Newspaper Review

Malta: Marlene Farrugia presents Bill to decriminalise abortion

The Times reports that independent MP Marlene Farrugia has tabled proposals to decriminalise abortion. Currently, anyone who seeks to helps with an abortion can be sentenced up to three months…

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Malta: Young people from the age of 16 can register for Covid-19 vaccine

The Independent quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who announced that vaccinations will open for people aged 16 and over from Monday. The number of active Covid-19 cases fell below 200…

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Malta: Malta Enterprise CEO confident about impact of government aid

L-Orizzont speaks with Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia who expects that a €20 million aid package unveiled by the government will contribute to a 2.5 per cent economic growth this…

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Malta: Herd immunity within a week

Malta Today says that the country is set to reach herd immunity on Monday 19, with seven in every ten having received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine. By…

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Malta: Degiorgio brothers file Constitutional case against Cabinet decision

In-Nazzjon says that murder suspects Alfred and George Degiorgio filed a Constitutional case against the government, accusing the Cabinet of abusing its power when their request for a presidential pardon…

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Malta: Libya requests millions linked to Gaddafi family

The Times says that the Libyan government is requesting Malta to release some €80 million in frozen bank deposits linked to the Gaddafi family. Libyan Foreign Minister Najla El-Mangoush was…

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Opposition urges government to make use of EU Covid-19 funds: The Headline – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Bernard Grech who raised questions in parliament about the government’s use of EU funds allocated for wage supplement schemes. Grech pledged the opposition’s backing for stronger…

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Malta: Government ordered vaccine boosters for autumn

The Times quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who informed parliament that the government has ordered booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccine in case they were needed towards the end of…

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Malta: New collective agreement for Malta Enterprise employees

L-Orizzont announces a new collective agreement for the employees of Malta Enterprise negotiated by the General Workers Union. The new agreement introduces better conditions including career development support. Read more:…

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Malta: Inter-ministerial effort to join the UK green list

The Independent speaks with Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo who revealed that his ministry is collaborating with the health and foreign affairs ministries to secure Malta’s place on the UK’s travel…

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Malta: Bernard Grech confident of PN’s chances

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that the party will bounce back from poor results in a voting intention survey published on Sunday. Grech said that different ideas…

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Malta: Planning Authority to discuss decade-long breaches by Polidano Brothers

The Independent reports that a Planning Authority meeting this week will decide on whether to sanction Polidano Brothers for a series of illegal developments and deviations at Ħal Farruġ. An…

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Malta: Minister Abela had access to HSBC security management system

The Times says that Minister Carmelo Abela was among a restricted team of HSBC officers with access to a security machine that produced key cards believed to have been used…

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Malta: MDA director-general calls for stricter enforcement in construction

The Independent on Sunday speaks to the new director-general of the developers’ association, Deborah Schembri, who said that rogue operators are giving a bad name to the construction industry. Schembri…

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Malta: Government working on new post-Covid vision

It-Torċa speaks with Minister Owen Bonnici, responsible for the post-pandemic strategy, who said that the government is building a vision built on economic competitiveness, protection of jobs, and improved wellbeing.…

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Malta: PN cancelled executive meeting after competing MPs reached agreement

Kullħadd says that PN Leader Bernard Grech received criticism internally for his handling of the recent tiff between MPS Adrian Delia and Jason Grech. Grech cancelled a meeting of the…

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Malta: PN identifies 128 priorities for new policy programme

Il-Mument carries an interview with the coordinator of the PN policy clusters reform, Claudio Grech. The MP said that the project identifies 128 priorities based on quality of life and…

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Malta: Second Electrogas director with secret company in Dubai

The Sunday Times reveals that Electrogas director and investor Paul Apap Bologna owns a secret Dubai company similar to 17 Black. The police are investigating Kittiwake Limited as part of…

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Malta: PN Leader threatened to kick Delia and Azzopardi out

Illum says PN Leader Bernard Grech was prepared to present a motion in the party Executive Committee to disqualify MPs Adrian Delia and Jason Azzopardi from contesting the next election…

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Malta: Trust in Bernard Grech falls under 30 percent for the first time

Malta Today publishes survey findings showing that PN Leader Bernard Grech’s trust ratings dropped 10 points since last month, scoring 25.7 percent. Trust in Prime Minister increased by two points…

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Malta: Covid-19 victim who died in India was denied vaccine

In-Nazzjon says that Ivan Barbara, who died in India last week after contracting Covid-19, had pleaded with authorities to be vaccinated before leaving Malta but was denied inoculation because it…

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Anti-money laundering bodies grilled by international assessors: The Headline – The Times

The Times reports assessors from the Financial Action Task Force held a series of meetings with local regulators in the financial sector this week. Sources told the paper that questions…

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Malta: People in their 30s rush to register for vaccine

The Independent quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who said that over half of the population in the 30 to 39 age bracket have either been vaccinated or have registered…

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Malta: Civil protection department unveils new specialised vehicles

L-Orizzont reports that the Civil Protection Department added five new vehicles to its fleet with an investment of €1.5 million. The specialised vehicles are designed for operations in narrow and…

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PN MPs end dispute after war of words: The Headline – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon publishes a PN statement signed by MPs Jason Azzopardi and Adrian Delia committing to unity and a common focus to fight corruption after an escalation intones on Facebook. Party…

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Malta: Concerns about rising eating disorders in children

The Times speaks with Darleen Zerafa from Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek, an organisation providing support for eating disorders. She said that the number of incoming calls increased by a third…

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Malta: Facemasks can be taken off on the beach from June

The Independent quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that the use of facemasks will no longer be enforced on beaches from June 1. The minister said that wet masks…

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Malta: Covid-19 positivity rate at 1.2 per cent

L-Orizzont reports that health authorities reached a new daily record of 7,008 individual vaccinations on Thursday. Health Minister Chris Fearne said that the Covid-19 positivity rate currently stands at 1.2…

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Malta: Financial Intelligence Unit to enforce €10,000 cash restriction

The Malta Business Weekly reports that the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit is setting up a team to enforce a cash restriction of €10,000 introduced in March. The cap applies to…

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Malta: Chamber of SMEs welcomes PN pledge to revise business tax

Business Today quotes Chamber of SMEs CEO Abigail Mamo who welcomed announcements by the PN to revise taxation for domestic businesses. Mamo said that incentives for foreign companies creates a…

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Malta: Brian Tonna does not disclose value of service for Konrad Mizzi

In-Nazzjon follows the testimony of Brian Tonna before the parliamentary accounts committee. The Nexia BT managing partner confirmed that former minister Konrad Mizzi was a client, but he could not…

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Malta: Airport movement in 2020 was a quarter of 2019

The Independent says that passenger movement at the airport fell by 76 per cent in 2020 compared to the year before. A spokesperson, however, said that forecasts for the second…

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Malta: Restaurants say half-day reopening is a good start

L-Orizzont speaks with Hotels and Restaurants Association president Tony Zahra who said that a partial re-opening is better than a total ban on catering establishments. He said, however, that some…

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Malta: Police investigating bribery plans involving senior officer

The Times reports that the police have established evidence of a plan for businessman Yorgen Fenech to transfer an apartment to the head of the Economic Crimes Unit, Ray Aquilina.…

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Malta: PN to propose new tax system for businesses

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that the current tax regime puts local businesses at a disadvantage and promised a new taxation system for SMEs that would also…

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Malta: Activists cry foul over three-part Sannat development

The Independent says that environmental NGOs have raised concern over three separate development applications planning to build 125 apartments in Sannat. The applications share the same architect. Read more: https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2021-05-04/local-news/Applications-for-total-of-125-apartments-on-Sannat-fields-draw-ire-6736233176…

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