Malta News Briefing

Malta: Almost half of PN councillors want Delia to go

The Sunday Times leads with a Misco survey showing that 46.5 percent of PN councillors believe Adrian Delia should step aside while 41 percent want him to stay on as…

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Malta: Theuma offered €15,000 to former Police Commissioner

Malta Today claims that a conversation recorded by state witness Melvin Theuma suggests that he had offered €15,000 to former Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar to obtain a pardon on charges…

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Malta: Virologist calls on safety measures at mass events

The Independent on Sunday speaks to virologist Dr Chris Barbara who disagreed that parties should be cancelled/ He said, instead, that safety protocols should be followed to limit the spread…

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Malta: Six possible candidates for PN leader

Illum says that six people are expected to contest a race for PN leader if the General Council opens a contest. The paper names Therese Comodini Cachia, Roberta Metsola, Alex…

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Malta: Daniel Micallef officially appointed PL deputy leader

Kullħadd announces the confirmation of Daniel Micallef as the new PL deputy leader for party affairs. Micallef said that his goal is to keep strengthening the party to build a…

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Malta: Adrian Delia says process will regenerate PN

Il-Mument quotes PN Leader Arian Delia who said that the voting process in the party’s General Council will give voice to paid-up members. Delia said that the PN will come…

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Malta: Live-in workers raise concerns about conditions

It-Torċa publishes the stories of live-in domestic workers who said that their working conditions are form of slavery. They revealed that they are paid €500 to €600 a month for…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma says wounds were self-inflicted

The Times leads with a note written by state witness Melvin Theuma from his hospital bed who said that no one was involved in the incident that left him with…

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Malta: Opposite sides in PN find compromise on next steps

The Independent says that members of the PN Executive Committee found a compromise in letting the General Council decide on either opening a new leadership race or run a vote…

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Malta: Highest spike in Covid-19 cases in five weeks

L-Orizzont says that the rise in Covid-19 cases reported on Friday was the highest since mid-June. The paper says that people have raised concerns over mass events such as parties…

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Malta: Medical association worried over mass events

In-Nazzjon says that Culture Minister Jose Herrera indicated that self-confessed middleman in the Caruana Galizia plot, Melvin Theuma, is likely to have attempted a suicide. The minister said that the…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma using gestures to communicate

The Times says that state witness Melvin Theuma is communicating through facial expressions with his family and hospital staff after suffering serious injuries. Doctors told the paper the next few…

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Malta: PN General Council to convene next week

In-Nazzjon says that the PN General Council will convene on July 31 to discuss whether to hold a confidence vote in Adrian Delia or to open a fresh leadership race.…

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Malta: Construction accident leaves one dead, another injured

L-Orizzont identifies the victim of a construction accident in Cospicua on Thursday as a 36-year-old man from the Gambia. A 35-year-old colleague from Valletta, remains in critical condition. Another story…

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Malta: Adrian Delia wants a vote of confidence by paid-up members

The Independent reports that PN Leader Adrian Delia wrote to the president of the party’s General Council requesting a vote of confidence in him by paid-up members. Objections were raised…

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Malta: Nearly €950 million in cohesion funds from EU allocation

The Malta Business Weekly details the structure of Malta’s EU allocation from the EU budget. Just under €950 million of the total €2.25 billion package will cover funds under the…

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Malta: Businesses sign up to MDB Covid-19 loan guarantees

Business Today reports that nine in ten of companies that made use of the Covid-19 loan schemes by the Malta Development Bank were SMEs. Meanwhile, 13 companies have taken out…

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Malta: Court decided to play audio files in private

The Times follows the compilation of evidence against Yorgen Fenech on Wednesday during which a series of new audio files were expected to be heard. At the end of an…

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Malta: Police Commissioner says Theuma attack was self-harm

The Independent reports on a press conference addressed by Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà following the hospitalisation of state witness Melvin Theuma on Tuesday night. The Commissioner said that serious knife…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma says he acted alone in knife incident

L-Orizzont says that state witness Melvin Theuma informed lead Inspector Keith Arnaud that he had cut himself with a knife on Tuesday night and that no other party was involved…

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Malta: Opposition lays responsibility on Minister

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition spokesperson for Internal Affairs Beppe Fenech Adami who said that Minister Byron Camilleri was ultimately responsible for the life-threating injuries on Melvin Theuma, whether they were a…

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Malta: PM says EU will not add financial services tax

Malta Today asks Prime Minister Robert Abela whether the EU will introduce any taxes on financial services to raise money for the new Covid-19 recovery fund. Abela replied that this…

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Malta: Henley & Partners cut out of new citizenship programme

The Times reveals that a newly planned citizenship-by-investment scheme to replace the IIP will no longer include a concessionaire. The government is set to be held liable for losses incurred…

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Malta: Robert Abela says EU package double 2013 allocation

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela at the end of the EU Council discussion over the bloc’s new budget. Abela said that the €2.25 billion financial package secured by Malta…

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Malta: Government silent of Vitals MoU

The Independent says that a freedom of information request for the publication of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and Vitals Global Healthcare went unanswered by the OPM.…

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Malta: PN Leader aiming for action in Thursday’s Executive Committee meeting

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that decisive action needs to be taken by the party’s Executive Committee on Thursday to rebuild public trust. Delia said that the…

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Malta: Standards Commissioner to introduce new ethical guidelines for MPs

The Times reports that Commissioner for Standards in Public Life George Hyzler is to unveil an updated code of ethics for MPs in response to anomalies about acceptance of gifts.…

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Malta: Public Health Superintendent calls for caution

The Independent speaks to Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci after reports of large crowds celebrating village feasts. Prof Gauci said that the threat of the virus is still present and…

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Malta: Five pending cases in the 2013 oil scandal

L-Orizzont quotes the Attorney General who confirmed that there are currently five cases associated with the oil scandal that came to the fore during the 2013 general elections. The Attorney…

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Malta: Disagreement between Qala mayor and councillor

In-Nazzjon writes about a ‘growing rift’ between Qala mayor Paul Buttigieg and councillors Joseph Buttigieg, both elected on the PL ticket. The mayor is close to former minister Justyne Caruana…

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Malta: US diplomat says it is not too late to pass Moneyval test

The Times publishes an interview with Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy, Mark Schapiro, who said that there is still a slim chance for Malta to escape grey-listing by Moneyval.…

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Malta: Work Safety watchdog says accidents are going down

The Independent carries an interview with Occupational Health and Safety Authority CEO Mark Gauci who said that accidents at work are on the decrease despite greater coverage by the media,…

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Malta: Migrants find new way out of the country

L-Orizzont says that police have been alerted to a new method used by migrants to escape the country, by hooking themselves up to the underside of trailers carrying containers to…

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Malta: Adrian Delia remains resolute in his position

In-Nazzjon quotes Nationalist Leader Adrian Delia who said that he is more determined to turn the PN into the people’s party following attempts to oust him. Delia said he has…

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Malta: AG advised against sealing of Pilatus Bank

The Sunday Times reveals that the Attorney General advised the police against sealing Pilatus Bank in Ta’ Xbiex, the night that Daphne Caruana Galizia reported that the secret company Egrant…

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Malta: Equal trust in Adrian Delia and Therese Comodini Cachia

Malta Today publishes survey results showing that Therese Comodini Cachia’s current trust rating among PN voters stands at 31 percent, similar to leader Adrian Delia at 32.7 percent. Nationally, both…

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Malta: PN Leader blames poor polling on internal division

The Independent on Sunday publishes an interview with PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that he would only be prepared to resign if he felt that his leadership was going…

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Malta: Adrian Delia set to present new plans for the PN this week

Il-Mument follows an interview with PN Leader Adrian Delia of 103 Radio where he said that he will continue to take decisions in the best interest of the party. Delia…

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Malta: Constitutional law scholar says President’s decisions should not be challenged

It-Torċa quotes Constitutional Law academic Miguel Balzan who said that the President’s decision on the Opposition Leader cannot be challenged before the Constitutional Courts because it would undermine the Presidency…

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Malta: Healthcare deal was handled by Konrad Mizzi

Illum reviews that National Auditor’s report on the privatisation of three public hospitals which found a lack of due diligence and poor feasibility processes. The paper says that the concession…

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Malta: Public assets make €172M in profits since 2013

Kullħadd quotes figures by the National Statistics Office which show that the value of public entities increased threefold since 2013, with profits amounting to a combined €172 million in seven…

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Malta: MDA proposes reimbursement for third-party fees

The Independent covers a press conference by the Developers Association which is proposing that members pay for architect fees for third-party neighbours adjacent to construction sites. The paper follows the…

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Malta: Standards Commissioner says Muscat did not pay for Dubai trips himself

The Times leads with a report by the Standards Commissioner on a trip to Dubai by Joseph Muscat in December. The investigation contradicted claims by the former Prime Minister that…

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Malta: Migrant boat brought to shore

L-Orizzont says that 63 migrants disembarked in Malta on Friday after finding themselves in distress in Malta’s Search and Rescue zone. NGO Alarm Phone first reported a boat in distress…

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Malta: Kurt Farrugia recalls seeing Yorgen Fenech in Castille

In-Nazzjon quotes Kurt Farrugia who told the Caruana Galizia public inquiry that he saw Yorgen Fenech in Castille once “possibly for a meeting with Keith Schembri”. The only other occasion…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma denies paying Police Commissioner to be granted pardon

The Times leads with the cross-examination of state witness Melvin Theuma who denied that he paid former Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar €30.000 to recommend his pardon. The paper says that…

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Malta: Fenech defence says missing recordings could be decisive

In-Nazzjon reports that Yorgen Fenech’s defence is arguing in court that a missing file from the audio recordings recorded by Melvin Theuma could prove that the state witness was not…

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Malta: PN MPs says new statute rules are not in effect yet

The Independent quotes PN MPs who dismissed party leader Adrian Delia’s argument that the new statute imposes a two-year time bar between one vote of confidence and another. They argue…

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Malta: Justice Minister says law amendments align with Venice Commission

L-Orizzont quotes Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis who warned the opposition that if it voted against a series of bills, it would be voting directly against the recommendations of the…

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Malta: EC targeting sweetheart tax countries

The Malta Business Weekly says that the EU Commission intends to put pressure on low-tax members, including Malta. The Commission says that advantageous corporate tax regimes create distortions in the…

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Malta: Air Malta operating 22 routes on three planes

Business Today reports that Air Malta is currently operating three of its 10 aircraft to serve 22 destinations. The airline predicts that it will take two years to reach the…

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Malta: Yorgen Fenech pardon request threw out

The Times reports that Yorgen Fenech, a suspect in the Caruana Galizia murder case, had his challenge to a pardon request decision turned down by court. The Judge upheld a…

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Malta: €14 million recouped from Panama Papers probes

In-Nazzjon reports that the tax authorities have recovered over €14 million from investigations into 163 cases linked to the Panama Papers. Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said that there are another…

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Malta: Louis Galea tells PN Leader to go

The Independent quotes Louis Galea, who was tasked by the PN Leader Adrian Delia to head an internal reform process. Galea said that the party needs a new leader after…

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Malta: Industrial dispute at Water Services Corporation

L-Orizzont announces that the General Workers Union registered an industrial dispute with the Water Services Corporation over delays in the finalisation of a new collective agreement for employees. The paper…

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Malta: Government finds misplaced agreement document

Malta Today says that the Office of the Prime Minister has located the missing agreement document with Vitals Global Healthcare and handed it over to the National Auditor Office. The…

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Malta: Adrian Delia loses confidence vote in party’s executive council

In-Nazzjon reports that PN Leader Adrian Delia lost a vote of confidence in the party’s Executive Council on Tuesday night. 47 members voted against his leadership and 36 voted in…

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