Malta News Briefing

Malta: Three nominations for the casual election to replace Edward Scicluna

The Times says that tourism authority chairman Gavin Gulia and science council chairman Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando are contesting the casual election for the seat vacated by Edward Scicluna. They join…

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Malta: Union president defends teachers’ strike

The Independent speaks to the president of the teachers’ union Marco Bonnici who said that, besides union members, the directives protect students and their families as the number of Covid-19…

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Malta: Negotiations between teachers and government continue today

The Times reports on confusion at schools as some students showed up after the Christmas recess to find that teachers were on strike. Talks between the union of teachers and…

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Malta: Active Covid-19 infections rise over 1,900

In-Nazzjon says that active Covid-19 infections jumped to more than 1,900 after 164 new cases were recorded on Thursday. Meanwhile, a 74 year old patient died at Mater Dei hospital,…

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Malta: Businesses report a satisfactory festive season

L-Orizzont quotes Chamber of SMEs CEO Abigail Mamo who said that businesses are generally satisfied with sales over the festive season. The Chamber is conducting a detailed survey about business…

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Malta: Businesses demand clarification on post-Brexit deal

Business Today reports that the Chamber of Commerce held an urgent meeting with parliamentary secretary Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi to seek clarifications on the effects of the EU-UK trade agreement on…

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Malta: Over 750,000 doses ordered from Pfizer and Moderna

The Independent announces that the European Commission granted permission for the use of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Moderna. Malta is expected to receive a total 770,000 doses from Pfizer…

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Malta: Bernard Grech blames Covid-19 surge on lack of planning by government

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that Prime Minister Robert Abela has to answer for the lack of planning that led to the sharp surge in Covid-19 cases…

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Malta: State schoolteachers strike

The Times quotes the teacher’s union president Marco Bonnici who argued that state schools should take the same precautions as school and independent schools, after they announced that they will…

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Malta: Health Minister does not exclude further restrictions

L-Orizzont reports on a press conference by Health Minister Chris Fearne on Wednesday where he said that further safety measures may be introduced following a rise in Covid-19 cases. He…

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Malta: British High Commissioner confident about future of financial sector

The Malta Business Weekly publishes an interview with British High Commissioner Cathy Ward who said that the free trade agreement between the EU and the UK provides a ‘stable foundation’…

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Malta: Banished former mayor to contest parliamentary by-election

Malta Today reports that former Rabat mayor Charles Azzopardi has submitted his nomination to contest the casual election to fill the seat vacated by Edward Scicluna. Azzopardi was rejected by…

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Malta: Energy Ministry looking into hydrogen-ready infrastructure

The Independent quotes Energy Minister Miriam Dalli who said that Malta is exploring the possibility of a hydrogen-ready pipeline from the mainland after the application for funding of the original…

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Malta: Tourism authority serves Paceville restaurant enforcement order

The Times reports that the tourism authority has imposed an enforcement notice on the Paceville restaurant in which a mass brawl broke out on New Year’s Eve. The authority found…

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Malta: Seven Covid-19 casualties since Ney Year’s Day

In-Nazzjon says that four people aged between 71 and 96 died from Covid-19 between Monday and Tuesday. There have been seven casualties since the start of the year, and 226…

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Malta: Government announces new wage subsidy scheme

L-Orizzont reports on a government announcement introducing a new wage supplement scheme. Enterprise Minister Miriam Dalli said in a press conference that the scheme will be retroactive from October. The…

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Malta: Catco Group did not know Adrian Delia was Opposition leader

The Times speaks to Catco Group chairman Fisal Abdullah Alokla about a €500,000 donation to Dar tal-Providenza delivered by Adrian Delia on New Year’s Day. Alokla said he was unaware…

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Malta: Just one in ten healthcare professionals vaccinated so far

In-Nazzjon quotes a statement by the Medical Association which said it is disappointed by the vaccination targets set by the government. Doctors said that only 10 percent of healthcare professionals…

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Malta: Nurses urge more ambitious vaccination targets

The Independent speaks to the Nurses’ Union president Paul Pace who said that there are enough human resources available at hospitals to make the Covid-19 vaccination programme faster than it…

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Malta: All residents of elderly care homes to be vaccinated within a month

L-Orizzont says that the government aims to inoculate all residents and carers at homes for the elderly with the Covid-19 vaccine within a month. Minister for Active Ageing Michael Farrugia…

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Malta: Gozo tourism chief encouraged by domestic tourism on New Year’s

L-Orizzont speaks to Gozo Tourism Association CEO Joseph Muscat who said that the number of tourists last weekend was probably the highest in the past twelve months, as more people…

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Malta: Record number of Covid-19 deaths in December

In-Nazzjon reports that 85 new Covid-19 cases were registered on Sunday while another 64 patients have recovered. No fatalities were reported but the number of deaths in December rose to…

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Malta: PM confident about Moneyval results

The Times follows a political address by the Prime Minister who expressed confidence that the country will avoid being grey-listed by Moneyval. Robert Abela said that the government has taken…

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Malta: Households spent over €900 million food and drink in 2019

The Independent publishes findings by Eurostat showing that households in Malta spent 12.5 percent of total consumption expenditure on foods and non-alcoholic beverages, amounting to €916 million. Another story quotes…

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Malta: Konrad Mizzi registers most absences in parliament last year

The Independent on Sunday reports that Konrad Mizzi was absent for 26 sessions in parliament last year, the highest number among MPs. 16 representatives from the government side and 12…

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Malta: EC denies funds for gas pipeline

Malta Today reveals that the European Commission has turned down funds for Malta’s proposed €400 gas pipeline from Sicily as the EU turns to promote hydrogen power over gas among…

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Malta: Herd immunity expected by summer

The Sunday Times says that the government plans to vaccinate 2,000 people every week in the short term before then raising that to 5,000 jabs a week. A spokesperson for…

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Malta: Pandemic took its toll on oncology patients

It-Torċa speaks with the chaplain of the Oncology Hospital, Fr Mario Attard, about the effects of the pandemic on patients. Fr Attard describes a sense of hopelessness that was exacerbated…

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Malta: Unwanted mayor leading by-election in District 7

Illum says that former Rabat mayor Charles Azzopardi is the frontrunner in the casual election race for the House seat vacated by Edward Scicluna. Azzopardi was not allowed to contest…

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Malta: PN Leader appeals for country unity

Il-Mument quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that a healthy country cannot be divided all the time and on every aspect of life. Grech was speaking in public on…

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Malta: 26 new medicines provided for free in 2020

L-Orizzont says that 26 new drugs were added to the free medicines supplied by the government in 2020, making it the biggest addition to the formulary list in a single…

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Malta: Mass brawl erupts in Paceville on NYE

The Times reports on a brawl involving some 50 people that broke out in Paceville on New Year’s Eve. Three people sustained injuries and several others were arrested by the…

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Malta: Public Health Superintendent buoyed by vaccination drive

The Times quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who said that the new year starts with optimism as the Covid-19 vaccination programme advances. She compared the emotion of the shipment…

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Malta: PN leader expects revival in 2021

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who anticipates a ‘year of renaissance’ following the disruption of the pandemic in 2020. In his message for the new year, Grech offered his…

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Malta: Union president calls for caution heading into the new year

L-Orizzont publishes an interview with General Workers Union president Victor Carachi who expects things to start returning to normal by Spring. He, however, warned that the effects of the pandemic…

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Malta: Covid-19 victims climb to 219

The Independent reports the number of deaths from Covid-19 rose to 219 by the end of the year as three more patients died on Thursday. The victims, two men and…

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Malta: PL anxious over by-election contenders

The Times says that PL sources have expressed concern over the possible parliamentary election of either former Rabat mayor Charles Azzopardi or former PN MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, both contesting…

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Malta: Nurse says prison is Covid-free

L-Orizzont speaks to the Charge Nurse at the Agency for Corrective Services, Carol Ann Delia, who said that there are currently no active cases of Covid-19 among prison inmates or…

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Malta: Opposition warns about passport-buyers secrecy clause

In-Nazzjon quotes the Opposition spokesperson for citizenship Karol Aquilina who said that a legal notice issued over Christmas will allow the government to keep secret the identity of persons who…

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Malta: Three cases of new Covid-19 variant detected

The Independent says that three cases of the UK-variant of the Covid-19 virus have been detected by health authorities. Health Minister Chris Fearne said that the infected people are in…

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Malta: Court upholds Yorgen Fenech’s request for phone tap data

The Independent says that the court has ordered the prosecution team in the Caruana Galizia murder case to hand over information about a series of phone call intercepts to defendant…

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Malta: PN leader challenges PM to produce tax information

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who challenged the Prime Minister to publish his tax returns and declare whether he has ever discussed his VAT situation with the tax commissioner.…

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Malta: Curb on bars likely to extend into January

The Times asks Prime Minister Robert Abela to explain claims that he sought information about the Opposition Leader’s tax situation from the Commissioner for Revenue. Abela denied the allegations and…

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Malta: 200 companies with special Covid-19 arrangements

L-Orizzont reports that the 200 companies have renewed a permit from the employment relations department to temporarily reduce conditions for workers to protect jobs. More than 1,000 companies had applied…

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Malta: Police await government approval to access tax chief’s phone

The Sunday Times reveals that Prime Minister Robert Abela is undecided about allowing the police to access the phone of tax commissioner Marvin Gaerty. According to the income tax act,…

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Malta: UK-based doctor encourages public to take vaccine

It-Torċa carries an interview with a Maltese doctor in the UK, Dr Miguel Debono who encouraged people to take the Covid-19 vaccine. Dr Debono said that the approved vaccines have…

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Malta: Vaccination start today at Mater Dei

Illum says that the first Covid-19 vaccines will be administered this morning at Mater Dei hospital. Another batch of doses are expected to be received on Monday with further weekly…

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Malta: 2020 was the year of the virus

Malta Today takes a look back at the main events of 2020, which the paper has declared as the Year of the Virus. A feature says that Malta lost control…

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Malta: PM welcomes first batch of Covid-19 vaccines

The Independent on Sunday leads with the arrival of the first batch of Covid-19 vaccine doses on Saturday morning. Prime Minister Robert Abela said the first 10,000 doses bring hope…

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Malta: Over €6.5 million raised during L-Istrina

Il-Mument reports on the 25th edition of the L-Istrina fundraising event for the Malta Community Chest Fund on Saturday. The drive raised over €6.5 million during 12 hours of programming…

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Malta: Businesses see surge in sales over Christmas

L-Orizzont speaks to SME Chamber CEO Abigail Mamo who said she is confident that moderate expectations for the retail sector will be reached this holiday season. Mamo said that sales…

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Malta: Covid-19 deaths reach 200 since start of pandemic

The Independent reports that the number of deaths from Covid-19 rose above 200 on Wednesday after five casualties were announced. Three of the victims died at Mater Dei hospital, aged…

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Malta: Family Minister non-committal on Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar

In-Nazzjon questions Minister Michael Falzon about whether steps should be taken against Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar. The minister, who was made to resign by Joseph Muscat in 2016, replied that…

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Malta: Authorities scramble to save air routes

The Times says that authorities are holding talks with major airlines to save routes to Malta. Carriers are believed to cut back on their flights over the coming months, with…

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Malta: Malta Air to release 40 cabin crew

The Independent says that General Workers Union and Malta Air could not reach a deal on an emergency agreement for employees, resulting in the termination of 40 cabin crew with…

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Malta: PN leader says domestic abuse has to be stamped out

In-Nazzjon reports that the PN’s women wing presented gifts to Dar Merħba Bik which welcomes victims of domestic abuse. The delegation was led by party leader Bernard Grech who said…

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Malta: Bernard Grech says PM lacks courage to suspend junior minister

Malta Today speaks to Opposition Leader Bernard Grech who said that the Prime Minister lacked the courage to suspend Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar until investigations into allegations against her are…

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