Malta News Briefing

Malta: Schools to reopen at the end of the month

The Independent reports that schools will reopen on September 28 under new safety guidelines. School staff and students aged 11 and over will be required to wear masks at all…

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Malta: Nurses and Midwives take industrial actions

In-Nazzjon reports on fresh directives by the Union of Midwives and Nurses, accusing the government of not keeping its word on leave hours. The union said that staff shortage is…

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Malta: PM promises budget incentives for companies and households

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that the government will announce long-term support measures for families and businesses in this year’s budget. He said that the pandemic is…

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Malta: Twin applications for multi-storey buildings in Xlendi

The Independent reveals that two separate applications for an eight-storey hotel and an apartment block of the same height on adjacent sites in Xlendi have been submitted to the Planning…

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Malta: Yorgen Fenech denied bail

Malta Today reports that Yorgen Fenech’s request for bail has been turned down by the court. Magistrate Rachel Montebello raised concerns by the court about tampering with evidence and absconding.…

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Malta: New scheme for persons with autism

L-Orizzont announces a new government scheme that will help families with autistic children to set up a sensory room in their own homes. The initiative was launched by Parliamentary Secretary…

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Malta: Cyanide trail leads to Yorgen Fenech

The Times reports that FBI investigators traced searches on the dark web for potassium cyanide, a deadly poison, to a device owned by Yorgen Fenech. The discovery was flagged a…

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Malta: 89-year-old dies of coronavirus

In-Nazzjon reports on the thirteenth Covid-19 casualty after a man died at Mater Dei. The 89-year-old was originally discharged on Monday with no symptoms displayed but was rushed back after…

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Malta: Twin applications for multi-storey buildings in Xlendi

The Independent reveals that two separate applications for an eight-storey hotel and an apartment block of the same height on adjacent sites in Xlendi have been submitted to the Planning…

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Malta: Sliema murder suspect appears in court

L-Orizzont reports that Daniel Muka, believed to be the mastermind behind the Sliema double murder, appeared in court on Monday. The compilation of evidence against the suspect will begin on…

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Malta: Family of Covid-19 victim says he contracted the virus from hospital

The Times quotes a statement by the family of the Covid-19 patient who died over the weekend. It contradicts official reports that the man had been infected before being admitted…

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Malta: Joseph Muscat knew Caruana Galizia murder details after it was committed

In-Nazzjon reports on the compilation of evidence in the Caruana Galizia case where it emerged that Yorgen Fenech had informed the police that Joseph Muscat was one of the three…

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Malta: Just over 2,600 people awaiting social accommodation

The Independent speaks to the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Accommodation, Roderick Galdes, who said that there are currently 2,602 people on the waiting list for government housing. Another story quotes…

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Malta: Bernard Grech rejects suggestion to quit race

The Times reports that Bernard Grech has dismissed calls by PN deputy leader Robert Arrigo to drop out of the leadership contest against Adrian Delia. Grech said that it would…

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Malta: Runaway murder suspect arrested in Spain

L-Orizzont says that the third suspect in the murder of Chris Pandolfino and Ivor Maciejovski will begin proceedings in Spain before he is extradited to Malta. Two other suspects are…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma back in hospital

In-Nazzjon reports that the state witness in the Caruana Galizia case, Melvin Theuma, was rushed to Mater Dei on Sunday. The reason for hospitalisation is not yet known, but the…

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Malta: School transport providers in the dark

The Independent speaks to an operator in the school transport service which said that providers have not yet been informed about any new procedures. Education Minister Owen Bonnici said that…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma was informed suspect was prepared to talk

Malta Today reveals that self-confessed middleman in the Caruana Galizia murder, Melvin Theuma, was informed in August last year by a Yorgen Fenech associate the one of the suspected triggermen,…

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Malta: Prostitution reform report nearing completion

The Independent on Sunday speaks to Equalities Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar who said that a report seeking to decriminalise sex work will shortly be send to the Cabinet. The report…

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Malta: Unions want wage support extension

Illum speaks to General Workers Union secretary general Josef Bugeja and the president of the tourism section within the Chamber of SMEs, Philip Fenech, who urged the government to extend…

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Malta: Covid-19 infection rates down since mid-August

It-Torċa quotes a report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control which shows that the rate of positive results from Covid-19 tests has registered a decline in the…

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Malta: Woman suffers fierce attack by unknown man

The Sunday Times reports that a 26-year-old woman was attacked by an unidentified man in Valletta on Friday. The Swedish woman was sunbathing when a man carrying a net beat…

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Malta: Rise in salaries in first half-year period

Kullħadd says that workers’ salaries registered an increase of €165 million in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2019. The paper reports that…

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Malta: Air Malta pilots feel let down

Il-Mument speaks to former Air Malta pilots who were sacked by the airline. The pilots said they felt humiliated and betrayed by the government and accused the carrier’s management of…

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Malta: Voucher system could be re-issued

The Times quotes Economy Minister Silvio Schembri who said that the government is assessing the impact of the voucher system, hinting that another round is being considered. The minister said…

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Malta: Arrest warrant for third suspect in the Sliema double murder

L-Orizzont reports that the police have issued a European arrest warrant to trace and extradite the third suspect in the Sliema double murder, who is believed to have fled to…

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Malta: Police arrest second man involved in murder

The Independent reports that the police have arrested a second man in connection with the Sliema double murder. The 36-year-old was caught at a hotel in Gżira and was apprehended…

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Malta: Government revenue falls by €530 million this year

In-Nazzjon quotes Nationals Statistics Office figures which show a government deficit of over €1 billion in the first seven months of the year. Government revenue, meanwhile, decreased by more than…

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Malta: Yorgen Fenech claimed Keith Schembri was behind the assassination

The Times leads with the testimony of inspector Kurt Zahra who said that, under interrogation last November, Yorgen Fenech revealed that Keith Schembri had asked him to find someone to…

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Malta: Double-murder suspect formally charged

The Independent reports that Daniel Muka has been formally charged with the murder of Chris Pandolfino and Ivor Maciejovski in their home in Sliema last week. The 25-year-old pleaded not…

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Malta: Daniel Muka confronted by enraged crowd outside courts

In-Nazzjon reports that that the suspect in the Sliema double murder last week, Daniel Muka, was met by an angry crowd shouting ‘assassin’ as he was escorted into court on…

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Malta: First case of coronavirus re-infection in Hong Kong

L-Orizzont reports on the first registered case of Covid-19 re-infection after a patient in Hong Kong tested positive for a second time after he had recovered from the disease in…

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Malta: Foreign Affairs Ministry raises alarm over eastern Mediterranean

The Malta Business Weekly quotes Foreign Affairs Minister in an interview with the Financial Times who warned that rising hostilities over maritime territories between Turkey and Greece will destabilise the…

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Malta: Two more men thought to be linked with double murder

In-Nazzjon says that the police are searching for two more suspects in relation to the murder of Chris Pandolfino and Ivor Maciejovski. Meanwhile, Daniel Muka, who was arrested on Tuesday…

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Malta: Former Projects Malta chair says Finance Ministry was kept in the loop

The Times quotes the former chairman of Projects Malta who said that most of the meetings were held at the boardroom of the permanent secretary of the Finance Ministry. William…

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Malta: Valletta businesses considering late-night shopping

Malta Today says members of the Valletta Business Community disagree over the best way to revitalise the City with tourism down by 80 percent from last year. Some operators are…

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Malta: Teachers lament lack of consultation by ministry

The Independent reports on a meeting between the Education Ministry and the Teachers’ Union which minister Owen Bonnici described as positive. The Union, however, said that the ministry wants to…

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Malta: Children’s Commissioner urges reopening of schools

L-Orizzont carries an interview with Children’s Commissioner Pauline Miceli who said that the reopening of schools is in the interest of children. Miceli warned that the impact of the pandemic…

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Double murder suspect arrested in police raid: The Headline – The Times

The Times reports on a police raid on the house of a 25-year-old Albanian national in connection with the murder of Chris Pandolfino and Ivor Majiecovski. The Police Commissioner told…

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Investigators identify double murder suspect from CCTV images: The Headline – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that images from security cameras led investigators to identify one of the suspects in the Sliema double murder as Daniel Muka, before the police mounted an arrest raid…

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PN leadership contenders submitted due diligence documents: The Headline – Malta Today

Mala Today says that PN leadership candidates Adrian Delia and Bernard Grech had until Monday to submit a detailed questionnaire to the party’s vetting Commission, together with tax return and…

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Grech camp says grassroot support is rising: The Headline – The Independent

The Independent says that the team behind Bernard Grech’s campaign for the PN leadership is confident that support is growing, particularly in Gozo. Grech had visited activists in the island…

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Police arrest man on the US wanted-list: The Headline – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont reports that a man wanted by US authorities was arrested in Malta. Nazzareno Mifsud was on the run for more than 30 years after facing charges about sexual abuse…

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Malta: Army minister says cocaine party allegations were exaggerated

In-Nazzjon says that the car thought to have been used by the hitmen on the Sliema double murder was found in a Gwardamangia car park. The police are investigating links…

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Malta: Suspended sentence for woman who stole thousands from her mother

L-Orizzont reports that a woman was handed a suspended jail sentence for withdrawing €5,000 from her mother’s bank account without her consent. The Judge admonished people who abuse their parents.…

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Malta: Former consul thought to have profited from visa sales

The Times follows the compilation of evidence against former Consul to Shanghai Aldo Cutajar. The prosecution says that Cutajar may have profited from illegal sales of Chinese visas, an accusation…

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Malta: Education Dean says schooling is about more than jobs

The Independent carries an interview with the Education Faculty Dean Colin Calleja who said that compulsory education should not simply fit the needs of industry and argued that employability skills…

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Malta: PL loses 10 points in support

The Times publishes survey findings showing a drop of 10 percentage points in support to the Labour party, capturing a voting intention of 28 percent among respondents, down from 38…

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Malta: Swimmer loses life in Dwejra

In-Nazzjon reports that a man lost his life in Dwejra on Sunday afternoon after finding himself in difficulty. A medical team from the Gozo general hospital rushed to the site…

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Malta: Former PM in WhatsApp group with Yorgen Fenech and Keith Schembri

Malta Today reveals that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was questioned by the police about messaging with Yorgen Fenech during an interrogation on Friday. Data lifted from the businessman’s phone…

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Malta: Public losing trust in management of pandemic

The Sunday Times publishes survey results which show that the share of people who trust the government’s handling of the pandemic has plummeted from 83 percent in May to 40…

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Malta: PN Independence events cancelled

The Independent on Sunday speaks to PN secretary general Francis Zammit Dimech who confirmed that Independence activities will not be held this year because of the pandemic. Instead the party…

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Malta: PN leader raises alarm about ghettoization

Il-Mument quotes PN leader Adrian Delia who said that families are worried about the formation of ghettoes in communities and called for regeneration projects and police presence to reassure communities.…

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Malta: Travel industry between a rock and a hard place

Illum says that pressure is piling on businesses in the travel sector which are battling slow sales with demands for refunds while countries close their airports to Malta. Representatives of…

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Malta: August registers decrease in unemployment

It-Torċa says that registered unemployment has fallen to below 4,000 by mid-August after a rise between March and June. The paper says that the jobs market has shown signs of…

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Malta: Covid-19 claims tenth victim

The Independent reports on the death of a 72-year-old man from Covid-19, the first fatality from the virus in three months. There have, so far, been 10 victims of the…

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Malta: Former Prime Minister interrogated by the police

The Times reports that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was interrogated by the police for over an hour on Friday, in relation to claims about him by murder suspect Yorgen…

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