10 years ago - The Times
Friday, April 3, 2009
ECB cuts interest rates again
The worsening economic scenario in the 16-member euro area has prompted the European Central Bank to lower key interest rates by another 25 basis points.
The decision means the interest rate on the main refinancing operations of the Eurosystem will drop to just 1.25 per cent, a record low since the introduction of the euro.
The new measure will come into effect on Wednesday.
George Abela: Unity in diversity
President-elect George Abela says he wants his Presidency to represent “unity in diversity”. In his first interview since gaining unanimous parliamentary approval on Wednesday to become the country’s eighth President, Dr Abela upholds the President’s traditional role of avoiding controversy and insists that the Presidency “cannot and must not” enter into political or social controversy.
Dr Abela says he will continue to speak his mind but will do so in private during official talks with the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition.
25 years ago - The Sunday Times
Sunday, April 3, 1994
Malta-based offshore firm in ‘red tangenti’ scandal
A team of Italian police investigators from Arezzo is in Malta, according to the Italian newspaper Il Giornale, to enquire into the affairs of Sapri Broker and Sapri Finanziaria, an Italian insurance brokerage firm with an offshore company in Malta, set up in August 1991, which is suspected to have “recycled” close to 100 billion Italian lire (Lm25 million) in tangenti (bribes) paid to the former Italian Communist Party.
The Digos team may soon be joined in Malta by one or both of the Rome magistrates conducting the investigation, Gianfranco Mantelli and Maria Teresa Saragnano.
New President to be sworn in tomorrow
Former Education Minister Ugo Mifsud Bonnici tomorrow morning will take the oath of office as the fifth President of Malta, succeeding Dr Ċensu Tabone.
Proceedings start at 10am when the House of Representatives meets to discuss the resolution for the election of the President.
The sitting will be concluded at 11am when the House will be suspended until noon.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Thursday, April 3, 1969
Malta’s foreign policy: PM’s review
The House of Representatives yesterday concluded its debate on the Government’s foreign policy. The debate, begun on March 21, was on a motion by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Mintoff, who accused the Government of not making clear to the House malta’s present foreign policy and in particular Malta’s commitments to Nato in the event of hostilities in the Mediterranean.
The Prime Minister, Dr G. Borg Olivier, who spoke yesterday, reviewed the Government’s foreign policy.
The first speaker yesterday was Dr A. V. Hyzler (MLP) who defended the party theme of neutrality saying that Malta did not have to be a Nato base in order to be defended. He also said that Malta’s image as a base was incompatible with industry and tourism. Dr Hyzler said that since the Nationalist Government had failed to make the country economically independent it was not possible to sever all connections with Britain overnight.
The Prime Minister, Dr G. Borg Olivier, said that the debate had shown a wide measure of agreement between the two sides of the House. He appealed to the Opposition to approach foreign policy in a more constructive manner so that where the two sides did not agree at least there would be greater understanding.