Corporate Dispatch Morning Briefing

Good Morning

Your morning briefing for today leads with the fire which engulfed the Notre Dame cathedral in France, the story which is dominating the world headlines across the world. It also covers the salient news from Malta’s newspaper front page and other news.

A fire that spread from the attic of Notre-Dame cathedral on Monday has caused its spire to crash to the ground, and devastated Paris’s historical monument. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. It spread from the attic, and quickly across a large part of the roof. The flames devoured the roof’s wooden frame, which is more than 100 metres in length and nicknamed “the forest”.An investigation was opened for accidental destruction by fire, Paris prosecutors said. – READ MORE HERE. 

The morning briefing is brought to you by CI Consulta’s media monitoring service Be Informed. Contact us if you require specific media monitoring service for your business, to make informed business decisions.

The stories from Malta’s front pages follow: 

The Times quotes economist Gordon Cordina who said that the €141 million investment in infrastructural projects around Malta are estimated to reap €1.2 billion in ‘tangible benefits’ over 25 years. New roads will free up more time for drivers and reduce carbon emissions.

L-Orizzont also reports on the briefing by economist Cordina who made the calculation on seven main projects: the Marsa-Ħamrun Bypass, Marsa Junction, Central Link, Tal-Balal Road, Buqana Road, St Andrew’s Tunnels and Santa Luċija Tunnels.

The Malta Independent says that 76 professionals were called in to assist with the major accident that took place between Most and Mġarr on Sunday. Two women died in the car crash while seven others, including four children, were injured.

The Times says that the Public Contracts Review Board has expressed concerns over a change in tender requirements allowing companies to bid for projects without first obtaining clearance from the taxman. The Board demanded the Finance Ministry and the Contracts Department to reverse the rules.

The Malta Independent reports on a case flagged by the Ombudsman in which parents were made to wait six months for a death certificate to be issued for their son. The paper says that the samples of the young man’s blood had to be tested abroad, which is sent only twice a year.

In-Nazzjon says that the Opposition has tabled a motion for the setting up of a parliamentary committee to discuss the recommendations by the Venice Commission and Greco. Speaking in parliament, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said that the government has no interest in fighting corruption.

L-Orizzont quotes Justice Minister Owen Bonnici who said that 50 people have received treatment since the introduction of the Drug Dependency Act four years ago. The Minister said the legislation gave drug offenders a second chance.

In other stories:

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera warned that 800,000 migrants and Libyans could ‘invade’ Italy from conflict-torn Libya. Among them, he said, were criminals and, above all, jihadists linked to ISIS.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is once under investigation for kidnapping migrants. Salvini on Monday said he is being probed for allegedly abducting migrants allegedly held on a ship stopped from landing in Siracusa from January 24 to 30 this year.

EU member states have given the final approval for copyright reforms in a bid to overhaul its two-decade old copyright rules. The clearing of this final hurdle ensures artists and news publishers get their due in the internet era. The proposed reforms have triggered Europe-wide protests over internet freedom.

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