timesofmalta.com newsletter - 14 May 2018

Copyright © 2018 timesofmalta.com Newsletter for Monday, 14 May 2018 [Times of Malta]( [Progress Press]( National - [Should Malta's Eurovision song be a direct pick, rather than a Malta contest winner?]( Malta’s failure to make it to the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest is sparking a debate on whether the local contest should be replaced by a system where PBS picks the singer and the song. The direct pick system appears to have worked for the... - [‘Mafia-linked’ gaming firm operated with no licence]( A gaming company with alleged Mafia links continued to operate from Malta despite having its licence cancelled by the regulator, the Times of Malta has learnt. The Investigative Reporting Project Italy (IRPI), which forms part of the Daphne... - [Maltese MEP aims to halve vehicle emissions]( A draft European Parliament report by Maltese MEP Miriam Dalli is calling for an ambitious 50 per cent cut in vehicle emissions by 2030. Dr Dalli was appointed in February to lead the Parliament’s negotiations on the EU’s car emission standards... - [Legal aid in Gozo is a lawyer’s bounty]( Legal aid lawyers in Gozo manage the system that they benefit handsomely from, even vetting the applicants themselves, giving rise to the potential for conflict of interest, an investigation by The Sunday Times of Malta has shown. In contrast, in... - [Today's front pages - May 14, 2018]( Good morning, the following are the top stories in Malta's newspapers. Times of Malta in another Daphne Project story, reports how a mafia-linked gambling firm operated in Malta without a licence. l-orizzont quotes Joseph Muscat saying the new... World news - [Israelis celebrate Jerusalem day as US prepares to open embassy there]( Tens of thousands of Israelis have been marching in celebrations to mark Jerusalem Day on the eve of the US relocating its embassy to the contested city. Police said over 30,000 people took part in Sunday night's festivities, as revellers waved... - [Sadr fans celebrate as cleric takes lead in Iraq]( Supporters of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets of Baghdad on Sunday night to celebrate his lead in Iraq's parliamentary election. It marks a surprise comeback for the powerful Shi'ite cleric who had been sidelined by Iran-backed... - [Paris knife attacker was French citizen born in Chechnya]( The assailant who killed a 29-year-old man in a central Paris knife attack on Saturday night was a French citizen born in the Chechnya region of Russia in 1997, judicial sources said on Sunday. The unnamed attacker shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is... - [Suspected IS-inspired suicide bombers attack Indonesian churches, at least 11 dead]( Suicide bombers suspected to be from an Islamic State-inspired group killed at least 11 people and wounded 40 in attacks on Christians attending Sunday morning services at three churches in Indonesia's second-largest city of Surabaya, officials... - [Indonesia volcano erupts next to campers]( A group of campers witnessed a volcanic eruption when they were cooking breakfast at the foot of Mount Merapi in Central Java, Indonesia. Shopan Pangestu, who filmed the event as it happened, posted the video on Instagram which showed a huge plume... Opinion - [Amoral familism - André DeBattista]( Sixty years ago, Edward Banfield published a book which sheds some light on politics, society and the dynamic between the political class... - [Passing the buck - Michael Briguglio]( If there ever was a case of putting party before country, this was when Joseph Muscat disallowed Konrad Mizzi from being Labour deputy... - [The painting on the wall - Frank Salt]( There are three things that really bother me. They bother me to the extent of really getting under my skin. First: I hate motorists who... - [Round about the caldron go - Manuel Delia]( It started escalating when the suspicion of corruption at the highest level of government was confirmed by Daphne Caruana Galizia’s... - [Toothless appeals process - Alan Deidun]( As amply demonstrated in one of the photos accompanying this column, the recently approved fuel station in Burmarrad has emerged like a... Letters - [Repeat visit]( Time seemed to stand still as the Montenegro sail training ship Jadran (Serbo-Croat for ‘Adriatic Sea’) left Grand Harbour on May 10... - [Go curtailing basic internet access]( While enquiring on an unrelated matter, I was informed that Go is in the process of decommissioning its e-mail service for residential... - [Corruption and protests]( In the Times of Malta of May 9, Martin Scicluna wrote that he is tired of the “whingsing and political stunts” of “a small... - [Time well spent]( On Sunday April 22, my brother in the Capuchin Order, Fr Bernard Mangion, celebrated his 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination. Fr... - [Two weights, two measures]( I remember when I was younger, sitting on the bus home from Paceville, somebody spat on my friend for speaking English. When I asked him... Sport - [Barcelona lose unbeaten run at Levante while Messi stays home]( Barcelona's long unbeaten run in La Liga ended in thrilling fashion on Sunday as the champions suffered a shock 5-4 defeat away to... - [Juventus draw at Roma to clinch seventh Serie A title in a row]( Juventus wrapped up their seventh successive Serie A title, and their fourth league and cup double in a row, with one match to spare when... - [Swansea relegated after seven seasons]( Swansea City were relegated from the Premier League after seven seasons, losing the final game 2-1 against Stoke City, who were already... - [Dominant Hamilton wins in Spain, Vettel fourth]( Lewis Hamilton won the Spanish Grand Prix in a commanding Mercedes one-two on Sunday to stretch his Formula One lead over Ferrari's... - [Fontanella signs for Valletta]( Champions Valletta secured their first signing of the close season with the capture of Italian striker Mario Fontanella. Valletta, fresh... Business News - [Shipping movements]( The following ships are expected in Malta: The CMA CGM Cendrillon from Koper to Port Said, the Buxcoast from Aliaga to Valencia (both CMA... - [As flat prices soar in HK, investors park money down in the lot]( Esther Fan’s nest egg is tucked away in an old residential complex on the outskirts of Hong Kong – two parking spaces in a dimly-lit lot... - [North Korea offering cheap coal on hopes sanctions will ease]( Some North Korean traders are offering cheap coal to Chinese buyers who are stockpiling it at ports inside the isolated country, hoping... - [Leader of the Opposition visits Farsons Brewery]( Over the last 10 years, Farsons has invested just over €100 million in new facilities to ensure that the company remains competitive, and... - [Third edition of iGaming Idol event launched]( The third edition of the ‘iGaming Idol’ event, which recognises and rewards high-achieving employees from across the global gaming... Community - [Appreciation: Lino Gatt]( John Consiglio writes: With the demise of Lino Gatt, what some of us simply describe as “serious broadcasting” has lost an iconic... - [Announcements - May 14, 2018]( BAJADA. On May 12, at Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, BRIAN, passed away peacefully comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to... - [Sand replenishment works in St George's, BuÄ¡ibba beaches]( Sand replenishment works will be carried out at St George's Bay and the perched beach in BuÄ¡ibba this week. The Malta Tourism Authority... - [The President’s engagements]( 9am The President delivers the opening speech during a conference organised by the Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social... - [Pastoral visit to Safi]( Mgr Charles Scicluna recently paid a pastoral visit to Safi parish. The Archbishop met parishioners, some at their workplace and others... Blogs - [The Weakened Embryo Production Act]( One hundred professors and lecturers from 14 faculties of the University of Malta are the latest in a long list of experts that have... - [IVF: Will Joseph Muscat ignore the President as well?]( Will the government heed the appeal by the President about the IVF debate, after having ignored appeals made by many, including George... - [Oh my Malta, indeed]( I’ve been on sabbatical from my writing and on April 21 it will have been six months since I felt the urge to write. The events which... - [Jason and the Whatnots]( You have to hand it to him, Jason Micallef sure knows how to stir up publicity for himself and V18. And surely that must be a good thing,... - [Daphne's laptop: Why the fuss?]( I am finding it very difficult to find a shred of logic behind the motivation of this sudden “Where is Daphne’s laptop” political... Copyright © 2018 Times of Malta Newsletter for Monday, 14 May 2018 This newsletter has been