Good morning
Europe’s attention turns on Brussels, for what is expected to be the ‘trigger’ of the longest period in British politics. Your morning briefing for Sunday brings you the latest headlines from around the world and a review of Malta’s newspapers.
Our Quote for the Day
Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do. – Pope John XXIII
NewsPaper Front Page Review
MaltaToday reveals that the facial recognition systems announced by the Prime Minster before the budget will likely not be installed because of privacy rules would not make it legal. The system was to be deployed by government company Safe City Malta, which was working with Chinese tech giant Huawei.
The Sunday Times follows up on the data breach from the Lands Authority website and speaks to the company which developed the authority’s website. Webee Ltd., told the newspaper that it only designed the front-end of the website and that it did not write the application code that was subject to the breach.
The Malta Independent on Sunday says that the Ministry of Foreign Affair has requested an explanation from government official Neville Gafa’ who the Libyan media this week said was on a diplomatic mission on behalf of the Maltese government. Gafa’ said that he was in Libya on a private journey.
Another story in MaltaToday says that the MSFA stepped in to freeze Satabank assets when the FIAU had suspicions that the Bulgarian-owned bank was operating a high-risk model and had developed links with organised crime.
MaltaToday speaks to police sources who said that the investigation is still corroborating evidence in the 17 Black before it can establish any reasonable suspicion of criminal intent and proceed to make interrogation.
The Sunday Times says a judicial assistant assigned to aid in an inquiry into allegations of kickbacks by Chief of Staff Keith Schembri is a partner in the Prime Minister’s personal lawyer’s firm. The paper says this presents a conflict of interest.
The Malta Independent on Sunday speaks to MFSA CEO Joseph Cuschieri who said that the banking legal and regulatory framework in Malta needs to be reviewed to address the multiple challenges faced by the sector. Cuschieri said a new strategy would take a long-term view on innovation, governance, service quality, and the competitive landscape.
It-Torċa says that police have started an investigation in to the expropriation of a site in the Tal-Fekruna area under a Nationalist administration when Jason Azzopardi was Minister for Lands. The paper says the government may have lost at least €1 million in the transfer.
Illum reports on a case of alleged corruption in football involving a club in the Malta First Division. The paper says the police was informed of the case but no action has, so far, been taken.
Il-Mument publishes the themes that PN Leader Adrian Delia is expected to address in the closing speech of the party’s General Council on Sunday. The paper says Delia will outline the vision for the country, the latest developments in the 17 Black case, and the PN’s commitment to good governance and long-term planning.
In another story It-Torċa speaks to lawyer Franco Debono after a case this week in which the court ruled police interrogation in the absence of a lawyer inadmissible as evidence, leading to the discharge of a woman from her 12-month jail sentence. Debono said this can set a precedent for all other similar cases. It-Torċa quotes a study which projects that dementia cases in Malta will rise to 14,000 by 2040.
Kulħadd leads with an extended feature of areas that are registering ‘success’ for Malta: the fight against poverty; lowering of taxation; credit reform and better governance. In another article, the paper says that PN MP Jason Azzopardi wants to influence journalists by dripping information from the Auditor’s Office report on the power station.
Il-Mument, in another story, says that the revelations about 17 Black have created a ‘crisis’ that has divided the Labour Party.
Our Headlines
Theresa May writes to the nation
“Non litighiamo – We are Friends” – Conte to Juncker
Khashoggi’s daughters pay tribute to ‘Dad’
Libya – The French hint support to Haftar
International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women
Taiwanese President announces resignation after electoral defeat
MEP Election Watch – Greens choose candidates for Commission President
Protests in Paris – The Day After
