Good morning
Your Sunday Morning newspaper frontpages’ stories review.
MaltaToday publishes a survey on the voter sentiment about legislation permitting recreational cannabis. The paper finds that just under 24 percent of voters are in favour, with the highest rate of approval among 18–35 year-olds, standing at 38 percent.
The Sunday Times says that the Secondary Education Applied Certificate will be introduced from next year, offering an alternative study route to the current academic study path. The SEAC will take a more hands-on approach to learning.
The Malta Independent on Sunday raises questions over whether original seed capital loans taken by the Corinthia Group with the National Bank of Malta were ever paid back since the bank was seized in the 1970s and files had gone missing.
MaltaToday reports that revenue from tolls for cars crossing the Gozo-Malta tunnel would not cover the initial cost od investment, estimated at €300 million. The paper says that the government is expected to subsidise the operation with taxpayer money.
The Sunday Times reveals that investigators discovered hundreds of millions of euros at Satabank linked to international fuel smuggling. The report says that authorities are going through a network of shell companies.
MaltaToday quotes a report by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue who says that foreign workers in Malta contributed one-sixth of social security in 2017. The contributions add up to some €100 million.
The Sunday Times quotes YMCA CEO Anthony Buttigieg who said that the shelter has to turn down around five people every day because there is not enough room. In another story, the apaper says that Repubblika is requesting the European Commission to act on allegations of money laundering by top officials.
The Malta Independent on Sunday speaks to Sarah Formosa, daughter of Paul Anthony Formosa who has this week been killed by terrorists in Somalia. Formosa reveals that the last words she told her father were ‘I love you’.
It-Torċa follows the case, too, and says that the attack on Paul Formosa was planned and carried out ‘by a hand from within’. The paper says that terrorist group Al-Shabaab had been planning the murder for more than a week.
Illum leads with a story about the ‘lack of presence’ of the PN in Gozo. The paper says it speaks to different sources who are worried that the party is ignoring the thirteenth district and that no MEP candidate has been nominate from the island so far.
Kulħadd says that 99 percent of students who applied for free school transport are being served. The paper reports that some 27,000 students are using the system which involves 170 operators.
It-Torċa says Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte backed Interior Minister Matteo Salvini in the Diciotti case. The Deputy Prime Minister is being accused of effectively kidnapping 177 immigrants aboard the Diciotti ship.
Il-Mument leads with a story about pensions and says that a looming crisis in the area represents another failure for the government. The paper says that panic developed after the Prime Minister ‘admitted’ that pensions are under threat.
Illum says that footballs referees are taking industrial action against the Malta Football Association. Speaking to the paper, the MFA said it will not cave in and is ready to bring foreign referees.
It-Torċa quotes Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi who said that 13 new flight routes are expected to be introduced in the first months of the year. The Minister said the island attracted 2.6 million visitors in 2018.
Il-Mument says that the Church Environment Commission criticised the economic policy of the government for overlooking the impact on the environment. The paper says that fresh concerns arise with a waste-disposal crisis.
