Malta Headline

Malta: Ħal Far open centre resident attempts to escape twice

A resident from the Ħal Far open centre has tried to escape twice in a matter of a few hours. This was confirmed by the agency for the welfare of…

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Malta: Government registered a €71 million surplus in 2019

In 2019, the government registered a surplus of €71 million, equivalent to 0.5% of GDP, the National Statistics Office has said. "General Government debt amounted to €5,695.6 million or 43.1%…

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Malta: Jason Azzopardi steps aside as Repubblika lawyer in AFM case

Jason Azzopardi has decided to renounce his brief as a lawyer for NGO Repubblika in its case concerning allegations of wrongdoing by army officials at sea. “I, in no way…

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Malta: Crucial 10 days to assess COVID-19 spread before lifting restrictions

The next 10 days are crucial to determine whether the government will start to lift some of the coronavirus restrictions, MaltaToday has learnt. The health authorities will continue monitoring the…

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Malta: One new case of Covid-19 in Malta, 15 more patients recover

One new case of Covid-19 has been confirmed in Malta after 808 swab tests were carried out. This was announced by Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci, who further stated that…

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Malta: Areas in Mellieħa could be handed over to hunters

Malta Today claims that the Prime Minister is considering a proposal to turn areas in Miżieb and L-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa into hunting grounds. The paper says that the plans were floated…

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Malta: Decision to allow high-rises in Mrieħel coincided with Castille meeting

The Times reveals that instructions to the Planning Authority CEO to allow high-rise buildings in Mrieħel were issued the same day that planning parliamentary secretary Michael Farrugia met Tumas Group…

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Malta: Gozo tourism operators worried about the future

The Independent quotes survey results by the Gozo Tourism Association which reveals that 84 percent of members see a difficult future for the island’s tourism after Covid-19. Respondents are calling…

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Malta: Unemployment back to 2017 levels

L-Orizzont says that unemployment levels in March were similar to figures registered in December 2017, counting 2,125 jobless. The paper says that the government’s rescue measures are limiting the impact…

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Malta: MEA demands lower electricity rates

In-Nazzjon reports calls by the Malta Employers’ Association for energy prices to be lowered with immediate effect to reflect international oil prices. The association says that consumers are paying more…

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Malta: Fresh evidence disputes AFM sabotage claims

Alleged sabotage of a migrant boat by Malta's armed forces was instead a standard rescue procedure, according to fresh evidence submitted by civil society group Repubblika to the courts on…

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Malta: 12 new Covid-19 cases in Malta, 24 other persons cured

12 new Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in Malta. Addressing today’s press conference on the current situation, Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci said that another 24 persons are cured, aged…

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Malta: Coronavirus: 84% of Gozo Tourism Association members foresee a bleak future for tourism

The Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) said that 84% of its members foresee a bleak future for tourism in Gozo after Covid-19 as they believe that tourism will change for the worse…

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Malta: MEA calls for revision in utility rates for households and businesses

The Malta Employers’ Association has called on the government to review utility rates for both businesses and households with immediate effect. In a statement on Tuesday, the MEA put forward…

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Malta: Even oil prices in the UK go down to record levels

Unprecedented blow - the price of oil in the US falls below zero. Even the price of every Brent Crude oil barrel in the UK has dropped to less than $…

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Malta: Pilots to take Air Malta, Economy Minister to court

The Independent reports that the Air Malta pilots’ union filed a judicial protest against the airline and the Economy Minister after the dismissal of 108 members. The union said that…

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Malta: Pardon for Caruana Galizia murder suspect under consideration

The Times says that sources close to the Daphne Caruana Galizia investigation confirmed that authorities are considering granting one of the suspected hitmen, Vincent Muscat, a presidential pardon in exchange…

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Malta: Reduction in active Covid-19 cases

L-Orizzont reports that the number of active Covid-19 cases continued to decrease on Monday after eight patients were confirmed recovered and four new people tested positive. There are currently 302…

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Malta: Employers concerned over salaries

In-Nazzjon quotes a report by the Chamber of SMEs which says that the primary concern of businesses is the payment of salaries. The paper says that 87 percent of employers…

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Malta: Ongoing investigation at Hay Wharf… to date 45 soldiers are being investigated in relation to a complaint lodged recently

This morning, court experts visited Hay Wharf where the maritime squad of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) is stationed. They are conducting an investigation in relation to the Magisterial…

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Malta: Government not willing to lower utility bills

Despite the fact that the international price for oil has yet again decreased to record levels, the Maltese government remains silent about aiding those most in need. Government is not…

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Malta: Minister Galdes announced cleaning programme for housing estates

Minister for Social Accommodation Roderick Galdes and Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Communities Alex Muscat launched a cleaning programme for communal areas of housing estates. On Monday, during a press…

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Malta: Malta’s adoption rate of single technologies almost ‘always below EU average’

A report by the European Investment Bank has found that that Malta’s adoption rate of single technologies is always below the EU average, except for Internet of Things in the…

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Malta: Malta’s coronavirus infection rate drops to 1.1

The spread of coronavirus in Malta has slowed to the point where those infected are now passing it on to an average of just over one person. Superintendent for Public…

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Malta: Farrugia puts Malta’s name backing European Green Deal for post-corona recovery

Malta’s minister for the environment has backed a call to put the European Green Deal at the heart of a post-coronavirus recovery, joining Ireland, Slovakia, and Slovenia in an appeal by 13…

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Malta: Covid-19: 4 new cases; 8 others recovered

4 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Malta, with the total number of cases now rising to 431, of which 126 have recovered, including 8 recoveries announced today.…

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Malta: Air Malta to sack four-fifths of pilots tomorrow

In-Nazzjon reports that Air Malta has called off meetings with its pilots and withdrew offers for pay-cuts. The paper says that the carrier is expected to lay off 80 percent…

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Malta: Supermarket chief says e-commerce increased fourfold

L-Orizzont carries an interview with Charles Borg, the CEO of PG Group which runs the Pavi and Pama supermarkets. Borg said that online shopping grew by four times since the…

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Malta: PM and Opposition Leader trade blows over criminal complaint

The Independent leads with a war of words between the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader over a criminal complaint filed by NGO Repubblika to investigate the deaths of migrants…

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Malta: Concerns over growing truancy patterns

The Times says that students missed an average of just under 12 days of school in the 2017-2018, continuing an upward trend in unauthorised absenteeism over the years. Authorities fear…

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Malta: Duo land in prison after admitting to Senglea thefts

Two men suspected of carrying out a spate of nighttime thefts in Senglea, causing concern among residents, were jailed upon their arraignment on Sunday. Emanuel Bianchi, a 36-year-old from St…

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Malta: No details provided to banks on how subsided interest rates will work, association says

Local banks have not been given details on how subsidised interest rates through a government scheme for hard hit businesses will work, the Malta Bankers’ Association have said. In a…

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Malta: No other case has resulted positive at the Ħal Far open centre

Professor Charmaine Gauci has confirmed that no other case has resulted positive for Covid-19 at the Ħal Far open centre. The Superintendent stated that 20 swab tests were carried out…

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Malta: Allegations by PN and Repubblika aimed at intimidating AFM – PM Abela

Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Robert Abela said it is unacceptable that PN leader Adrian Delia backed up PN MP Jason Azzopardi on the serious allegations over the criminal…

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Malta: Pulse disappointed that students who receive stipend not eligible for €500 supplement

Student organisation Pulse has expressed its disappointment "following the latest update that students who work a part-time job will not be eligible for the Government's €500 supplement because they receive…

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Malta: Air Malta decided to lay off 80% of the pilots on Tuesday

Air Malta has ended discussions with its pilots and all indications are that it has now also withdrawn its offer for a reduced pay. The national airline seems determined to…

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Malta: One case of Coronavirus…19 recover from Coronavirus

In recent hours, one new case of Coronavirus has emerged, while 19 others have recovered, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 118. Of these, 14 were men and…

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Malta: A third of private sector employees concerned over jobs

The Sunday Times says that a third of employees in the private sector fear losing their jobs as a result of the coronavirus impact on the economy. A survey commissioned…

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Malta: Air Malta bracing itself for €130 million loss

Malta Today estimates that Air Malta will register a loss of €130 million by the start of summer between ticket refunds and direct losses. The paper says the airline says…

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Malta: EU Commission examining Malta proposal for Libya

The Independent on Sunday speaks to EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson who said that Malta’s proposal to coordinate aid for Libya to dissuade migrants from crossing to Europe is…

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Malta: Robert Abela to reach first hundred days this week

It-Torċa marks the first hundred days of Robert Abela as Prime Minister and says that around 150 legal notices have been issued since his election in January. The paper says…

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Malta: Adrian Delia challenges Prime Minister’s claims

Il-Mument covers a press conference by PN Leader Adrian Delia responding to claims made by the Prime Minister that the Opposition is accusing him and AFM officials of murder. Delia…

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Malta: The AFM rescued 13,000 migrants in four years

Illum says that the Armed Forces of Malta rescued some 13,000 migrants in four years besides “hundreds more” who found themselves in distress at sea. The AFM patrol boat P52…

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Malta: Optimism in the rate of Covid-19 cases

Kullħadd says that the rate of new Covid-19 cases is similar to that registered 10 days ago while infected patients are recovering every day. The paper says that this could…

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Malta: Additional increases in prices on basic goods

Over the past weeks, families have experienced increases in prices on basic goods, including food and hygiene. Evidently, most of the products that included variations in price were pasta, cheese,…

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Malta: Fitch expects Malta deficit to be 8.2% in 2020, debt up by €2 billion

Credit rating agency Fitch has revised Malta’s outlook to stable, from positive, and affirmed its A+ credit rating. Fitch believes Malta’s real GDP will contract by 5.9% in 2020, a…

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Malta: 4 new Covid-19 cases in Malta – 8 others cured

Four new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Malta today, bringing the total infected persons to 426. 99 persons are cured as today eight other persons have been confirmed as cured.…

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Malta: 829 planning permissions approved in March, of which 730 are apartments

The Planning Authority (PA) approved 829 planning permissions in March, of which 730 were apartments, according to statistics issued by the same authority. Of the remaining planning permissions approved, 63…

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Malta: 2,000 masks and 1,000 sanitisers donated

The French Embassy in Malta together with STMicroElectronics Malta Limited, donated 2,000 reusable masks together with 1,000 litres of sanitisers to the irregular migrants, who are now in mandatory quarantine…

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Malta: Banks say they have no details on how subsidised business loans will work

Maltese banks have not been provided details of how a government scheme to subsidise interest rates for businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic will function, their association said on Saturday.…

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Malta: PM’s press conference was an attack on democracy – Repubblika

Civil society organisation Repubblika lambasted Prime Minister Robert Abela for a press conference he addressed on Friday evening following two criminal complaints filed by the NGO over alleged intentional sabotage.…

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Malta: Economy Minister lays into pilots’ union

The Independent quotes Economy Minister Silvio Schembri who criticized Air Malta pilots for pulling out meetings with the carrier at the last minute of Wednesday. The Minister said he cannot…

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Malta: Concerns over public land sold to Tumas Group subsidiary

The Times reveals that an internal audit by the Lands Authority found that a tract of public land in Qormi that was put up for sale upon the request by…

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Malta: Adrian Delia praises AFM soldiers

In-Nazzjon covers a visit by Opposition Leader Adrian Delia to the Armed Forces to thank them for their efforts during the epidemic. Delia said that AFM officers are Malta’s ‘shield’…

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Malta: Criminal investigation into PM, Brigadier after complaint by PN MP

L-Orizzont says that the police have launched an investigation into the Prime Minister and AFM Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi after Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi filed a complaint accusing them of voluntary…

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Malta: 500 healthcare workers call on government not to let migrants drown

The list of healthcare workers urging Prime Minister Robert Abela not to abandon migrants at sea reached 500 on Friday. On Thursday, a letter to Abela had been signed by…

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Malta: Hal Far migrant open centre quarantine extended

Migrants living at the Hal Far open centre will have to remain in quarantine for another 14 days when the current lockdown period ends on Sunday. The centre was placed…

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