Good morning,
Your morning briefing for today, with the latest news headlines and news from Malta, Europe and around the world.
Our choice:
Sources close to the Italian Interior Ministry are being quoted as saying that Italy and Malta are to form an “anti-illegals axis” after rescued migrants hijacked a merchant ship and forced it to go to Malta after stopping it taking them back to Libya.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in will travel to the United States in two weeks for a summit with President Donald Trump on stalemated North Korean nuclear diplomacy.
Today would have been Brexit Day. On what would have been the eve of Brexit Day, a Banksy artwork depicting politicians in the House of Commons as chimpanzees has been put on display “to mark Brexit day”
During these last days for the second time in less than two weeks, rockets were fired toward central Israel. With 50 days until the Eurovision kicks off in Tel Aviv, concerns about an escalation during the competition or the possibility of a one-off attack are constantly present.
At a subdued national memorial service Friday for victims of New Zealand’s mosque terror attacks, speakers emphasized confidence in the country and its handling of the tragedy’s aftermath.
These are the main stories from Malta’s newspapers.
The Times reveals that the number of clerks at Mount Carmel Hospital almost tripled in the weeks leading to the election. A report by the National Audit Office said that clerical workers were engaged by a private contractor after recommendation by the Health Ministry.
The Malta Independent follows the operation by the Armed Forces as a special team boarded and took control of the EL Hiblu 1 tanker which had been hijacked by rescued migrants off the coast of Libya on Wednesday and made its way into Maltese territorial waters.
The Times also reports on the arrival of the migrants, half of whom are minors. The paper says that the leaders of the take-over did not use violence but threatened the ship captain that they would turn on the crew if it sailed back to Libya.
In-Nazzjon , too, leads with the sailing of the El Hiblu 1 into Boiler Wharf in Senglea and says that five men believed to be the ring leaders behind the hijacking were arrested upon disembarking.
The Malta Independent carries a story about a demonstration outside the Planning Authority offices in Floriana, where activists set up camp for the weekend. Moviment Graffitti is protesting the lack of progress on the fuel station policy review and said it is laying a siege on the PA just as it is holding the country under siege.
L-Orizzont announces the official launch of the Valletta Cultural Council on Thursday. Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said that culture generates jobs and new careers.
L-Orizzont says that the Union of Teachers is concerned about the declining number of teachers and LSEs. Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said that the conditions for educators already have improved and is willing to consider new proposals by the Union.
Other headlines:
The Danish Immigration Ministry in a statement announced that children born abroad to Danish citizens who fought alongside Islamic militants will no longer receive Danish citizenship.
Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the Hagia Sophia museum in Istanbul will be controversially turned into a mosque.
Sydney Airport was brought to its knees today after smoke was detected inside the air control tower.
President Donald Trump said he is backing off a budget request to cut funding for the Special Olympics, after days of criticism.
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