Monday’s morning briefing – 4th June

Good morning

It might be cloudy, and despite the early hours, its 21degrees. The heat intends to persist as the temperature in Malta is expected to reach the 30degree mark.

On Maltese newspapers we read that the Office of the Prime Minister has played down fears of a migrant influx following the news that Matteo Salvini, who is notoriously anti-migration, has been appointed as Interior Minister in Italy (Malta Independent). L-Orizzont  carries the points made by Prime Minister Muscat during a radio interview yesterday, which coincided with the Labour Party’s first anniversary since being confirmed in power last year. Sociologist Godfrey Baldacchino reports about the foreigners’ role in the economy, a double-edged sword. We also read that fifty-five underage drivers have been arraigned since 2015, police statistics show.  The issue of underage driving came to the fore last month when a 17-year-old was charged with the attempted murder of traffic policeman. Simon Schembri. It emerged in court that the teenager had been caught driving without a licence just four days before the hit-and-run in Luqa (The Times).  In-Nazzjon reports about the Nationalist Party’s leader speech in Zabbar, where he stressed the PN’s pledge of developing a society which cares.

A plan to double the size of Għadira beach has fuelled concerns over the expected increase in traffic and parking needs. Questions have also been raised on whether the bus service will be able to cope with the additional demand and the impact the project will have on residents of Mellieħa and St Paul’s Bay.

The Slovenian Democratic Party won the majority of votes in the Slovenian elections. During a visit in Siciliy the new Italian Interior Minister pledged that he will press the EU for Asylum law reform. Britain MPs claimed that Russia abused of Interpol.

Iran said that the world should stand up to US bullying behaviour. This was not the only warning the US received. China warned that if tariffs go ahead, any agreement with the US on trade will be void. Even aviation companies warned that the trade tariff issue is a major headache for the industry.

As if there is not enough global anxiety, the OECD was warned that the next major global attack will be a cyber-attack which will be of massive proportions, similar to the 9/11 and Pearl Harbour.

Libya signed an agreement for the protection of its southern borders, at the same time that further concerns were raised about the humanitarian situation in Derna.

We see how a ‘quaint street’ in the Maltese village of Zabbar was given colour and life through a colourful display of hanging umbrellas, similar to Agueda’s Umbrella Sky Project. We also read how tennis player Serena Williams new outfit is a celebration and empowerment message to ‘pregnant women’. We also read that the latest WHO report, indicated that of 34 countries in the European region, the countries of Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, San Marino and Spain had the highest rates of childhood obesity. We also read about the importance to listen to ourselves as long as we know, that most of the time we only have ‘negative’ voices communicating.

Jesmond Saliba

Managing Editor