Malta News

Malta-24 – News Briefing – Wednesday 15th July 2020

Updated 1333 - One new coronavirus recovery, four active cases Malta registered no new coronavirus cases for the sixth day running, the Health Department said. With one person recovering, the…

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Malta’s PN Leader loses executive committee confidence vote – Delia insists he will remain as party leader

Forty-seven executive committee members of the Nationalist Party expressed their no-confidence in Party Leader Adrian Delia. Thirty-five voted in his favour while one abstained. The 84 members present were asked…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

Democracy, pandemic, governance and the environment. Four hot topics to stimulate discussion today in Malta's editorials. The Times of Malta asks whether the President served democracy in his decision not…

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Malta: President Vella retains Adrian Delia in Opposition Leader role

The Times leads with the decision by President George Vella to retain Adrian Delia as Opposition Leader. A statement by the Office of the President said that the constitutional role…

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Malta: Adrian Delia welcomes decision by the President

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia following the President’s decision to keep him in the role of Opposition Leader. Delia said that he will continue to give all his energy…

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Malta: Prime Minister orders VGH MoU to be found

The Independent says that Prime Minister Robert Abela ordered the missing Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and Vitals Global Healthcare to be retrieved, after the National Auditor said…

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Malta: Compilation of evidence in 12-year-old murder case begins

L-Orizzont follows the case about the murder of 25-year-old Charlene Farrugia in 2008. Accused John Paul Woods had first admitted to killing her, but then changed his version and blamed…

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Malta-24 – News Briefing – Tuesday 14th July 2020

Updated 1233 - Coronavirus situation unchanged There were no changes in the coronavirus situation, the Health Department said, with no new cases identified from 931 tests. The number of active…

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Malta: Donations to public libraries surge by two-fifths

Public libraries received over 33,700 book donations in 2019, an increase of 39.7 percent from the year before. Combined with the purchase of printed and electronic books, libraries acquired a…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

On the first day of the week, Malta's print editorials focus on the return to a sense of normality in travelling, Malta's political outlook, employment and the quality of the…

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Malta: Visitors flag lack of social distancing on flights

The Independent quotes incoming passengers who raised concerns over lack of social distancing while traveling to Malta. They said that people were wearing facemasks, but planes were full. Another story…

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Malta: EC pushing government for lower-emissions pipeline project

The Times reports that the European Commission is urging Malta to consider changing a proposed natural gas pipeline from Sicily to lower-carbon fuels such as hydrogen or biomethane. Another story…

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Malta: St Julian’s fire leaves woman dead

In-Nazzjon reports on the death of a 68-year-old woman after a fire broke out in her residence in St Julian’s on Sunday morning. Investigators believe that Anna Spiteri attempted to…

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Malta: PN MPs frustrated by President’s silence

L-Orizzont says that President George Vella has come in for criticism by a section of PN MPs who declared no confidence in Opposition Leader Adrian Delia for the prolonged decision…

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Malta-24 – News Briefing – Monday 13th July 2020

Updated 1810 - President George Vella will not remove Adrian Delia as Opposition Leader The President of Malta, George Vella, concluded that PN leader Adrian Delia cannot be removed of…

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UPDATE: Travelling corridor between Malta and Belgium established – First flights expected on July 16th

UPDATE Monday July 13th - 1420h : Travelling between Malta and Belgium is expected to resume as of 16th July, following the inclusion of Belgium on the amended 'travelling list' from…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma was told about Vincent Muscat pardon plea

Malta Today says that self-confessed middleman in the Caruana Galizia murder plot, Melvin Theuma, was informed of a pardon request made by Vincent Muscat, one of the three accused triggermen…

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Malta: Delia supporters pushing for expulsion of dissident MPs

The Sunday Times reports that paid-up members of the Nationalist Party are ramping up pressure on the Executive Council for the expulsion of the MPs who voted against Adrian Delia’s…

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Malta: MPs say Adrian Delia does not have numbers in General Council

The Independent on Sunday speaks to PN MPs opposing Adrian Delia’s leadership who believe that the party leader does not enjoy majority support in the General Council. They insisted, however,…

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Malta: PN Executive Council meeting on Tuesday

Il-Mument announces that the PN’s Executive Council will convene on Tuesday. PN Secretary General Francis Zammit Dimech confirmed that the meeting will discuss this week’s confidence vote in the parliamentary…

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Malta: President’s office silent over PN crisis

Illum says that the Office of the President has gone ‘completely silent’ as the Opposition precipitated in an unprecedented constitutional crisis. The paper says that Adrian Delia is left hanging…

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Malta: EC anticipates economic recovery by next year

Kullħadd quotes a report by the European Commission which predicts that Malta will be the only EU country to fully recover from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic by…

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Malta: Finance Minister welcomes rating by Fitch

It-Torċa quotes Finance Minister Edward Scicluna who welcomed the ‘stable’ rating by Fitch despite the economic pressures that came with the Covid-19. He said that the result is a sign…

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Malta-24 – News Briefing – Sunday 12th July 2020

Updated 0915 - Newspaper Review Malta Today says that self-confessed middleman in the Caruana Galizia murder plot, Melvin Theuma, was informed of a pardon request made by Vincent Muscat, one of…

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Fitch Ratings expects unemployment in Malta to double in 2020

Fitch Ratings is forecasting unemployment in Malta to double throughout 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In its July report on Malta, in which it re-affirmed Malta's rating…

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Malta: President Vella meets majority of Opposition MPs

The Times reports that President George Vella spoke with the majority of Opposition MPs asking them whether they had confidence in current leader Adrian Delia. Independent MP Godfrey Farrugia told…

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Malta: Adrian Delia says he will not resign from Opposition Leader

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that he will continue to carry out his responsibilities as Opposition Leader as demanded by the party statute. Delia reaffirmed his loyalty…

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Malta: Prime Minister rejects claims he discussed Yorgen Fenech with Opposition Leader

The Independent says that Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed reports that he met with Opposition Leader Adrian Delia last week but denied suggestions that they discussed allegations surrounding Yorgen Fenech.…

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Malta: Pitkalija reform plan announced by Agriculture Minister

L-Orizzont quotes Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo who announced a reform of the Pitkalija vegetable market. He said that the government is looking to introduce new technology to increase efficiency and…

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Malta-24 – News Briefing – Saturday 11th July 2020

Updated 1333 - No new coronavirus There were no new coronavirus and no recoveries in the past 24 hours. Seven cases remain active, while the number of patients who recovered…

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Two Ultra-Runners To Attempt 190 km Round Malta and Gozo in 35 hours

For the first time on Saturday 25th July, two ultra-runners will be tackling the complete coastline of Malta and Gozo with a 190km run that is expected to take 35 hours. Claudio Camilleri and Patrick Tabone…

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Malta: Population grows despite fewer births in 2019

The population in Malta increased by four percent in 2019 to reach 514,564 by the end of the year. Figures by the National Statistics Office show that this is the…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

Multiculturalism, governance and the PN's situation take centre stage in Friday's Editorials. The Times says that the PN is at historical crossroads. The Editor argues that Opposition Leader Adrian Delia…

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Malta: Over 20,000 passengers in the first week

The Independent says that there have been 20,000 movements in the first week since the ports were re-opened. Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli said the government is seeking to add…

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Home: Increase in bookings with Air Malta

L-Orizzont speaks to an Air Malta representative who said that bookings with the airline are picking up. The spokesperson, however, said that it is too early to predict emerging trends…

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Malta: Delia insists nothing has changed

In-Nazzjon follows an address on TV by Adrian Delia who called for people to unite against government corruption. Delia confirmed that he was summoned by President George Vella following a…

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Malta: Therese Comodini Cachia nominated for Opposition Leader

The Times leads with the nomination of Therese Comodini Cachia as the Opposition Leader by PN MPs who voted to oust Adrian Delia from the role. President George Vella held…

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Malta-24 – News Briefing – Friday 10th July 2020

Updated 1333 - No new cases of coronavirus, two recoveries No new COVID-19 cases were identified in the past 24 hours, meaning there are now just seven persons infected with…

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Malta: Q1 registers largest deficit for five years

Total government revenue decreased by €193.6 million in the first quarter this year while expenditure increased by €99.5 million compared with the same period in 2019. Figures by the National…

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Political leaders should be responsible towards Maltese population and society, not party constituents

Political leadership needs to assume its responsibility not to party constituents but to the broader Maltese population and society. Three leading academics made this statement in the wake of the…

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Malta-24 – News Briefing – Thursday 9th July 2020

Updated 1531 - Therese Comodini Cachi touted as Opposition Leader A number of media sources are reporting that Nationalist MP and former MEP Therese Comodini Cachia will be nominated by…

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Poll shows Partit Laburista’s lead over PN stands at 15%, 4% more than 2017 election

A MISCO poll for CD eNEWS Agency conducted between the the 1st and 2nd July indicates that the gap between the two parties has widened from 11% to 15%…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

The damning report on the Vitals deal takes centre stage in today's Editorials. The Times of Malta lashes on the latest report by the NAO on yet another political scandal…

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Malta faces political meltdown – Employers

The Malta Employers’ Association stated that the country faces a political and institutional meltdown unless the two major parties get their respective houses in order. In a statement, the employers…

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Malta: Claudio Grech touted as Opposition Leader

Business Today says that PN MP Claudio Grech is the preferred replacement to Adrian Delia among the 19 members of the parliamentary group who voted against the current leader in…

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Malta: PN MPs want Adrian Delia to resign voluntarily

The Times says that PN MPs are waiting for leader Adrian Delia to step down voluntarily. If he fails to do so, the parliamentary group is prepared to ask the…

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Malta: Prime Minister distinguishes between VGH and Steward agreements

The Independent quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said the government will uphold the National Auditor’s report into the hospital deal with Vitals. He insisted, however, that that agreement is…

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Malta: President Vella awaits PN MPs next move

The Malta Business Weekly reports that President George Vella has cleared his major appointments for the day as the crisis within the Opposition continues to unfold. The President is expecting…

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Malta: Two-thirds of businesses report dwindling sales

In-Nazzjon says that a third of businesses reported a decrease of more than half in sales compared with last year, while another third said they lost as much 90 percent…

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Malta: GWU recognised as Malta Air employees union

L-Orizzont announces that the General Workers Union has been recognised as the major union representing Cabin Crew and Crew Supervisors employed with Malta-based Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air. The paper compares…

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Malta: Property prices increase at a slower rate in Q1

The Property Price Index rose by 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same period last year, but the increase was the lowest recorded since the…

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Malta lands rescued migrants held in squalid condition on animal transporter

A group of 50 migrants who were rescued at sea and stranded in unsanitary conditions on an animal transport ship for four days has been allowed to disembark in Malta. The…

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Abela insists with EU High Representatives on need for solidarity and automatic relocation of migrants

Prime Minister Robert Abela has shared Malta's concerns on migration and insisted on the need for automatic relocation of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean during a meeting with Josep Borrell,…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

Five editorials in print today raise various issues for discussion ranging from the PN's troubles to the reformed IIP programme, and from construction to the importance of print media. The…

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Malta: Delia vows to stay on

In-Nazzjon leads with comments by PN Leader Adrian Delia after losing a vote of confidence in the parliamentary group. Delia said he will stick by the choice of party paid…

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Malta: NAO says Vitals deal was agreed in advance

Malta Today leads with a report by the National Audit Office which concludes that a multi-million deal to transfer three public hospitals to Vitals was ‘predetermined’. The NAO said that…

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Malta: Auditor’s Office blames Konrad Mizzi for VGH fiasco

The Times reports on the findings of a report by the National Audit Office which says that failure in good governance in the deal with Vitals Global Healthcare ‘rests squarely’…

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