Malta News Briefing

Malta: Prime Minister says coronavirus spread is in hand

L-Orizzont follows a press conference by the Prime Minister and Health Minister on Friday. Robert Abela said that despite the spike in infections in the last days, the Covid-19 situation…

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Malta: PN MPs anoint Bernard Grech

The Times reveals that the PN MPs opposed to Adrian Delia’s leadership have agreed to support Bernard Grech as a ‘unity candidate’ to challenge Adrian Delia in the forthcoming party…

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Malta: PN aspiring leaders discuss common strategy

The Independent said that potential PN leader candidates Therese Comodini Cachia, Roberta Metsola, Mark Anthony Sammut, and Bernard Grech held a series of talks this week to agree on a…

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Malta: Four children among new Covid-19 cases

In-Nazzjon reports that the coronavirus count increased by 20 cases on Thursday, and there are now 267 registered active cases. Four of the infected patients announced yesterday by the Ministry…

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Malta: Compilation of evidence in Mqabba shooting case

L-Orizzont follows the compilation of evidence in the case about the Mqabba shooting last week which left one person dead and another injured. The surviving victim wrote the names of…

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Malta: Therese Comodini Cachia to run for PN Leader

Business Today reports that Therese Comodini Cachia confirmed her intention to contest the PN leadership race. The MP was chosen by the party’s parliamentary group as Opposition Leader after the…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma recovers speaking abilities

The Times reports that state witness Melvin Theuma is able to talk unaided again, two weeks after being discovered with a slashed throat. Sources told the paper that the self-confessed…

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Malta: Doctors start industrial actions from today

In-Nazzjon says that the Medical Association will begin industrial actions from today and the Nurses’ Union is set to orders strikes from tomorrow. Healthcare unions said the Covid-19 contagion measures…

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Malta: GWU seeks compromise between health and economy

L-Orizzont speaks with General Workers Union secretary general Josef Bugeja ahead of a meeting of social partners to discuss recent Covid-19 developments. Bugeja said the union is insisting on a…

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Malta: Reproduction number hits 1.39

The Malta Business Weekly says that the coronavirus reproductive number in Malta now stands at 1.39, climbing above 1.0 for the first time since May. Malta currently has the ninth…

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Malta: Covid-19 cases near 250

The Independent reports that the number of active Covid-19 cases has risen to nearly 250 after another 20 infections were registered on Wednesday. About a 100 of these are migrants…

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Malta: UNHCR claims Libya risky for migrants

L-Orizzont quotes a report by the UN Refugee Agency which declares Libya an unsafe country for migrants to be returned to. The document publishes a series of witness accounts describing…

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Malta: PN leadership applications close in five days

The Independent reports that the PN Electoral Commission issued a call for applications for those interested in the leadership contest. Applications must be sent in writing to the commission by…

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Malta: Chamber of Commerce wants lower VAT in hospitality and travel

Malta Today reports on a series of recommendations by the Chamber of Commerce to support the travel and hospitality sector. Among the proposals, the Chamber is arguing for a reduction…

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Malta: Medical Association dissatisfied with government plans

The Times reports that the medical association is not satisfied with the government’s plans to contain Covid-19 following a meeting with the Health Ministry. Association president Martin Balzan refused to…

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Malta: Coronavirus active patients increase to 215

In-Nazzjon reports that the number of active Covid-19 cases rose to 215 after another 14 new cases were registered on Tuesday. The paper says that the cause of infection in…

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Malta: EU leaders call for Malta Agreement revision

L-Orizzont reports that EU ministers have discussed the recent rise in migration into Europe and said that the Malta Agreement about sharing of arriving immigrants reached in 2019 is not…

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Malta: Foreign Affairs Ministry requests investigation into Neville Gafa’ comments

In-Nazzjon says that the Foreign Affairs Ministry filed for a police investigation into Neville Gafa’ following complaints by Italian journalist Nello Scavo who said the former OPM official was threatening…

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Malta: Call for applications for PN Leader opens today

The Independent says no contender for the PN leadership has confirmed intentions to challenge Adrian Delia as the party today opens a call for applications. Therese Comodini Cachia, Roberta Metsola,…

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Malta: Schools planning for possible delay in restart

The Times reports that schools are set to re-open on September 28, but education authorities are setting up contingency plans for online learning in case the day is pushed back…

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Malta: Konrad Mizzi associated engaged to prep Enemalta officials

The Times reports that a close associate of former Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi, David Galea, had been tasked with preparing Enemalta officials to answer questions about the Electrogas deal by…

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Malta: PN planning to have new leader in place by Independence

The Independent speaks to PN Secretary General Francis Zammit Dimech who said that the party’s leadership election is expected to be held in the first half of September to have…

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Malta: Artists call out poor employment standards

L-Orizzont says that the arts and culture sector is among the worst-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Professionals in creative industries told the paper that there is a lack of employment…

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Malta: Police arrest two more men in connection with Mqabba gunning

In-Nazzjon says two men have been arrested in connection with the Mqabba shooting last week. One of them is the brother of Saviour Gaffarena, who was killed in the attack,…

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Malta: PN General Council votes for new leadership contest

Il-Mument says that 56 percent of the PN General Council voted in favour of the motion to open a fresh party leader contest whereas 44 percent voted to hold a…

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Malta: PN leader candidate will go through vetting process

The Sunday Times says that the PN Electoral Commission, headed by Peter Fenech, will now open a three-day window for expressions of interest for hopeful candidates. These will then go…

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Malta: Covid-19 cases reach March numbers

Malta Today says that coronavirus cases have reached the same numbers as during the lockdown period in March, rising to 171 in the last days. Many of the new patients…

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Malta: PL deputy leader says party should help formulate policy

The Independent on Sunday carries an interview with the new PL deputy leader Daniel Micallef. He said that the role of the party is not to be a ‘supporter’s club’…

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Malta: Adrian Delia says he will re-contest for PN leader

Illum says that incumbent PN Leader Adrian Delia has confirmed that he will re-contest for the role after losing a vote of confidence by the General Council. He called for…

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Malta: Open-market businesses raise concerns

It-Torċa says that open-market vendors are worried for their future amid uncertainty over the way markets operate. Sellers said that neither them nor the General Workers Union representing them have…

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Malta: Registered unemployment rate lowest in euro area

Kullħadd reports that Malta registered the lowest rate of unemployment in the euro zone during the second quarter. The paper says that while registered unemployment keeps rising in other member…

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Malta: Two teenagers arraigned over Mqabba shooting

L-Orizzont identifies the two suspects in the Mqabba shooting this week as Leon Debono and Owen Schembri, both 18. Their names were revealed to the police by victim Vince Gaffarena,…

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Malta: Half the eligible votes in the PN General Council cast

In-Nazzjon says that more than half the members of the PN General Council have cast their votes in the extraordinary session that will lead to either a vote of confidence…

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Malta: OPM silent on Vitals MoU negotiators

The Independent says that the Office of the Prime Minister has not answered questions about the government’s MoU with Vitals. The paper asked whether the Prime Minister knows and will…

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Malta: Four major events to be called off

The Times says that an agreement between the government, the tourism authority and the organisers of large-scale events will lead to the cancellation of at least four parties that were…

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Malta: Two suspects arrested over Mqabba shooting

The Times leads with the arrest of two men on suspicion of involvement in a possible drug shooting in Mqabba on Thursday which left a 27-year-old man dead and his…

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Malta: Updated safety protocols for mass events

L-Orizzont reports that venues that cater for more than 100 people will have to conduct a risk-assessment exercise before any events can be held there. Meanwhile, attendance for mass events…

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Malta: Health Minister announces new directives

4The Independent reports the announcement of new safety protocols for mass events by the government following a spike in Covid-19 cases within a few days. Local feast marches are banned,…

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Malta: Adrian Delia calls out government’s silence on Auditor’s report

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who criticised Prime Minister Robert Abela for his silence about the Auditor General’s report on the Vitals state hospitals deal. Delia said that Malta…

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Malta: Medical Association threatens action

The Malta Business Weekly says that the Medical Association sent a declaration of dispute to the Health Ministry, warning of industrial actions unless a ban on mass gatherings is imposed…

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Malta: Airport revenues nosedive

Business Today reports that Malta Airport registered a 67 percent decrease in revenue in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2019. Revenues for…

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Malta: Tourism Minister brushes off events ban

The Independent quotes Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli who dismissed an outright ban on mass events. She said that ‘a balanced approach’ should instead be taken. A cluster of 20…

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Malta: Rule of Law bill gets through parliament

L-Orizzont reports that the opposition voted in favour of the bill on rule of law presented by the government after threatening to vote against. A series of amendments were presented…

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Malta: Minister urges Police Commissioner to get to the bottom of the Caruana Galizia investigation

The Times quotes Foreign Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo who said that the new Police Commissioner has ‘a golden opportunity’ to deepen the investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.…

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Malta: PN Councillors voting on future of leadership

In-Nazzjon reports that the Nationalist Party councillors are casting their votes to decide whether to hold a vote of confidence in leader Adrian Delia or open a fresh leadership race.…

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Malta: Foreign Affairs Minister thanks Turkey and Libya for help on migration

The Independent questions Foreign Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo about the latest wave of irregular migrants. The minister said that the government has succeeded in limiting the number of arrivals to…

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Malta: MoU with Vitals carries Chris Cardona’s signature

Malta Today reports that a once-secret MoU with Vitals was signed by Chris Cardona on behalf of the government. In his testimony, however, the former Economy Minister laid the main…

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Malta: Large-scale events promoted overseas

The Times says that a series of mass events are expected to bring thousands of partygoers to Malta in the coming weeks as local promoters stepped in to host festivals…

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Malta: Robert Abela argues against sentiments of fear

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who warned against ‘baseless fear’. He said that if fear is allowed to seep to the roots of society, it will hold the country…

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Malta: Biggest one-day rise in Covid-19 cases

In-Nazzjon says that the 65 migrants who tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday contributed to the highest number of infections recorded in a single day. There are now 99 active…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma released from intensive care

The Times reveals that state witness Melvin Theuma is out of intensive care and has been transferred to the ENT ward at Mater Dei Hospital. A police statement said that…

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Malta: Reduction in reported crime

The Independent quotes statistics released by the police showing that just under 5,200 crimes have been reported in the first six months this year. In the previous two years, over…

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Malta: Coronavirus R-factor climbs again

In-Nazzjon publishes an interview with virologist Chris Barbara who said that the Covid-19 transmission rate has risen to above 1.0 again. Dr Barbara warned that the virus is still spreading.…

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Malta: GWU welcomes Gozo remote working proposals

L-Orizzont quotes General Workers Union secretary Kendrick Borg who welcomed proposals by the Permanent Committee for Gozo Affairs to promote remote working for Gozitans. Borg said the step would bring…

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Malta: Covid-19 cases spike after hotel party

The Independent reports that there are currently 26 active coronavirus cases after 14 people have been diagnosed with the disease between Saturday and Sunday. The spike in cases is linked…

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Malta: Prime Minister says 4,000 jobs added to economy

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that 4,000 new jobs have been created in the last five weeks. He contrasted Malta’s success with other economies that are still…

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Malta: Burmarrad fuel station applies for two-storey restaurant

The Times says that the owners of a fuel station in Burmarrad filed an application to build a two-storey restaurant on site. Objectors to the controversial permit for the station…

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