking regulations

L-Orizzont says that the General Workers Union is calling for a legislative framework that regulates remote working to safeguard workers’ rights. Union secretary general Josef Bugeja said he is confident…

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Malta: Chamber of Commerce advises restaurants to exercise restraint

The Malta Independent speaks to Chamber of Commerce deputy president, Philip Fenech, who urged catering establishments to demonstrate ‘common sense’ not to obstruct passageways when they make outside seating arrangements.…

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Malta: PN urges plan on reopening of tourism

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Deputy Leader Robert Arrigo who said that tourism in Malta has a direct impact on half of the country’s businesses and called on the government to set…

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Malta: HSBC weighing local business in global shake-up

The Malta Business Weekly says that HSBC Holdings is considering its operations in several countries including Malta. The global bank’s board is reported to have called for a ‘deep restructuring’…

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Malta: Airport eyeing mid-July for reopening

The Times says that authorities are planning to reopen the airport for visitors in mid-July, four months after it was closed down. MIA CEO Alan Borg said that more than…

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Malta: Local economy to receive €1 billion from EU recovery fund

The Independent says that Malta’s share from the EU recovery budget is expected to amount to €1 billion spread over the coming years. The EU Commission on Wednesday published proposals…

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Malta: Pandemic claims seventh life

L-Orizzont reports the death of a 97-year-old man, the seventh coronavirus victim in Malta. Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci said that one new case was registered on Wednesday and a…

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Malta: PN leader calls for carefulness in Covid-19 exit

In-Nazzjon covers a visit by PN Leader Adrian Delia to the Mosta health centre on Wednesday. Delia thanked professionals and staff for their work and said that, with caution, the…

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Malta: Migrant welfare officials still have no permission to visit moored boats

The Times reports that the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers has not been granted access to the migrants aboard the three Captain Morgan boats moored outside territorial waters,…

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Malta: Virologist concerned over spontaneous football celebrations

The Malta Independent quotes virologist Chris Barbara who described the celebrations on the Granaries by Floriana FC supporters on Monday as “very dangerous” and said they facilitate the spread of…

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Malta: Restaurant performance beats expectations on first weekend

L-Orizzont speaks to Hotels and Restaurants Association president Tony Zahra who said that restaurants reported better activity than expected when they returned to business on Friday. He also called for…

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Malta: No new Covid-19 cases registered on Tuesday

In-Nazzjon reports that the number of active cases remained at 120 after no one tested positive to swabbing between Monday and Tuesday. The paper quotes the Public Health Superintendent, warning…

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Malta: House collapse victim suffered anxiety over works

The Malta Independent follows the complication of evidence against four people charged with causing a woman’s death when a house collapsed in Ħamrun in March. The courts heard that victim…

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Malta: Covert military operation from Malta contracted by Libyan warlord

The Times says that informed sources confirmed details of a covert operation by military contractors who left Malta for Libya in June last year. Intelligence reports believe that the operation…

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Malta: One new Covid-19 case, nine recoveries

L-Orizzont says that a new case of Covid-19 was registered on Monday from 803 swab tests conducted. Nine patients were confirmed recovered and the number of active cases now stands…

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Malta: Opposition calls for virtual court hearings

In-Nazzjon carries a proposal by the Opposition to introduce virtual hearings at the courts. Justice spokesperson Jason Azzopardi said that businesses and families are being denied justice with the suspension…

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Malta: Prime Minister claims country is now safe from Covid-19

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who declared Malta a ‘Covid-safe country’ and said that things are returning to normal. Abela indicated that the government is ready to announce the…

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Malta: Adrian Delia calls government out on economic strategy

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that the coronavirus outbreak exposed the flaws of the economic model adopted by the government. Delia insisted that reliance on population and…

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Malta: Gas deal raises prices to seven times the European average

The Times reveals that Malta’s supply of Liquified Natural Gas costs seven times the price of the current European average as the coronavirus emergency continues to drive prices down in…

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Malta: Considerable fall in PA applications last month

The Malta Independent says that there was a significant drop in dwelling applications in April, coinciding with a decision by the Planning Authority to suspend scheduled meetings because of the…

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Malta: PL up three points, PN down one

Malta Today publishes survey results which show that the Labour Party increased its support by almost three points since last month, polling at just under 52 percent. Support for the…

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Malta: Konrad Mizzi coy on election intentions

The Independent on Sunday speaks to officials within the Labour Party who say that former Minister Konrad Mizzi gave mixed intentions about whether or not to contest the 2022 general…

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Malta: Adrian Delia wants Police Commissioner with two-thirds House backing

Il-Mument carries an interview with PN Leader Adrian Delia by independent journalist Brian Hansford. Delia said that the police force deserves a Commissioner with integrity who enjoys the approval of…

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Malta: Elderly residencies fearing shortage in supplies

The Sunday Times speaks to homes for the elderly who warned that they are running low on resources and that expenses have soared by some 40 percent since the start…

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Malta: EC decreases Country Specific Recommendations

It-Torċa says that the European Commission reduced its country specific recommendations for Malta to four from six at the start of the year. The paper says that another seven EU…

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Malta: Bank loan moratoria worth over €480 million so far

Kullħadd says that the bank moratorium is helping 2,700 families and businesses with their loans and, in the first weeks since it was introduced, €487 million worth in repayments have…

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Malta: Former assistant commissioner under investigation applies for top job

The Times reveals that a former assistant police commissioner who resigned in 2018 following a report of domestic abuse is one of the applicants to head the police force. Mario…

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Malta: First flight schedules expected to be limited

The Independent speaks to a Malta International Airport spokesperson who said that only limited flight schedules are expected to be resumed in the short-term while the actual routes depend on…

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Malta: PN Leader flags Moneyval threat to financial sector

In-Nazzjon quotes Adrian Delia who warned that if Malta fails the Moneyval test, thousands of jobs will be at risk. Delia said that the Prime Minister must choose between protecting…

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Malta: Restaurant owners happy with decision to reopen

L-Orizzont speaks to restaurant owners who said that it was ‘a fair decision’ by the government to allow businesses to reopen this weekend. The paper says that a series of…

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Malta: Tourism sector foresees two-thirds drop in visitors

The Independent speaks to the president of the Hotels and Restaurants Association, Tony Zahra, who said that the most optimistic scenarios for tourism in 2021 predict 1.3 million individual arrivals,…

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Malta: Public Health Superintendent denies resignation claims

The Times claims that disagreements have developed between the Office of the Prime Minister and health authorities over fears of a new wave of Covid-19 infections. Rumours that the Public…

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Malta: Healthcare unions appeal for extension of measures

In-Nazzjon quotes a joint statement by the medical association and the UĦM union, representing healthcare workers, which is requesting the delay in relaxation of Covid-19 measures by two weeks to…

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Malta: Active coronavirus cases reach 125 again

L-Orizzont reports that 13 new tests returned positive from over 1,300 swabs between Wednesday and Thursday. Three patients were also confirmed recovered and the number of active cases stands at…

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Malta: Economic sentiment indicator down in first quarter

The Malta Business Weekly reports that that confidence in most business sectors in Malta was showing a decline even before the coronavirus outbreak. The Economic Sentiment Indicator for the first…

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Malta: Relatives of drowned migrants file judicial protest against PM

The Times leads with a judicial protest against the Prime Minister, the Home Affairs Minister, and the Armed Forces commander filed by relatives of immigrants who died last month in…

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Malta: PN launches national economic recovery plan

In-Nazzjon covers the launch of an economic recovery plan based on ten priorities by the Nationalist Party. PN Leader Adrian Delia said that the “Plan for Malta” document has been…

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Malta: Teens enjoy low life satisfaction

The Independent quotes a WHO study which finds that adolescents in Malta have one of the lowest rates of life satisfaction as well as the highest rates of obesity compared…

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Malta: Company to add 100 new workers

L-Orizzont reports that medical products company Baxter is recruiting 100 new employees. Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said that the government will continue to work with the private sector to turn…

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Malta: Government threatens veto over migrant sharing deal

Malta Today reveals that the government is threatening to veto the appointment of the commander nominated to run Operation Irini unless EU countries burden-sharing of migrants kept on tourist boats…

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Malta: Panama Papers auditors acquire new licence

The Times reports that Nexia BT has been licenced by the Digital Innovation Authority to perform auditing of internal IT systems of high-risk entities such as cryptocurrency exchanges. Another story…

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Malta: Hairdressers raise doubts over new protocol

The Independent speaks to a representative of the Federation of Hair and Beauty who said that some of the requirements for hair salons announced by the government may be difficult…

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Malta: Tourism Minister says safety is the highest priority

L-Orizzont quotes Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli who said that infringement of safety protocols by catering establishments will not be tolerated when they return to business this weekend. The paper…

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Malta: PN and Chamber of Commerce discuss future of the economy

In-Nazzjon covers a meeting between the Nationalist Party and the Chamber of Commerce to discuss the way forward after the pandemic. PN Leader Adrian Delia said that the country needs…

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Malta: Restaurants and hairdressers reopen on Friday

The Independent follows a government announcement about the relaxation of more restrictive measures. Hairdressers, beauticians, and restaurants can return to business from this Friday. The paper speaks to Chamber of…

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Malta: Social distancing rules relaxed

The Times says that the number of people allowed to gather in public spaces will go up from four to six as social distancing rules are eased. Gyms, bars, and…

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Malta: Opposition publishes Constitutional reform proposals

In-Nazzjon reports the publication of proposals by the Opposition on Constitutional reform. Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said that the recommendations seek to empower citizens and to ensure that politicians truly…

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Malta: Prime Minister says new measures are guided by evidence

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that relaxation of measures is based on scientific facts. He expressed satisfaction at the way the country has managed the coronavirus emergency.…

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