Malta News Briefing

Record number of cases registered in 24 hours: The Headline – Business Today

Business Today says that Malta registered 510 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, the highest number in a single day since the start of the pandemic. Two patients, aged 64 and…

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Malta: Minister Michael Farrugia took jab ahead of his age group

In-Nazzjon says that Active Ageing Minister Michael Farrugia has admitted to taking the Covid-19 vaccine even though he does not fall within any eligible cohort. The minister said he did…

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Malta: State witness reveals information about lawyer’s murder

L-Orizzont reports on revelations by Vince Muscat to police investigators that the murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop in 2015 was executed by Jamie Vella and commissioned by brothers Robert and…

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Malta: Alleged hitmen knew police were coming for them three weeks in advance

The Times says that the suspected hitmen in the Caruana Galizia assassination had knowledge of their impending arrest for three weeks, but they thought they would be immediately released. The…

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Malta: Compilation of evidence against trio involved in Caruana Galizia murder begins

Malta Today leads with the start of the compilation of evidence against brothers Robert and Adrian Agius and their collaborator Jamie Vella. The three are linked to the murders of…

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Malta: Wage supplement to be continued until the end of the year

The Independent reports that the Covid-19 supplement for businesses will be extended until the end of the year for companies that are worst hit by the effects of the pandemic.…

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Malta: Opposition Leader challenges Deputy Prime Minister in parliament

In-Nazzjon says that Opposition Leader Bernard Grech challenged Health Minister Chris Fearne to substantiate allegations that members of the PN parliamentary group have asked him to jump the queue for…

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Malta: Police widen Schembri-Hillman probe

The Times reports that three men were called in for interrogation by the police as part of an investigation into money laundering involving former chief of staff Keith Schembri and…

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Malta: Over 5,700 inspections in the last week

L-Orizzont says that authorities have issued nearly 800 fines for breaches of safety protocols in the past seven days. The police, tourism authority, and the health directorate conducted a combined…

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Malta: Legal notice amendments to allow eating in public

The Independent quotes a spokesperson for the Health Ministry who said that a legal notice banning eating and drinking in public areas will be amended. Over the weekend several people…

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Malta: PN leader appeals for equality on Women’s Day

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that, when women succeed, everyone succeeds. He was addressing a conference by the party discussing equality to mark the International Day of…

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Malta: Former gaming chief facing charges over links with Yorgen Fenech

The Times reports that former gaming authority CEO Heathcliff Farrugia is facing charges over influence trading with businessman Yorgen Fenech. The police discovered extensive communication between the two men regarding…

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Malta: Government planning agricultural lease reform

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who announced that the government is in the final stages of launching a reform of laws regulating leases of agricultural land. Abela said that…

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Malta: Tourism strategy banking on herd immunity

The Independent speaks with Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo who said that the government is making plans for summer for the tourism sector based on the national strategy to achieve herd…

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Malta: Bernard Grech says health decisions should be made by experts

Il-Mument quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that decisions about Covid-19 measures should be led by health authorities, not politicians. He accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of urging people…

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Malta: Jason Azzopardi accused of evading taxes

Kullħadd says that Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi failed to declare his income between 2016 and 2018. The paper says that tax returns for the three consecutive years do not include…

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Malta: Ready for business together – Former Planning Authority chairman and 17 Black owner

The Sunday Times reveals a March 2019 WhatsApp exchange between businessman Yorgen Fenech and Johann Buttigieg, who was Planning authority chairman at the time. Buttigieg told Fenech he was ready…

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Malta: Jason Micallef demands investigation into Jason Azzopardi

It-Torċa reports that the chairman of the PL media wing, Jason Azzopardi, has requested Standards Commissioner George Hyzler to investigate Jason Azzopardi, following claims by One Group that the PN…

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Malta: Trust in Robert Abela dips below 40 percent – UPDATE

Malta Today reports that Prime Minister Robert Abela’s trust ratings dropped to 39.8 percent in March, the first time the leader of the Labour Party fell below the 40 percent…

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Malta: Film industry created 1,000 jobs in 2020

Illum carries an interview with the head of the Malta Films Commission, Johann Grech, who said that the industry generated €32 million in 2020, creating a thousand new and guaranteed…

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Malta: Covid-19 R-factor rises to 1.39 percent

The Independent on Sunday marks one year since the first registered case of Covid-19 in Malta. Statistician Vincent Marmara says that the reproductive factor of the virus currently stands at…

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Nurses’ union president warns people attempting to jump the vaccine queue: The Headline – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that the president of the nurses’ union, Paul Pace, made claims that people are showing up at the vaccination stations without an appointment. The paper says that a…

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Vaccine to be rolled out to over 60s: The Headline – The Times

The Times says that people aged 60 and over will start receiving the Covid-19 vaccine after authorities approved the administration of the AstraZeneca formula for people aged up to 70…

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Malta: Drug use levels during pandemic consistent with preceding years

L-Orizzont quotes a study which found that the pandemic had no impact on drug use in Malta in 2020, with levels comparable to those in the previous two years. Cannabis…

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Malta: Magistrate withdraws from cases against suspected Caruana Galizia plotters

The Independent reports that Magistrate Nadine Lia has recused herself from the hearing of evidence against the men suspected of supplying the bomb in the Caruana Galizia murder. The magistrate…

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Malta: PN demands vaccination probe

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who called for an independent investigation into the national vaccination programme to ensure transparency. He said people need the peace of mind that those…

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Malta: Herd immunity could take until October to achieve

The Times says that Malta could reach herd immunity by October if vaccination continues at the current rate. For the country to reach the 70 percent immunisation target by the…

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Malta: Heritage superintendence warns about risks to Ġgantija

The Independent says that the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the Xagħra local council have raised concerns about a development proposed across the Ġgantija temples. Plans for a new apartment…

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Malta: New Covid-19 measures come into effect

L-Orizzont follows a press conference by the Prime Minister, Health Minister, and Public Health Superintendent announcing new Covid-19 measures including a raise in fines and limits on gatherings at private…

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Malta: Businesses predict slower recovery

Business Today quotes findings from a survey with 200 business by the Malta Employers Association which expects economic recovery to take longer than first anticipated. Seven in ten companies believe…

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Malta: Nearly 22,500 cases in 51 weeks on Covid-19

In-Nazzjon reports the death of two Covid-19 patients, both men aged 57 and 76. The paper says that 51 weeks after the first case, there were 22,482 registered infections and…

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Malta: Standards chief concludes that former PM breached ethics code

The Times quotes a report by the Commissioner for Standards flagging the detainment of journalists at Castille by government officials in November 2019. The paper says this is the fourth…

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Malta: PM pledges to close Gozo’s economic gap

L-Orizzont follows an address by Prime Minister Robert Abela during a business breakfast in Gozo where he said that the government is committed to eliminate the economic gap between the…

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Malta: Government to announce new Covid-19 measures

The Independent says that new measures will be introduced to limit the spread of the virus. The Prime Minister said that the government is trying to strike a balance between…

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Malta: Real estate agents welcome pre-1995 rent reforms

The Malta Business Weekly carries an interview with the head of the Estate Agents Section within the Developers’ Association, Michael Bonello. He welcomes the rent reforms concerning pre-1995 contracts but…

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Malta: Government introduces scheme to protect workers approaching pension age

L-Orizzont says the government is introducing measures to compensate workers that are approaching pension age but whose contributions were affected by the pandemic. The changes to the law will support…

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Malta: Pandemic fatalities rise to 319

In-Nazzjon reports the death of three Covid-19 patients between Monday and Tuesday. The victims, a 41-year-old man and two women aged 61 and 78, have raised the coronavirus death toll…

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Malta: High rate of positive results from swab tests

The Times says that a record number of 336 new Covid-19 cases were registered on Tuesday. The figure returns a high positivity rate of 9.4 percent of swab tests conducted…

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Malta: Doctors call for temporary measures to curb spread

The Independent says that doctors are raising concerns about the large number of Covid-19 infections despite a high rate of vaccination. In a statement the doctors’ union warned that cases…

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Malta: Nurses warn Mater Dei reaching capacity limit

Malta Today reports that nurses have requested a meeting with the Prime Minister following the surge of Covid-19 cases. In a statement, the union of nurses warned that Mater Dei…

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Malta: Opposition Leader proposes six months separation period before divorce

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Bernard Grech who said that the proposed amendment to the divorce law reducing the separation period to either six months or a year is discriminatory, arguing…

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Malta: Organiser of underground rave party to face charges

The Independent says that the organiser of an illegal rave party held on Friday is to be charged by the police. Videos by attendees showed a large crowd partying at…

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Malta: Chris Cardona interrogated by the police on Saturday

The Times reveals that the police interrogated former minister Chris Cardona on Saturday, following claims that he had met an alleged triggerman in the Caruana Galizia assassination. Cardona confirmed the…

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Malta: Cabinet convenes at the Workers’ Memorial Building

L-Orizzont says that Cabinet met at the General Workers’ Union headquarters for the first time on Monday. In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the government is…

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Malta: Covid-19 R-factor rises to 1.21

In-Nazzjon reports the death of two men aged 57 and 76 after they contracted Covid-19, raising the number of victims to 315. There are currently over 2,700 active cases as…

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Malta: Police revive 2014 gangland murder case

The Times reports that a police investigation into the 2014 murder of Jonathan Pace, who was shot while standing on his balcony, is making progress. The suspected gangland case has…

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Malta: Tax reduction on promises of sale until July

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who announced that the government will extend a tax reduction scheme on promises of sale until July. Abela said the measure gives peace of…

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Malta: Heritage NGO flags loss of beach area at Ġnejna Bay

The Independent leads with an objection letter by Din L-Art Ħelwa over a planning application for Ġnejna Bay. The NGO argues that the development could encourage illegal parking in the…

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Malta: Gozo students welcome fast ferry announcement

Kullħadd says that a new fast ferry service between Gozo and Valletta is expected to cut crossings to less than 45 minutes with a capacity of 250 passengers per trip.…

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Malta: New Covid-19 cases surpass 4,300 in February

Il-Mument reports that new Covid-19 cases in February reached over 4,300 while 46 patients died from the virus. Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci said that the surge is driven by…

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Malta: Cabinet split over Rosianne Cutajar resignation

Illum says that Cabinet members are divided over the Prime Minister’s handling of Rosianne Cutajar’s temporary resignation from. Some feel he should have acted before while others think the parliamentary…

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Malta: President inaugurates national unity conference

It-Torċa reports on the opening of the Conference on National Unity on Friday. In his opening address, President George Vella asked whether Malta belongs exclusively to the Maltese or to…

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Malta: Police to prosecute Nexia BT over alleged crimes

Malta Today reveals that the former Nexia BT managing partner Brian Tonna will post bail at the police headquarters on Monday morning, as investigators move to prosecute on claims of…

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Malta: Prime Minister announces pre-1995 rentals reform

The Sunday Times reports on an announcement by the Prime Minister that the pre-1995 rentals law will be repealed with government footing the bill for much of the new leases…

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Malta: Portomaso company serving as intermediary for Premier League sponsor

The Independent on Sunday says that an Asian white-label betting company sponsoring English Premier League football clubs is run by an intermediary registered in Malta and based in Portomaso. The…

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Malta: PN Leader raises concern about claims implicating Chris Cardona

In-Nazzjon reports on Bernard Grech’s reaction to allegations that former minister Chris Cardona was implicated in plans to kill Daphne Caruana Galizia. The PN Leader raised questions about links between…

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Malta: New Covid-19 cases reach record 258 in a day

L-Orizzont quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmain Gauci who said that the rise in Covid-19 cases in recent days is the result of more rapid-testing. On Friday, there were 258 positive…

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