UPDATE: No more masks and other COVID measures eased

May 2 2022

As of today, Monday 2nd May 2022, masks are no longer needed inside shops, restaurants and other such establishments. Masks remain mandatory only in hospitals, clinics, elderly care homes as well as on flights or at the airport.

When it comes to travelling, the Passenger Locator Form has also been removed for all arrivals. Weddings and events have gone back to normal as well following a two-year hiatus.

Seven day quarantines have been reduced to positive cases. Primary and secondary contacts are no longer required to quarantine.

Health Minister Chris Fearne also announced this weekend that the invitation for the second booster dose of the vaccine will be issued to over-65s soon, but it will be voluntary for anyone who wishes to add an ‘extra layer of protection.’

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Jason Azzopardi given 24 hours to back up corrupt donation allegation

May 2 2022

The Nationalist Party has given former MP Jason Azzopardi 24 hours to substantiate allegations he made that someone donated money to the Opposition in return for a presidential pardon for a relative.

A PN statement said that following an urgent meeting sparked by the allegations, the party’s administrative council agreed on the ultimatum following a request by Bernard Grech.

Azzopardi has been summoned to the PN Commission for Ethics, Discipline and Social Media, but no consequences were specified. The allegations by the former outspoken PN MP came after Grech said that all politicians have an expiry date when asked about Azzoaprdi’s non-election in 2022.

In response, Azzopardi took to Facebook to state how inventing expiry dates is easy and went on to rhetorically ask; ‘Could it be that I was an obstacle to those who gave money as a donation so that their relative could receive a pardon in 2021?’

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Hibernians seize championship title after 3-1 victory

May 2 2022

Hibernians emerged victorious yesterday after they beat Birkirkara 3-1 at the National Stadium, seizing their 13th domestic title and leading with six points at the top of the table.

With just one point needed by the Paolites to win their place, the Hibernians started off their match rather shockingly after their opponents’ Federico Falcone found the net.

However, Jurgen Degabriele soon brought the score to a match soon after, with Hibernians going on to score two more goals in the second half. Dunstan Vella and Dos Anjos continued to seal the deal in the latter half.

With the first goal marking Degabriele’s 14th goal of the season, the team kicked off celebrations soon after the referee blew the final whistle to enjoy their sought-after victory.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Kenneth Cassar

Jason Azzopardi’s response to expiry claims sparks investigation

May 1 2022

A response issued by unelected MP Jason Azzopardi following remarks by PN leader Bernard Grech has sparked an internal investigation.

Despite recognising all the work Azzopardi had done, especially as lawyer to the Caruana Galizia family, the Opposition leader said that every politician had to accept that their political journey had an expiry date.

This follows Azzopardi’s failure to get elected in the fourth district and the ninth district, after he was replaced by fresh new faces. Grech also denied that the party had worked against the campaign of the former PN MP on Radio 103 on Friday.

Azzopardi however responded on social media by saying that ‘it seems those who read the expiry dates of others often forget their own shelf life’. Another statement followed, saying that he had stopped a donation to the party from somebody seeking a presidential pardon for a relative.

“It’s easy inventing an expiry date. Maybe that was because I was an obstacle to a donation from someone who wanted a presidential pardon for their relative, right?”

Following this, the PN leader announced that the party will be holding an administrative council meeting to discuss Azzopardi’s allegations that funds were received by the party for the presidential pardon.

Grech categorically denied the accusation, saying that it is very serious and that the party wants to leave no shadow upon itself.

#MaltaDaily