Malta Headline

Malta News Briefing – Saturday 23 September 2023

Morning Briefing Malta calls on Russia to withdraw from Ukrainian territory Addressing the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Robert Abela strongly condemned Russia's ongoing disregard for international law through its…

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Malta: Injured migrant testifies from hospital bed

A migrant injured in a two-storey fall and allegedly dumped on the road by his employer is to testify from his hospital bed in the case. Lamin Jaiteh is being…

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Malta: Study to see if mask-wearing at school can be scrapped, Chris Fearne says

The health authorities will be conducting a study during October-November in schools to determine whether masks need to be worn in during the second semester, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced on…

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Malta: Drug mule lands at MIA with €120,000 worth of cocaine

A 25-year-old woman was arrested at the Malta International Airport upon her arrival from Madrid, Spain. In a statement the police said that a joint operation between the Drugs Squad…

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Malta: Hugo Chetcuti lost around two litres of blood after knife stabbing

One of the doctors that took care of Hugo Chetcuti after he was stabbed explained that the entrepreneur lost around two litres of blood. Doctor Jonathan Joslin was a witness…

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Malta: Man, 25, injures 70-year-old man in violent robbery in Birkirkara

A man of foreign nationality, aged 25, will be arraigned in Court this morning and charged with injuring a 70-year-old man while carrying out a violent robbery on 19 September.…

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Malta: PAC meets in Konrad Mizzi’s absence

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reconvened after parliament’s summer recess this afternoon as it continues its probe into the Auditor General’s report on the Electrogas project. Former energy minister Konrad…

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Malta: Cannabis legalisation will allow regulated associations and home growing of plants

Under proposed cannabis legalisation, non-profit associations can grow cannabis to distribute among their members, Equality Minister Owen Bonnici said. The minister also said that people would be allowed to grow…

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Malta: ‘I was strapped to prison chair for eight hours,’ former inmate claims

An ex-prison inmate says he was strapped to a restraint chair and humiliated for eight hours while the prison director taunted him and refused to give him water. The former…

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Malta: Malta Enterprise representative testifies in proceedings against Hillman

More witnesses were expected to take the stand in the criminal proceedings against former Allied Newspapers managing director Adrian Hillman on Tuesday morning. Hillman stands accused of money laundering, conspiracy…

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Malta: Man avoids extradition to Italy on alleged trafficking of 10 tons of cannabis

For a second time, the Court rejected a request by Italian authorities so that 43-year old Paul Attard from Rabat is extradited to Italy to face charges on trafficking of…

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Malta: Eyewitness saw hunter shoot flamingos with shotgun, court hears

An eyewitness who saw the killing of four flamingos in Qawra testified in court that he saw hunter Miguel Zammit pointing his shotgun in the air shortly after the flamingos…

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Malta: Josette Schembri Vella has case to answer for money laundering, court rules

Josette Schembri Vella is one step closer to being tried for money laundering, with a court ruling on Tuesday that she has a case to answer for that crime. The…

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Malta: Caruana hints at higher tax rebates in 2022

The tax rebate next year could go up to €340 as finance minister Clyde Caruana hinted at an increase in a pre-budget press conference. This year, the lowest refund was…

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Malta: Three people arrested after being caught with 5kg of cocaine valued at €600,000

After several weeks of investigations and surveillance of people who form part of an international drug trafficking ring, the Police from the Anti-Drug Squad arrested three people which led to…

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Malta: Migrant community demands stronger rights

Migrant and asylum-seeker communities gathered in Valletta on Monday in a show of force to demand better rights while protesting the unhuman treatment of migrants in Malta. The migrant community…

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Malta: Taxman asks UK authorities for information on Ian Castaldi Paris

UK tax authorities have been asked to turn over any information they hold on Labour MP Ian Castaldi Paris after leaked chats show he had bragged about a multimillion-euro property in London. …

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Malta: FAA welcomes PA postponement on Ħal Għargħur ‘bastion of concrete’

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) and Għargħur residents welcomed the Planning Commission’s postponement of its decision on a permit for what they described as a ‘bastion of concrete’ in Ħal…

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Malta: Planning Authority reduces maximum permitted height for buildings in vicinity of Villa Barbaro

The Planning Authority has reduced the maximum permitted height for proposed buildings in the vicinity of Villa Barbaro in Ħal Tarxien, which dates from the 16th century and is known…

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Malta: Sufficient evidence for Pilatus money laundering reporting officer to be indicted

The magistrate compiling evidence against a former official at Pilatus Bank has declared that there is sufficient prima facie evidence to proceed with an indictment on money laundering charges. Magistrate Donatella Frendo…

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Malta: Let’s discuss technocrats in cabinet and let 16-year-olds run for elections – PM

It is time to discuss whether we should have fewer electoral districts, if we should allow prime ministers to appoint technocrats to cabinet and whether MPs should work full-time, prime…

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European Commission launches EU missions to tackle major challenges

The Commission launched today five new EU missions, a new and innovative way to work together and improve the lives of people in Europe and beyond. EU missions aim to tackle…

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Malta: Contractor charged with migrant worker’s grievous bodily harm, covering up crime

A contractor was charged with the grievous bodily harm of a migrant worker, who was dumped on the side of the road after falling two storeys from a construction site. Glen…

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Malta: Country back on EU travel green list

Malta is back on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) green list after spending the majority of the summer on either the red or orange list. Taking to…

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Malta: Motorcyclist grievously injured in Santa Venera tunnels

A motorcyclist was grievously injured last night in a collision with a car. The accident happened yesterday at around 8.30pm in Regional road, in the Santa Venera tunnels. Source: TVM…

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Malta: CCF Restraint chair has been modified

The restraint chair at the Corradino Correctional Facility has been modified over the past months after Newsbook.com.mt published exclusive photos of the said chair in January. Its existence was initially denied by…

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Malta: Msida pitbull attack victim was found with body parts missing

A 95-year old woman, mauled to death inside her Msida home last year by her grandson’s pet pitbulls, was found lying motionless in a pool of blood with parts of her body…

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Malta: Man questioned on injured migrant worker is not registered contractor

The Malta Developers Association (MDA) has distanced itself from building contractor Glen Farrugia, who is being questioned by the police over the incident involving a migrant construction worker who was left injured…

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Malta: Motorcyclist involved in Birkirkara accident sustained grievous injuries

A man aged 36 from Qormi was grievously injured when he was involved a motorcycle accident yesterday . In a statement issued by the Police they said that the man was riding…

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Malta: Court confirms John Bundy’s PBS dismissal was ‘unfair’ but halves compensation

Former PBS CEO John Bundy was “unfairly dismissed” by the public broadcaster, a court confirmed on Wednesday. However, court ordered that Bundy be given €113,244 in compensation – half the…

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Malta: Migrant worker allegedly dumped on roadside after building site fall

An injured migrant worker was dumped on the side of the road after falling two storeys from a construction site, according to a woman who stopped to help him. Police…

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Malta: Bars, restaurants that only allow entry to fully vaccinated will benefit from less restrictions

Bars and restaurants can choose to restrict entrance to those with a COVID-19 vaccine certificate from October 9, Health Minister Chris Fearne said today. Fearne was speaking during the inauguration of…

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Malta: Police Chief calls on Fenech to desist from making ‘frivolous’ allegations

Yorgen Fenech must desist from making further “frivolous and vexatious” allegations, Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà said in a counter judicial protest on Tuesday. Fenech, who stands accused with the murder…

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Malta: Nationalist Party calls for the cancellation of the three hospitals’ contract

The Nationalist Party called for the cancellation of the contract with the private sector to run the three public hospitals in order to stop what he described as squandering people’s…

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Malta: Government promises €20 million motorsport racetrack

The Independent follows a Cabinet meeting held at the Ta’ Qali basketball pavilion on Monday, discussing the government’s plan for sports. The Prime Minister announced a €20 million investment to…

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Malta: Prime Minister teases debate on Electoral Districts

The Times quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela calling for a revision of electoral Districts, hinting that their number may be reduced but stopping short of revealing any government proposals on…

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Malta: Teachers protest court injunction by education ministry

In-Nazzjon covers a press conference by the union of teachers criticising the education ministry for filing a court injunction to block union directives issued to its members. Union president Marco…

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Malta: Education minister denies claims by union of teachers

L-Orizzont says that 45 new classrooms have been introduced this scholastic year to abide by health authority directives. Addressing a press conference, Education Minister Justyne Caruana dismissed concerns about a…

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Man wanted in US for $50m fraud arrested in Malta

A man wanted in the US to face charges of fraud and money laundering of $50 million has been arrested in Malta. The 68-year-old was apprehended on Monday morning after…

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Malta: Compilation of evidence against Keith Schembri’s wife postponed to next month

The compilation of evidence in the money laundering case against Josette Schembri Vella, former OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri’s wife, stalled this morning after one of the prosecuting inspectors…

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Malta: Edward Scicluna loses libel over money laundering claim

Central Bank governor and former finance minister Edward Scicluna lost a libel case against former PN leader Simon Busuttil who claimed that he was “embroiled in a money-laundering investigation.” Source Newsbook…

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Malta: Education Minister says state schools will have as many teachers as necessary

Education Minister Justyne Caruana has given assurance that next Wednesday students in state schools will have the teachers they need including those who receive specialized services. Addressing a news conference…

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Malta: Prime Minister announces aid scheme for low-income families

L-Orizzont follows an address by Prime Minister Robert Abela announcing support measures of up to €400 for couples with low income. Abela said that the government is committed to build…

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Malta: Off-roading track planned for Aħrax

The Independent says that the Planning Authority Board is set to discuss an application for the conversion of a disused quarry in l-Aħrax into an off-roading site. The project is…

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Malta: PN proposes combined leave for new parents

In-Nazzjon leads with a PN proposal to extend parental leave to fathers, with a minimum period that coincides with that of the mother in the first weeks after birth. PN…

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Malta: Police to investigate fraud claims into late notary

The Times reports that the police have opened an investigation into late notary Ivan Barbara following claims of fraud and misappropriation by clients. The notary died suddenly in April after…

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Malta: EU study finds Maltese among most optimistic

Kullħadd quotes a Eurofound statistic which finds a rising level of optimism about the future among people in Malta in the year before Covid-19. The results placed the Maltese as…

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Malta: PN raises alarm over cost of living

Il-Mument reports an increase in the cost of living affecting many products and services. A statement by the Nationalist Party warns that rising costs have an impact on families and…

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Malta: Football leagues lament MFA neglect

The Independent on Sunday speaks to teams playing in the lower-tier football leagues who complained that they feel neglected by the association since the pandemic. Players and officials said that…

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Malta: Concerns about online abuse by minors

It-Torċa speaks to a social worker who notes a rise in the number of minors abusing other children online. He called for a nationwide study to establish the extent of…

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Malta: Inquiry raises Egrant question again

The Sunday Times says that an inquiry in Pilatus Bank is recommending further investigations into once-secret Panamian company Egrant. US authorities are expected to interview former bank employee Maria Efimova…

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Malta: Activists under police protection for more than a month

Illum reports that blogger Manuel Delia and NGO’s Repubblika president, Robert Aquilina, have had security detail for the past five weeks following reports they filed with the police. The pair…

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Malta: MP lied about London property to impress Yorgen Fenech

Malta Today reports that Labour MP Ian Castaldi Paris had exchanged text messages with Yorgen Fenech in 2019 claiming to own a multi-million real estate portfolio in London. He later…

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Malta: Social welfare foundation saw more than 1,500 cases per month last year

L-Orizzont says that the Foundation for Social Welfare Services registered over 19,000 cases in 2020, an increased from the year before. Family Minister Michael Falzon warned that the effects of…

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Malta: PN wants VAT reduction for tourism sector

In-Nazzjon says that the PN is calling for a reduction in VAT for business in the tourism sector from 18 per cent to 7 per cent. Party spokesperson Peter Agius…

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Malta: St Julian’s council scraps Balluta stairs design

The Times reports that the St Julian’s local council will issue a fresh tender for the design of the Balluta stairway following criticism over the cost of the proposed project.…

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Malta: Valletta Cultural Agency demands ban on fossil fuel cars in ten years

The Independent says that the Valletta Cultural Agency is proposing a ban on combustion engine vehicles in Valletta by 2030. The agency said that restricting car access to electric vehicles…

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