Good morning,
The US Mid-Term elections and the PN Leadership are two of the main headlines we came across this morning.
Your morning briefing for today.
The Latest:
Democrats seized control of the House and cut into Republican-held governorships on Tuesday, while Republican victories in the Senate appeared likely to stanch a broader Democratic wave. Politico reports that Initial results late Tuesday suggested a midterm repudiation of President Donald Trump and the conservative, anti-immigration agenda he ushered into Washington two years ago, likely accelerating the Democratic Party’s reach into America’s critical suburbs on the cusp of the 2020 presidential campaign. Read more on the mid-terms here.
Newspaper review:
MaltaToday says that rumours within the Nationalist Party are that members are looking at former minister Louis Galea as interim leader if Adrian Delia resigns. One anonymous MP told the newspaper that there is no active push for Delia’s resignation but that the feeling inside the party is ‘defeatist’.
On the same theme L-Orizzont quotes MP Edwin Vassallo who said that Adrian Delia must be supported to lead the party as he was elected to do. MP Claudio Grech, who the paper says has been mentioned as a good fit for leader, publicly said that he is not interested in the role and that the last thing the party needs at the moment is a change in leadership.
The Malta Independent features the PN leadership too and says that an ‘unattached’ Nationalist MP said that Adrian Delia is now even more determined to lead the party. The anonymous MP said that marital problems do not disqualify a party leader or other politicians.
The Times leads with a story about a cleaning company that was only formed a day after it was selected to carry public services at St Vincent de Paul. The newspaper says that no tender has been issued and the choice of service provider was made by then Family Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia. The government keeps renewing the contract worth €300,00 a month.
Another story in MaltaToday reports on a letter sent by the Republic of Cyprus informing the European Commission that the arrest warrant against former Pilatus Bank employee Maria Efimova was not related to events in Malta. The letter says the police in Cyprus is investigating affence claims against Efimova while she was living and working in Cyprus between 2013 and 2014, before coming to Malta.
The Malta Independent speaks to Midi plc. after a proposal to raise the heights of buildings in the Manoel Island project surfaced. The company said that there was a ‘transfer of volume’ from one area to another and that the change would not affect the overall height of the development.
L-Orizzont speaks to Midi plc. CEO Mark Portelli who confirmed that the company submitted new plans in September, but he denied claims that there will be an increase in the heights of buildings on Manoel Island.
The Times features a screening of 2,708 students aged 15 by a team of doctors which found nine teens with ‘potentially life-threatening’ heart conditions. In addition, the 15-member team from Beat It recommended another 102 students for further tests.
L-Orizzont speaks to Information and Data Protection Commissioner Saviour Cachia about the proposed installation of CCTV cameras in Paceville and Marsa. The Commissioner told the newspaper that there is still a long way to go to introduce a system that satisfies a legal framework that protects people’s rights.
In-Nazzjon says that Wasteserv confirmed the story broke by the newspaper that separated waste bags are being collected together. The company said that this was being done until households adjusted to the new system.
Another story in In-Nazzjon reports on the participation of PN Leader Adrian Delia in a European People’s Party summit in Finland. The summit will elect the political group’s nominee for the next European Commission President, with the PN Leader declaring his intentions to vote for German Manfred Weber.
