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Malta News Briefing – Sunday 11 April 2021

Morning Briefing IMF forecasts healthy growth for Malta The International Monetary Fund is projecting a healthy 4.7% growth for Malta in 2021, a rate which is slightly better than the eurozone average (4.4%). Concurrently, the Fund sees unemployment remaining contained, at the lowest level in...

Covid-19: Govt pledges herd immunity by June / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 10 April 2021

Updated 1245 Covid-19 UpdateHealth authorities reported 37 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, with 49 recovering. These were identified through 2,243 swab tests. The active case tally has now gone down to 536.Meanwhile, a 96-year-old woman became the 402nd fatality since the onset of the p...

48 new cases of coronavirus – Malta News Briefing – Friday 9 April 2021

Latest Update- News Portal Briefing Times of Malta reports that tourists booking summer holidays to Malta directly through local hotels will receive a financial handout. MaltaToday reports that Repubblika alleged that Nigel Vella occupied two full-time government jobs simultaneously, but...

Malta registers 400th Covid-death / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 7 April 2021

Updated 1230 - Malta registers 400th Covid-death Malta registered its 400th Covid-related death on Wednesday, a 78-year-old woman.For the first time in a week, new cases (65) surpassed recoveries (47), increasing the number of active cases to 545.2,210 swab tests were taken yesterday.Till yester...

No Covid-deaths for first time in a month – Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 6 April 2021

Malta News Portal Briefing - 1745 The Times of Malta reports that Nexia BT managing partner Brian Tonna and three other associates were granted bail on Tuesday by a court hearing criminal charges against them. MaltaToday reports that the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) has issued a statement on t...

Malta: January accounted for a fifth of language students in 2020

The number of students enrolled in English as a Foreign Language courses last year was just under 14,500, a drop of more than two-thirds from 83,610 registered in 2019. Data by the National Statistics Office shows that January emerged as the strongest month, with 3,480 students in language schools a...

Malta: House prices up by 2.5 percent in last quarter of 2020

House prices in Malta rose by 2.5 percent from the third to the fourth quarter 2020, almost double the average increase registered in the EU. The House Price Index released by Eurostat shows that Malta had the seventh highest quarter-on-quarter expansion in the final three months last year. The hig...

Malta: Social Security bill rose by €80 million in 2020

Expenditure on Social Security Benefits totalled €1.076.9 million in 2020, an increase of 7.9 percent from the previous year. Figures by the National Statistics Office showed a consistent rise year-on-year from 2011, driven by both Contributory and Non-Contributory benefits. Contributory benefits a...

Malta: Public expenditure grew by almost a fifth in 2020

Total government expenditure rose to €5.82 billion in 2020 from €4.96 billion the previous year. Figures by the National Statistics Office show that Capital Expenditure increased by 86 percent year-on-year as, reaching €1.04 billion by December 2020. Of this, €384 million went for the Covid-19 Busin...

Malta: Three-fourths of current jobseekers registered within the last year

Registered unemployment stood at 2,585 in February, with 76.8 percent of jobseekers only added to the register during the previous twelve months. Data by JobsPlus and released by the National Statistics Office shows a year-on-year increase of 926 people in registered unemployment. There were 895 fe...

Malta: Newsrooms flag court decision

The Independent on Sunday says independent newsrooms have expressed concern following a decision by Magistrate Rachel Montebello charging newspapers with contempt of court for publishing stories based on messages found on Yorgen Fenech’s phone. The Independent on Sunday speaks to police immigrat...

Malta: Main party leaders register increase in popularity

Malta Today publishes survey results showing an increase in trust ratings for both Robert Abela and Bernard Grech. The Prime Minister scored 47 percent approval, 11 points ahead of the PN Leader who recorded his best result so far of 36 percent. The paper reveals that on the eve of his testimony...

Malta: House Speaker calls off parliament committee meeting

In-Nazzjon says that House Speaker Angelo Farrugia cancelled a meeting of the parliamentary committee for standards after the members from the government side failed to show up. The committee is chaired by the Speaker. The paper says that Prince Philip, who died at Windsor Castle on Friday, had ...

Malta: President expresses nation’s condolences to Royal Family

The Times reports the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, aged 99, announced by Queen Elizabeth on Friday. President George Vella expressed deepest sympathy with the Royal Family on behalf of the people in Malta. Another story says that Ħamrun Spartans were yesterday declared the winners of the 2020...

Malta: Standards Commissioner rejects claims for leaked reports

The Independent reports that Standards Commissioner George Hyzler dismissed complaints by government MPs Glenn Bedingfield and Edward Zammit Lewis that a report by his office had been leaked to the media. The paper says that health authorities have confirmed two recent cases of blood clots, but ...

Senior German conservatives set to discuss chancellor candidate choice

BERLIN, April 11 (Reuters) - The two contenders vying to be the German ruling conservative coalition’s candidate for chancellor in September’s election are due to meet leading members of the parliamentary party on Sunday as pressure grows for a decision on who should run. Armin Laschet, leader o...

Study suggests that the Pfizer vaccine is less effective against the South African variant

JERUSALEM, April 10 (Reuters) - The coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa can "break through" Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to some extent, a real-world data study in Israel found, though its prevalence in the country is low and the research has not been peer reviewed. The study, r...

Iran reports incident in Natanz nuclear site, no casualties – Press TV

DUBAI, April 11 (Reuters) - A problem with electrical power caused an incident in Iran's Natanz underground uranium enrichment facility, Iranian Press TV quoted the country's Atomic Energy Organisation's spokesman as saying on Sunday, adding that there were no casualties. A fire broke out at the...

Britain in mourning as it pays tribute to Prince Philip

Gun salutes will be fired across Britain on Saturday to mark the death of Prince Philip as tributes flooded in for a man who was a pillar of strength for Queen Elizabeth during her 69-year reign. Members of the public laid flowers outside royal residences, paying their respects to the 99-yea...

Malta set to reach herd immunity by end of June

Malta will be reaching herd immunity by the end of June, and not September, as had previously been planned, because of the accelerated vaccination programme employed. The announcement was made by the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Chris Fearne in a press conference on Sat...

11th April 2021

Malta: Newsrooms flag court decision

11th April 2021

Malta: Main party leaders register increase in popularity

11th April 2021

Malta News Briefing – Sunday 11 April 2021

10th April 2021

Covid-19: Govt pledges herd immunity by June / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 10 April 2021

10th April 2021

FELTOM Deeply Concerned About Industry’s Future

FELTOM expressed its disappointment following the recent announcement made by the Superintendent of Public Health delaying the opening of ELT schools. While this is having a detrimental impact on the business aspect of schools, FELTOM hopes that, in the interim, the industry is given clear direction from the government and a vision of the w...

10th April 2021

Malta set to reach herd immunity by end of June

10th April 2021

79 voluntary organisations call on the Maltese Government to withdraw legal notices and start serious consultation

The 79 organisations in Malta called on Government to retract the Legal Notices that regulate Public Fundraising activities and the legislations on Charity Shops with immediate effect and embark on serious consultations with all the voluntary organsiations and the Council for the same sector to find the best way forward in this regard.&nb...

10th April 2021

Matthew Xuereb appointed president of Malta’s Institute of Journalists

Times of Malta assistant editor Matthew Xuereb has been appointed President of the Institute of Maltese Journalists. Also new to the council is MaltaToday news portal editor Kurt Sansone, who will be replacing IĠM General Secretary, former Television Malta journalist Nigel Mifsud, who also moved on to pastures ...

10th April 2021

Malta: House Speaker calls off parliament committee meeting

10th April 2021

Malta: President expresses nation’s condolences to Royal Family

10th April 2021

Malta: Standards Commissioner rejects claims for leaked reports

10th April 2021

Malta: No link found between blood-clots and Covid-19 vaccines

L-Orizzont quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmain Gauci who said that health authorities received a total 119 reports of side-effects from vaccinations. The main effects were slight fever and tiredness but no blood-clots. Another story reports on a decision by the European Courts of Human Rights on Friday which declared that obligatory va...

10th April 2021

Malta to pay tourists who visit this summer

VALLETTA, April 9 (Reuters) - Aiming to revive its tourism industry and get ahead of rival destinations, Malta plans to offer foreign visitors a handout of up to 200 euros ($238.10) each if they stay at least three days on the Mediterranean island this summer. Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo announced the scheme on Friday, saying tha...

9th April 2021

Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Malta Foundation pays tribute to HRH Prince Philip

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Malta Foundation paid tribute to the Founder, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Sixty-five years ago, His Royal Highness established The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the UK. Since then, it has been delivered in more than 130 countries and territories, equipping and empowering millions of young people to b...

9th April 2021

Malta: Financial handouts for tourists booking directly through local hotels

Tourists booking summer holidays to Malta directly through local hotels will receive a financial handout, Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo said on Friday. Addressing a press conference, Bartolo said the Malta Tourism Authority had been allocated €3.5million for the scheme that will impact some 35,000 tourists travelling to the island fro...

9th April 2021

Malta: Elderly persons sent back home due to vaccines running out

Many elderly persons who went to health clinics for the Covid-19 vaccine were turned away due to vaccinations running out. Source Newsbook Updated 1745

9th April 2021

Malta: From Monday visits to care homes will resume, without use of perspex

From Monday, visits to care homes will once again be allowed where 90% of residents have been vaccinated, and two weeks have passed since they took the second dose. The visits will be by appointment once a week with two relatives who live in the same household allowed to enter. Source TVM Updated 1745

9th April 2021

Malta: Standards Commissioner will not investigate Repubblika complaint against Nigel Vella

Repubblika alleged that Nigel Vella occupied two full-time government jobs simultaneously, but the Standards Commissioner found that one of those jobs was part-time, with no ethics breach having taken place Source MaltaToday Updated: 1745

9th April 2021

48 new cases of coronavirus – Malta News Briefing – Friday 9 April 2021

9th April 2021

EU Agency confirms Covid-19 cases, deaths in Malta on downward trend

A study published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, an EU agency, shows that by the end of last week, Malta was one of a select group of countries registering stable or decreasing trends in both new cases and mortality. With regard to new cases, among the 28 countries with high case notification rates (at least 60 per 1...

9th April 2021

Malta: Yorgen Fenech’s lawyers to cross-examine Keith Schembri

In-Nazzjon says that former Chief of Staff Keith Schembri will face cross-examination in court by Yorgen Fenech’s lawyers. The businessman denies all charges against him and alleges that Schembri was the mastermind in the Caruana Galizia murder. The paper says that athletes and sport organisations were disappointed to learn that restrictions on...

9th April 2021

Malta: Health minister announces woodland project in memory of Covid-19 victims

L-Orizzont quotes a tweet by Health Minister Chris Fearne who revealed plans by the government to plant a woodland to commemorate the victims of the pandemic. The minister said the site will honour the sacrifices of the nation in a challenging period. Another story says that expenditure on social benefits increased by €79 million in one year, t...

9th April 2021

Malta: EU Commission rejects government’s request for provision of Sputnik vaccine

The Independent says that EU health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides has turned down an appeal by Health Minister Chris Fearne for the EU to supply Sputnik doses in member states if the EU Medicines Authority clears the Russian vaccine. The paper reports that the total number of English language students last year was 16.491, a decrease of 80 per...

9th April 2021

Malta: Surge in imprisonment is highest in Europe

The Times quotes a report by the Council of Europe which finds that Malta’s rate of incarceration rose by 15 percent between 2019 and 2020, the highest rate among 47 members countries. Another story reports that activists and residents opposing the construction of a road in Dingli met with Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg, Infrastructure Malta ...

8th April 2021

Malta: January accounted for a fifth of language students in 2020

8th April 2021

Malta Medicines Authority recommends no changes in use of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

The Malta Medicines Authority has reaffirmed that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risk of side effects, while encouraging vaccinated people and healthcare professions to be aware of any potential side effect and as such it recommended to continue to prevent serious harm and loss of life by using all the highly effective vacci...

8th April 2021

Malta: Fenech lawyers to call Schembri to witness

During today’s hearing, forensic experts took the witness stand. The court heard from officers that participated in searches on the murder scene. Experts also explained how the mobile phones were found during diving searches near the potato shed in Marsa. Source Newsbook Updated 1745

8th April 2021

Malta: Police confirm illegal ‘lockdown’ party was held yesterday

A young man who attended the party currently being investigated by the Police has apologised and confirmed that this was held last night. Zak Grech Fenech, co-founder of ClubHouse Europe, made a public apology for attending the party although he made it clear that ClubHouse Europe was not the organizer and had nothing to do with it. Source T...

8th April 2021

Malta: Medicines Authority recommends no change in AstraZeneca vaccine roll-out

The authority is encouraging vaccinated people and healthcare professionals to be aware of potential side effects of any vaccine. Source MaltaToday Updated 1745

8th April 2021

Malta: Egrant not an election fund company, PL says

The Labour Party has denied concerns raised by independent candidate Arnold Cassola that the Panama company E-Grant, whose owner is still unknown, may have been a vessel for funds to the Labour Party with the name standing for Election Grant. Egrant, once claimed to belong to Joseph Muscat’s wife Michelle, was the companion Panama company to th...

8th April 2021

Malta: House prices up by 2.5 percent in last quarter of 2020

8th April 2021

Maltese Editors Perspectives

The Times of Malta argues that the easing of restrictions seemed to convey a full alignment of goals between the prime minister and his health experts. The message was one of a cautious, phased reopening whose progress will depend on the figures staying in positive territory, with an insistence that health will remain the top priority. The Busi...

8th April 2021

Malta: Airport CEO says scheduled developments will go on

The Malta Business Weekly publishes an interview with Malta International Airport CEO Alan Borg who said that company is committed to development of a business hotel and the SkyParks 2 project. The paper says that the restriction on public gatherings is expected to rise from two people to a maximum of four from the last week of April. Churches ...

8th April 2021

Malta: PN to propose national tourism strategy

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that the party will unveil a ten-year plan for the tourism sector. Grech made the announcement during an interview on national television on Wednesday. The paper says that the PN Covid Action Team welcomed the cautious easing of restrictive measures. A statement by the party said that the gover...

8th April 2021

Malta: Schools to reopen from Monday

L-Orizzont covers a press conference by Prime Minister Robert Abela announcing the gradual reopening of schools from Monday. He said that children need the school experience and cannot miss out on their education any longer. Another story reports on a meeting between Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Romano and the General Workers Union. The secretar...

8th April 2021

Malta: Institute of Accountants condemns rogue professionals

The Times publishes a letter to members by the president of the Institute of Accountants, Fabio Axisa, who said that the actions of a few individuals are bringing the entire profession into disrepute. Axisa said the Institute is “no home” for those who facilitate financial crime. The paper reports on a government plan for reopening of schools a...

8th April 2021

Malta: Developers abandoning risky deals

Business Today says that the investors and contractors are ditching risky development partnerships and have turned to acquiring luxury property, following the recent string of high-profile arrangements linked to money laundering. Another story says that telephony operator Epic is partnering with telecommunications company Ericsson t...

8th April 2021

Malta: Non-essential businesses to reopen in three weeks

The Independent says that non-essential shops and services are set to return to business on April 26. Addressing a press conference, the Prime Minister said that the government’s priority at this stage are education and the elderly. Another story reports the 400th death from Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic after a 78-year-old woman pas...

7th April 2021

Malta: Social Security bill rose by €80 million in 2020

7th April 2021

Malta: Primary students to return to school on Monday – PM (UPDATED)

PM Robert Abela said that Malta has been facing the pandemic for more than a year. Different times have required different decisions to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the Maltese population. This included increasing and at times decreasing restrctions, while avoiding a complete lockdown. "This effort has yielded the desired results wit...

Malta: Newsrooms flag court decision

The Independent on Sunday says independent newsrooms have expressed concern following a decision by...
Malta: Main party leaders register increase in popularity

Malta Today publishes survey results showing an increase in trust ratings for both Robert Abela and...
‘Top Gun’ sequel delayed in summer movie setback for theatres

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paramount Pictures has pushed the release Tom Cruise movie “Top Gun: Maveri...
Senior German conservatives set to discuss chancellor candidate choice

BERLIN, April 11 (Reuters) - The two contenders vying to be the German ruling conservative coalitio...
Cyclone off Western Australia forces people to evacuate

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Tropical cyclone Seroja strenthened off Western Australia on Sunday, with eme...