Good morning,
Your morning briefing with the main news from news organisations and sites from Malta, Europe and around the World
These are the main headlines from Malta’s newspapers on Sunday.
MaltaToday reveals that the investigation into falsified signatures reported by the Opposition Leader and the FIAU investigation into suspicions of money-laundering are two unconnected cases.
The Independent on Sunday follows a story of a double murder allegedly committed by a from Għaxaq whose sister and mother were found dead in a field. The paper spoke to neighbours who said they knew the suspect to be kind and quiet.
The Sunday Times also reports on the story and says that a motive for the murder has not yet been established by the police. Investigators say that the two women were unlikely to have been killed in the site where their bodies were found.
It-Torċa identifies the suspected murderer as Joseph, 39, who acquaintances said loves birds and other animals. People who spoke to the paper say the family had enormous pressures after the mother’s husband was also found guilty of a double murder in 2000.
Il-Mument says that the victims were shot from a close range and were wrapped in sheets before being dropped in the field. The paper says that the suspect has long complained about his mother’s preference towards his sister who, in turn, bad-mouthed him.
The Independent on Sunday reports that the Council of Europe is waiting the government’s approval to publish the country report on Malta by the anti-corruption body Greco. The Council says it is unusual that a country does not allow the report to be made public.
The Sunday Times claims to have seen a draft of the Greco report which warns that the system of criminal justice is facing the risk of ‘paralysis’. The paper says the assessment indicates that Malta needs to strengthen its ways of handling corruption cases involving government officials.
MaltaToday says that a bye-law has made loitering illegal in Birkirkara. Offenders will be slapped with a €65 fine which the local council was a step taken to deter people sleeping rough in public places.
Illum speaks to PN Leader Adrian Delia about the latest reports about an FIAU money-laundering probe. Delia dismissed the allegations as lies orchestrated by Castille and vowed that he will not resign.
Kulħadd says that 80 low-income families become homeowners thanks to an affordable loan scheme issued by the government. The Housing Authority helped families to seek loans at better rates, as an alternative to social accommodation.
It-Torċa reveals that Air Malta is in talks with Airbus to modernise its fleet and has identified the A321 XLR as the preferred model. Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi said that other aircraft has been considered by the A321 best fits into the carrier’s long-haul strategy.
Kulħadd speaks to four academics about the proposed reform to encourage the participation of more women in public life. Dr Mark Montebello, Dr Marceline Naudi, Prof. Andrew Azzopardi, and Prof. Godfrey Walter Pirotta describe the system as ‘intelligent’.
Il-Mument says it has information showing that the reviewed deal between the Corinthia group and government will not be announced until after the elections in May. The paper says that only ‘cosmetic changes’ have been made to the original agreement.
These are the news headlines from around the world.
Slovakia has elected its first female president a year after a journalist’s murder triggered calls for change. Political novice Zuzana Caputova ran on a slogan of “Stand up to evil.” – Read More
Two teenagers under the age of 18 are among the thee migrants charged with hijacking the commercial tanker which docked in Malta earlier this week. – Read More
Israeli forces have killed four Palestinians, including three teenagers, and shot more than 40 others at gatherings on the Gaza frontier marking the anniversary of the demonstration movement, the territory’s ministry of health said. – Read More
Theresa May must not be allowed to lead the Conservatives into a snap election, senior Tories have warned. Read More
EU leaders are prepared to let Britain delay Brexit again to allow time for a second referendum, The Independent reports. – Read More
Around a third of the seats in the next European Parliament could be taken by candidates from populist parties or coalitions if elections were held this week, Sky News analysis has found. – Read More
The Facebook boss, Mark Zuckerberg, has set out how he believes the social network and the internet should be regulated. – Read More
Yellow vest activists protested across France on Saturday to support an activist injured last week in a confrontation with police and to show that they remain mobilized against the government’s economic policies. – Read More
Security guards tackled a man who ran towards a motorcade carrying Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and Pope Francis. – Read More
Meanwhile in Morocco, Pope Francis took aim Saturday at the world’s hardening anti-migrant sentiments and said problems could never be solved by “raising barriers” or “fomenting fear of others”. – Read More
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc beat team-mate Sebastian Vettel to take his maiden pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix. – Read More
