Morning Briefing

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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Malta: Former PN Leader urges new leadership race

The Times follows the PN Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday evening which was also attended by former leader Lawrence Gonzi and deputy leader Tonio Borg. The paper says that Gonzi…

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Malta: Lost VGH agreement handed over to Auditor General

The Independent says that Prime Minister Robert Abela had ordered an agreement between the Muscat administration and Vitals Global Healthcare to be found after an NAO investigation reported that it…

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Malta: PN executive holds tense meeting on Tuesday night

L-Orizzont reports on a ‘tense’ PN executive meeting on Tuesday after Adrian Delia was retained as Opposition Leader by the President. The paper says that several people have been engaged…

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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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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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