Corporate Dispatch Morning Briefing and News Review – Monday 6th May 2019

Good morning,

The aviation tragedy in Russia, the clashes in Tripoli, a cease fire in Gaza and US’s warning to Iran dominate the world headlines. The political activities leading to this months’ elections take most coverage in Malta’s newspapers.

Start your day informed with our morning briefing.

Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed Monday that 41 people were killed after an SSJ-100 passenger plane en route to the northwestern Russian city of Murmansk caught fire before an emergency landing Sunday at the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow.

Eastern Libyan forces commander Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops, who are trying to take the capital Tripoli, to chase and destroy withdrawing enemy forces, according to an audio tape published on Sunday.

After a weekend of some the worst cross border violence in recent years between Israel and Palestinian in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials have said an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire has been reached with Israel.

John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, announced the United States is sending a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East to send a “clear and unmistakable message” to Iran.

Muslims in Southeast Asia and much of the Middle East will start their Ramadan fasts on Monday while those in places like India, Pakistan and Iran will likely start Islam’s holy month on Tuesday.

These are the stories from Malta’s newspaper front pages for today.

The Malta Independent says that the conflict in Libya and the better seafaring conditions will likely contribute to increased migrant crossings from north Africa to Europe. Some 800,000 illegal immigrants are in Libya, while more than 230,000 Libyans have been displaced since the civil war.

The Times quotes archbishop Charles Scicluna who said that distinctions should not be made between citizens and foreign nationals. The archbishop, celebrating the St Publius feast in Floriana, did not directly refer to comments made by the Prime Minister.

The Malta Independent reveals that an application has been submitted to relocate a one-pump fuel station in Gozo to a 3,000 square metre ODZ site in Birżebbuġa. Plans show other amenities including a carwash and snack bar.

The Times says that the leaders of the main parties took swipes at one another during separate political events on Sunday. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the Opposition Leader had no credibility while Adrian Delia said the Prime Minister wanted to grow a cult.

L-Orizzont covers the Labour Party’s event in Isla where the Prime Minister declared that his word is his pledge and dismissed the Opposition of ‘talking a lot but doing nothing.’ Turning to the Gozo-Malta tunnel, Muscat described it as the biggest infrastructural project in Malta.

In-Nazzjon quotes Nationalist Party Leader Adrian Delia that the European Socialists and spitzenkandidat Frans Timmermans want to take away Malta’s right to decide on its tax regime by proposing EU-wide harmonised taxation.

L-Orizzont carries a story about a rescue intervention to stop a person from committing suicide. A reader alerted the newspaper about a post on social media threatening suicide and the paper contacted Crisis Resolution Malta to follow the case.

In-Nazzjon covers the celebrations of the St Publius Feast in Floriana which, it says, opens the festa season. The paper says the occasion this year has been marred by the burning of an historic arch last week.

Other headlines

(Click headlines to read more) 

Germany adopts the hard line to get children vaccinated for measles

Police in Cyprus find fifth victim of serial killer

Pope Francis visits Bulgaria

Brunei makes U-turn on ‘death penalty’ for gay sex

Corruption and lack of justice dominate Panama elections

CD