Malta News Briefing

Malta: WasteServ CEO calls for change in culture

The Malta Business Weekly carries an interview with WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca who said that a change in mentality towards waste disposal needs to be driven by “forward-thinking” legislation. Another…

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Malta: First vaccinations at St Vincent de Paule

L-Orizzont reports that residents and healthcare workers at St Vincent de Paule home are taking the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. The first person to receive the jab was a…

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Malta: PM tables construction sector report in parliament

The Times reports that Prime Minister Robert Abela tabled an expert report on the construction sector in parliament on Wednesday. Abela’s decision earlier this month not to publish the report…

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Malta: PN files complaint against TVM over news omission

In-Nazzjon says that PN secretary general Francis Zammit Dimech filed a Broadcasting Authority complaint against TVM for failing to report the court sitting in the case against the Vitals deal.…

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Malta: GWU holds talks with One Group amid employee anxiety

L-Orizzont covers a meeting between the General Workers Union and One Group discussing the constitutional case that could lead to the closure of political party stations. The union said the…

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Malta: PN activists in District 2 resist reshuffle changes

Malta Today says that members of the PN local committees in the 2nd District have threatened to resign en masse after learning that party leader Bernard Grech intends to remove…

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No obligation for private clinics to report positive Covid-19 results: The Headline – The Times

The Times reports that private clinics administering the Covid-19 rapid test are not required to inform health authorities if results return positive, leaving it up to patients themselves to request…

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Malta: Gavin Gulia to face grilling before parliament

The Independent says that Gavin Gulia, who stepped down from tourism authority chairman before taking the oath of office last week, will not be automatically re-#instated following his sudden resignation…

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Malta: NGO president slams car-centric policies

The Independent speaks with Rota president Michelle Attard Tonna who said that authorities disregard the needs of non-car users. She criticised policies that prioritise car traffic over alternative means of…

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Malta: Former PM Muscat confirms €100M clause in Steward deal

In-Nazzjon says that Joseph Muscat confirmed a clause in the hospitals deal that would award Steward €100 million by the government if the contract is revoked. The former Prime Minister…

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Malta: Doctors’ union president says Superintendent vaccine controversy cuts both ways

L-Orizzont asks Medical Association president Martin Balzan whether the Public Health Superintendent should take the Covid-19 jab, as suggested by columnist Kristina Chetcuti. Dr Balzan said the decision would attract…

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Malta: Hike in residency fees to fund recovery

The Times reports that fees for the residency programme is set to rise by more than double from the current €30,000 to help the economic recovery. The scheme grants residency…

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Malta: Prime Minister open to euthanasia discussion

The Times follows a speech by the Prime Minister where he said it was time for a discussion about euthanasia. Robert Abela said he did not personally have a clear…

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Malta: Bernard Grech says Prime Minister fails to raise above party politics

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that the Prime Minister’s first year in the role will be remembered for two reshuffles in ten months. He said that Robert…

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Malta: Prime Minister defends co-option of Oliver Scicluna

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that the co-option of Oliver Scicluna to parliament sends a ‘powerful message’ of inclusion of people with different abilities. He defended the…

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Malta: Offences committed by religious sect were not criminal

The Independent says that a five-month investigation by the Church into a religious sect found no evidence of criminal offence., despite warning about psychological and spiritual abuses by the leaders.…

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Malta: Parliamentary representation is the next challenge for women

Kullħadd says that female participation in the economy grew significantly since 2013 with a rise in women in employment and tertiary education, and a decrease in risk of social exclusion.…

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Malta: Three more co-options considered for government benches

Il-Mument claims that Prime Minister Robert Abela is mulling the possibility of moving out MPs Manuel Mallia, Anthony Agius Decelis,and Silvio Parnis and co-opting Malcolm Paul Galea, Jo-Etienne Abela, and…

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Malta: Brexit creates bureaucracy and uncertainty for logistics sector

It-Torċa speaks with the CEO of logistics company Express Trailers, Franco Azzopardi, about the impact of Brexit on the sector. Azzopardi said there the new arrangements present a high rate…

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Malta: Caruana Galizia murder suspect considering deal to reduce sentence

The Sunday Times says that Vince Muscat, one of the three alleged hitmen in the Caruana Galizia plot, is prepared to seek a plea deal to reduce his prison sentence.…

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Malta: Architects involved in house collapse hold on to their warrants

The Independent on Sunday reveals that the two architects facing charges for the collapse of a complex in Santa Venera which killed 54-year-old Miriam Pace last year, have not had…

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Malta: Favourable perceptions of traffic for the first time in two years

Illum publishes figures showing that 14 percent of people registered a negative perception of the traffic situation in Malta in a survey conducted this month. This was the first time…

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Malta: Plans to return Steward hospitals to state presented in Cabinet

Malta Today says that the Cabinet has been presented with plans to roll back the emphyteutic deal with Steward Health Care for the Gozo hospital, Karin Grech, and St Luke’s,…

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Malta: PN leader meets Chamber of SMEs

In-Nazzjon reports on a meeting between PN Leader Bernard Grech and the Chamber of SMEs. Grech said that the generation of wealth is successful when the economy is founded on…

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Malta: PM did not recuse himself from Vince Muscat pardon decision

The Times says that the Prime Minister did not recuse himself in the Cabinet decision against granting a presidential pardon to alleged Caruana Galizia hitman Vince Muscat. Robert Abela had,…

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Malta: New investments projected to create 1,900 jobs

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that investments in 190 private sector projects during 2020 are expected to create 1,900 new jobs. The projects range from foreign investments…

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Malta: More than 11,000 total vaccinations by Monday

The Independent reports that 11,500 Covid-19 vaccinations are expected to have been administered by Monday, equivalent to 2.5 percent of the population. Authorities will start providing daily briefings on the…

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Malta: Gavin Gulia was pressured by PM to contest by-election

The Independent speaks to Labour Party insiders who claim that the Prime Minister pressured tourism authority chairman Gavin Gulia to contest the casual election in the 7th District to block…

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Malta: Flow of goods at Customs slower after Brexit

L-Orizzont speaks with the Director of International Affairs at the Customs Department, Ian Muscat, about the first week after Brexit. Muscat said that there was less movement of goods but…

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Malta: PN committee demands more transparency on vaccination process

In-Nazzjon quotes the PN Coviid-19 Action Team who called for more transparency in the government’s vaccination programme. The group said that it is unclear who is coordinating the effort and…

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Malta: Impacted sectors to benefit from €42 million Brexit fund

The Times reports that Malta is set to receive €42 million to temper the economic effects of Brexit. The funds will go to alleviate businesses and jobs in the impacts…

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Malta: Bernard Grech blasts PM for instant resignation of new MP

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who accused the Prime Minister of ‘manipulating the democratic system’ following the instant resignation of newly-elected MP Gavin Gulia. Grech says the move ridicules…

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Malta: Voucher distribution held off until Covid-19 cases subside

The Independent speaks to Economy Minister Silvio Schembri about a second round of government vouchers. The minister said the scheme is being delayed until after the number of infection cases…

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Malta: Entrepreneur says country’s size a factor in shift to renewables

The Malta Business Weekly publishes an interview with the CEO of Electrofix Group, Joseph Schembri who spoke about the challenges in the manufacturing sector in Malta to shift to renewable…

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Malta: MP Gavin Gulia steps down moments after swearing in

The Times reports on the resignation of MP Gavin Gulia, moments after he was sworn in. Sources in the Labour Party hinted that Commissioner for Persons with Disability Oliver Scicluna…

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Malta: GWU calls for speedy vaccination for bank employees

L-Orizzont reports that the General Workers Union is demanding that the national Covid-19 vaccine programme gives priority to bank employees whose jobs puts them and their families at a higher…

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Malta: Freeport investment to reduce environmental impact on community

Business Today reports on a €37 million investment by Malta Freeport to reduce the environmental impact of its operations on residents in the area. A new system will allow ships…

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Malta: GWU registers dispute with court agency

L-Orizzont reports that the General Workers Union declared an industrial dispute with the Court Services Agency over working conditions for drivers, who are being requested to carry out additional duties…

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Active Covid-19 cases rise over 2,500: The Headline – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that an 85-year-old man died from Covid-19 on Tuesday, raising the number of victims to 234. There were 240 new infections registered on the same day as active…

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Malta: Doctors declare industrial dispute with government

The Independent reports that the medical association announced an industrial dispute with the Health Ministry over the dismissal of Dr Kenneth Grech from the Covid-19 response team. The association says…

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Malta: Cabinet refuses pardon request by Caruana Galizia murder suspect

The Times says that Cabinet dismissed a pardon request by Vincent Muscat, one of the men charged with the killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia. The Prime Minister is believed to…

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Times: Father of missing man appeals for help

The Times speaks with the father of Marcel Pisani who has been missing since New Year’s Eve. Alfred Pisani appealed to the public to help find their son, who uses…

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Malta: GWU holding emergency talks with PL media group

L-Orizzont says that the General Workers Union has requested an urgent meeting with the management of One Group amid concerns by employees that political party stations might be forced to…

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Malta: PM has no problem publishing tax returns

In-Nazzjon asks Prime Minister Robert Abela whether he will publish his tax returns. Abela replied that he has already published everything before going on to say that he has no…

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Malta: Doctors denounce removal of Covid-19 team coordinator

The Independent carries a statement by the Medical Association which described the removal of Dr Kenneth Grech’s from the Covid-19 response team as an ‘act of intimidation’ by the government.…

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Malta: Separated man warns about growing cases of loneliness

L-Orizzont publishes an interview with a separated man who says that the festive period is an especially difficult time for those who, like him, suffer from solitude. He warns that…

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Malta: PN registers bump in approval

In-Nazzjon quotes survey findings by Malta Today which show a five percentage point increase in support for the PN, the highest since 2017. The party registered the strongest approval among…

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Malta: MPs to discuss gender representation bill

The Independent says that that parliament will debate a bill proposing a mechanism to balance gender representation in the House when it reconvenes after the Christmas recess. The bill sets…

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Malta: Electrogas review cites ‘material uncertainty’ in report

The Times reports that the latest Electrogas financial filings by PwC flag ‘material uncertainty’ following a company review conducted by an international law firm. The document says that the conclusions…

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Malta: Further dismissals expected at Malta Air

Illum claims that Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air warned that it may dismiss employees unless by the end of the month. In December, the airline let go 40 crew members after…

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Malta: Exiled former Saudi minister acquires Maltese passport

The Independent on Sunday reveals that a former senior minister of the Saudi government, Saad bin Khalid Al-Jabri, appears in the latest list of new Malta passport buyers. On exiled…

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Malta: Pharma company developing coronavirus-related drug

It-Torċa reports that a Malta-based pharmaceutical company is conducting clinical trials on a medicine to cure inflammatory diseases caused by the Covid-19 virus. Malta Enterprise is supporting the project with…

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Malta: Gap between party leaders narrows to 7 points

Malta Today reports a five-point shift in approval ratings between the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader. Robert Abela lost five points to hit his lowest-ever score of 42 percent while…

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Malta: 100 days since Bernard Grech elected PN Leader

Il-Mument marks the first 100 days since Bernard Grech was elected PN leader. The party said that a process of restructuring and renewal in the last weeks is building credibility…

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Malta: Courts to decide on legality of party stations

The Sunday Times reveals that Lovin Malta intends to begin constitutional proceedings against party-owned stations which may lead the courts to decide on the future of One and Net. The…

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Malta: Teachers end Covid-19 strike

L-Orizzont reports that an agreement has been reached between the union of teachers and the government and educators will return to school from Monday. The union had ordered strikes following…

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Malta: PN sides with teachers on right to strike

In-Nazzjon publishes a statement by the PN which defended the teachers’ right to strike following criticism by the Education Minister. The party said it is satisfied with the deal reached…

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