morning headlines

Malta: No agreement over collapsed block after a year

The Independent marks one year since the collapse of a block of apartments In Gwardamangia Hill. The residents said that, so far, no agreement, has been reached with developers working…

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Malta: National airline resumes talks with employees

The Times reveals that Air Malta is holding talks with unions representing its cabin crew and pilots in an effort to save jobs. The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations…

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Malta: No concerns by families of elderly patients treated at Gozo hotel

L-Orizzont speaks to relatives of patients who have been relocated from the Gozo hospital geriatric wing to the Downtown hotel in Victoria. Family members say that the patients are being…

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Malta: Adrian Delia expects European partners to help with migration

In-Nazzjon covers a special virtual summit of the European People’s Party leaders which discussed the impact of the Covid-19 emergency on immigration. PN Leader Adrian Delia said that the EU…

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Malta: Fearne anticipates lifting of Covid-19 measures

The Times quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who said in parliament that restrictive measures linked to the coronavirus spread could start to be relaxed in the coming days. He warned,…

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Malta: Birdlife denounces thousands of ‘illegal’ hunter’s licences

The Independent reports that Birdlife Malta has filed a criminal complaint over some 6,000 hunting licences issued by the Ministry of Gozo. The NGO said that, according to law, only…

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Malta: Company in Malta reported to OCCRP for fraud

The Malta Business Weekly reports that a Malta-based company has been reported to the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project over misleading face masks advertising targeting people in the US.…

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Malta: Chamber of SMEs says tourism has work cut out

Business Today carries an interview with Chamber of SMEs deputy president Philip Fenech who said that it will take the tourism sector a long time to reach the level of…

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Malta: Parliamentary motion to cancel Steward agreement

In-Nazzjon reports that the Opposition filed a motion in parliament requesting the revocation of the hospital concession deal with Steward Healthcare. The motion is expected to be debated in the…

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Malta: GWU rejects proposal to reduce public sector wages

L-Orizzont says that the General Workers Union is opposing a proposal by the Employers Association to reduce the salaries of employees in the public sector who are currently out of…

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Malta: Areas in Mellieħa could be handed over to hunters

Malta Today claims that the Prime Minister is considering a proposal to turn areas in Miżieb and L-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa into hunting grounds. The paper says that the plans were floated…

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Malta: Decision to allow high-rises in Mrieħel coincided with Castille meeting

The Times reveals that instructions to the Planning Authority CEO to allow high-rise buildings in Mrieħel were issued the same day that planning parliamentary secretary Michael Farrugia met Tumas Group…

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Malta: Gozo tourism operators worried about the future

The Independent quotes survey results by the Gozo Tourism Association which reveals that 84 percent of members see a difficult future for the island’s tourism after Covid-19. Respondents are calling…

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Malta: Unemployment back to 2017 levels

L-Orizzont says that unemployment levels in March were similar to figures registered in December 2017, counting 2,125 jobless. The paper says that the government’s rescue measures are limiting the impact…

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Malta: MEA demands lower electricity rates

In-Nazzjon reports calls by the Malta Employers’ Association for energy prices to be lowered with immediate effect to reflect international oil prices. The association says that consumers are paying more…

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Malta: Pilots to take Air Malta, Economy Minister to court

The Independent reports that the Air Malta pilots’ union filed a judicial protest against the airline and the Economy Minister after the dismissal of 108 members. The union said that…

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Malta: Pardon for Caruana Galizia murder suspect under consideration

The Times says that sources close to the Daphne Caruana Galizia investigation confirmed that authorities are considering granting one of the suspected hitmen, Vincent Muscat, a presidential pardon in exchange…

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Malta: Reduction in active Covid-19 cases

L-Orizzont reports that the number of active Covid-19 cases continued to decrease on Monday after eight patients were confirmed recovered and four new people tested positive. There are currently 302…

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Malta: Employers concerned over salaries

In-Nazzjon quotes a report by the Chamber of SMEs which says that the primary concern of businesses is the payment of salaries. The paper says that 87 percent of employers…

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Malta: Air Malta to sack four-fifths of pilots tomorrow

In-Nazzjon reports that Air Malta has called off meetings with its pilots and withdrew offers for pay-cuts. The paper says that the carrier is expected to lay off 80 percent…

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Malta: Supermarket chief says e-commerce increased fourfold

L-Orizzont carries an interview with Charles Borg, the CEO of PG Group which runs the Pavi and Pama supermarkets. Borg said that online shopping grew by four times since the…

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Malta: PM and Opposition Leader trade blows over criminal complaint

The Independent leads with a war of words between the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader over a criminal complaint filed by NGO Repubblika to investigate the deaths of migrants…

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Malta: Concerns over growing truancy patterns

The Times says that students missed an average of just under 12 days of school in the 2017-2018, continuing an upward trend in unauthorised absenteeism over the years. Authorities fear…

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Malta: A third of private sector employees concerned over jobs

The Sunday Times says that a third of employees in the private sector fear losing their jobs as a result of the coronavirus impact on the economy. A survey commissioned…

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Malta: Air Malta bracing itself for €130 million loss

Malta Today estimates that Air Malta will register a loss of €130 million by the start of summer between ticket refunds and direct losses. The paper says the airline says…

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Malta: EU Commission examining Malta proposal for Libya

The Independent on Sunday speaks to EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson who said that Malta’s proposal to coordinate aid for Libya to dissuade migrants from crossing to Europe is…

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Malta: Robert Abela to reach first hundred days this week

It-Torċa marks the first hundred days of Robert Abela as Prime Minister and says that around 150 legal notices have been issued since his election in January. The paper says…

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Malta: Adrian Delia challenges Prime Minister’s claims

Il-Mument covers a press conference by PN Leader Adrian Delia responding to claims made by the Prime Minister that the Opposition is accusing him and AFM officials of murder. Delia…

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Malta: The AFM rescued 13,000 migrants in four years

Illum says that the Armed Forces of Malta rescued some 13,000 migrants in four years besides “hundreds more” who found themselves in distress at sea. The AFM patrol boat P52…

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Malta: Optimism in the rate of Covid-19 cases

Kullħadd says that the rate of new Covid-19 cases is similar to that registered 10 days ago while infected patients are recovering every day. The paper says that this could…

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Malta: Economy Minister lays into pilots’ union

The Independent quotes Economy Minister Silvio Schembri who criticized Air Malta pilots for pulling out meetings with the carrier at the last minute of Wednesday. The Minister said he cannot…

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Malta: Concerns over public land sold to Tumas Group subsidiary

The Times reveals that an internal audit by the Lands Authority found that a tract of public land in Qormi that was put up for sale upon the request by…

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Malta: Adrian Delia praises AFM soldiers

In-Nazzjon covers a visit by Opposition Leader Adrian Delia to the Armed Forces to thank them for their efforts during the epidemic. Delia said that AFM officers are Malta’s ‘shield’…

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Malta: Criminal investigation into PM, Brigadier after complaint by PN MP

L-Orizzont says that the police have launched an investigation into the Prime Minister and AFM Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi after Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi filed a complaint accusing them of voluntary…

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Malta: Government issues scheme to support business loan interests

The Independent leads with an announcement by the government that it will subsidise up to 2.5 percent of interest rates on bank loans taken by businesses. Companies must pay a…

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Malta: More than 350 people waiting to return from abroad

The Times quotes Foreign Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo who revealed that 355 Maltese citizens are still waiting to be repatriated to Malta. He said that most of them are outside…

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Malta: Food prices increase by around eight percent

L-Orizzont calculates that the price of a regular shipping list has increased by some eight percent since the start of the outbreak. The paper says that not all food stores…

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Malta: 25,000 jobs could be in danger

In-Nazzjon quotes Chamber of Commerce president David Xuereb who said that up to 25,000 could lose their jobs as a consequence of the emergency. The paper says that the rescue…

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Malta: Four facing charges over Ħamrun house collapse

The Independent reports that four people were charged with the involuntary homicide of Miriam Pace, who died when her home in Ħamrun collapsed in March. The accused were working on…

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Malta: Five people found dead in Maltese waters

The Times reports that five migrants were discovered dead in a boat adrift in Malta’s Search and Rescue Area. The International Organisation for Migration said that 51 survivors were intercepted…

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Malta: Economists sceptical of IMF projections

Business Today carries reactions by economists and the Chamber of Commerce who said that predictions by the IMF that Malta’s economic performance will shrink by seven percent this year is…

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Malta: New waste management facility in Magħtab

L-Orizzont announces the investment in a new Waste-to-Energy plant in Magħtab that will reduce landfilling and help Malta reach its recycling targets. The paper says that the state-of-the-art technology will…

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Malta: Adrian Delia discusses migrant situation with EU Commissioner

In-Nazzjon follows a meeting between PN Leader Adrian Delia and EU Commissioner for immigration Ylva Johansson. Delia argued that migrants without the right for asylum should be repatriated while the…

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Malta: Infections by migrant account for five percent of Covid-19 cases

The Malta Business Weekly says that three of the six new Covid-19 cases recorded on Wednesday were migrants, resident at the Ħal Far centre. Cases among migrants in the facility…

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Malta: Medavia ejects employees despite winning lucrative deal

Malta Today says that aviation company Medavia has let pilots, cabin crew and engineers go even after having won a profitable contract to deliver supplies for the World Food Programme.…

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Malta: Economy expected to shrink before it rebounds next year

The Times quotes a report by the International Monetary Fund projecting that Malta’s economy will contract by 2.8 percent this year under pressure from the coronavirus before recovering to a…

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Malta: Nearly every 20th #Covid-19 patient is a healthcare professional

L-Orizzont reports nine new cases of coronavirus by Tuesday, returned from a pool of more than one thousand swab tests. The paper says that there have now been a total…

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Malta: Education Ministry will not get into independent school fees debate

The Independent asks Education Minister Owen Bonnici whether private schools will receive financial aid. The minister said that schools and student families are discussing the payment of fees and the…

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Malta: PN calls for bonus to pensioners to cope with coronavirus costs

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Deputy Leader David Agius who urged the government to ensure the home delivery of medical products to elderly people throughout the outbreak. The party is proposing a…

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Malta: Spreading of Covid-19 to carry jail sentence

The Independent reveals that a new legal notice will criminalise the wilful spread of the Covid-19 disease with up to a nine-year jail sentence. Patients who spread the virus through…

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Malta: Position of migrants in Malta SAR unknown

In-Nazzjon says that hundreds of migrants who were on a boat adrift over the weekend could not be located by Frontex planes on Monday evening. Contact with a dinghy that…

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Malta: Government calls for EU emergency fund for Libya

The Times leads with an urgent request by Malta for the EU to deploy a €100 million food and medicine package to Libya to prevent migrants in the north African…

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Malta: Public Health Superintendent calls for caution

L-Orizzont quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who appealed for prudence and said that Malta is still in its earlier stages of the pandemic despite less than 10 new daily…

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Malta: Coronavirus taking its toll on mental wellbeing

The Times quotes a study of the impact of the coronavirus on metal wellbeing commissioned by the Richmond Foundation. Almost half of the participants say they feel depressed most of…

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Malta: PM says closure of ports will protect national health

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that the decision to close the ports to rescue ships and non-registered vessels was triggered by a necessity to safeguard the country’s…

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Malta: Survey outcomes to settle face masks debate

The quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that a national survey is being conducted to establish the number of Covid-19 infections in the community. The results will guide the…

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Malta: Easter Sunday marred by fatal motorcycle accident

In-Nazzjon reports that a 38-year-old man lost his life in a motorcycle accident in Mrieħel on Easter Sunday. The rider, Alex Borg, was involved in a crash with another vehicle…

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