Malta News Briefing

Malta: PN Leader visits open market business owners

In-Nazzjon reports on a visit by PN Leader Bernard Grech to the Mosta market on Monday. Grech said that small business owners are facing new challenges because of the pandemic…

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Malta: Maltese man arrested in Italy over bird smuggling

The Times says that a Maltese man has been arrested by the Italian Guardia di Finanza in Calabria over suspicions of smuggling of protected songbirds. The officers found that the…

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Malta: Gozo bishop urged sexual abuse victim to report case

L-Orizzont follows the testimony of Gozo bishop Anton Teuma in the proceedings against two priests accused of sexual abuse of a minor. Mons. Teuma said he encouraged the victim to…

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Malta: MEP candidate recommends public procurement of local organic produce

The Independent speaks to MEP candidate Peter Agius who suggested that government tenders include requirements for organic food produce to support local production. Agius warned that the country is increasingly…

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Malta: Bernard Grech promises new energy policy

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who announced that the party will unveil new proposals for a sustainable energy policy that will reduce prices for water and electricity and generate…

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Malta: Chamber of SMEs welcomes public aid for bars and clubs

L-Orizzont speaks to Chamber of SMEs deputy president Philip Fenech who said that the owners of bars and clubs need all the help they can get and welcomed the aid…

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Malta: New home mortgages fell by over a quarter during pandemic months

The Times quotes Central Bank data on mortgages which shows that contracts for residential properties dropped by 28 percent in the first nine months of the pandemic compared with the…

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Malta: Corradino population rose to record high in 2020

The Independent says that the Corradino Correctional Facility reached a record population of 908 inmates in 2020, an increase of more than 11 percent over the previous all-time highest registered…

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Malta: PL pulls ahead of PN with 13.5 points

It-Torċa publishes survey results showing a 13.5 percentage point lead for the Labour Party over the Nationalist Party in opinion polls. Prime Minister Robert Abela scored an approval rating of…

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Malta: New breakwater inaugurated in Marsaxlokk

Kullħadd leads with the inauguration of a 110-metre breakwater in Marsaxlokk bay with an investment of €4 million. The paper says the project will shelter the fleets of fishermen moored…

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Malta: A third of quinquagenarians play the lottery

Illum publishes findings about lotteries and gambling in Malta which show that a third of people in the 51 to 65 age group play the Super 5. Gambling is more…

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Malta: Foreign workers and self-employed contribute to a fourth of pensions

Malta Today reports on official statistics which show that the foreign workers and self-employed contributed a combined €168 million to the national social security fund in 2019, equivalent to a…

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Malta: New law to set limit on cash exchanges

The Sunday Times reveals that the government will propose legal amendments to cap cash transactions at €10,000 in an attempt to curb money laundering risks. The law was originally drafted…

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Malta: Mass transport system study completed

The Independent on Sunday quotes Transport Minister Ian Borg who said that a light-rail underground project could take eight to ten years to complete the first line. A report by…

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Malta: PN Leader raises alarm over sentiment among SMEs

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that survey results by the Chamber of SMEs published this week is worrying. The study finds that two-thirds of SMEs are not…

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Malta: New rescue fund for shuttered bars and clubs

L-Orizzont reports on the launch of a €2.2 million fund by the government to support bars and clubs that were ordered to remain closed to limit the spread of the…

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Malta: Government announces fines for overcrowding in holiday properties

The Times reports that rental property owners will be fined €3,000 if they found hosting more people than the licenced limit. People gathering at rental properties will be fined €100…

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Malta: Government and opposition diverge on persons of trust report

The Independent says that the government and the opposition disagree on a report on the appointment of persons of trust. The government says the system is allowed by the Venice…

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Church official warns about rising loneliness among separated persons

L-Orizzont carries an interview with Fr Marco Portelli, the Church delegate responsible for the care with separated persons. The priest said that separation, very often, leads to problems related to…

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Malta: PN Leader denounces government for marring national reputation

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that Malta’s damaged reputation harms everyone. He accused the government of “sinking” the country’s name and called on the public to work…

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Malta: Two in three SMEs concerned about their future

The Times quotes results from a survey conducted by the Chamber of SMEs which found that two in three small and medium businesses in Malta fear that they cannot survive…

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Malta: Investigator says Yorgen Fenech was prepared to flee

The Independent follows the compilation of evidence against Yorgen Fenech during which inspector Keith Arnaud testified that messages found on the businessman’s phone suggested that he wanted to escape from…

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Malta: Lawyer says government Covid-19 measure breaks the law

The Times says that people travelling on the Gozo Channel ferry during Carnival week will be required to remain in their cars in the ship garage, a move meant to…

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Malta: One in twenty catering businesses have closed shop

The Malta Business Weekly speaks to the president of the association of catering establishments, Reuben Buttigieg, who said that five percent of businesses have closed down for good while another…

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Malta: Auditor General raises concerns about overpriced Electrogas supply

In-Nazzjon quotes a report by the National Audit Office which says that Malta is paying €50 more for every megawatt produced by the Electrogas power station, compared with interconnector prices.…

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Malta: Perception of corruption drops to lowest point in five years

The Independent reports that Malta scored its lowest results on the 2020 Corruption Perception Index, falling to 53 points from 60 in 2015. Malta ranks 52nd among the 180 countries,…

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Malta: Victim of alleged clerical abuse attempted suicide

Victim of alleged clerical abuse attempted suicide: The Headline – L-Orizzont L-Orizzont follows the testimony of the victim in the Gozo priests sexual abuse case who said that he tried…

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Malta: Tourism sector demands better enforcement of pandemic rules

Business Today says that associations representing operators in the tourism sector welcomed new measures to control the spread of Covid-19 announced on Wednesday but said that their success depends on…

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Malta: Opposition Leader demands information on new Covid-19 variants

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Bernard Grech who said in parliament that the new Covid-19 variants are raising concern among people and called on the government to publish available information. Another…

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Malta: PM says country is ready for Moneyval test

L-Orizzont follows a meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development addressed by the Prime Minister. Speaking about governance, Robert Abela said that Malta has done everything it…

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Malta: Bars and clubs to remain closed

The Independent says that new aid packages for bar and club owners are expected to be announced in the coming days as the government cancels the re-opening date for a…

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Malta: Two priests arraigned on charges of rape

The Times quotes a police statement which said that it has gathered enough criminal evidence to proceed arraign two Gozitan priests on charges of corrupting and raping a minor. Magistrate…

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Malta: Family of construction accident victim demands public inquiry

In-Nazzjon says that the Prime Minister rejected calls for a public inquiry into the construction accident in Ħamrun that took the life of Miriam Pace last year. Lawyers for the…

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Malta: PM calms fears of vaccine shortage

The Times quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who dismissed fears that the shortage of Covid-19 vaccines that hit Europe will affect Malta. He said that the government is in touch…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma testimony postponed after disagreement in court

The Independent follows the compilation of evidence against the men accused of carrying out the Caruana Galizia assassination. The testimony by Melvin Theuma was postponed after the defence lawyer refused…

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Malta: Government unveils new tourism strategy

L-Orizzont leads with the launch of a ten-year strategy for the tourism sector by minister Clayton Bartolo. In the announcement, the minister said the government wants to raise the quality…

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Malta: Covid-19 rules among the most relaxed in the EU

The Times reports that Malta ranks among one of the EU countries with the least strict Covid-19 measures in the University of Oxford Index tracking government efforts to fight the…

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Malta: Civil protection officer opens up about exposure to danger

L-Orizzont carries an interview with Christopher Aquilina, station manager at the Civil Protection Department, who spoke about his 30-year career and the risks people in the field face every day.…

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Malta: PN conducting socio-economic study in Gozo

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who revealed that the party is conducting a socio-economic study in Gozo to assess the main priorities in the island. The research covers areas…

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Malta: Use of cloud computing by businesses higher than EU average

The Independent quotes Eurostat figures which show that 53 percent of the companies in Malta made use of cloud computing in 2020, an increase from 26 percent in 2016. The…

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Malta: PN officials say party is in a process of renewal

Il-Mument publishes interviews with PN deputy leaders David Agius and Robert Arrigo and the parliamentary group secretary Karol Aquilina on the process of renewal with the party after a new…

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Malta: Francis Zammit Dimech to seek another term as PN secretary general

Illum says that PN general secretary Francis Zammit Dimech will seek another term when the current one ends in March. The paper says that the party is preparing for a…

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Malta: Food delivery drivers speak out on poor work conditions

It-Torċa says that drivers with food delivery services are speaking out against poor conditions and lack of appreciation for their work. Anonymous drivers said that their basic pay has been…

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Malta: Tens of nurses emigrating to the UK

The Sunday Times says that scores of nurses are pursuing better opportunities in the UK, with over a fifth of third country national nurses working in Malta having already resigned…

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Malta: Government planning new economic stimulus

The Independent on Sunday carries an interview with Economy Minister Silvio Schembri who said that the government plans to roll out new economic measures in March focusing on growth rather…

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Malta: PN leader abandons shadow cabinet plans

Kullħadd says that PN Leader Bernard Grech was forced to scrap his original plans for a shadow cabinet reshuffle earlier this week after facing resistance by members of the parliamentary…

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Malta: Food delivery agents eating into courier earnings

Malta Today reports that a number of food delivery service operators are in breach of Malta’s employment laws with agencies taking as much as half of courier earnings. The government…

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Malta: PN calls for shift towards higher-quality tourism

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that, while tourism remains the biggest sector in Malta, it needs to be transformed to offer a top product that attracts higher…

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Malta: Leaks to Yorgen Fenech lead to suspension of police inspector

The Times reports that inspector Elton Taliana has been suspended over suspicions that he may have leaked information about ongoing police investigations to lawyer Charles Mercieca, one of Yorgen Fenech…

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Malta: Disability commissioner sets out top priorities

L-Orizzont publishes an interview with Samantha Pace Gasan, the newly appointed Commissioner for Persons with Disability. She said her first priority is the mainstreaming of inclusivity and accessibility. Another story…

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Malta: Construction bill proposes €500,000 fines for breaches

The Independent says that a bill to regulate the construction sector proposes fines up to €500,000 on operators that breach rules. The bill also envisages the setting up of a…

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Malta: Central Link project targeting October completion date

L-Orizzont speaks with the CEO of Infrastructure Malta, Frederick Azzopardi, who announced that the Central Link is two-thirds complete and that he expects the project to be finished by October.…

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Malta: FIAU resists court order to review fines

The Times reports that the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit will not review its system of fines despite a recent court order that sanctions cannot be higher than a tenth of…

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Malta: Psychiatrists confirm Melvin Theuma in condition to testify

In-Nazzjon says that the self-confessed middleman in the Caruana Galizia murder has been given clearance by a committee of psychiatrists to take the witness stand again. Theuma is expected to…

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Malta: Report flags shortcomings in excavation works

The Independent says that an expert report found several shortcomings in excavation practices used in the construction sector and makes recommendations to reduce risks. The report was presented to the…

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Malta: University study finds unique traits in Maltese ALS patients

The Independent quotes findings from a University of Malta research into ALS. The results show that the disease in Maltese patients affects different genes than those in European counterparts, giving…

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Malta: PN unveils shadow cabinet reshuffle

In-Nazzjon leads with the announcement of a reshuffle in the shadow cabinet. PN Leader Bernard Grech said the changes will not only strengthen the parliamentary group but will also prepare…

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