Morning Briefing

Malta: Changes to employment law guarantees leave for IFV procedure

L-Orizzont reports that a new legal notice now guarantees 60 hours leave for persons undergoing an assisted procreation process. Minister Carmelo Abela announced the amendments to the Employment and Industrial…

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Malta: Swimmer completes Sicily-to-Malta challenge

In-Nazzjon says that a large crowd gathered in St Julian’s to welcome swimmer Neil Agius, who crossed successfully from the south of Sicily. The paper says that the initiative shows…

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Malta: PN adopts new statute

In-Nazzjon leads with the amendments to the PN statute adopted by the General Council on Thursday. New articles concern the governance, financial administration, and policy-making of the party. Keep in…

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Malta: Gozo tourism body cautious on numbers this summer

The Independent publishes an interview with Gozo Tourism Association Joe Muscat who said that, while local tourism is expected to increase this summer, it will not make up for the…

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Malta: Child protection law to come into force on Wednesday

L-Orizzont speaks to the CEO of the Foundation for Social Services, Alfred Grixti, about the new child protection law that comes into effect on July 1. Grixti said new measures…

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Malta: Hundreds of accompanied children arrived in Malta last year

The Times quotes a United Nations report saying that 768 children arrived in Malta unaccompanied last year. Among its recommendations, the UN calls for better physical barriers to separate children…

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Malta: Investigators found details of middleman’s pardon on Yorgen Fenech

The Times follows the testimony of Inspector Kurt Zahra before the Caruana Galizia inquiry where he said that Yorgen Fenech had photos of the terms and conditions of the pardon…

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Malta: Yorgen Fenech knew about early election six months in advance

The Independent quotes Inspector Kurt Zahra who told the Caruana Galizia inquiry that businessman Yorgen Fenech knew from as far back December 2016 that an early general election was going…

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Malta: PN General Council reviewing party statute

In-Nazzjon reports that the PN General Council will convene today to discuss proposed amendments to the party’s statute. The paper says the changes will renew the political party to reflect…

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Malta: Government aims for 700,000 tourists this year

L-Orizzont quotes Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli who told parliament that the government is aiming for a target of 700,000 tourists by the end of the year. The minister said…

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Malta: US embassy official raises spectre of gray-listing

The Malta Busines Weekly quotes a legal advisor with the US embassy, Richard Daynes, who warned that Malta could end up on the gray-list of the Financial Action Task Force…

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Malta: Konrad Mizzi removed from PL parliamentary group

The Times reports that the Labour Party executive voted to expel former minister Konrad Mizzi from the PL parliamentary group. Mizzi said that he was ‘side lined’ and not given…

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Malta: PL executive votes against Konrad Mizzi

L-Orizzont says that Prime Minister Robert Abela presented a motion in the PL executive for the ejection of Konrad Mizzi from the party’s parliamentary group. In a secret vote, 71…

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Malta: Robert Abela met Joseph Muscat before PL executive vote

In-Nazzjon says that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat did not attend the PL executive meeting which voted to oust Konrad Mizzi, but Prime Minister Robert Abela held a meeting with…

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Malta: New police chief promises to investigate wrongdoing claims

The Independent follows a press conference by newly-appointed Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà who gave assurances that all corruption allegations will be investigated by the police. The Independent picks up a…

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Malta: Enemalta investigating Montenegro deal

Malta Today quotes a statement by Enemalta which rejects allegations that the company had any prior knowledge of 17 Black’s involvement in the Montenegro wind farm deal. The energy company…

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Malta: Keith Schembri was instructed by Joseph Muscat to contact Yorgen Fenech

The Times leads with the testimony of Keith Schembri in court who said that he was told by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to persuade Yorgen Fenech not to leave Malta,…

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Malta: Police chief nomination approved by parliament committee

The Independent reports that the parliamentary public appointments committee endorsed Angelo Gafà as the new Police Commissioner. His nomination was unanimously approved by the four members representing the government while…

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Malta: Keith Schembri claims that the PN Leader sought to thwart re-election of own MEP

L-Orizzont quotes Keith Schembri who claimed in court that PN Leader Adrian Delia asked businessman Yorgen Fenech for €50,000 to undermine the re-election campaign of MEP David Casa in 2019.…

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Malta: Investigator says that Yorgen Fenech’s claims were not corroborated

In-Nazzjon follows the testimony in court of inspector Kurt Zahra who said that claims by Melvin Theuma were corroborated while those made by Yorgen Fenech were not. The former’s request…

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Malta: PN general secretary confident about party’s finances

The Independent publishes an interview with PN secretary general Francis Zammit Dimech who said that the party’s finances are in a stable situation. Zammit Dimech said he is encouraged by…

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Malta: Joseph Muscat denies talking to Yorgen Fenech about recordings

L-Orizzont quotes a Facebook post by former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in which he denied claims that he asked Yorgen Fenech about the contents of the secret recordings made by…

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Malta: Gozo local councils flag skiving workers

The Times reports on a rise in skiving by participants in a Jobs Plus scheme in Gozo managed by a General Workers Union foundation, assigning workers to local councils. Complaints…

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Malta: Adrian Delia call for cross-party cooperation to restore reputation

In-Nazzjon follows an interview with PN Leader Adrian Delia in which he appealed for the collaboration of everyone to help rebuild the country’s reputation. Delia called on ‘genuine’ people in…

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Malta: Melvin Theuma negotiated pardon before arrest

Malta Today reveals that the middleman in the Caruana Galizia assassination, Melvin Theuma, was negotiating his presidential pardon in exchange for recordings weeks before he was actually arrested in November…

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Malta: Prime Minister mulling early election

Illum says that Prime Minister Robert Abela is considering an early general election following the latest allegations of corruption. The paper says that Abela warned that if anyone close to…

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Malta: Joseph Muscat discussed middleman with Yorgen Fenech

The Sunday Times reports on claims by murder suspect Yorgen Fenech who said that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat discussed Melvin Theuma twice in 2019 and asked him whether chief…

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Malta: PN Leader considering changing party name

Kullħadd says that PN Leader Adrian Delia is attempting to change the party’s name to the Popular Party and that its representatives on the Electoral Commission have resisted the registration…

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Malta: Robert Abela informed of Montenegro wind farm claims last year

Il-Mument claims that Prime Minister Robert Abela knew about the allegations surrounding the Montenegro wind farm deal as early as November. Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said that Abela’s hands are…

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Malta: Nominated Police Commissioner to be questioned tomorrow

It-Torċa says that nominated Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà will face grilling by the parliamentary committee for public appointments questioning on Monday. The paper says that the Opposition has not sent…

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Malta: Car emissions remain low since March

The Independent on Sunday says that levels of air pollution from car emissions have remained consistent since mid-March even as coronavirus restrictions start to be lifted. Pollution levels are lower…

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Malta: Chris Cardona’s phone could have been in Velbert

The Independent quotes an IT expert who testified in court that according to available information it is technically plausible that Chris Cardona’s phone was in Velbert, Germany in 2017 where…

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Malta: 17 Black profits handsomely from Enemalta investment

The Times reveals that once-secret company 17 Black made a €4.6 million profit from an investment by Enemalta in a Montenegro windfarm. The project was inaugurated in 2019 by then…

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Malta: PN leader demands removal of Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who called on the Prime Minister to expel Joseph Muscat and Konrad Mizzi from the government parliamentary group following leaks about a suspicious energy…

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Malta: PM says Venice Commission accepts reform plan

L-Orizzont covers a press conference by Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that the Venice Commissioner welcomed most judicial reforms proposed by Malta. Abela described the development as historic. Another…

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Malta: PN leader issues sworn declaration following bribery allegations

The Times reports that PN Leader Adrian Delia issued a sworn declaration denying claims that Yorgen Fenech attempted to bribe the party to undermine the election campaign of MEP David…

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Malta: Adrian Delia lashes out at PL party media

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that the Labour Party ‘resorts to lies’ when it finds itself in crisis. Delia was referring to allegations made on PL party…

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Malta: Nurses unhappy with new Steward recruits

The Independent quotes the union of nurses which said that newly recruited nurses by Steward Health Care have not been provided an induction course and are not able to carry…

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Malta: People more confident in their personal finances

L-Orizzont quotes a study commissioned by a government money-management programme which found that more people are confident in their financial situation and are less concerned about the impact of Covid-19…

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Malta: PM announces resignation of Chris Cardona

The Malta Business Weekly quotes the Prime Minister who said that PL deputy Leader Chris Cardona has stepped down. Robert Abela told journalists that the former Economy Minister had handed…

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Malta: PL to elect new deputy leader in July

The Independent says that the Labour Party will hold a general conference in the second week of July to appoint a new deputy leader for party affairs. The announcement was…

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Malta: Anton Teuma names Gozo bishop

L-Orizzont follows the announcement by Apostolic Nuncio Alessandro D’Errico who named monsignor Anton Teuma as the new bishop for Gozo. Teuma will be ordained within the next two to three…

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Malta: Alfred Sant says MEPs not aware of impact of cabotage rules

Business Today quotes MEP Alfred Sant who urged the Maltese private sector lobby to alert politicians when EU developments impact their interests. Trucking and logistics companies in Malta said new…

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Malta: PN rejects claims of MEP election campaign sabotage

In-Nazzjon carries a statement by the Nationalist Party which denied claims made in court that it received offers to undermine the election campaign of any of its MEP candidates in…

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Malta: Maltese significantly less worried by facial recognition than EU citizens

The Times quotes a study by the EU agency for fundamental human rights which found that a third of people in Malta are prepared to accept facial recognition by companies…

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Malta: PM says Chris Cardona to step down

The Independent quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that PL deputy for party affairs Chris Cardona was to resign following allegations against him in court. Abela said that he…

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Malta: Yorgen Fenech had requested to speak about corruption cases

The Times speaks to economic crimes investigator Ian Abdilla who said that businessman Yorgen Fenech had offered to speak about corruption cases when he was first arrested but then changed…

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Malta: Joseph Muscat non-committal on chief of staff involvement

Malta Today says that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat refused to comment on claims by court witnesses implicating chief of staff Keith Schembri and cabinet minister Chris Cardona in the…

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Malta: Opposition Leader blasts advisory role given to former Police Commissioner

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Adrian Delia who said in parliament that Prime Minister Robert Abela only acts when it is too late, criticising his decision to appoint former Police Commissioner…

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Malta: No significant rise in spousal conflict during pandemic

L-Orizzont speaks to family therapists who warned against ‘alarmist’ claims about a rise in separation cases during the pandemic. Dr Michael Galea said that conflicts between couples are not causally…

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Malta: Former police commissioner admits faux pas

The Times leads with an interview with former Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar who conceded that it was a mistake to meet with an acquaintance of Melvin Theuma without informing investigators…

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Malta: Magistrate orders police chief to investigate predecessor

The Independent reports that the magistrate presiding over the compilation of evidence against Yorgen Fenech in the Caruana Galizia case has ordered a formal investigation into former police chief Lawrence…

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Malta: Opposition Leader rips into Lawrence Cutajar appointment

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who criticised Prime Minister Robert Abela for appointing Lawrence Cutajar as a government consultant hours later he was made to resign from Police Commissioner…

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Malta: Health Minister warns against crowds

L-Orizzont quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who warned that the coronavirus is still active in the community and asked people to observe social distancing. He said that mass events should…

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Malta: Restrictions on flights to be lifted in July

The Times says that another six countries have been added to the list of safe destinations, however, some restrictions on certain regions in Italy, France, and Spain will remain in…

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Malta: Adrian Delia launches PN reform

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that the party reform launched on Sunday will open the doors to all people, particularly the young. Delia said that the restructuring…

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Malta: Financial services watchdog warns about rise in scams

The Independent reports an increase in financial scams in the first quarter of the year, with the Financial Services Authority issuing 23 public warnings and notices against false or misleading…

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