Malta News Briefing

Malta: Economy minister expects strong multiplier effect from vouchers

The Independent quotes Economy Minister Silvio Schembri that, for every €1 redeemed from the Covid-19 vouchers, customers have paid an additional €1. He said that he expects the multiplier effect…

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Malta: Stranded couple opens case against health authorities

In-Nazzjon reports that a Maltese couple filed a judicial protest against the health authorities after they were denied re-entry from a holiday in Portugal. They are holding authorities responsible for…

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Malta: IMF revises country outlook upwards

L-Orizzont reports on projections by the International Monetary Fund expecting GDP in Malta to grow by 5.8 per cent in 2022. The country report revised its forecast from earlier this…

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Malta: Heritage watchdog interrupts Balzan roadworks

The Times reports that the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has ordered roadworks in Balzan to stop over concerns about the impact on the aqueducts. The Superintendence will assess the risk…

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Malta: PN says country cannot wait 18 months to exit FATF greylist

In-Nazzjon quotes a PN statement warning that the country cannot afford to stay in the FATF greylist for 18 months. The party said that, if elected, it would return Malta…

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Malta: Solidarity Ministry says social policy programme almost complete

L-Orizzont reports that 17 of the 18 social policy measures announced in the budget have been implemented. The permanent secretary in the Family and Solidarity Ministry said that the measures…

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Malta: Bank chief flags financial abuse of elderly

The Times quotes HSBC chief executive Simon Vaughan Johnson that many elderly people are experiencing financial abuse, often by their own family members with access to their bank cards and…

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Malta: Tourism Authority looking for second quarantine hotel

The Independent says that the Corinthia Marina in St Julian’s is nearing maximum capacity as a quarantine hotel and the tourism authority has issued a call for a second facility…

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Malta: Robert Abela says government determined to get country of greylist

The Malta Business Weekly quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela that the government will make a focused effort to implement the recommendations by the FATF and take the country out of…

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Malta: Unease in the business community with EU carbon neutrality plan

Business Today says that businesses raised concerns about proposals by the European Commission to tax aviation and shipping as part of a strategy to curb emissions. Sustainable Development Minister Miriam…

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Malta: Neighbour countries disappointed by government’s unilateral decision of repatriation

In-Nazzjon says that the tourism authority has repatriated dozens of students learning English in Malta to Italy, Spain, Germany, and France. The paper reports that other countries are disappointed by…

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Malta: Majority of active Covid-19 patients are non-residents

The Times says that six in ten active coronavirus patients are non-residents in Malta with students at English language schools making a quarter of total cases. The Ministry of Health…

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Malta: Police investigating second case of racial abuse

L-Orizzont says that the police have launched an investigation into a physical gang attack on a black homeless person in Swatar. The attackers fled the scene when the victim was…

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Malta: Tourism minister confident red-listing will not impact sector

The Independent asks Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo about Malta’s return to the ECDC red-list for rising Covid-19 cases. The minister said that the decision should not affect the tourism sector…

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Malta: Vaccinated persons without Maltese ID can now download certificate

Malta Today reports on plans by the Health Ministry to issue unique codes for visitors who do not have a Maltese ID number to be able to download the vaccine…

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Malta: Government joined call for uniform EU ban on fossil fuel cars

L-Orizzont says that Malta was one of nine countries that recently wrote to the European Commission urging it to set an EU-wide cut-off date for the banning of new combustion…

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Malta: Long queues for Covid-19 vaccines

In-Nazzjon says that hundreds of people formed long queues at the Technopark in Mosta and the University of Malta as the walk-in clinics administering the Covid-19 vaccine opened on Monday.…

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Malta: Businesses mull mandatory swab tests for employees

The Times reports that several companies are considering requirements for weekly Covid-19 tests for unvaccinated employees. The director-general of the employers’ association said that it is not unreasonable to ask…

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Malta: New plans for former Ħal Ferħ complex

The Independent leads with plans by Corinthia Hotels to convert the Ħal Ferħ complex in Mellieħa into a low-rise hotel and tourist residence. The company said the design will respect…

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Malta: Employee struck off the company books without her knowledge

L-Orizzont carries the story of a worker at a nursing home who was laid off without being informed. The woman was on unpaid sick leave for several months during the…

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Għargħur residents objecting to pyrotechnic facilities: The Headline – The Times

The Times says that residents in Għargħur are opposing the renewal of licenses for two firework factories in the area. One of the facilities was blown apart in an accident…

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Malta: Bernard Grech says PN is ready for change

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech that the party wants to be the agent of change in Malta. He said that the PN is renewing itself and welcomes individuals from…

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Malta: Vast majority of new Covid-19 patients are under 40

The Independent says that three-fourths of the 206 new Covid-19 patients registered on Saturday were under 40 years old. Active cases have risen to more than 1,800 with 18 people…

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Malta: PN elects new general council president and executive committee members

Il-Mument reports the election of Mark Anthony Sammut to president of the PN’s General Council as well as a number of other new members to the party’s Executive Council. Sammut…

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Malta: Chamber of SMEs demands better enforcement of Covid-19 rules

Illum speaks with the head of the Tourism and Leisure section within the SME Chamber, Philip Fenech, who said that most businesses in the sector will not survive another close-down.…

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Malta: Prison quarantine barring inmates from their legal representatives

Malta Today reveals that new inmates at Corradino Correctional Facility are being put into a 14-day quarantine, spending 23 hours a day in solitary confinement. Lawyers raised concerns about restricted…

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Malta: Rising prices in cargo handling services

It-Torċa reports that shipping charges and cargo handling fees have risen exponentially in the last months, reflecting on price hikes for consumer products. In some cases, supply costs have risen…

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Malta: Concerns about possible development in Wardija

The Independent on Sunday says that new roads in Wardija as newly-passed water and electricity connections suggest that the area may soon be made open for development. Land prices have…

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Malta: Symptoms persist in a quarter of Covid-19 patients

The Sunday Times quotes study findings showing a 25 per cent of people who contracted Covid-19 still suffered from symptoms four months later. A fifth of patients said they felt…

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Malta: PN councillors voting for new Executive Committee members

In-Nazzjon says that voting has begun to elect new members in the PN’s Executive Committee. Members of the party’s General Council will choose 18 persons from 25 nominations. Read more:…

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Malta: Active coronavirus cases approaching 1,500

The Independent says that the average of patients who contracted the Covid-19 virus between Thursday and Friday was 24. 235 new cases brought total active infections to nearly 1,500. Read…

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Malta: Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for non-EU workers

The Times reports that vaccination is now obligatory for non-EU citizens working in Malta before they can apply for a renewal of their working permits. The decision by the Health…

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Malta: Ombudsman reports decrease in complaints

L-Orizzont says that there were 530 cases reported to the Ombudsman last year, equivalent to a decrease of 15 per cent when compared with the previous year. There are currently…

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Malta: Businesses anxious over rise in Covid-19 cases

In-Nazzjon says that operators in the tourism and entertainment sectors are concerned by the surge in Covid-19 cases. Businesses are worried that they may lose investments that they made in…

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Malta: New agreement for ST Microelectronics employees

L-Orizzont announces a new collective agreement for the employees of ST microelectronics that will raise remunerations and add new benefits. The workers were represented by the General Workers Union. Read…

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Malta: Air Malta recording thousands of cancellations

The Times says that Air Malta received more than 6,000 cancellations since new travel rules were announced by the government on Friday. A spokesperson for the airline said that several…

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Malta: Government launches economic vision based on five principles

The Independent covers the launch of a new economic vision by the government based on sustainable growth, infrastructure, education, environment, and governance. Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said the country has…

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Malta: Third-country nationals concerned about vaccine policy

L-Orizzont speaks to Serbian citizens who are being denied return to Malta unless they quarantine for two weeks, risking losing their jobs. The residents said that their vaccines are still…

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Malta: PN Leader appeals for national unity at General Council

In-Nazzjon follows an address by PN Leader Bernard Grech at the party’s General Council on Wednesday. He said that the country is facing a series of challenges and that the…

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Malta: Covid-19 cases reach 1,000

The Independent says that Covid-19 active cases rose to 1,000 as another 218 patients were registered on Wednesday. This was the first time that more than 200 cases were recorded…

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Malta: Call for second quarantine hotel

The Times says that the Corinthia Marina in St George’s Bay being used for visitors in quarantine is reaching capacity and the tourism authority has issued a call for a…

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Malta: New Lifelong Learning programme launched

The Malta Business Weekly reports that the Ministry of Education launched 450 courses within the Lifelong Learning programme. A senior manager within the responsible directorate said that a new system…

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Malta: Constitutional amendments blocked by opposition

Business Today reports that a proposed constitutional amendment allowing independent authorities to impose administrative penalties was defeated in parliament when the opposition voted against its introduction. Another story quotes a…

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Malta: Speaker walks out on parliamentary committee

In-Nazzjon says that Speaker Angelo Farrugia, who chairs the Parliamentary Standards Committee, walked out of a session debating the Standards Commissioner report into Rosianne Cutajar. The opposition criticised his decision…

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Malta: Central Bank report highlights resilience of financial system

L-Orizzont quotes an Economic Stability report by the Central Bank noting an increase in national debt in 2020 but remain at sustainable levels. The document says that the financial system…

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Malta: Total ban on unvaccinated arrivals scaled back

The Times says that health authorities revised the travel ban on unvaccinated travellers to give incoming visitors without the vaccine the option to go into mandatory quarantine upon arrival. The…

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Malta: Gozo authority proposes new airstrip

Malta Today reports that the Gozo Regional Development Authority has resurfaced plans to build an airstrip in Gozo. Originally proposed in the 1990s, the project has been a controversial subject…

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Malta: Girl with Covid-19 symptoms dies in hospital

The Independent reports that a five-year-old girl who died in hospital may have been infected with Covid-19. Addressing a press conference, Health Minister Chris Fearne said the girl tested negative…

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Malta: Government rejects opposition request for urgent FATF debate

In-Nazzjon says that the Opposition is requesting an urgent debate of the FATF greylisting in the parliamentary Economic Affairs Committee. Opposition Whip Robert Cutajar said that committee chairman Jean Claude…

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Malta: Language schools bracing for huge losses from shutdown

The Times reports that English language schools had around 15,000 cancellations since the government ordered the closure of the industry on Friday. School estimate that the decision will cost them…

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Malta: Central Link redesign includes tunnel

L-Orizzont says that designs for the Central Link project have been modified to include a tunnel in the direction of Mrieħel from Balzan. Transport Minister Ian Borg told parliament that…

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EU Commission raises questions about government’s travel policy: The Headline – The Independent

The Independent reports that the EU Commission plans to discuss Malta’s requirement for vaccine certificates for inbound travellers during a member states coordination meeting. A spokesperson for the Commission said…

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Malta: PN Leader calls on public to join national effort

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech that everyone has a responsibility in rebuilding the country. Grech appealed to ‘the silent majority’ to join the party’s efforts in addressing the nation’s…

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Malta: Smallest population growth in ten years

The Times reports that the population in Malta grew by 0.3 per cent in 2020, the smallest increase in a decade. The country also registered the biggest fall in annual…

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Malta: Investment plan for industrial areas

The Independent says that the government is planning to invest €470 million to upgrade industrial zones. A spokesperson for the economy ministry said the programme will create some 60,000 square…

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Malta: New police deputy commissioner says she will defend the national interest

L-Orizzont publishes an interview with Assistant Police Commissioner Alexandra Mamo, the first woman appointed to the role. The Deputy Commissioner said she will carry out her function in the interests…

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Malta: PN leader calls for consensus beyond party lines

Il-Mument leads with the address by PN Leader Bernard Grech at the opening of the party’s General Council on Saturday. Grech said the party is open to working with everyone…

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