Good morning,
Your morning briefing for Wednesday, with a review of the main news, the front page stories of Malta’s newspapers and a quick roundup of the main headlines.
Main News
Click on headline to read more
Top US diplomat for EU affairs resigns
US to pursue extradition of Huawei CFO
Companies signal loosing patience on Brexit
Putin’s trust rating reaches lowest level since 2006
Germany suspends participation in Operation Sophia
UK has duty of holding MEP elections if Brexit is delayed beyond May
Supreme Court allowed Trump to enforce banning of transgender people from military
Lawyer for a former U.S. marine accused of spying by Russia says his client had been misled
Weather conditions force delays in flights in main UK airports
Malta’s Newspapers
MaltaToday leads with an ‘admonition’ by the European Commission of cash-for-passport schemes run by Malta, Cyprus, and Bulgaria, The paper says that the tone of the complaint, however, is not as strong as Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova has indicated last year.
The Malta Independent quotes a report by the European Social Policy Network which says that outpatient waiting time at the hospital has increased significantly. On the other hand, inpatient waiting time has been reduced.
The Times reports on the ongoing dispute between fuel station operators and government. The GRTU, representing SMEs, said that it finds it unacceptable that the Energy Minister Joe MIzzi will not be able to hold meetings until the weekend.
MaltaToday also follow the story and says that GRTU condemned fuel supplier Enemed for trying to contact fuel stations after their negotiations with the Energy Minister failed. The union said the company was supposed to be independent and reiterated that it would not bow to pressure.
The Malta Independent says that the Public Accounts Committee approved the nomination of Karl Izzo as non-resident ambassador to Montenegro. While the government sided voted in favour, the Opposition side argued that Izzo lacks the diplomatic experience the roles requires and voted against.
The Times says that the government has reopened negotiations with the Corinthia Group after being warned that the deal breaches EU State Aid rules. Advice from a Brussels legal firm said that the agreed price of land would create an uneven playing field.
L-Orizzont reports that a second case of meningitis has ben reported as a baby is currently in care. The paper speaks to the Head of Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Unit Dr Tanya Melillo who said that a fatal case of meningitis is reported every year.
In-Nazzjon also reports on the story and says that a baby of four-months has been in intensive care at Mater Dei for the past days after displaying symptoms of microbial meningitis.
L-Orizzont says that Infrastructure Malta will start upgrading works on 31 residential streets. The project is part of the pledge to invest €700 million in seven years on roads, reminds the paper.
In-Nazzjon reports that resurfacing roads on certain roads have not been carried out properly, leading Infrastructure Malta to undo the works and start afresh, The paper also accuses the government of ‘abandoning’ Gozo’s roads.
In-Nazzjon quotes chairman on the PN media arm Pierre Portelli who testified in court on Tuesday that activist Manuel Delia has asked for payment after ghostwriting articles for Adrian Delia during his party leadership campaign in 2017.
Malta News Evening Roundup provides you with the stories from Malta’s news portals.
Latest Developments from around the world
- Venezuela’s opposition takes to streets to seize momentum against Maduro – Reuters
- Venezuela’s Maduro orders ‘total revision’ of US ties after Pence comments – France 24
- Two explosions hit Yemeni capital Sanaa: Alarabiya TV
- PSG fined €100,000 over racial profiling of young players – France 24
- Digital Single Market: EU negotiators agree on new rules for sharing of public sector data – EU
- Union calls for Uber drivers and Airbnb hosts facing tax crackdown to be protected – The Guardian
- ‘I’m scared’: Audio reveals message from Cardiff City star Emiliano Sala before suspected plane crash in English Channel – The Telegraph
