Malta Headline

Malta: First Covid-19 rapid-testing centre opens

L-Orizzont reports that a the first Covid-19 rapid testing centre was inaugurated in Floriana yesterday after Malta received its first 20,000 kits for the purpose. Another centre is expected to…

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Malta: ITU consultants concerned about volume of cases

The Times says that consultants at the intensive care unit have spoken out for the first time about the pressures of the pandemic, warning political leaders that the system is…

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Malta: MFSA chief Joe Cuschieri went on Las Vegas trip with Yorgen Fenech

Chief financial regulator Joe Cuschieri travelled abroad to gambling haven Las Vegas on the invitation of Daphne Caruana Galizia murder suspect Yorgen Fenech. Cuschieri, the chief executive of the Malta…

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Malta: Update to sexual health policy slated for first half of 2021, Health Minister says

The health authorities are aiming to conclude updates to Malta’s sexual health policy during the first half of next year, Health Minister Chris Fearne said. Fearne was speaking during a…

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Malta: Criminal investigations from Fenech’s chats are underway, confirms Assistant Commissioner Mamo

Assistant Police Commissioner Alexandra Mamo testified before the public inquiry board. Mamo has been the head of the Economic Crimes Unit as from June this year after new Police Commissioner…

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Malta: COVID-19 rapid testing commenced today

COVID-19 rapid testing commenced today with the result being announced just after a few minutes. This is taking at Boffa Hospital in Floriana for health workers, passenger arrivals at Luqa…

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Malta: Fire at Marsa WasteServ plant

The Independent reports on a fire that broke out at a WasteServ facility in Marsa on Tuesday morning. There were no injuries, but the Civil Protection Department warned people in…

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Malta: Lawyer demands PM recusal on client’s pardon decision

Malta Today speaks to Vincent Muscat’s lawyer who said that the Prime Minister should recuse himself on the pardon request by his client after it emerged that Abela was the…

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Malta: Covid-19 victims climb to 55

In-Nazzjon says that an 80-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man died of Covid-19 on Tuesday, raising the number of casualties to 55. Active coronavirus cases on Tuesday stood at more…

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Malta: Finance Minister to step down

The Times reveals that Finance Minister Edward Scicluna will retire from politics in November after seven years. The paper says that newly co-opted MP Clyde Caruana is touted to replace…

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Malta: Government eyeing economic restart in March

L-Orizzont follows the Budget reply by Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that the government is looking at March as the month when the country will leave the pandemic behind…

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Malta: Man accused of stabbing Chantelle Chetcuti granted bail

The man charged with the murder of Chantelle Chetcuti has been granted bail by Magistrate Rachel Montebello. The alleged aggressor, Justin Borg, 34, is the victim’s former partner. The murder…

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Malta: Gozo fast ferry tender cancelled for a third time

A third attempt to award a tender for a €115 million ferry service between Malta and Gozo was killed in its tracks on Tuesday after the Public Contracts Review Board…

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Malta: ‘Brussels action on Malta passport sale has no legal basis’

Malta’s parliamentary secretary for citizenship Alex Muscat has said a letter of formal notice announcing action on Malta’s sale of citizenship to the global elite “lacks any legal basis”. Muscat said the…

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Malta: “Big family gatherings should be avoided this Christmas ” – Minister Fearne

Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne reaffirmed that the maximum number of people who can gather outside is 6, and stressed that what cannot be done outside should…

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Malta: Environment minister downplays incinerator fears

The Independent speaks to Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia who after NGOs criticised plans for a waste incinerator. The minister said that modern waste-to-energy facilities are efficient enough that they can…

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Malta: Opposition Leader calls for new direction for country

In-Nazzjon reports on the Budget response by Opposition Leader Bernard Grech on Monday where he said the country needs to change its direction to overcome the challenges of Covid-19 and…

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Malta: Bars closed in new safety measures

The Times leads with new health measures announced by the government ordering the closure of bars and clubs until the end of November. Snack bars and kiosks may still open…

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Malta: Taxi drivers considering unionisation

L-Orizzont says app-based taxi drivers are approaching the General Workers Union to seek employment protection. Drivers told the union that they do not have a work contract and most of…

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Malta: Chamber proposes ‘Black Weekend’ to avoid Black Friday overcrowding

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry is proposing extending the so-called Black Friday sales over four days this year in a bid to avoid overcrowding and the spread…

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Malta: Man falls the height of two storeys and lands in an empty swimming pool

A Ghanaian man living in Marsalforn, Gozo, was seriously injured in an accident at a construction site in Gozo. At around 09:30, the help of the Police was requested to…

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Malta: President warns we are close to losing the balance between environment and economy

President George Vella has appealed for people to live sustainably in their everyday lives as he warned that the balance between the economy and the environment risks being lost. Vella…

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Malta: Daphne inquiry board tells Yorgen Fenech it is ‘well aware’ of its remit

Judges leading a public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia have said they are well aware of their remit and will fulfil it with transparency, after Yorgen Fenech’s…

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Malta: Pope Francis names Mario Grech Cardinal

The Independent leads with an announcement by Pope Francis naming former Gozo Bishop Mario Grech a cardinal. A ceremony will elevate 13 churchmen to the rank of cardinal at St…

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Malta: PN Leader insists Opposition has duty to criticise government

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that the constitutional role of the Opposition is to voice the concerns of all people. Grech will this evening deliver his reply…

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Malta: PM hails ‘principled’ decisions announced in Budget

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who described the Budget as ‘principled’. Abela explained the measures and said that, in a difficult situation, the government chose to increase state support.…

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Malta: Dairy farmers concerned about dwindling demand

The Times says that dairy farmers have been informed by Malta Dairy Products that demand for milk is falling with the disruption of the pandemic and a fifth of their…

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Malta: Covid-19 patients under 50 years in ITU

In-Nazzjon reports that 121 new Covid-19 infections were registered on Friday, raising the number of active cases to 1,775, The paper says that two patients under the age of 50…

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Malta: Joe Gasan says Yorgen Fenech denied 17 Black reports

The Times follows the testimony of businessman Joe Gasan in the Caruana Galizia public inquiry. The Electrogas investor said that Yorgen Fenech had denied reports that he was the owner…

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Malta: Immigration tops EU concerns in Malta

L-Orizzont says that the rate of Covid-19 infections in Malta stands at 320 per 100,000 inhabitants, the ninth-highest in the EU. The paper says that contagion in family clusters is…

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Malta: PM not a fan of public inquiries

The Independent quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who says he is not in favour of public inquiries because they give the message that institutions do not function as they should.…

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Malta: Migration top concern despite COVID-19 pandemic, EU survey shows

Maltese people feel migration is still the main problem facing the EU, despite the health and economic ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, an EU-wide survey has found. According to the…

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Malta: Urgent appeal for O Negative blood with only three bags remaining

Health authorities have issued an urgent appeal for the donation of O negative blood. In a post on the health ministry’s Facebook page, authorities said that the urgent need for…

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Malta: First cars use the Santa Lucia tunnels

The two new tunnels built under the Santa Luċija roundabout, a project which Prime Minister Robert Abela said will make a difference to the lives of thousands who live in…

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Malta: NGO Repubblika accuses Government of having no policy on racism

The rule of law NGO Repubblika proposed to the government to enforce the obligation on Public Broadcasting to provide space for minorities. This is one of 17 proposals made by…

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Malta: Covid-19 claims two more lives

The Independent reports that new Covid-19 cases have risen to over 100 for nine days in a row. On Thursday, a woman aged 72 and a man aged 82 died…

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Parliament debates Electrogas inquiry motion: The Headline – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon follows a debate in parliament discussing a motion by the Opposition for a public inquiry into the Electrogas power station. Opposition Leader Bernard Grech appealed to government MPs to…

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GWU applauds compensation measure for drydocks workers: The Headline – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont quotes the General Workers Union official responsible for construction and metal, Jesmond Marshall, who welcomed the compensation to former drydock workers announced in the Budget. He said public recognition…

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Malta: MEPs demand outright ban on sale of passports

The Times follows a plenary debate in the European Parliament during which MEPs called for a ban on golden passport schemes in member states and criticised the European Commission for…

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Malta: FAA, ADPD’s Cacopardo and Maghtab Residents rally against incinerator

ADPD leader Carmel Cacopardo, together with Flimkien ghal-Ambjent Ahjar and residents from Bahar ic-Caghaq have submitted their objections to the Maghtab incinerator in response to the Environment Impact Assessment currently…

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Malta: Alfred Sant appointed head of PL delegation at the European Parliament

Alfred Sant will be the head of the Labour Party delegation at the European Parliament. A Labour Party statement said that a proposal was presented during a meeting of the…

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Malta: European Parliament debates ‘golden passports’

EU citizenship cannot be traded as a commodity, the majority of speakers who want to end the “golden passports” schemes currently in place in some member states, including Malta, said…

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Malta: President Vella encourages people to open up about Covid-19 worries

President of Malta George Vella, emphasized the importance of encouraging those who are finding it difficult to cope with the circumstances brought about by COVID-19 not to contain their worries…

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Malta: Developers chief pleased with Budget measures

L-Orizzont speaks to the president of the developers’ association, Sandro Chetcuti, who said that the budget present by the government is a ‘cure’ for the Covid-19 situation. Chetcuti expressed satisfaction…

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Malta: Opposition Leader calls collaboration with EU partners on migration

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Bernard Grech who urged the government to adopt a more collaborative approach on migration with EU states. He said that a confrontational attitude will not reap…

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Malta: First volume of flu vaccines depleted

The Independent says that a second batch of influenza vaccines has been ordered by the government after the first batch of 100,000 units has been used up. Health Minister Chris…

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Malta: Passport scheme CEO set to resign

The Times reveals that the CEO of the Individual Investor Programme plans to step down and has applied for a number of positions in the last days since news of…

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Malta: French bankers resist summons by Maltese court

Business Today reports that two senior executives of BNP Paribas bank are opposing a summons in a Maltese court in a lawsuit launched by a Malta-based company. The chairman of…

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Malta: ‘Melvin Theuma was coached to frame Yorgen Fenech’, defence says

The compilation of evidence against Yorgen Fenech, who is accused of conspiring to murder journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, continued in court on Wednesday. It was a relatively short, but tense,…

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Malta: Driver suspected of hit and run in Gzira yesterday has been arrested

The Police have arrested the driver suspected of carrying out a hit and run in Gzira yesterday afternoon. In the accident, the victim, a 47-year-old woman, sustained grievous injuries after she was…

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Malta: ‘The lockdown has revealed spiritual illiteracy’ – Bishop Grech

Bishop Mario Grech, who is now the new Secretary-General of the Synod of Bishops, said he is quite critical of the attitude of many Catholics during the crisis caused by…

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Malta: Health authorities reverse decision to deploy Parentcraft midwives to COVID-19 contact tracing team

Midwives have been recalled from the contact tracing team, nurses’ union head Paul Pace announced on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier this week MaltaToday reported that Parentcraft, a service that helps expectant…

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Malta: Economist questions financial sustainability of IIP

The Times speaks to economist Stephanie Fabri who said that the infringement procedures by the European Commission against Malta’s golden passport programme exposes the overreliance of the economy’s finances on…

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Malta: Bernard Grech makes maiden speech in parliament

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Bernard Grech in his first speech in parliament on Tuesday. Grech expressed concern about the rising number of Covid-19 cases and said that the country cannot…

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Malta: A quarter of investors find country no longer attractive

The Independent reports that Malta registered a drop of 15 percentage points in Foreign Direct Investment attractiveness from last year. An annual EY survey shows that 25 percent of investors…

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Malta: Coronavirus vaccine expected in three months

L-Orizzont reports on a statement by Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that the first Covid-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in January. The minister said that rapid testing kits…

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Malta: 10 patients aged between 46 & 76 in ITU due to Coronavirus

The Ministry for Health confirmed with Newsbook.com.mt that 10 patients are currently receiving care in the intensive care unit at Mater Dei Hospital after they contracted coronavirus. A spokesperson for the Ministry…

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