Good morning,
The daily newspapers give prominence to the Luqa hit-and-run incident on Tuesday Morning, when a police officer was ran over by an underage driver. The Malta Independent carries the story <<Hit-and-run teenager pleads not guilty to attempted murder of policeman, denied bail>> and names the accused as a 17 year-old labourer from Tarxien. In court yesterday, bail was requested after the prosecution objected to the request, pointing to the “impressive gravity” of the offence indicating other driving and criminal offences.
L-Orizzont gives a detailed description of the events on Tuesday in the main article titled <<Kaxkru u baqa’ jserrep bih tul it-triq kollha>>. The story, that continues on the inside pages of the paper, describes how the accused drove towards PC Simon Schembri after he was stopped by the police officer for driving without the seatbelt fastened. As the constable turned to retrieve papers from the back of the motorcycle, Liam Debono, writes the article, stepped on the pedal, hit the officer and dragged him along the road causing critical him harm.
The story in In-Nazzjon focuses on the proceedings in Court where Liam Debono appeared before Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech facing 22 charges which, quoting the prosecution, the newspapers says could lend the accused a life sentence. The article <<Jitressaq il-Qorti u jibda jaffaċċja 22 kap ta’ akkuża>> says that the teenager, who already has a history of criminal offences, is being accused of driving with false number plates, theft of number plates, driving without insurance policy cover, and of driving without a driver’s licence, among others.
In its article with the heading <<Police representatives insist on insurance>> The Times of Malta reports the Malta Police Association lament that in cases of injuries, police officers must depend on “handouts” because of the lack of insurance cover. Police Association secretary general Robert Vella has spoken after the incident involving PC Simon Schembri and said that he is unsure of the government’s stand on the Association’s request.
In a second frontpage story, The Times of Malta reports that 62 of the 68 local councils inspected by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority were in breach of safety regulation. The article <<Safety measures wanting in local councils>> says that the situation was highlighted in a 2017 report by the OHSA which carried the on-site inspections after an extensive awareness campaign targeting mayors and local council executive secretaries.
The Malta Independent carries a second story on the frontpage reporting a demonstration in Pembroke last night against the db Group project on the former site of ITS. In <<Residents, activists rally in protest against db Group’s Pembroke mega development>> the article writes that the demonstration was organised by Pembroke residents and backed by several NGOs including Moviment Graffitti, Kamp Emerġenza Ambjent, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Nature Trust (Malta) and Friends of the Earth (Malta). Politicians from PN, PD and AD also joined the protest.
The frontpage of L-Orizzont covers two other stories: <<Il-Gozo Channel titlef eluf ta’ ewro bit-theddida ta’ bomba>> reports that the ferry company will press charges against the accused Ronald Mallia and Joelle Galea, both of whom appeared in court in relation to the bomb scare last week. Another story titled <<”Is-soċjetà ġġib diżabbli lil persuna”>> quotes Noel Aquilina, 40, who says that although suffering from spina bifida he and other persons with disabilities have a lot to offer.
A second story on In-Nazzjon reports that 23-year-old Deniro Bugeja from Żabbar, is standing accused of raping a girl of 15. The story <<Joħroġ mill-ħabs u jistupra tfajla>> reports that the accused had just been released from jail when the offence was committed.
The main story in The Malta Business Weekly <<Economic sentiment confidence soars>> in Q4 2017 the economic sentiment indicator rose from 114 to 120. Results published be the Central Bank’s Quarterly Review show that confidence in the retail sector increased to 21, up from 8; while the sentiment in the construction sector reached an all-time high with an indicator level of 27. In a follow-up story on the case of New Zealand trusts held by Minister Konrad Mizzi and PM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, a story under the heading <<New Zealand accountants ‘did not backdate documents’>> reports that the Bentleys Chartered Accountants Limited denied that it was New Zealand accountants who backdated the papers. Director Roger Thompson was reacting to stories published by The Daphne Project involving investigations following the Panama Papers leak in April 2016.
The backpage of The Malta Business Weekly carries two stories: <<Farsons highlights investments and innovation during Prime Minister’s visit>> reporting on an exhibition inaugurated by the Prime Minister to mark the company’s 90th anniversary. The second article <<HSBC Malta hosts top international expert on foreign exchange>> carries a story about a recent event for business and corporate customers headlined by internationally acclaimed foreign exchange strategist David Bloom.
In-Nazzjon devotes its backpage to the case of the bomb scare on board a Gozo Channel ferry and reports that the accused made the call to avoid appearing in Court in Gozo. The article is titled <<Il-mottiv: Għawdxija ma reditx tattendi l-Qorti għal kawża li kellha>>.
<<Ċans li l-laqgħa għolja bejn Trump u Kim Jong-Un ma ssirx>> is the backpage story on L-Orizzont following a recent twist in developments between the highly-anticipated summit between the two leaders. North Korea reacted strongly to comments by newly-appointed US Defence Advisor John Bolton who likened the situation in the communist country to 2011 Libya. The Foreign Affairs Ministry in North Korea questioned the intentions of the US.
The Talking Point in The Times of Malta is penned by PN MEP Francis Zammit Dimech. In his article <<Muted speech and a distant dream>> the MEP opines that Malta is still a long way from Press Freedom and talks of the plight of journalists to carry out their work in the face of obstacles thrown in their path by “B-ranked politicians”.
<<International day against homophobia and transphobia>> is the opinion article by National Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Renee Laviera, carried on the backpage of The Malta Independent. The author reflects on the achievements in LGBTIQ rights since 1973, on the day against homophobia and transphonia, observed internationally today. Mrs Laviera says that Malta has ranked first in the Rainbow Index for the third successive year, placing the country as a “leading example for other countries”.
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