Good morning,
The foreign media main news, as expected is related to the Cabinet approval of the Brexit deal, which by no means that the path ahead is clear. Locally the main issues relate to last week’s revelations on the ownership of 17 Black.
Your morning briefing presents you with a quick roundup of the salient news.
The Latest
The British Prime Minister Theresa May said “The collective decision of the cabinet was to agree with the agreement reached.” She added “I believe what I owe to this country is to take decisions in the best interest of the whole country. I believe with my heart and my mind that this is the best decision in the interest of the entire United Kingdom”. “It is either this deal or no Brexit at all”, she said.
EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier said the text was the result of “very intensive” negotiations stretching back 17 months. “We are at an important moment in this extraordinary negotiation”, he said. “There remains a lot of work to do”, he said. “I know that the way ahead is still long and perhaps difficult to guarantee an orderly withdrawal” and a to build “durable” future partnership, he said.
Michael Avenatti, the telegenic attorney best known for representing porn star Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against President Trump, was arrested Wednesday for assaulting his ex-wife, according to a report.
The Libyan coast guard reported Wednesday that migrant passengers aboard a container ship docked at the port of Misrata are refusing to disembark. DW
An angry Donald Trump removed a senior advisor Wednesday after First Lady Melania Trump demanded her sacking, with more heads set to roll in a White House reshuffle triggered by infighting and setbacks in the midterm elections. France 24
Jewelery that once belonged to French Queen Marie Antoinette sold for millions at an auction in Geneva on Wednesday, in an auction billed by Sotheby’s as a “once in a lifetime” moment. DW
The Review
The Malta Business Weekly says that confidence in the retail sector has dropped significantly in the second quarter, according to the Central Bank Quarterly Review. The sentiment in the sector fell among both businesses and consumers, down to 116 points from 122 in the previous quarter. It, however, remains above the long-term average of 101 points.
The Malta Independent spoke to the Maltese and German partners in the Electrogas consortium who, it says, have distanced themselves from 17 Black. They also said they were unaware of who owned another reported secret company called Macbridge. Electrogas is composed of German Siemens, Azerbaijani SOCAR, and Maltese investors Gasan Group, Tumas Group, and the Apap Bologna family.
The Times reports on the United Nations periodic review concerning Malta, which urged government to protect against violence to journalists. The Maltese delegation headed by Equality Minister Helena Dalli also faced calls for an independent inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and to address issues related to financial crimes.
The Malta Independent reports that the European Parliament committee on financial crimes presented a draft document recommending the phasing out of Citizenship by Investment schemes across the EU. The document will be discussed by the EP and, later, voted on.
The Times says that the Malta Gaming Authority will enter into agreements with the Italian Guardia di Finanza to exchange information linked to investigations into illegal gambling activities in Malta. Digital Economy Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri made the announcement in parliament after Italian media reported on a major investigation carried out by the country’s authorities with the help of other jurisdictions, including Malta.
L-Orizzont quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that by the end of the year, diabetes sticks will have been delivered in all towns around Malta and Gozo. The minister said this is further proof that the health sector is a priority to the government.
In-Nazzjon says that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has not taken any action after the revelations about 17 Black. The paper says that Opposition Leader Adrian Delia presented an urgent motion in parliament to ask for the removal of Minister Keith Schembri and Chief of Staff Keith Schembri.
L-Orizzont carries another story from parliament after a heated debate between the two sides. The paper quotes government MP Silvio Schembri who told opposition MP Simon Busuttil he should be ashamed of himself for using his parliamentary privilege to make allegations against members of the government.
L-Orizzont speaks to the mayor of Gudja who said the Local Council is waiting for a by-law to prohibit cars of non-residents from being parked longer than 24 hours in the area. The newspaper also quotes Faculty of Social Wellbeing Dean Andrew Azzopardi who deems Adrian Delia’s as PN Leader is untenable.
