Morning Briefing

Malta: Industrial dispute at Water Services Corporation

L-Orizzont announces that the General Workers Union registered an industrial dispute with the Water Services Corporation over delays in the finalisation of a new collective agreement for employees. The paper…

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Malta: Government finds misplaced agreement document

Malta Today says that the Office of the Prime Minister has located the missing agreement document with Vitals Global Healthcare and handed it over to the National Auditor Office. The…

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Malta: Adrian Delia loses confidence vote in party’s executive council

In-Nazzjon reports that PN Leader Adrian Delia lost a vote of confidence in the party’s Executive Council on Tuesday night. 47 members voted against his leadership and 36 voted in…

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Malta: Former PN Leader urges new leadership race

The Times follows the PN Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday evening which was also attended by former leader Lawrence Gonzi and deputy leader Tonio Borg. The paper says that Gonzi…

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Malta: Lost VGH agreement handed over to Auditor General

The Independent says that Prime Minister Robert Abela had ordered an agreement between the Muscat administration and Vitals Global Healthcare to be found after an NAO investigation reported that it…

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Malta: PN executive holds tense meeting on Tuesday night

L-Orizzont reports on a ‘tense’ PN executive meeting on Tuesday after Adrian Delia was retained as Opposition Leader by the President. The paper says that several people have been engaged…

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Malta: President Vella retains Adrian Delia in Opposition Leader role

The Times leads with the decision by President George Vella to retain Adrian Delia as Opposition Leader. A statement by the Office of the President said that the constitutional role…

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Malta: Adrian Delia welcomes decision by the President

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia following the President’s decision to keep him in the role of Opposition Leader. Delia said that he will continue to give all his energy…

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Malta: Prime Minister orders VGH MoU to be found

The Independent says that Prime Minister Robert Abela ordered the missing Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and Vitals Global Healthcare to be retrieved, after the National Auditor said…

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Malta: Compilation of evidence in 12-year-old murder case begins

L-Orizzont follows the case about the murder of 25-year-old Charlene Farrugia in 2008. Accused John Paul Woods had first admitted to killing her, but then changed his version and blamed…

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Malta: Visitors flag lack of social distancing on flights

The Independent quotes incoming passengers who raised concerns over lack of social distancing while traveling to Malta. They said that people were wearing facemasks, but planes were full. Another story…

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Malta: EC pushing government for lower-emissions pipeline project

The Times reports that the European Commission is urging Malta to consider changing a proposed natural gas pipeline from Sicily to lower-carbon fuels such as hydrogen or biomethane. Another story…

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Malta: St Julian’s fire leaves woman dead

In-Nazzjon reports on the death of a 68-year-old woman after a fire broke out in her residence in St Julian’s on Sunday morning. Investigators believe that Anna Spiteri attempted to…

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Malta: PN MPs frustrated by President’s silence

L-Orizzont says that President George Vella has come in for criticism by a section of PN MPs who declared no confidence in Opposition Leader Adrian Delia for the prolonged decision…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma was told about Vincent Muscat pardon plea

Malta Today says that self-confessed middleman in the Caruana Galizia murder plot, Melvin Theuma, was informed of a pardon request made by Vincent Muscat, one of the three accused triggermen…

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Malta: Delia supporters pushing for expulsion of dissident MPs

The Sunday Times reports that paid-up members of the Nationalist Party are ramping up pressure on the Executive Council for the expulsion of the MPs who voted against Adrian Delia’s…

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Malta: MPs say Adrian Delia does not have numbers in General Council

The Independent on Sunday speaks to PN MPs opposing Adrian Delia’s leadership who believe that the party leader does not enjoy majority support in the General Council. They insisted, however,…

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Malta: PN Executive Council meeting on Tuesday

Il-Mument announces that the PN’s Executive Council will convene on Tuesday. PN Secretary General Francis Zammit Dimech confirmed that the meeting will discuss this week’s confidence vote in the parliamentary…

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Malta: President’s office silent over PN crisis

Illum says that the Office of the President has gone ‘completely silent’ as the Opposition precipitated in an unprecedented constitutional crisis. The paper says that Adrian Delia is left hanging…

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Malta: EC anticipates economic recovery by next year

Kullħadd quotes a report by the European Commission which predicts that Malta will be the only EU country to fully recover from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic by…

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Malta: Finance Minister welcomes rating by Fitch

It-Torċa quotes Finance Minister Edward Scicluna who welcomed the ‘stable’ rating by Fitch despite the economic pressures that came with the Covid-19. He said that the result is a sign…

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Malta: President Vella meets majority of Opposition MPs

The Times reports that President George Vella spoke with the majority of Opposition MPs asking them whether they had confidence in current leader Adrian Delia. Independent MP Godfrey Farrugia told…

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Malta: Adrian Delia says he will not resign from Opposition Leader

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that he will continue to carry out his responsibilities as Opposition Leader as demanded by the party statute. Delia reaffirmed his loyalty…

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Malta: Prime Minister rejects claims he discussed Yorgen Fenech with Opposition Leader

The Independent says that Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed reports that he met with Opposition Leader Adrian Delia last week but denied suggestions that they discussed allegations surrounding Yorgen Fenech.…

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Malta: Pitkalija reform plan announced by Agriculture Minister

L-Orizzont quotes Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo who announced a reform of the Pitkalija vegetable market. He said that the government is looking to introduce new technology to increase efficiency and…

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Malta: Over 20,000 passengers in the first week

The Independent says that there have been 20,000 movements in the first week since the ports were re-opened. Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli said the government is seeking to add…

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Home: Increase in bookings with Air Malta

L-Orizzont speaks to an Air Malta representative who said that bookings with the airline are picking up. The spokesperson, however, said that it is too early to predict emerging trends…

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Malta: Delia insists nothing has changed

In-Nazzjon follows an address on TV by Adrian Delia who called for people to unite against government corruption. Delia confirmed that he was summoned by President George Vella following a…

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Malta: Therese Comodini Cachia nominated for Opposition Leader

The Times leads with the nomination of Therese Comodini Cachia as the Opposition Leader by PN MPs who voted to oust Adrian Delia from the role. President George Vella held…

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Malta-24 – News Briefing – Thursday 9th July 2020

Updated 1531 - Therese Comodini Cachi touted as Opposition Leader A number of media sources are reporting that Nationalist MP and former MEP Therese Comodini Cachia will be nominated by…

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Malta: Claudio Grech touted as Opposition Leader

Business Today says that PN MP Claudio Grech is the preferred replacement to Adrian Delia among the 19 members of the parliamentary group who voted against the current leader in…

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Malta: PN MPs want Adrian Delia to resign voluntarily

The Times says that PN MPs are waiting for leader Adrian Delia to step down voluntarily. If he fails to do so, the parliamentary group is prepared to ask the…

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Malta: Prime Minister distinguishes between VGH and Steward agreements

The Independent quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said the government will uphold the National Auditor’s report into the hospital deal with Vitals. He insisted, however, that that agreement is…

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Malta: President Vella awaits PN MPs next move

The Malta Business Weekly reports that President George Vella has cleared his major appointments for the day as the crisis within the Opposition continues to unfold. The President is expecting…

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Malta: Two-thirds of businesses report dwindling sales

In-Nazzjon says that a third of businesses reported a decrease of more than half in sales compared with last year, while another third said they lost as much 90 percent…

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Malta: GWU recognised as Malta Air employees union

L-Orizzont announces that the General Workers Union has been recognised as the major union representing Cabin Crew and Crew Supervisors employed with Malta-based Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air. The paper compares…

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Malta: Delia vows to stay on

In-Nazzjon leads with comments by PN Leader Adrian Delia after losing a vote of confidence in the parliamentary group. Delia said he will stick by the choice of party paid…

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Malta: NAO says Vitals deal was agreed in advance

Malta Today leads with a report by the National Audit Office which concludes that a multi-million deal to transfer three public hospitals to Vitals was ‘predetermined’. The NAO said that…

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Malta: Auditor’s Office blames Konrad Mizzi for VGH fiasco

The Times reports on the findings of a report by the National Audit Office which says that failure in good governance in the deal with Vitals Global Healthcare ‘rests squarely’…

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Malta: Economic forecast sees 6 percent decline this year

The Independent quotes a European Commission report which says that Malta’s economy had started to slow down before the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, predicting a 6 percent decline in…

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Malta: More than 20,000 arrivals in the first week

L-Orizzont says that more than 20,000 inbound tourists visited Malta in the first week since the reopening of ports. There were 220 flights and 11 trips by catamaran, with the…

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Malta: Libyan PM attends migration office inauguration

L-Orizzont reports on the inauguration of an immigration coordination centre by Prime Minister Robert Abela and Libyan counterpart Fayez al-Sarraj. The two countries will cooperate to stem the flow of…

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Malta: Attorney General cautioned against retrieval of evidence from Nexia BT servers

The Times reveals that Attorney General Peter Grech advised against steps by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit to seize Nexia BT’s servers in the wake of the Panama Papers revelations…

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Malta: Robert Abela hails Malta-Libya relationship

The Independent quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who, during a visit by Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj said that Malta considers Libya its friend. Abela announced that the countries would…

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Malta: Air Malta employees flag unequal treatment

In-Nazzjon says that Air Malta employees are complaining about preferential treatment towards some colleagues at a time when the company is downsizing its staff and cutting back on employment benefits.…

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Malta: Migrants kept at sea aboard livestock carrier

The Times speaks to the captain of the ship carrying migrants that was ordered to moor in Maltese territorial waters while the government negotiates relocation with EU partners. The captain…

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Malta: Coronavirus tests surpass 100,000

L-Orizzont says that there have now been more than 100,000 swab tests for Covid-19 since March. There are currently 11 active cases from a total 672 registered infections which saw…

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Malta: Adrian Delia says he will not cave in to government attacks

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that media reports about WhatsApp chats between himself and Yorgen Fenech were a government tactic. He said he will not be silenced…

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Malta: PN Leader denies exchanges with Yorgen Fenech

The Independent quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who says that messages between him and businessman Yorgen Fenech published by The Sunday Times are fake. He challenged the paper to publish…

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Malta: Yorgen Fenech offered to spill the beans on Macbridge

Malta Today says that Yorgen Fenech told police he was prepared to reveal information about secret company Macbridge which, along with his own 17 Black, was listed as a target…

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Malta: Messages between Yorgen Fenech and Adrian Delia surface

The Sunday Times reveals a series of messages between business Yorgen Fenech and PN Leader Adrian Delia sent in 2019. The paper says it was always Fenech who started the…

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Malta: Adrian Delia vows to repeal hospitals deal

Il-Mument quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said he is committed to the return to the public the three hospitals privatised by the government. Delia said that the concession to…

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Malta: Government to ditch IIP passport scheme

The Independent reports that the government published amendments to the Citizenship Act on Friday that will scrap the current cash-for-passports scheme and introduce a new residence by investment system. Another…

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Malta: Joseph Muscat found in breach of ethical behaviour

The Times reports that a parliamentary committee could impose sanctions on MP Joseph Muscat for receiving expensive gifts from businessman Yorgen Fenech. The former Prime Minister said he disagreed with…

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Malta: Murder suspect arraigned in court twelve years from the case

L-Orizzont reports that John Paul Woods has been arraigned in court accused of the murder of Charlene Farrugia, twelve years ago. The remains of the victim’s body, aged 25 at…

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Malta: Witness says no due diligence in hospitals deal was conducted

In-Nazzjon follows the case in court into the deal to privatise three state hospitals. Nexia BT partner Manuel Castagna, who sat on the evaluation and adjudication board of the deal,…

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Malta: PM upbeat about upcoming Moneyval deadline

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said he was confident that Malta will pass the Moneyval test. Addressing the PL General Conference, Abela said the government will be focused…

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