Friday Morning Briefing

Good morning,

Your daily morning briefing gives you a roundup of the salient news from around the world and a review of Malta’s newspaper front-pages stories.

Start Your Day Informed

One of the UK’s biggest airports is finally restarting operations after over 32 hours of complete shutdown due to repeated drone sightings — which affected more than 110,000 passengers during the busiest travel period of the year.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, whose experience and stability were widely seen as a balance to an unpredictable president, resigned Thursday in protest of President Trump’s decision to withdraw American forces from Syria and his rejection of international alliances.

David Miliband has criticised Vladimir Putin after the Russian president spoke out against a second Brexit referendum.

Services are to be held in Scotland and the US to remember the victims of the Lockerbie bombing 30 years on. Wreaths will be laid at a memorial garden in Lockerbie to honour the 270 people killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up on 21 December 1988.

In July 2016, 17-year-old Mike Mansholt left Germany for a vacation to Malta, and disappeared. Police officers began investigating shortly thereafter, and Mike’s body was found eight days later. Initially, the father was told his son died from a fall. But inconsistencies began piling up, and the body was returned to Germany without its organs. Mansholt set out on a two-year journey to uncover the truth about what happened to his son.

The News Paper Review 

The Times quotes a real estate agent who says that the decision to grant a prime location in St George’s Bay to the Corinthia Group for €121 million was baffling and could spell disaster for the construction industry. The estate agent said that the site has been exceedingly undervalued and other businesses in the area would be right to feel shortchanged.

The Malta Independent speaks to FIAU Deputy Director Alfred Zammit who says that the Unit will have implemented the action plan to address shortcomings highlighted by the European Banked Authority by June. The major steps in the plan will be taken by March.

The Times says that Facebook received requests by the Maltese government for information on 199 accounts during the first six months of the year. The paper says the figure is higher than the 161 requests made over the same period last year.

The Malta Independent carries an interview with PN MEP Roberta Metsola who says that she does not intent to contest the general elections for now but is ready to do what the party asks her to. Metsola says that the Opposition is getting stronger everyday and she stands behind leader Adrian Delia.

L-Orizzont says that the second-largest drug haul was made this week, with the Customs Department uncovering more than five tons of cannabis hidden in a container at the Malta Freeport. Customs Director General Joseph Chetcuti told the paper the successful operation was thanks to investment in technology.

In-Nazzjon leads with a story about a joint operation between the Customs Department and the police which led to the interception of ‘tons of cannabis’ at the Malta Freeport. The paper said the huge haul was hidden in a container carrying rolls of fabric.

In another story, L-Orizzont reveals that the tagging system for by children using the school transport system will be evaluated after a trial period in one college.

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who, at the opening of the Milied Flimkien activity in Valletta, called for hope and courage to look to the future. Delia said that authorities, institutions, and organisation shall unite during these days to deliver a common message of optimism.

Other News

Media reported that Jose Mourinho did not want Manchester United to retain Ryan Giggs as part of the coaching staff because of his “extra-marital affair with his brother’s wife.”

Home Alone is a Christmas classic, and Google has now launched a new ad that will tap into oil well of sweet Home Alone fan nostalgia, in the best way possible!

Austria has something special to celebrate this festive period as it marks 200 years since the first performance of one of the world’s most beloved Christmas carols, “Silent Night”.

Radio host Iain Lee has been credited with helping save a man’s life after keeping a suicidal caller on the line for 30 minutes until an ambulance arrived.