Malta News Briefing

Malta: Police make formal request for information from the UAE

The Times quotes MEP David Casa who said that the police have made a full request for information from the United Arab Emirates on August 24. Previous requests to UAE…

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Malta: Infrastructure Malta defends new anti-flood works

L-Orizzont carries a reaction by Infrastructure Malta following criticism to widespread road flooding from rainfall this week. The agency said that new roads where anti-flooding systems have been installed were…

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Malta: Bernard Grech submits official nomination for PN leader

In-Nazzjon reports on the formal nomination by Bernard Grech as a candidate for the PN leadership contest. The nomination was received by the chairperson of the party’s electoral commission, Peter…

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Malta: Fishermen threatened by Tunisian counterparts

In-Nazzjon reports about rising tension in the seas as fishermen are facing threats by armed Tunisian fishing fleets in Maltese waters. Fishermen said that they feel ‘abandoned’ by the Maltese…

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Malta: Environment Minister to present carbon neutrality strategy

L-Orizzont says that Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia is set to present a Low Carbon Development Strategy to the Cabinet based on the Paris Agreement. Minister Farrugia told the paper that…

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Malta: AG not ready to release Schembri-Tonna inquiry report

The Times says that the magisterial inquiry into transactions between Keith Schembri and Brian Tonna through Pilatus Bank, launched in April 2017 has been concluded but the Attorney General said…

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Malta: Developers fire warning shot over White Rocks project

The Independent quotes a statement by the Developers Association warning that it expects any agreement over the White Rocks project to be based on the market value of the site.…

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Malta: Ferry tender halted for third time

The Times reports that a government tender for a ferry service between Malta and Gozo has been put on hold for a third time after Virtu Ferries filed a complaint…

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Malta: Health Centre doctors ordered to stop visiting care homes

In-Nazzjon reports that the Medical Association issued directives for Health Centre doctors to suspend services in care homes, including homes for the elderly. The association is worried that infections among…

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Malta: More than 120 migrants caught with false passports

L-Orizzont says that no less than 120 migrants have been caught trying to escape Malta using false documents. Police officers told the paper that the six-month prison sentence is not…

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Malta: New record number of Covid-19 cases in a single day

The Independent reports that the 78 new coronavirus infections discovered on Sunday make it the largest number of cases recorded in a single day since the start of the outbreak…

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Malta: LGBTIQ+ member thrown out by family after coming out

The Independent on Sunday publishes an interview with a homeless person who was thrown out of the family home after identifying as a trans, non-binary individual. The interviewee speaks about…

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Malta: US investor pursuing Vitals money in London courts

Malta Today reveals that an American investor filed a case against Steward Healthcare in a London court, claiming €5 million which he had loaned to Vitals when it first bid…

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Malta: Electrogas granted 18-year respite from dues to Enemalta

The Sunday Times claims that Electrogas has been granted an 18-year break to pay €18 million in penalties to Enemalta for delays on the power station project. The secret deal…

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Malta: PN leader to be elected in early October

Il-Mument announces that the election for the PN leadership will be held on October 3 and nominations open today. Both Adrian Delia and Bernard Grech have been accepted to stand…

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Malta: Doubts about Bernard Grech’s income declarations

It-Torċa says that questions have risen about the declaration of income of PN leadership hopeful Bernard Grech. The paper says that his €28,970 income for last year is considered low…

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Malta: PM raises immigration concerns at Med 7 Summit

Kullħadd reports on the Med 7 Summit in Corsica during which Prime Minister Robert Abela raised the issue of migration. The paper says that the situation is now in the…

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Malta: Government allocates half a billion euros to waste management

Illum quotes Environment Ministry Aaron Farrugia who said the government is soon launching four projects to upgrade the waste management system. Two new plants and another two incinerators will cost…

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Malta: Former minister reveals strained relationship with Keith Schembri

The Independent follows the testimony of former Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech in the Caruana Galizia public inquiry who said that the chief of staff at the time, Keith Schembri,…

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Malta: Abattoir worker positive for coronavirus

In-Nazzjon says that a man who works at the public abattoir in Marsa has tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday evening. Operations were halted on Friday to disinfect the ‘dirty…

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Malta: Air Malta pilots offered transfer to public sector

The Times says that pilots who were dismissed by Air Malta have been offered alternative jobs with the government with the same take-home pay. The Malta Employers Association said the…

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Malta: Recovered patient contracts Covid-19 a second time

L-Orizzont reports the first case of Covid-19 re-infection in Malta, after a man tested positive for a second time this week. The Public Health Superintendent confirmed that the man had…

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Malta: Migrants centre closed for human rights organisations

The Times reports that human rights NGOs have been denied access to the Safi migrants centre for more than a month. Aditus director Neil Falzon said that authorities have not…

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Malta: GWU agrees with right to disconnect

L-Orizzont says that the General Workers Union welcomes a report by MEP Alex Agius Saliba calling for a general right to disconnect. In a statement, the union said that new…

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Malta: Elderly man dies from Covid-19

In-Nazzjon reports on the death of an 80-year-old man from Covid-19, the 15th casualty from the disease. The patient was registered positive on Friday before being admitted to hospital on…

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Malta: Government concerned about prison deaths

The Independent quotes Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri who said that the outcomes of inquiries into prison deaths are being studied to prevent similar tragedies in the future, including suicide…

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Malta: Government publishes pre-budget document

The Malta Business Weekly leads with the launch of a pre-budget document by the government outlining a plan for economic growth. Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said that the deficit is…

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Malta: Sharp rise in domestic violence this year

L-Orizzont reports on a case of domestic violence flagged by Aġenzija Appoġġ but where the alleged perpetrator was liberated after his wife refused to testify in court. The paper says…

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Malta: Double murder suspect pins shooting on partner

The Times reports on the testimony of Viktor Dragomanski, charged with the killing of Ivor Maciejowski and Chris Pandolfino in August. The North Macedonian said that it was another suspect,…

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Malta: Teachers lost their teaching material in classroom clearance

In-Nazzjon says that teachers reported the loss of learning resources stored in their schools after employees of the education ministry moved furniture out of classes to allow for social distancing.…

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Malta: Eden Group forecasts multi-million loss

Business Today reports that Eden Leisure Group is projecting a €6.8 million loss this year as a result of the Covid-19 crisis after a €15 million profit before tax last…

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Malta: AG advised against investigating Caruana Galizia allegations

The Independent follows the testimony of former Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar before the Caruana Galizia public inquiry during which he said that the Attorney General was not in favour of…

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Malta: Yorgen Fenech and Edward Zammit Lewis had frequent WhatsApp chats

The Times claims that Yorgen Fenech and current Minister for Justice, Edward Zammit Lewis, have exchanged hundreds of messages between January and October last year, up until two weeks before…

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Malta: Amnesty International publishes scathing report on immigration tactics

The Independent quotes a report by Amnesty International which notes a change of tactics in the way Malta deals with immigrants crossing the Mediterranean. The global NGO calls Malta’s measures…

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Malta: Finance Minister not troubled by deficit

L-Orizzont publishes an interview with Finance Minister Edward Scicluna who said he is not concerned about the national deficit which rose to over €1 billion between January and July. The…

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Malta: Elderly woman killed by two dogs in Msida

In-Nazzjon says that neighbours of the elderly woman who was mortally attacked by two pit bulls, heard the screams coming out of her house. The dogs were taken away by…

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Malta: Sentence for human trafficking suspects annulled

The Times leads with a court decision to annul a prison sentence for a couple accused of human trafficking and send the case back to the first court. Madame Justice…

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Malta: Domestic Violence Commissioner wants native prostitution model

The Independent publishes an interview with the Commissioner for Domestic Violence Audrey Farrugia who said that Malta has the expertise to reform prostitution law that matches its particular context. Another…

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Malta: PM questions PN leadership hopefuls’ authenticity

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that both PN leadership candidates ‘lack authenticity’. He said that tax authorities appear to apply different standards to politicians than they do…

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Malta: WasteServ employee files police report

In-Nazzjon says that WasteServ management ordered employees to take skips used at the swabbing centre in Xewkija to the ferry crossing to Malta without the necessary precautions for potential Covid-19…

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Malta: Sliema double murder suspect fighting extradition from Spain

The Sunday Times says that the third suspect in the Sliema double murder who fled to Spain, is contesting his extradition to Malta. Proceedings are expected to take at least…

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Malta: Bernard Grech had thousands in tax arrears until 2019

Illum says that PN leadership candidate Bernard Grech racked up €62,000 in VAT and Income Tax arrears until last year. Questioned by the paper, Grech provided a certificate by the…

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Malta: Developers Association president wants more restoration works

It-Torċa carries an interview with Developers Association president Sandro Chetcuti who said that the property sector has remained strong throughout the pandemic. Chetcuti called for a balance between regeneration of…

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Malta: Passport scheme to be replaced by residency programme

The Independent on Sunday speaks to Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship Alex Muscat who said that the Individual Investor Programme has reached its 1,800 application limit and will now be terminated…

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Malta: Economic sentiment up by almost half since April

Kullħadd quotes an EU study which shows that economic sentiment among businesses and consumers rose by 45 percent between April and August. The paper says the increase in confidence coincided…

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Malta: Potentially contaminated waste ferried from Gozo

Il-Mument says that Waste Serve employees in Gozo have been ordered to falsify documents in order to transport waste that was potentially contaminated with the Covid-19 virus to Malta on…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma was warned to delete WhatsApp evidence

Malta Today reveals that Yorgen Fenech’s business associate Johann Cremona was keeping self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma apprised of police investigations into the Caruana Galizia murder, advising him to delete compromising…

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Malta: Adrian Delia says PM holds disproportionate powers

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that despite amendments to the appointment of specific public roles, the Prime Minister still wields too much power in selecting the chair…

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Malta: GWU warns companies over quarantine leave

L-Orizzont says that the General Workers Union is considering industrial actions at places of work where its members are being forced to switch from quarantine leave to sick leave if…

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Malta: Prof. Gauci raises alarm about flu season

The Independent quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who warned that the approaching flu season will present the greatest test for the management of the pandemic. Prof. Gauci appealed for…

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Malta: Ship captain petitions authorities to take migrants

The Times leads with a video message by the captain of a stranded oil tanker which has rescued 27 migrants a month ago. Captain Volodymyr Yeroshkin said the vessel is…

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Malta: Police arrest Valletta assault suspect

The Times says that a 37-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a violent attack on a woman in Valletta last weekend. The victim, Anna Karsbjer, said she was…

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Malta: Murderers fired multiple shots at Pandolfino and Maciejovski

The Independent quotes investigator James Grech who said that doctor and banker Chris Pandolfino was shot five times while his partner Ivor Maciejovski was shot once in the head in…

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Malta: Nearly six in ten Covid-19 vouchers redeemed: The Headline – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont says that 58 percent of government consumption vouchers issued have been used with a combined spend of €37.3 million including added personal expenditure. The highest number of transactions was…

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Malta: 44 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours

In-Nazzjon reports that 44 new Covid-19 cases were registered on Thursday, while there were 38 recoveries. It says that the rate of infections in Europe has returned to the figures…

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Malta: BOV agrees on €26.5M Falcon Fund settlement

Business Today says Bank of Valletta paid €26.5 million to Swedish private pension Falcon Funds to avoid further litigation. The Swedish Pensions Agency welcomed the settlement and said that the…

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Malta: Ryanair subsidiary to take off next week

The Malta Business Weekly says that the new Maltese subsidiary of Ryanair, Lauda Europe, is set to start operating on September 13 with a flight from Palma de Mallorca to…

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