28

Sep

Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 28 September 2022

Morning Briefing Alleged Caruana Galizia killer on hunger strike One of the men accused of murdering journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017 has gone on a hunger strike. The Correctional Services Agency (CSA) told Church mediahouse Newsbook.com.mt that Alfred Degiorgio, who is set to face trial over the murder, is reportedly on hunger strike because he has not been given access to a lawyer of his choosing. Earlier in Summer, lawyer William Cuschieri confirmed that he head renounced his brief of representing brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio. (Newsbook) October 2021 was wettest of past twelve months Almost 43 per cent…

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27

Sep

Malta football head coach suspended after sexual conduct allegations emerge / Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 27 September 2022

Updated 1600 - Afternoon Briefing The Times of Malta reports that the head coach of Malta’s national football team Devis Mangia has been suspended after a player reported him over alleged sexual misconduct. It says that the Malta Football Association had received a report about the alleged sexual misconduct towards the national team player on Sunday.   Maltatoday says that a driving examiner has described how a Transport Malta director would tell him to help certain candidates to pass their driving tests, because they were “the minister’s.” The Malta Independent follows the final press conference by outgoing Standards Commissioner George Hyzler.…

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26

Sep

MUT claims lack of teachers, Minister disagrees / Malta News Briefing – Monday 26 September 2022

Updated 1630 The Times of Malta says that the Labour Party’s ONE media has reached a deal with the tax office to start repaying hundreds of thousands of euros in dues. The deal was cut a few weeks ago after months of negotiations and will see the labour media paying around €5,000 every month over the course of some 15 years. Maltatoday follows court developments as a key witness was heard behind closed doors in the case against Tal-Maksar brothers and associates. The Malta Independent speaks to Abigail Mamo, CEO of the SME chamber, who argues that a holistic strategy…

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25

Sep

Malta News Briefing – Sunday 25 September 2022

Morning Briefing PM, UN Sec-Gen discuss Malta's role on Security Council In a meeting with António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, Prime Minister Robert Abela highlighted Malta's priorities during its term on the United Nations Security Council from 2023 – 2024. Prime Minister Abela said that Malta's aspiration to serve on the Security Council stems from its willingness to meaningfully contribute to maintaining international peace and security. The principles and priorities that underpin Malta's foreign policy and our country's Security Council priorities based on the three pillars of security, sustainability, and solidarity, strongly resonate with the international community. (DOI) Minister, NGO…

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24

Sep

Malta gets A+ credit rating, but warned of institutional deficiencies / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 24 September 2022

Updated 1230 Scope gives Malta A+Malta has secured an A+ rating by Scope, a German agency, which gave a stable outlook in its latest assessment. On the positive side, the agency noted that Malta still has growth potential in view of its eurozone membership but did highlight that “lingering institutional and administrative deficiencies” could negatively impact the economy in the future. Abela meets President of the Libyan Presidential Council In the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Robert Abela held a bilateral meeting with President of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed Menfi. According to a DOI statement,…

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23

Sep

No taxes in upcoming budget, but fight against tax evasion to be strengthened – Minister of Finance / Malta News Briefing – Friday 23 September 2022

Updated 1600 The Times of Malta report that the police have sought US help on Bitcoin transfers between ex-Konrad Mizzi lawyer and Yorgen Fenech. Investigations by the police indicate that Mizzi’s former lawyer, Aron Mifsud Bonnici, transferred the bitcoins to Fenech on the same day he bought the firearms. Maltatoday gives prominence to a study carried out by GWU, Graffiti and Alleanza kontra l-Faqar that found that a family of two adults and two children need €25,300 to live a decent life. Newsbook says that despite calling for an end to devastation and the suffering of innocent civilians in Ukraine,…

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22

Sep

Malta needs 4.7m tourists to fill up current and planned hotels / Malta News Briefing – Thursday 22 September 2022

Updated 1800 The Times of Malta reveals that the Curia has drawn up a 'contingency plan' to receive within its schools the staff and students of St Albert the Great College if it is unable to function when the school year starts in the coming days. Maltatoday follows the story of an American woman who has filed a constitutional case after being refused abortion in Malta. The woman has argued that lack of access to medical care, which led to her health being endangered, amounted to a breach of her fundamental human rights. The Independent notes how a study by…

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21

Sep

Malta celebrates Independence Day / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 21 September 2022

Afternoon Briefing Malta celebrates 58th years of independence President George Vella, Acting Prime Minister Owen Bonnici and Leader of the Opposition Bernard Grech laid flowers at the Independence monument in Floriana today, on Independence Day. The traditional Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop at the St John's Co-Cathedral. https://youtu.be/oGasTvB41hc Malta to prioritise literacy skills - PM Prime Minister Robert Abela has said that as an elected Member of the UN Security Council, Malta will place its priority on literal skills while working to safeguard the right of all to the educational sector. He was addressing the Summit on Education in…

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20

Sep

Unions take common stand on COLA situation / Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 20 September 2022

Updated 1735 - Newsportal Review The Times of Malta says that The Malta Chamber of SMEs is "ready to accept" the cost of living wage adjustment (COLA), even amid concerns this could be as high as €10, president Paul Abela said on Tuesday.  Maltatoday reports that in a rare move, Unions are presenting a united front on how the cost of living adjustment should be applied in exceptional circumstances such as the current situation. TVM News says that a 63-year old man from Qrendi and his 19-year old son, who lives in Mqabba, were remanded in custody after being accused…

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19

Sep

Malta marks funeral of Queen Elizabeth II – Malta News Briefing – Monday 19 September 2022

Updated 1800 The Times of Malta reports that Malta has marked the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II with a 21-gun salute and flags flying at half mast as the country observes a national day of mourning. Maltatoday says that a man has admitted to blackmail charges after threatening to publish nude photographs of his former partner if she denied him access to their son. Newsbook follows PM Robert Abela's presence in New York for the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. The Malta Independent leads with a report issued by the University students council (KSU), which says that educational…

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18

Sep

PN’s leader father passes away / Malta News Briefing – Sunday 18 September 2022

PN's Leader father John Grech dies PN leader Bernard Grech's father John died on Sunday, aged 90. His death was announced by the Nationalist Party in a statement, as well as by Bernard Grech himself in a post on Facebook. Politicians from all sides of the political spectrum, including PM Abela expressed their condolences to Dr Grech. Labour leader orders review of party's media operations following surge in debt Robert Abela has ordered an internal review of the Labour Party’s ONE media arm, amid concerns over the company’s finances. Labour’s chief executive Randolph Debattista, former party chief executive James Piscopo…

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17

Sep

Bishop questions authorities on 4-year-old girl’s death, Minister blames Europe / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 17 September 2022

Updated 1200 - Mid-Day Briefing Bishop questions authorities on 4-year-old girl's death, Minister blames Europe Archbishop Charles Scicluna called on authorities, specifically parliament, to explain why a four-year-old asylum seeker to die of thirst at sea. The girl, from Syria, was picked up by a cargo ship along with 60 other asylum seekers, several days after the group started sending out distress signal from their wooden fishing vessel. She was unconscious when she was pulled onboard and died of dehydration shortly afterwards. Speaking on a radio programme on 103, Economy Minister Silvio Schembri sought to shift the blame on the…

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16

Sep

Corporate taxation reform shelved – Minister / Malta News Briefing – Friday 16 September 2022

Updated 1505 - Corporate Tax Reform shelved Government has announced that for the time being it is shelving a planned overhaul of company taxation. Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said this morning that this decision was taken in the light of waning international appetite for a global minimum corporate tax. Speaking during the launch of the Pre-Budget Document, Caruana said that “Malta will not jump the gun” given that the international momentum for a minimum corporate tax has been lost. Earlier this year, the Minister had signalled that Government was considering a new corporate tax regime following international pressure to introduce…

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14

Sep

29-year-old dies in another construction site incident / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 14 September 2022

Updated 1615 - Afternoon Briefing The Times of Malta reports that a man has tragically lost his life in yet another construction site accident, this time in Gozo. Luca Curmi, 29, becomes sixth construction-related death of 2022. Maltatoday says that an inquiry has been launched into anonymous threats Magistrate Nadine Lia received by mail. Magistrate Nadine Lia, the daughter-in-law of Joseph Muscat's lawyer, has refused to recuse herself from challenge proceedings by NGO Repubblika over the Pilatus Bank inquiry. Newsbook reveals that Prime Minister Robert Abela and his wife Lydia have submitted a planning application to demolish the ODZ villa…

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13

Sep

Edward Scicluna says he does not need to justify Silvio Valletta FIAU appointment / Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 13 September 2022

Updated 1700 - Newsportal Review The Times of Malta leads with the story that Malta's former finance minister Edward Scicluna has refused to explain his 2014 decision to appoint disgraced former policeman Silvio Valletta to the FIAU board.  "It was my prerogative... and I don't need to give a reason for it," Scicluna told the Information and Data Protection Appeals Tribunal on Tuesday. Maltatoday reveals that Government may ‘buy out’ expensive clause that sees Air Malta pilots receiving salary after leaving. The collective agreement clause states that individuals aged 55 or more, who have been pilots with the national airline…

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12

Sep

Man dies in Qormi construction incident / Malta News Briefing – Monday 12 September 2022

Updated - 1640: Newsportal Update Times of Malta says that a tribunal has overturned an MFSA fine for late submissions of accounts ‘due to COVID’. Curmi & Partners had been fined €5k for filing them three weeks after April 2020 deadline. Maltatoday reports that Shakira Degabriele, a teenager who was reported missing earlier this month, wrote on Facebook that she was ok and would address her issues on her own. The police said that her status is still considered as missing. TVM alerts the public about a misleading email that is doing the rounds. The email is being circulating, purportedly…

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11

Sep

Malta News Briefing – Sunday 11 September 2022

News Update Prime Minister Interview The private sector should be roped in to help the government deliver major capital projects, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday.  Speaking during an interview on the Labour Party’s ONE Radio, Abela said it would be a “mistake” if the government were to stop being an active participant in driving the economy forward.  Speaking on One Radio, Abela said that the government will be focused on providing economic peace of mind to businesses, in part by offering price stability through energy subsidies. “If government, in this important moment, decreases financial aid, will it increase…

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10

Sep

S&P confirms Malta rating at A- / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 10 September 2022

Updated 1500 Malta rated A- by S&P International credit agency Standard & Poor’s has confirmed Malta rating at A- level, with stable prospects. The agency stated in its report that the economy was hit by the effects of the war in Ukraine and as a result, Malta experienced higher costs for energy and high rates of inflation. It was pointed out that Malta imports the absolute majority of its energy from foreign markets, and as a result the high costs of energy can hinder reduction of the deficit which, it added, increased during the pandemic. (TVM) Police target illegal migration…

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09

Sep

Malta’s leaders join world in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II / Malta News Briefing – Friday 9 September 2022

Updated 1735 - Afternoon News Update Schembri granted bail: Former More supermarkets boss Ryan Schembri has been granted bail with a court saying he was never technically a criminal fugitive - Times of Malta. Man claims excessive force during citizen's arrest: Police are investigating whether excessive force was used during a “citizen’s arrest” at a fast food restaurant in Hamrun on Friday morning, during which the suspected thief was beaten and bloodied by the owners, who had previously employed the accused - Maltatoday. PN laments Government inaction on human trafficking: The Nationalist Party has taken aim at the government for…

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08

Sep

Chamber asks Government to reduce public sector to free up funds / Malta News Briefing – Thursday 8 September 2022

Updated 1230 Chamber asks Govt to reduce public sector: Government must bite the political bullet and urgently implement a rationalisation process within the public sector to cut down the government’s payroll, the president of the Chamber of Commerce has said. Marisa Xuereb said that the government must trim the public sector if it is to be in a position to continue to offer essential services, subsidies and carry out major projects in the future. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, government toted the war chest it had available to offer subsidies and introduce measures, such as the wage supplement, to mitigate the…

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07

Sep

Govt needs to find other ways to finance urban greening projects – Dalli / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 7 September 2022

Updated 1800 Maltatoday reports that environment Minister Miriam Dalli said that government is still committed to its €700 million electoral pledge for urban greening projects but will seek alternative ways to fund these projects. Times of Malta reports that two men were arrested on Wednesday over a fight involving a knife, in the latest in a series of violent incidents in Ħamrun.   A spokesperson for the police said the incident happened at around 11.30 am on Qormi Road, Ħamrun. TVM news says that Opposition and Nationalist Party Leader Bernard Grech stated that the agreement between the Maltese Government and Socar, which…

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06

Sep

Finance Minister promises no new taxes in Budget 2023 / Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 6 September 2022

Updated 1740 - Afternoon Portal Briefing The Times of Malta reports that people can expect another social budget with no new taxes, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said on Tuesday. Speaking at the beginning of a pre-budget consultation meeting with the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD), he assured employers and citizens that despite the international financial hardships, the Maltese economy continues to steadily grow stronger. Maltatoday says that the Malta Employers Association has asked Government to cap COLA to 6 euros a week. The employers lobby group has also presented a survey which shows 55% of businesses are expecting…

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05

Sep

Students, Concession Tallinja Card Holders No Longer Need To Top Up Card

Malta Public Transport announced that students and concession Tallinja card holders who currently use public transport for free are no longer required to top up their Tallinja Cards as of the 1st September. This change forms part of the preparations that are underway to make public transport free for all personalised Tallinja Card holders as of 1st October. Up until now, these Tallinja Card holders that are eligible for free travel had to top up their cards and then receive a refund the following month. But the Tallinja payment system has now been upgraded to offer a more seamless experience…

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05

Sep

PN to scale down Independence day activities / Malta News Briefing – Monday 5 September 2022

Updated 1900 The Times reports that students and concession Tallinja card holders who currently use public transport for free are no longer required to top up their Tallinja cards as Malta Public Transport prepares to roll out the service for free from next month. Maltatoday says that awyers for an Albanian man resisting extradition to Greece, over a horrific double homicide, have called for the removal of a report compiled by a Greek fingerprint expert on the grounds that an outdated method was used to analyse the prints. Newsbook quotes economy minister Silvio Schembri who has shrugged off allegations of…

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04

Sep

Update: Malta News Briefing – Sunday 4 September 2022

Budget cuts expected to target capital projects The Times of Malta reports that several planned infrastructural projects which were to be entirely financed by national funds are expected be frozen as the government attempts to cushion the spiralling cost of energy. The decision could impact certain planned road upgrades, schools and other projects, top civil servants told Times of Malta. Homeless should not be allowed to refuse shelter Homeless people should not be allowed to refuse shelter when offered, Marsa mayor Josef Azzopardi told The Malta Independent on Sunday. “It is not the first time that help was offered to these people,…

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03

Sep

No Minister investigated on driving test cheating allegations- PM / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 3 September 2022

Updated 1155 No Minister under investigation - Abela Prime Minister Robert Abela has taken to the defence of his Ministers following allegations of corruption concerning driving tests. The PM insisted that there were “no investigations, criminal charges or legal proceedings concerning any ministers in this regard”. A so-far unnamed Minister was implicated in the racket in Court when three Transport Malta officials were charged with facilitating cheating at a driving exam. (Times of Malta) Chamber wants surplus govt employees moved to private enterprise The Malta Chamber has suggested that any surplus government staff should be seconded to the public sector.…

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02

Sep

Govt will continue to assist families in wake of energy price increases – PM / Malta News Briefing – Friday 2 September 2022

Updated 1630 The Times of Malta reports that at least four teachers and staff members have quit their jobs at St Albert the Great College following the sacking of their headmaster earlier this year. It also reported that according to the MUT, it is operating without the proper licence. Maltatoday follows Court action where a team of three psychiatrists, appointed to assess whether Abner Aquilina was fit to stand trial have confirmed their assessment that Aquilina was “angry towards women” and had wanted to have sex with a dead body. Newsbook says that former Nationalist Party MP Jason Azzopardi revealed…

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01

Sep

Updated – Malta News Briefing – Thursday 1 September 2022

Updated 1800 - Newsportal Review The Times of Malta reports that Malta’s UN bid included a €20,550 bill for silk scarves, ties from designers Charles and Ron. Malta was uncontested for non-permanent member seat on the security council for a two-year term. Maltatoday reports that a 65-year-old man from Mosta has been placed under treatment and probation orders after he admitted to having committed a non-consensual sexual act on an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) student whom he was hosting. Newsbook: A court was told that Richmond Tong never asked for medical assistance on the night in which he…

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31

Aug

Libyan PM expected in Malta / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 31 August 2022

Updated 1145 Libyan PM expected in Malta as turmoil heats up Tripoli: Libyan prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah is expected n Malta today for talks with the the Prime Minister as tensions in the country rise following an increase in fighting in the capital in recent days. Dbeibah will be joined by the governor of Tripoli’s central bank. According to The Times of Malta, although there is no fixed agenda, the Libyan leader is expected to discuss Libyan monies that were held at the now-closed SataBank. The issue of flights between the two countries may also be addressed. Malta on…

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30

Aug

PN proposes licensing, helmets for scooter riders / Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 30 August 2022

Updated 1745 - Newsportal Review The Times of Malta reports that police officers who surveyed the scene of a domestic dispute found firearms stuffed in the back of a wardrobe and bullets stashed all over the residence. Maltatoday says that the Nationalist Party has proposed that e-scooter users are required to obtain a dedicated driving licence, use a helmet, and are subject to a penalty point system. TVM says that the Malta Police Union has filed a criminal charge with the Police Commissioner to formally investigate and arraign in Court a Tik-Toker whose video included offensive words and false accusations…

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29

Aug

Former Minister refuses Degiorgios brief / Malta News Briefing – Monday 29 August 2022

1745- Latest News update Times of Malta says the PN will not be returning to the Floriana Granaries for this year's  Independence Day celebrations and will instead mark the day next to a monument nearby. MaltaToday says a government minister has been linked to a corruption case surrounding driving theory tests involving three Transport Malta officials.  Newsbook says a 51-year-old man of Birżebbuġa was grievously injured at work. TVM says between April and June, the Maltese economy grew by almost 9% over the same period the previous year. Updated 1200 Economy grows 8.9% in Q2: Provisional estimates released by the…

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29

Aug

Minister implicated in Transport Malta driving test corruption case / Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 30 August 2022

Morning Briefing Minister implicated in Transport Malta driving test corruption case At least one unnamed government minister has been linked to a driving theory test corruption case involving three Transport Malta officials. The three are accused of helping learner drivers cheat in the exam. Clint Mansueto, 40, a director at Transport Malta, and officials Raul Antonio Pace, 35, and Philip Edrick Zammit, 23, denied corruption charges when they appeared in court on Monday.  11-storey hotel set to replace former bookshop outside University A bookshop which for years was synonymous with the University of Malta is set to be replaced by…

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28

Aug

Covid-19 death toll tops 800 / Malta News Briefing – Sunday 28 August 2022

Covid-19 death toll tops 800 Two people with Covid-19 have died over the past two days, bringing the pandemic’s death toll in Malta to 801.There have been 56 new cases of Covid-19 over the past two days. With 97 deemed to have recovered, the number of known active cases decreased to a 154. (Newsbook) Keywords Studios to set up operations in Malta Keywords Studios, an international technical services provider to the global video games industry employing 11,000 people, has now set firm plans to set up operations in Malta. Established in 1998, and now with over 70 facilities in 24…

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27

Aug

Greens want fuel subsidy slashed, not University funds/ Malta News Briefing – Saturday 27 August 2022

Updated 1220 Seguna referred to mental hospital, spent night in jail Fr Luke Seguna, the priest accused of defrauding parishioners was referred to the state’s mental health hospital after a court heard that he told his lawyers that his life had “ended” following criminal charges. The Times reports that after Seguna was granted bail on Thursday, he spent that night in Corradino Correctional Facility, as his bail money was not deposited in time. Seguna's lawyers later said that that the priest was referring to his public life as a priest when he made that statement, and was not to be…

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26

Aug

Electricity subsidy to increase to €250 million by end of the year / Malta News Briefing – Friday 26 August 2022

1745- Latest News update Times of Malta says Prime Minister Robert Abela on Friday said Nationalist Party was being “populist and sensationalist” when it called for the deportation of foreign nationals involved in violent crimes. MaltaToday says the judge who will be presiding Yorgen Fenech’s trial announced that she would be delivering her judgement on his preliminary pleas in December at the end of a pre-trial hearing this morning.  Newsbook says a 34-year-old supporter of FK Partizan was arrested after he lit a flare at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali during the Serbian football team’s match with Ħamrun Spartans…

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25

Aug

Dead body found in B’Buġia was Carmelo Fino’s, police say / Malta News Briefing – Thursday 25 August 2022

Updated 1745 - Newsportal Review Maltatoday headlines with news that a decomposing body found in Birzebbuġa on July 14 was that of Carmelo Fino, the elderly man who walked out of St Vincent de Paul Home, almost 8km away, on June 28. The Times of Malta reports that one third of Ukrainians who fled to Malta since the Russian invasion have already left the island. Newsbook says that travel by Maltese residents is nearing pre-Covid levels. 139,083 outbound tourists were registered in the second quarter of 2022. TVM provides extensive detail relating to the compilation of evidence against the Parish…

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24

Aug

Bernard Grech dismisses anti-migrant rhetoric / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 24 August 2022

Updated 1400 Woman dies in traffic accident: A 23-year-old woman tragically lost her life after she was hit by a bus in Mdina Road, Birkirkara this afternoon. The incident happened around 1pm. (Newsbook) Bernard Grech dismisses anti-migrant rhetoric: PN leader Bernard Grech has distanced himself from anti-migrant remarks made publicly, including within the Nationalist Party following the brawl involving Syrian citizens in Ħamrun. The security issues  Malta is currently facing should not be about "the fight between Maltese and foreigners", the Nationalist Party leader said on Wednesday. (Times of Malta). KSU condemns University budget cuts: The University Student Council (KSU)…

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23

Aug

AirMalta restructuring on track – Finance Minister / Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 23 August 2022

Updated 1745 - Newsportal Review Times of Malta says that Finance minister Clyde Caruana on Tuesday refused to rule out the possibility that Air Malta could be replaced by another flag carrier, but he insisted that the airline's restructuring programme is on track. Maltatoday reports that a new COLA mechanism will be in place to address the particular needs of lower-income groups, who will be receiving additional compensation to counter inflation. Newsbook reveals that plans have been submitted to redevelop an existing abandoned cow farm in the Wied Ghomor Valley between Swieqi and San Ġwann into a 131-room agri-tourism. TVM…

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21

Aug

Insurance association wants random breathalyser tests / Malta News Briefing – Monday 22 August 2022

1745 Latest news update Times of Malta says problems with Comino being overcrowded, flooded with deckchairs and full of litter will be solved "by next summer", Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo has said.  MaltaToday says A 21-year-old male student from Tarxien has been charged with raping a woman and a girl in separate incidents just 24 hours apart. Newsbook says Justice minister Jonathan Attard was non-committal on when government will publish the recommendations by the committee tasked with examining draft legislative amendments on the media sector. TVM says the effects of climate change have increasingly come under the spotlight in recent years.…

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21

Aug

UPDATE – Man charged in connection to Dingli shooting / Malta News Briefing – Sunday 21 August 2022

News Briefing Search for missing Carmelo Fino started 15 hours after he left San Vincenz De Paule - Report Carmelo Fino had already been wandering in the streets for 15 hours before authorities began to search for him outside the care home, the inquiry into his disappearance shows. Times of Malta saw the final report of the inquiry, which underlines how staff at the home only realised the man was missing five hours after he had left the hospital and then spent an entire morning looking for him inside the premises and in the home’s grounds because night shift officials had given false…

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20

Aug

Air Malta and Cost of Living on PM’s interview agenda / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 20 August 2022

News Update PN wants immediate deportation of foreigners caught breaking law The Nationalist Party wants foreigners caught breaking the law to be deported immediately while it has also called for the army to be brought in to help enforce rules. Listing the measures, PN spokesperson Joe Giglio said the police force needs to be strengthened through improvements in conditions that are effective in fighting crime. The force is "demotivated, overworked, overstretched and underpaid," the spokesperson said.  (Times of Malta) Two arrested over Hamrun brawl Police have arrested two men over Thursday’s Ħamrun brawl and have identified a further 11 people allegedly involved.…

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19

Aug

Seven workers suspended after man disappears from care home / Malta News Briefing – Friday 19 August 2022

1745- Latest News update Times of Malta says Police have not yet established who was at the wheel of the Mazda Demio that allegedly hit Antoine Degabriele two weeks ago in Żejtun and investigators are still searching for the driver of a second vehicle that raced past just before the fatal impact.  MaltaToday says Former prime minister and president Eddie Fenech Adami, 88, is in stable condition and being kept at Mater Dei Hospital's cardiac ward after falling ill on Friday morning. Newsbook says Monsignor Philip Calleja’s funeral will take place in the Jesuit Church in Triq il-Merkanti in Valletta at 3pm.…

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18

Aug

Massive brawl erupts in Hamrun, one hospitalised / Malta News Briefing – Thursday 18 August

Updated 1800 Maltatoday reports that the local councils of Mdina, Rabat and Imtarfa have come out against the Mdina Grand Prix being organised in the vicinity of their localities. “While in principle they have nothing against the activity itself and/or the organisers, the Councils unanimously agreed that in view of the severe inconvenience to residents and the serious danger resulting from the severe congestion arising during the Mdina Gran Prix, this activity should be organised out elsewhere,” a statement read. Newsbook warns that strong winds are expected to batter the Maltese islands towards the end of the week, anticipating a…

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17

Aug

Met Offices issues heat warning / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 17 August 2022

1745- Latest News update Times of Malta says Bank of Valletta chairman Gordon Cordina has denied any conflict of interest over the provision of consultancy services to the Malta Gaming Authority. MaltaToday says a young woman who had just been raped, jumped into the sea to escape her aggressor, the court heard on Wednesday in the case against a 20-year-old man. Newsbook says the Gozo Business Chamber called on government to prioritise the proposed tunnel between Malta and Gozo and ensure that the fast ferry service is retained. TVM says noise at the work place and in entertainment places may…

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16

Aug

Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 16 August 2022

Afternoon briefing Firm linked to 'suspect' payments to Muscat breaching company law: A company linked to "suspicious" payments made to Joseph Muscat is in violation of company law by failing to file audited accounts. Accutor Limited, a subsidiary of the Swiss operation that paid Muscat €60,000, has been failing to file accounts since 2017. Wasay Bhatti, the sole director of Accutor in Malta, hired the former prime minister as a "consultant." MaltaPost raises postage tariffs, saying it delivers letters 'at a loss': Maltapost has raised the price of inbound and outbound mail, claiming that its role as the country's postal…

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15

Aug

COLA expected to reach 10 euro / Malta News Briefing – Monday 15 August 2022

Updated 0915 COLA to reach €10 The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), awarded annually to compensate for inflation is likely to approach €10 per week by the post-summer budget, up from €1.75. The Times of Malta says that according to the workings of a fixed formula that takes into consideration the minimum wage and the past year’s inflation, the adjustment now stands at around €9.10 and is likely to reach around €9.90 by the time it is announced in the October budget. Morning Briefing Maltatoday reports that a plan by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana to have some 600 employees at the loss-making…

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14

Aug

Chamber says workers should not get full COLA if already given pay rise this year / Malta News Briefing – Sunday 14 August 2022

Morning Briefing Chamber says workers should not get full COLA if already given pay rise this year Workers who had a salary raise this year should not receive the full cost of living adjustment expected to be announced in the budget later this year, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry recommended. In its pre-budget proposals, the business lobby said that such workers hould only get the difference between the increase to be announced by the government and the COLA for 2022. The Chamber also suggested the introduction of parking meters in urban centres, and the cutting down of…

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13

Aug

Tension in Comino as Graffiti holds protest / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 13 August

Updated 1230 Tensions flare as Graffiti mounts protest on Comino A tense morning on the island of Comino as Moviment Graffiti mounted another protest against what it describes as an occupation of the bay, coming into confrontation with a heavy police presence. Graffiti argues that commercial interests have overrun Comino and wants deckchairs and umbrellas being restricted to 30 per cent of the Blue Lagoon, with operators only setting them up when asked to by a paying client. They also want a ban on large boats and a limit of two kiosks. Chamber lambasts Government on AirMalta In a strongly-worded…

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12

Aug

Work permit delays hampering business, Employers say / Malta News Briefing – Friday 12 August 2022

Latest update Times of Malta says Marsaxlokk's parish priest is to be charged with misappropriating funds and money laundering.  MaltaToday says Christian Degabriele, a 35-year-old soldier from Għaxaq lost his life in a diving incident on Thursday. Newsbook says a waterspout has been spotted off the Maltese coast in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq and Żonqor in Marsascala, as thunder showers continue to beat the islands for the third day in a row. TVM says 33-year-old Venezuelan national Juan Daniel Ramos Galindo has been remanded in custody after being apprehended with 350 grams of cocaine at Malta International Airport. Afternoon update Employers lambast Air…

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11

Aug

Government analysing journalism committee’s feedback on reforms / Malta News Briefing – Thursday 11 August 2022

Mid-day briefing Contender for top Police force job quits the force: A star candidate for the role of Financial Crimes Investigation Department has quit the force. According to sources, Superintendent Frank Tabone, the head of the anti-money laundering unit, was chosen as the preferred candidate to lead the FCID. Tabone, on the other hand, has expressed his desire to leave the force in favour of a legal career and is currently on leave. Festa enthusiasts hit back at minister’s traffic comment: Festa-goers have reacted angrily to the transport minister's controversial claim that outdoor feasts are to blame for some of…

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10

Aug

Malta’s efforts against corruption are limited – Commission President / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday

1745- Latest News update Times of Malta says August showers wet parts of Malta and Gozo on Wednesday, with rain forecast for the coming days and thunderstorms a possibility, according to the Meteorological Office.    MaltaToday says garbage and urban debris in some of Malta’s most populated towns and seaside localities have become a regular nuisance in the hot summer months. But to the visually-impaired the threat of unhygienic street furniture and environs is now a national concern. Newsbook says Prime Minister Robert Abela’s failure to speak about, or rather against, what was meant to be a ‘show of force’…

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09

Aug

Far-right activists charged with threats to mother and her partner / Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 9 August 2022

Updated 1715 - Newsportal Review The Times of Malta reports that a 20-year-old self-proclaimed far-right leader has been charged with threatening his mother and her partner. Eman Alexander Cross appeared in court on Tuesday, where he admitted to breaching conditions of a probation order and unlawfully possessing a weapon. He pleaded not guilty to other charges, including causing his victims to fear violence and insulting and threatening his mother’s partner.  Maltatoday also leads with Court developments as an 81-year-old man has been charged with sexually assaulting a five-year-old child while under a probation order for a similar offence. Newsbook shares another…

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08

Aug

Survey shows increase of mental health issues at work / Malta News Briefing – Monday 8 August 2022

Latest News update Times of Malta says Ousted ONE radio host Emanuel Cuschieri has urged people to join him outside the law courts on Tuesday in support of former roads agency chief Fredrick Azzopardi, who is facing prosecution for environmental crimes. MaltaToday says PN MPs are insisting Clyde Caruana should come forward and say whether Air Malta’s employee transfer scheme is still doable after deadline was moved to October from mid-August   Newsbook says a Malta-Geneva flight scheduled for 2.35pm was delayed until 6.06pm on Saturday. TVM says the second radiology machine at the Oncology Hospital has been repaired and has resumed working after…

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07

Aug

Update – Man charged with hit-and-run accident / Malta News Briefing – Sunday 7 August 2022

News Update Briefing Man charged on hit-and-run Zejtun accident Dean Donavan Frendo is the person thought of being behind a hit-and-run accident which killed Antonie Degabriele. The 23-year-old was charged in court on Sunday. The case is being heard by Magistrate Rachel Montebello. Frendo was charged with killing Degabriele, driving a vehicle without a license and insurance policy, driving over the speed limit, and tampering of evidence among other charges. Antoine Degabriele’s lifeless body was found on Friday at around 11.45am, in a field, next to President Anton Buttigieg street in Żejtun. Degabriele was 51 years old. He worked in…

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06

Aug

UPDATE – Suspect in fatal hit-and-run Żejtun case arrested / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 6 August 2022

Update - 1600h - A 21-year-old Birżebbuġa resident suspected to have been the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run on Friday has been arrested A man has been arrested in connection with the hit-and-run incident which took place in Zejtun on Friday. The police said that the Major Crimes Unit and the Zejtun district identified the car and driver which hit and killed Antoine Degabriele, 51, in Anton Buttigieg Road. The driver, aged 21, was arrested on Saturday morning. The car, a Mazda Demio, was found in a garage in Zabbar. Updated - 1200 Mid-Day Briefing Prosecutor's brother quashes conspiracy…

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05

Aug

Work-life balance rules ‘just tick-box exercise’, NGOs say / Malta News Briefing – Friday 5 August 2022

Latest News update Times of Malta says the number of traffic accidents has increased by almost a fifth from last year, according to national statistics. MaltaToday says Joseph Gavin will be stepping down from chief executive officer at Malta’s financial regulator for health reasons, the authority announced on Friday. Newsbook says broadcaster and activist Peppi Azzopardi called for an inquiry into what the Constitutional Court ruled as “inhumane and degrading” treatment of an inmate by the previous Corradino Correctional Facility administration under the stewardship of Colonel Alex Dalli. TVM says that the Police are investigating the discovery of a dead…

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04

Aug

Police say Muscat died from heart failure/ Malta News Briefing – Thursday 04 August 2022

Updated 1800 Maltatoday leads with the news that Karl Muscat, the prosecutor at the Attorney General's office who was found dead in his Swieqi home on Wednesday, died of cardiorespiratory failure, according to an autopsy. Times of Malta reports that former Enemalta board member Lara Boffa told a parliamentary committee on Thursday that she could not “hand on heart” vote in favour of the decision to award the power station contract to the Electrogas consortium. Newsbook quotes data by the MCA which shows that the popularity of fixed telephony has slowly dwindled during the past few years, with subscriptions totalling…

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03

Aug

AG prosecutor found dead / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 3 August 2022

Latest News update Times of Malta says a prosecutor at the Attorney General's office has been found dead at a residence on Triq is-Sirk in Swieqi. MaltaToday says Environment minister Miriam Dalli has pulled the plug on a WasteServ proposal to build a restaurant in Santa Venera’s Romeo Romano garden. Newsbook says broadcaster and activist Peppi Azzopardi called for an inquiry into what the Constitutional Court ruled as “inhumane and degrading” treatment of an inmate by the previous Corradino Correctional Facility administration under the stewardship of Colonel Alex Dalli. TVM says that a man, 33, from Qormi has pleaded guilty…

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