Corporate Dispatch Morning Briefing – Thursday 16th May 2019

Good morning

Your morning briefing for Thursday, with a round up of news from Malta, Europe and around the world.

This is our headline selection.

Candidates in the race to replace Jean-Claude Juncker clashed over jobs, climate change and how to fix the European Union at a special debate in Brussels on Wednesday night. It was part of the spitzenkandidat – or “lead candidate” – process, where contenders for the role are put forward by the pan-European groups of like-minded political parties in the European Parliament.

US President Donald Trump declared a national emergency and signed an executive order that bans U.S. companies from using foreign telecom services that could pose a national security threat.

With this decision, Trump effectively bans companies from using Huawei, China’s largest telecom company.

For the first time Saudi Arabia has introduced a scheme where certain expatriates can obtain permanent residency, allowing them to own real estate and reside with their families without a Saudi sponsor.

The head of security at Geneva airport in Switzerland has been arrested in a corruption investigation.

These are the main headlines from Malta’s newspapers.

The Malta Business Weekly reports that the Malta Financial Services Authority published its strategy document to transform Malta into a FinTech hub.

The Times reveals that the government has approved the addition of a fourth Gozo Channel ferry.

The Malta Independent leads with a story about a wife accused of grievously stabbing her husband in an argument after her repeated reports of domestic violence to the police fell on deaf ears. 

The Malta Business Weekly says that Simonds Farsons Cisk plc registered an all-time high turnover of €99.8 million for the year ending January 31.

The Times says that the survivors of the drive-by shooting in Ħal Far last month are still traumatised by the violent incident.

The Malta Independent reveals that a new Major Incident Unit at Mater Dei Hospital is located in the basement in the administration building.

L-Orizzont reports that a vote taken by the Nationalist MEPs about tax harmonisation is threatening the livelihood of 35,000.

In another story, L-Orizzont reports that the EU can’t push Malta to do abortion.

In-Nazzjon
reports that the Nationalist Party is committed to improve the quality of life of people.

In another story In-Nazzjon reports how the latest statistics from NSO confirm that the cost of living has gone up in April.

UPDATE: Maltese News Portals report that a man is due to be taken to court to face charges in connection with the arson which destroyed the 120-year-old festive arch in Floriana last month.

CD