Malta News

Malta-24 News Briefing Tuesday 28th July 2020

Update 2045 - Government and opposition have agreed on a number of constitutional amendments which will better empower the President of the Republic. The method with which the head of…

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EU households register biggest-ever decrease in consumption

Household real consumption per capita in the European Union fell by 2.9 percent in the first quarter of the year, following a decline of 0.2 percent in the previous quarter.…

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Malta: June records drop in industrial prices

A decrease in intermediate goods pushed down the Industrial Producer Price Index for June by 0.27 percent from the same month last year. Data by the National Statistics Office shows…

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28

Jul

Parties and Mass Gatherings Not In Country’s Best Interest – FELTOM

Many businesses, organisations and front liners have sacrificed a lot over the past months. But just as sacrifice and commitment started to bear some positive results and improvements, we are…

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Professional Associations appeal to Government to stop mass events

The Malta Federation of Professional Associations, which groups together a number of professional organisations, expressed its concerned about the impact that mass events (political, secular and religious) are having on…

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Succeeding the Moneyval test is a shared responsibility – Malta Chamber

The Malta Chamber called for a clear communication strategy to report on unambiguous progress achieved in updating Malta’s regulatory infrastructure relating to anti-money laundering, as the country prepares to face…

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Malta joins the Blue Heart Campaign against Trafficking in Human Beings

Malta’s has joined the United Nations’ ‘Blue Heart Campaign’, Government announced today, a few days before the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Human Beings, which is marked…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

Two papers in print share divergent views on the way forward with mass events; two other editorials tackle constitutional reforms and EU funding. The Times of Malta looks at constitutional…

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Prevention is better than cure: entertainment lobby group wants mass events targeting foreign markets called off

Prevention is better than cure: call off mass entertainment events targeting foreign markets. The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) said today that events held during these particular times…

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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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94 Migrants rescued by Maltese Armed Forces are brought to Malta in Senglea

Developing story: Net News and Reuters are reporting that 94 migrants were rescued and brought to shore by the Armed Forces of Malta. This group was brought in at Senglea…

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Industry and the Authorities must work together to ensure steady progress in the battle against Covid – Malta Chamber

In view of the uncharacteristically large number of new COVID 19 cases registered on Sunday, The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry called for businesses and the general public…

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Malta-24 News Briefing Monday 27th July 2020

Updated 1822 - Theuma out of intensive care The Police said in a statement this evening that Melvin Theuma has been taken out of intensive care and is now being…

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Malta: Registered unemployment slightly down from May

The number of persons registering for work in June stood at 4,270: an increase of more than 2.650 compared with the same month last year but a decrease of 139…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

Development in Gozo, police communication, EU funds and renewal within Labour's ranks: the four topics for debate in today's editorials. In its Editorial, The Times of Malta discusses the ongoing…

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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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Malta: Adrian Delia calls on PM to cancel hospital deal

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said he expects the Prime Minister to make the decision to transfer the privatised hospitals back to the public. He said that the…

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Doctors insist: Telling people to party in their thousands, get drunk and behave responsibly is nonsense

The Medical Association of Malta has joined the growing public calls on Government to stop with immediate effect all Mass gatherings, following the two alarming clusters of patients reported on…

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Malta-24 News Briefing Sunday 26th July 2020 – Updated

Update 2136 - In the light of the recent developments related to the number of coronavirus cases on the Maltese islands, the organiser of the Creamfields Summerdaze 2020 party, announced…

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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: Government deficit rises to 8.5 percent in first quarter

Malta registered a general government deficit-to-GDP ratio of 8.5 percent in the first quarter of 2020. Figures by Eurostat indicate that Malta recorded the biggest change from the previous quarter,…

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Malta-24 News Briefing Saturday 25th July 2020 – UPDATE

Update 1800h - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne appealed for caution despite zero cases registered today. In a post on his social media, the Health Minister said…

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Malta: Increase in annual inflation rate

The annual rate of inflation in June rose 0.72 percent compared with the same month the year before. Figures by the National Statistics Office show that inflation as measured by…

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Malta: Debt to GDP ratio reaches 44% in the first quarter

Government debt rose to 1.6 percent of Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter of 2020, up from 1.5 percent in the previous quarter. Data by Eurostat show that the…

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Malta: Decrease in licensed vehicles for first time in four years

The were 395,413 licensed vehicles in Malta at the end of the second quarter this year, around 2,000 less than were registered in the previous quarter. Data by the National…

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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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Construction is a successful industry that remains in dire need of discipline – Malta Chamber

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry has described the situation in construction and building as "shocking", yet again resulting in loss of life on a construction site. The…

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Malta-24 News Briefing Friday 24th July 2020 – UPDATE

Update 1600 The Radisson Blu Resort St. Julian’s, the venue of the party which triggered the new Covid-19 cluster has decided to cancel parties due to take place this weekend. The…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

Truth, justice and ethics make their way in three of four Editorials in print today. The Times of Malta focuses on the downward slide in ethics in Maltese society particularly…

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Root causes of irregular migration should be addressed to stem flows – Foreign Affairs Minister

There should be a joint effort between all stakeholders to understand and address the root causes of irregular migration, including internal displacements, in order to reach a lasting solution to…

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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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Business conditions in June comparable to those in 2009 – CBM

In June, the Central Bank of Malta's Business Conditions Index fell slightly when compared with the previous month, suggesting that the economic slowdown had flattened by then, though the conditions…

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UPDATED: Foreign worker dies in Cospicua construction incident, another being treated in hospital

Updated 1242: The Police in a statement said that the person who lost his life this morning is a 32-year old from Gambia. The second worker has been certified to…

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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-24 News Briefing Thursday 23rd July 2020

Updated 1514: One new case of coronavirus. The Health Department said there was one new case in Malta, taking the active tally to 6. There were no recoveries in the…

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