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Malta Independent

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 10:03:00 +0000
Health consultant who recommended caution on schools removed from post, doctors claim
A health consultant who recommended caution when it comes to the reopening of school has been “removed” from their role, the Medical Association of Malta claimed on Monday.The consultant was one of those responsible for the coordination o...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:30:00 +0000
More measures to support mental wellbeing of elderly needed - Mental Health Commissioner
While many protocols and guidelines to physically protect the elderly from the Covid-19 pandemic are in place, further measures need to be developed to better care for the mental health and wellbeing of those staying in residential care homes, the Of...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 10:47:00 +0000
‘I was honest, like the government I lead was’ – Abela on his first year as Prime Minister
In a Facebook post on Monday morning, in the week marking a year from his swearing in as Prime Minister, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that he was honest throughout the year, like his own government was.   Prime Minister Robert Abela was...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 06:53:00 +0000
Watch: Moderna vaccine arrives in Malta
Last night Air Malta flight KM423 from Brussels to Malta transported the first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to the Islands. More consignments are expected in the coming weeks, Air Malta said in a statement.This vaccine is the second vacci...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 06:58:00 +0000
Gzira fight: Man stabbed, another arrested
A man was stabbed and another was arrested after a fight in Gzira, the police said.The incident took place at The Strand at around 11.30pm.The two men involved are an 18-year-old from Senglea and a 26-year-old man from Msida.The teenager was stabbed ...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:58:00 +0000
Parliament resumes: Gender balance in Parliament bill, electoral districts on agenda
Parliament is set to resume this week after the festive season break. Two of the first items to be discussed this week will be a report regarding certain changes to some electoral districts presented by the electoral commission, as well as the bill p...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 07:06:00 +0000
Man attempting to leave residence via roof falls, is seriously injured
A man who attempted to leave a residence via a roof fell onto the road and was seriously injured, the police said.The accident took place in Buttar Street, Santa Venera, at 11.30pm on Sunday.The man, a Filipino aged 37, and resident in Qrendi, found ...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 07:17:00 +0000
Pelosi says House will impeach Trump, pushes VP to oust him
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the House will proceed with legislation to impeach President Donald Trump as she pushes the vice president and the Cabinet to invoke constitutional authority force him out, warning that Trump is a threat to democracy a...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 07:54:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Malta’s economy - Recovery and the future
The Covid-19 pandemic was one of those events nobody could have seen coming. As such, the impact on world economies was massive.In Malta, the impact on the tourism industry had a ripple effect on many other sectors. Coupled with restrictions, busines...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:38:00 +0000
Malta had worst share of electricity from renewable sources in 2019 in EU – Eurostat
In 2019, Malta was at the bottom of the table in terms of the share of electricity coming from renewable energy, mustering only a measly 8% when compared to the average 34% of the EU, a Eurostat statistic shows. Compared to the previous year, this is...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:11:00 +0000
Alfred Sant asks Commission to commit to timeline for SME fund
Labour MEP Alfred Sant has asked the European Commission to provide concrete steps including a timeline regarding the setting up of a fund specialising in Initial Public Offerings for small and medium sized enterprises, a process of offering shares o...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000
Former high-ranking Saudi minister currently exiled in Canada one of Malta’s new citizens
A former high-ranking minister in the government of Saudi Arabia who is currently exiled in Canada and who claimed to be the victim of a state-sponsored assassination attempt is one of the names which has appeared on the most-recent list of people gr...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 12:47:00 +0000
184 new cases of Covid-19 as number of active cases reaches 2,322
184 new cases of Covid-19 were registered on Sunday, the health authorities said in their daily update. This brings the number of active cases up to 2,322.On Sunday, 82 people recovered from the virus. In total, since the start of the pandemic, there...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 08:30:00 +0000
Restoring economic levels back to 2019 heights will take 2 to 3 years - David Xuereb
It will likely take around two to three years for the country to reach the economic levels seen in 2019, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry David Xuereb told The Malta Independent.Xuereb, along with the CEO of the Chamber o...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000
One year of Robert Abela as PM – The Covid-19 pandemic, Joseph Muscat and more
In their memoirs, all Prime Ministers in office during 2020 will probably write that the year which has just ended was the most difficult for them.The Covid-19 pandemic brought with it a variety of unprecedented problems which forced tough decisions,...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 17:33:00 +0000
Sharp temperature drop forecast in week of rain and strong winds
The mild weather experienced over the weekend is to be followed by days of wind and rain, with a sharp temperature drop, according to the Met Office.People marvelled at the beauty of the red skies on Saturday and held barbecues in mild January weathe...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 19:26:00 +0000
Two men in hospital after fight in Sliema
Two men are in hospital after a fight in Sliema, the police said.The incident took place in Old College Street at 11.30am.The fight involved a 46-year-old man of Hamrun and a 23-year-old man of Iklin.The police said the fight started in the street an...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 13:08:00 +0000
Prime Minister says wage supplement will extend beyond March if needed
While the government has announced that it was decided that the wage supplement will run until March, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that if needs be, the scheme will be extended in order to ensure that no businesses fall behind.He was speaking dur...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 07:07:00 +0000
Premier League: Hamrun Spartans power their way to the top of the standings
Hamrun Spartans powered their way to the top of the standings beating Mosta 3-1 to open up a two-point lead over second placed Hibernians.The Spartans however only came to life when they were reduced to ten men, eight minutes from the break.Until the...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 07:12:00 +0000
Serie A: Roma snatch 2-2 draw against title rivals Inter
Gianluca Mancini’s late goal saw Roma snatch a 2-2 draw at home to title rival Inter Milan on Sunday and dent its opponent’s Serie A aspirations.Mancini headed in the equalizer four minutes from time after goals from Milan Škriniar...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 07:14:00 +0000
FA Cup: Spurs show no mercy to 8th-tier Marine, Crawley stuns Leeds
The biggest mismatch in the FA Cup’s 150-year history delivered a predictably one-sided result as Tottenham showed no mercy to an eighth-tier opponent whose lineup featured a garbage collector and a factory worker.It was left, then, to Crawley ...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 15:29:00 +0000
Charles Azzopardi should join PL Group if elected, but will be welcome on opposition benches - Grech
If Charles Azzopardi is elected to Parliament in the upcoming casual election, he should join the Labour Party's Parliamentary Group, Bernard Grech said on Sunday, adding that if Azzopardi is not comfortable doing so, then he can always sit on the op...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 12:09:00 +0000
First consignment of Moderna vaccine expected to arrive in Malta on Sunday
The first consignment of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in Malta on Sunday night, Health Minister Chris Fearne said.Moderna was the second vaccine approved by the EU to be distributed among EU countries. The EU has ordered 80 mill...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 11:13:00 +0000
91-year-old becomes latest Covid-19 victim
A 91-year-old man has become the latest Covid-19 victim.He tested positive for the virus on 28 December and died on Saturday at Mater Dei Hospital.The Health Ministry expressed its condolences to the family and urged everyone to follow the Covid-19 p...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 17:31:00 +0000
Traffic inspections: Four caught driving under influence of alcohol
Four drivers were caught behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol, the police said.Inspections were carried out in Zejtun on Saturday night by the district police, and members of the Armed Forces of Malta and the Rapid Intervention Unit.Other ...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 09:30:00 +0000
Unions, employers attribute 2021 annual leave confusion to conflicting information by government
Unions representing workers and employers contacted by this newsroom attribute the confusion that ensued about the number of vacation leave days for 2021 to conflicting information given by the government in the aftermath of the budget presented in O...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 16:16:00 +0000
Two people injured in Paola crash
Two people were injured in a crash while riding a motorbike in Paola at 11.50am.A 65-year-old man and a 59-year-old woman from Birzebbugia were taken to Mater Dei Hospital after the accident on Vjal Santa Lucija.The driver of the motorbike crashed in...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 15:12:00 +0000
Health Students’ Association urges government to offer vaccine to health care students
The Malta Health Students' Association (MHSA) has urged the health authorities to offer the Covid-19 vaccine to all Faculty of Health Sciences students so that they can receive it at the same time as health care professionals.The MHSA issued a statem...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 07:30:00 +0000
‘Teachers, educators instrumental in controlling virus’, Marmara research shows
New research carried out by Vincent Marmara shows that the opening of schools results in a reduction in the number of cases of Covid-19, with the statistician saying that teachers and school employees are essential when it comes to controlling the vi...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 08:00:00 +0000
2020: A year of environmental reforms and green initiatives
Fuel stations policyKey changes to the Fuel Station Policy were announced in what was deemed as a very positive albeit long overdue move. The new policy was welcomed by various stakeholders and environmentalists mainly due to the strict restrictions ...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 09:50:00 +0000
Two men injured in St Paul's Bay fight
Two men were injured in a fight on Saturday night in St Paul's Bay, the police said.The incident took place at 9pm near Misraħ il-Bajja and involved a group of people.The group attacked a 28-year-old man and a 34-year-old man who live in the loc...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 11:16:00 +0000
TMIS Editorial: Muscat sanctions - A flawed argument
The government representatives on the parliamentary committee for standards in public life are arguing that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat should not be sanctioned over his role in the granting of a consultancy position at the Malta Tourism Auth...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 09:45:00 +0000
31-year-old arrested after police find cocaine and cannabis
The police have arrested a 31-year-old man from Valletta, after he was found to be in possession of cocaine and cannabis.The police yesterday searched a hotel room in St Julian's and found the drugs. From a search in the man's Valletta home, more wer...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 11:00:00 +0000
‘My dream is that one day I will coach a professional team abroad’ - Andre Schembri
André Schembri was born on 27 May 1986. He is married to Clarissa Ellul, a well-known TV personality. They currently live in Cyprus due to André’s football commitments.At the age of 34 it’s not a long way to recall his child...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000
Cartoon 10 January 2020

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 08:06:00 +0000
UN envoy: Britain is 'gung ho' about world role after Brexit
Britain’s new U.N. ambassador says the government is feeling “gung ho” about continuing its role as an important player on the world stage despite its exit from the European Union.Barbara Woodward pointed to the United Kingdom&rsquo...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 12:36:00 +0000
245 new cases of Covid-19 reported as active cases reach highest ever number
Another grim record has been set after 245 cases of Covid-19 were reported by health authorities on Saturday.It is the highest ever number of cases reported in a single-day in Malta, surpassing the 224 cases reported last Wednesday.Coupled with 69 re...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 15:20:00 +0000
MUT’s time representing educators should end after ‘backdoor agreements’, UPE says; MUT hits back
The Union of Professional Educators – Voice of the Workers (UPE) has claimed that the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) and the Ministry for Education and Employment are currently conducting ad hoc agreements behind closed doors without consulting ...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 10:13:00 +0000
Two more Covid-19 patients pass away, death toll now up to 232
Two more Covid-19 patients have passed away, taking the total number of deaths in Malta up to 232.In a statement, the Health Ministry said that an 85-year-old man who tested positive for the virus on 7 January and a 77-year-old woman who tested posit...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 13:32:00 +0000
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando submits nomination, sets up three-way fight for vacant parliamentary seat
Jeffrey Pullicino Orland has thrown his hat into the ring for what will certainly be a hotly contested three-way fight in the casual election for the seat vacated by former Finance Minister Edward Scicluna.Pullicino Orlando submitted his nomination o...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 07:27:00 +0000
Pharmacies opening today between 9am and noon
Valletta: Empire Pharmacy (Branch), 46, Melita Street; Ħamrun: Thomas' Pharmacy, 796, St Joseph High Road; Santa Venera: Collis Williams Sta Venera Pharmacy, 532, St Joseph High Road; Birkirkara: Herba Pharmacy, 183, Main Street; Pietà: S...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 07:31:00 +0000
Migrant entries into EU drop to lowest levels since 2013
The number of attempts by migrants to enter the European Union without authorization dropped to its lowest level in seven years in 2020, the EU border and coast guard agency Frontex said Friday.Frontex said it detected around 124,000 “illegal b...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 07:58:00 +0000
Indonesian divers find parts of plane wreckage in Java Sea
Indonesian divers on Sunday located parts of the wreckage of a Boeing 737-500 at a depth of 23 meters (75 feet) in the Java Sea, a day after the aircraft with 62 people onboard crashed shortly after takeoff from Jakarta.“We received reports fro...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 07:51:00 +0000
Serie A: Milan rebound from Juve loss by beating Torino 2-0
Milan bounced back from its first Serie A loss by beating relegation-threatened Torino 2-0 and extending its lead in the standings on Saturday.Milan, which is bidding for a first league title in a decade, was firmly in control at halftime following a...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 07:34:00 +0000
Pitch perfect: Adele-singing 6th-tier team stuns in FA Cup
Straining to reach the high notes of an Adele ballad, Chorley's footballers have become the part-timers heard around the world as an incredible run in the FA Cup continues.In a knockout competition — the oldest in world football — that be...

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 07:47:00 +0000
Premier League: Hibernians take top spot following routine win against Senglea
Hibernians  moved to the top of the BOV Premier League after beating basement side Senglea in the first match played at the Hibs Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Paolites were coming from a last-gasp win against Balzan by a 2-1 scoreline. This...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 08:12:00 +0000
Man seriously injured after hit by bike
A man was seriously injured on Friday night when he was hit by a bike in Gzira, the police said.The accident happened in Sliema Road at 11.45pm.The pedestrian, a 37-year-old from Belarus and resident in Msida, was hit by a bike ridden by a 28-year-ol...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 08:18:00 +0000
Glad patients finding courage to speak up too - Commissioner for Mental Health
The Commissioner for Mental Health has welcomed the initiative taken by a patient to speak up about mental health issues, saying that changes are needed to improve the situation.The setting up of the Office of the Commissioner within the remit of the...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 09:30:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Casual election - Is Labour losing another seat?
The governing Labour Party could lose yet another Parliamentary seat in what looks to be another blunder by its leader, Robert Abela. We are speaking, of course, about Tuesday’s casual election, during which Edward Scicluna’s recently vac...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 14:40:00 +0000
Man injured in construction site fall
A man was injured after a fall in a construction site in Gozo, police said on Saturday.In a short statement, the police said that at around 10:30 in the morning on Saturday, police were informed that a man had been taken to hospital after an incident...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 14:28:00 +0000
Updated: Indonesia jet carrying 62 goes missing on domestic flight
A jet carrying 62 people lost contact with air traffic controllers minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on a domestic flight on Saturday, and debris found by fishermen was being examined to see if it was from the missing plane, officials...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 10:51:00 +0000
A farewell to @realDonaldTrump, gone after 57,000 tweets
@realDonaldTrump, the Twitter feed that grew from the random musings of a reality TV star into the cudgel of an American president, has died. It was not quite 12 years old. The provocative handle was given birth by a New York real estate tycoon ...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 09:08:00 +0000
DBRS praises the reforms launched by Maltese government
International agency DBRS has confirmed Malta’s rating at A (high) level with stable outlook. This means that our country continues to enjoy the best rating ever given by this agency, the government said.The report by these international expert...

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 09:11:00 +0000
Biden calls Trump 'unfit' but doesn't endorse impeachment
President-elect Joe Biden says that President Donald Trump isn't “fit for the job,” but he repeatedly refused to endorse growing Democratic calls to impeach him a second time.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to members of her c...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 17:33:00 +0000
Teachers to physically return to school on Monday after agreement reached
Schools will physically reopen their doors on Monday after an agreement between the government and the representatives of teachers was reached.A number of strengthened measures related to the reopening will come into being as of Monday when students ...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 13:47:00 +0000
Is The European Union overhauling the Schengen Area?
By the end of 2022, The European Union is aiming to introduce a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) program to its tourism industry. The ETIAS will act as a visa waiver system for passport holders from countries whose citizen...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 12:31:00 +0000
WATCH: 191 new cases, two new deaths reported
191 new cases of Covid-19 and two more deaths related to the virus were reported by health authorities on Friday.77 people have meanwhile recovered from the virus, meaning that the number of active cases has now surpassed the 2,000 mark again - stand...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 13:36:00 +0000
Gavin Gulia throws his hat into the ring for casual election
Gavin Gulia has thrown his hat into the ring for what could well be a hotly contested casual election for the seat vacated by former Finance Minister Edward Scicluna.Gulia submitted his nomination on Friday.Currently the Malta Tourism Authority chair...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 10:57:00 +0000
Covid-19 vaccine starts being administered to 4,400 elderly care home residents
The Covid-19 vaccine has started being administered to around 4,400 elderly people residing in 37 elderly care homes around Malta, the government said in a statement.Earlier this week, the vaccination process had also started in the St Vincent de Pau...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 12:22:00 +0000
Schools going online ‘depends on MUT members’, Education Minister claims
The shift for state schools to online lessons depends on the members of the Malta Union of Teachers, Education Minister Justyne Caruana claimed on Friday, as the teachers’ strike entered its second day.The strike was called by the MUT and then ...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 12:24:00 +0000
‘No amount of good can justify abuse’: Church disassociates itself from religious sect
The Church has disassociated itself from a local religious sect which has allegedly caused “psychological and spiritual abuse” to its members.In a statement, the Malta and Gozo dioceses said they were reaffirming the decision to disassoci...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 17:23:00 +0000
KSU launches campaign to encourage debate on drug use, gender equality and mental health
Your FuturEU, a campaign aimed at raising awareness and engaging students and young adults to participate in policy discussions and proposals, has been launched by Kunsill Studenti Universitarji (KSU). The campaign, which was launched during a p...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 18:51:00 +0000
President Trump won't attend Joe Biden's inauguration
President Donald Trump said Friday he won’t attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, undercutting his message a day earlier that he would work to ensure a “smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power” t...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 18:46:00 +0000
Elderly woman injured after traffic accident in Naxxar
An 81 year old woman had to be taken to Mater Dei Hospital after she was injured in a traffic accident in Triq Giuseppe Stivala, Naxxar. The accident happened at around 15:30pm and the woman is from Birkirkara. Preliminary investigations re...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 13:26:00 +0000
Pfizer study suggests vaccine works against virus variant
New research suggests that Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in two highly contagious variants of the coronavirus that erupted in Britain and South Africa.Those variants are causing global concern. They both share a...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 15:33:00 +0000
Man luckily manages to exit vehicle after it ends up in sea
A man whose car ended up in the sea had a lucky escape on Friday.His car ended up in the sea in Cirkewwa at around 2.15pm. News reports read that his brakes might have failed.The man swam to shore after getting out of his vehicle, the police told thi...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 09:11:00 +0000
'This is irresponsible, illegal; there's no way out of it' - US political expert on pro-Trump riot
The Pro-Trump riot that erupted at the US Capitol in Washington DC is equivalent to an attempted coup which is reckless, irresponsible and illegal, US political expert Dr George Vital Zammit told the Malta Independent, adding that "there is...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 15:01:00 +0000
UK regulators approve use of third Covid-19 vaccine; 'major incident' declared in London
Britain has authorized a coronavirus vaccine developed by Moderna, the third to be licensed for use in the country as it ramps up a vaccination program critical to lifting the U.K. out of the pandemic.The Department of Health said Friday that the vac...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 10:35:00 +0000
Updated: Man arraigned over Cospicua shootout, two denied bail over New Year’s Day mugging
A 55-year-old man from Cospicua has been remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to shooting at two people on Wednesday.Carmelo Calleja was arraigned on Friday in connection with the shooting that took place on 6 January.The police had said t...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 15:33:00 +0000
EU regulators OK increasing doses from virus vaccine vials
The European Union's drug agency on Friday approved doctors drawing one more dose from each vial of the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech, in a move that — combined with the purchase of 300 million extra shots of the serum — cou...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 09:44:00 +0000
MUT says high ranking health official had issued a communication about opening of schools
The Malta Union of Teachers said that in yesterday's meeting with the government, it was confirmed that a communication that was sent by a high ranking health authority official regarding its position on the opening of schools exists."This was confir...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 12:58:00 +0000
13-year-old in hospital after getting hit by car
A 13-year-old boy is in hospital after he was hit by a car in Rabat on Friday morning.The police said that the incident happened in Vjal il-Haddiem in Rabat at around 8:45 in the morning on Friday.Preliminary investigations indicated that the boy had...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 08:21:00 +0000
Biden blames Trump for violence at Capitol that's shaken US
President-elect Joe Biden has denounced the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol as “domestic terrorists” and he blamed President Donald Trump for the violence that has shaken the nation's capital and beyond.The riot by Trump supporters w...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 11:42:00 +0000
Employers call for ‘immediate resolution’ on teachers’ industrial action
The Malta Employers’ Association has called on the Government and the MUT to seek an immediate resolution to the current dispute “which is depriving children of education, and which is also creating hardships for companies and parents who...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 10:23:00 +0000
Two power shutdowns planned at MIA for upgrades to electrical infrastructure
Malta International Airport announced plans for two power shutdowns. The first shutdown will take place between 11pm of 11 January and 4am of 12 January, while the second shutdown will take place on 15 January  between midnight and 3am.The plann...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 12:35:00 +0000
164 new cases of Covid-19 found as active cases go over 1,900
164 new cases of Covid-19 were reported by health authorities on Thursday, as the number of active cases continues to increase.73 people have recovered, while one more Covid-19 patient has passed away – news which was announced earlier on Thurs...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 08:45:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Trump - Taking 2021 America to 80s Malta
To say that the scenes witnessed on US TV stations on Wednesday were disturbing is a huge understatement. Footage of heavily armed Donald Trump supporters storming the Capitol – the home of the US government – in a bid to stop a democrati...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 20:35:00 +0000
Government, MUT meeting to resolve strike action inconclusive
A meeting between the Malta Union of Teachers and the government last night to resolve the strike action was inconclusive and is set to continue today, the union said on its Facebook page.As such, the strike that began yesterday is set to continue to...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 14:54:00 +0000
71 apartments planned to be constructed on Nadur fields
A planning application has been filed proposing the construction of 71 apartments in Nadur, Gozo.The application will see the development take place on fields, in an area within the development zone on Triq il-Qortin having been part of the 2006 rati...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 17:24:00 +0000
Rethink and reevaluate Msida Creek project, NGOs and academics tell government
Ten NGOs and several academics have come together to formulate a document in which they urged the government to rethink and revaluate its plans for the Msida Creek project while providing their own proposals in anticipation of a public consultation.T...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 18:31:00 +0000
‘Education is a national priority and schools should be the last to close’ – Chamber of Commerce
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry said that keeping schools closed will 'have long-lasting impacts on the students'.The Chamber had stated in August and September that it was crucial for schools to remain open during this scholas...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 16:18:00 +0000
People over the age of 85 to receive appointment for Covid-19 vaccination next week
As of Monday, people older than 85 years of age are set to start receiving their Covid-19 vaccination appointments, the health ministry said in a statement. The letters will include the place and time of both the first and the second dose.The letters...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 09:26:00 +0000
Grech only learnt about Delia’s role in Catco donation after it was presented – PN spokesperson
Opposition leader Bernard Grech learnt about the €500,000 donation presented by PN MP Adrian Delia on behalf of Catco Group Capital Investment only after it was presented to id-Dar tal-Providenza, a PN spokesperson told The Malta Independent.Fol...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 18:12:00 +0000
Roman-era olive grove to be protected through collaboration between Ambjent Malta and Heritage Malta
Ambjent Malta and Heritage Malta have been collaborating closely to ensure the protection and upkeep of an olive grove with significant importance in Bidnija, with trees as old as 1,800 years.  This was announced by Minister for the Environment,...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 16:52:00 +0000
Two arrested over New Year’s Day robbery
Two people were arrested on Thursday for allegedly robbing a 67-year-old man in the early hours of New Year's Day.The investigation was being carried out by the major crimes unit of the Police Force and together with the district police officers of H...

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 08:30:00 +0000
Premier League: Precious win for dominant Corinthians
Zejtun gained an important win against Tarxien Rainbows to move above Balzan and send their opponents into more troubled waters. It was a well deserved win for the Corinthians who had Vieira and Reid in fine form and caused a lot of havoc to the Rain...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 10:58:00 +0000
One more Covid-19 patient passes away, taking death toll up to 228
Another Covid-19 patient has passed away, taking the total number of deaths related to the virus up to 228.In a statement, the Health Ministry said that the patient was a 74-year-old man.He tested positive for Covid-19 on 20 December, and passed away...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 08:52:00 +0000
Business representatives say new wage supplement scheme promotes fairness
The new wage supplement scheme promotes more fairness, representatives of the business sector told to The Malta Independent, noting that the future for businesses depends on the vaccine’s rollout, investment in businesses and the restructuring ...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 10:14:00 +0000
Updated: MUT, UPE say that teachers' strike was ‘big success’
The Malta Union of Teachers has said that the strike they ordered last night for this morning was a “big success” as teachers remained at home on the first day that state schools reopened for students.The MUT said that it is clear that ed...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 13:58:00 +0000
Government has not yet tried to meet with teachers’ union after strike action – MUT President
The government has not attempted to set up any meetings with the Malta Union of Teachers to try and resolve the issues which led to Thursday’s strike action, the union's President Marco Bonnici told The Malta Independent.The Malta Union of Teac...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 13:49:00 +0000
‘UK was not prepared to adopt the EU’s rule book for financial services’ – British High Commissioner
Last week the world saw the UK leaving the European Union, with a deal in hand. Dayna Camilleri Clarke spoke with British High Commissioner, Cathy Ward to discuss what Brexit means for the financial services sector.“The finalised Free trade agr...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 11:29:00 +0000
Three arrested, nobody injured after shooting in Cospicua
Three people have been arrested after a shooting incident in Cospicua, though nobody was injured, police said.In a statement, police said that at around 9pm, Cospicua district police were informed that there had likely been a shooting during an argum...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 11:42:00 +0000
Trump promises 'orderly transition' to Biden presidency on January 20
President Donald Trump now says there “will be an orderly transition on January 20th” after Congress concluded the electoral vote count certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory and after a day of violence when his supporters s...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 07:47:00 +0000
The President’s New Year’s goals: unity, environment, language and mental health
National unity, protecting the environment, promoting the Maltese language, and working against the stigma of mental health are amongst the goals of the President for the coming year.New Year’s resolutions are something of a yearly tradition, a...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 10:43:00 +0000
Candidate in the running for PL casual election seat now reportedly a PN member
Charles Azzopardi, who is in the running for Labour’s parliamentary seat to replace former Finance Minister Edward Scicluna is reportedly now a member of the Nationalist Party, according to the Times of Malta. Azzopardi, formerly the mayor of R...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 07:51:00 +0000
Government schools to open in spite of teachers’ strike
Government schools are opening this morning in spite of a two-day strike ordered by the Malta Union of Teachers.The government said it is following the guidelines of the health authorities. In a meeting on Wednesday, it was explained to the Malta Uni...

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 20:39:00 +0000
Updated: Pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol in bid to overturn election
A violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday and forced lawmakers into hiding, in a stunning attempt to overturn America’s presidential election, undercut the nation’s democracy and keep Democrat Joe...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 10:26:00 +0000
Southbound lanes of Marsa-Ħamrun Bypass flyover to close again over sub-standard tarmac
The southbound lanes of the Marsa-Ħamrun Bypass Flyover in Qormi will be closed today and Sunday after Infrastructure Malta found that the asphalt used was sub-standard.The announcement was made yesterday on Infrastructure Malta’s (IM) soc...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 07:03:00 +0000
World leaders appalled by US rioting, urge peaceful transfer
Teargas and bullets in the U.S. Capitol building. Outrage and condemnation from leaders across the world.“What is happening is wrong,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a statement Thursday. “Democracy — the ri...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 07:54:00 +0000
TMID Editorial: Delayed inquiries - Unnecessary pain for grieving families
Ten months have passed since the Pace family was struck by tragedy. Yet so many months down the line, Miriam Pace’s husband and children are still waiting for the findings of a report four court-appointed experts were charged with writing up. A...



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