CDEIU Insights

Thursday’s Morning Briefing

Good morning, A number of stories are covered on today's Maltese newspapers. The government of Malta has signed an agreement with the World Health Organisation on technical help for a…

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Polish Political Scientist refused entry in Russia

Poland's government has asked Moscow to explain why Russia has refused entry to the head of Poland's Institute of international affairs, the Polish Foreign Ministry said on May 29. Slawomir…

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‘Politically harassed journalist’ shot dead in Ukraine

Police in Kyiv reported that Arkady Babchenko, a Russian journalist who fled to Ukraine after what he called “political harassment” in Russia, has been shot dead at his home by…

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Carlo Cottarelli given mandate to form new technocratic government in Italy

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella has appointed former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli as interim prime minster despite demands for him to be impeached. Cottarelli accepted the mandate with reservation…

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Understanding Italy’s current state of affairs

The British have this saying "It never rains. It pours", and that was the case yesterday night as the drama surrounding the appointment of the New Italian government unfolded. The…

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Duque wins first round of Colombian elections

Right-winger Ivan Duque, who intends to reform the peace pact with the FARC ex-guerrilla, won the first round of the Presidential election in Colombia on Sunday. He didn't obtain an absolute…

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Twitter Politics: Trump indicates that summit with North Korea will happen after all

Donald Trump tweeted "Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself. I truly believe North Korea has…

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Israel tank fired on Islamic Jihad position

The Times of Israel reports that "An Israeli tank fired on an Islamic Jihad position in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday morning, killing at least two people, after Palestinians…

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US warns Syria of firm and appropriate measures if ceasefire is violated

The US has warned Syria it will take "firm and appropriate measures" if government forces violate a ceasefire by launching an anticipated assault on the rebel-held region of Daraa. Emboldened…

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The ‘voice’ which led to the conclusion of Russia’s involvement in the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17

Radio Free Europe reports that Oleg Vladimirovich Ivannikov's atypical voice led to the conclusion, the 51-year-old was "with very high certainty", as being a missile specialist who was in charge of military operations…

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Di Maio issues ultimatum to Mattarella – Or close discussions within today or elections.

"This government game either closes within the next 24 hours or does not close anymore, we have already waited long enough". This was stated by the political leader of the M5s,…

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Kim Jong-Un committed to complete denuclearisation – Moon Jae In

South Korean President Moon Jae-In said that the North Korean President Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his commitment to 'complete' the denuclearisation process in the Korean peninsula. He is also committed…

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Unannounced summit between Korean Leaders

The leaders of North and South Korea have met in the demilitarised border area between the two countries. The BBC reports that this summit comes as the two sides continue…

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Disagreement with Mattarella on the appointment of Minister of Finance lead to tensions and increases the risk of new elections in Italy.

Italy risks to go back to vote. 82 days since the last Italian election, the country is still without a government. Although M5s and Lega have agreed on the appointment…

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50 die as boat capsizes in Congo river

About 50 people have died after a boat capsized on a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials say. More than 60 people survived when the boat tipped over…

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Putin denies that missile which brought down Malaysian aircraft was a Russian military equipment

Vladimir Putin denied that the missile which brought down a Malaysian airliner in July 2014, killing almost 300 people was a Russian military piece of equipment. This was the first…

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JCPOA remaining partners convene after US withdrawal from Iranian Nuclear deal. They welcome the fact that the (IAEA) has again confirmed the continued adherence by Iran to its nuclear-related commitments

China, Russia, France, the UK and Germany have expressed their commitment to maintain the Iranian nuclear deal, but a solution has not yet been found on how to diffuse and…

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US – North Korea Summit : On again, Off again, On Again, perhaps!

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that it was possible a planned summit with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un could still take place on June 12 as originally…

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N.Korea says it’s still willing to ‘sit’ with the U.S. regardless of cancellation

A top North Korean official blamed "excessive words and actions from the U.S. side" for North Korean comments that U.S. President Donald Trump said inspired his decision to cancel a…

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11 arrested for being ‘traitors’ and pushing for women’s right to drive in Saudi

The New York Times reports that "Saudi Arabia is escalating its crackdown on activists who had pressed for the right of women to drive, bringing the number arrested to at least 11…

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Libya exports first natural gas shipment to Italy after four years

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) shipped on Wednesday its first quantity of propane gas from the Zueitina port to Italy, estimated at approximately 61,761 barrels. The NOC said in…

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North Korean officials present at the dismantling of primary nuclear test site ‘shocked’ at the news of Trump pulling away from summit

BI reports that there was reportedly a "real sense of shock" among North Korean officials on Thursday when it came to light that President Donald Trump had canceled the impending…

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“The Singapore summit (between the US and North Korea), for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place.” – Donald Trump

The BBC and CNN amongst others, reported that the planned summit between US President Donald Trump North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will not happen. Claiming that it would be inappropriate to have…

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Investigators: Buk Missile From Russian Antiaircraft Brigade Downed Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 in Donetsk, Ukraine

A Dutch-led international criminal investigation has established that the Buk missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014 came from Russia's 53rd Antiaircraft Missile Brigade. The…

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Thursday’s Morning Briefing – 24th May, 2018

Good morning The Maltese newspapers lead with the story related to a bomb which exploded yesterday in Gharghur. In this explosion a man Kevin Ellul (43), who happens to…

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AP: “North Korea renews threat of pulling from summit with US”

AP reports "North Korea has renewed its threat to pull out of a summit next month with President Donald Trump, saying it is just as ready to meet in a…

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Three Libyans arrested in Zuwara, accused of trafficking migrants, 20 injured in gun fire from trafficker

Zuwara Security Directorate said Tuesday it had foiled an illegal immigration attempt by over 200 illegal immigrants from different African countries, who were arrested in a farm west of the…

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BBC: Trump’s personal lawyer received secret payment to arrange meeting between the US and Ukrainian Presidents

Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, received a secret payment of at least $400,000 (£300,000) to fix talks between the Ukrainian president and President Trump, according to sources in Kiev…

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NFL players will be fined if they kneel during US anthem

Various US media outlets report that N.F.L. players will be allowed to stay in the locker room during the national anthem, but their teams will be fined by the league if they…

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New York Times : Iran established a secret missile research facility

The New York Times reports that Iran has established a secret missile research facility in the desert where it may be developing technology for long-range missiles. California-based experts came to this conclusion…

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Yulia Skripal speaks for the first time after Salisbury poisoning

Yulia Skripal, who survived an assassination attempt that UK authorities blame on Russia spoke for the first time following her release from hospital. In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Skripal…

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Reuters : Cyber researchers, Ukraine warn of possible Russian attack

Reuters reports that "hackers have infected at least 500,000 routers and storage devices in dozens of countries, some of the world’s biggest cyber security firms warned on Wednesday, in a campaign…

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“I will be the defence lawyer of the Italians” – Giuseppe Conte accepts official mandate to form government

The President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella gave Professor Giuseppe Conte the task of forming the new Italian government. The decision was announced by the secretary general of the Quirinale…

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European Education Area by 2025

The European Commission is advancing work to build a European Education Area by 2025, reinforce the cultural dimension of the European Union and bolster youth participation, with a new set…

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EU approves start of negotiations for free trade deal with Australia and New Zealand

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that European officials will land in Australia next month to begin negotiations on a free trade deal, after the EU’s governing council gave its long-awaited official authorisation on…

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Palestinian government requests ICC to investigate what it called Israeli crimes

The Palestinian government has submitted a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) calling on prosecutors to open an immediate investigation into what it called Israeli crimes in the occupied…

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Russia blocks UN sanctions on six Libyan people accused of human trufficking

The Libya Observer reports that Russia has blocked a proposal to impose sanctions on six Libyan figures accused of human trafficking and managing smuggling networks for migrants, giving as reason the…

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Israel’s High-Level security cabinet to meet in special bunker

The Times of Israel reports that Israel’s high-level security cabinet will meet in a new, specially built underground bunker in Jerusalem for the foreseeable future. The change of venue — meetings of…

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“Substantial Chance” that summit between US and North Korea might not happen next month

US President Donald Trump has said there is a "very substantial chance" a historic summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un next month may not happen. Trump said that the North…

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Tuesday’s Morning Briefing – 22nd May, 2018

Good morning Hazy morning in Malta. The overcast seems to stay throughout the day, even though temperatures should reach 21 degrees (C). Our morning round up follows. Today’s Malta's newspapers…

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Libyan Central Bank mulling reduction of taxes on dollar exchanges to curb smuggling

The Libya Observer reports that the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) is considering to reduce 200% taxes on selling US dollars at the commercial banks to Libyans in coordination with the…

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South Korean President to meet US counterpart at White House

South Korean President Moon’s meeting with US counterpart Trump at the White House on Tuesday is going to be a crucial test of whether the two presidents will make history…

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Podemos party members in leadership vote of confidence following purchase of €600,000 is seen as undermining Party’s credibility

Podemos head Pablo Iglesias and his partner Irene Montero, the party’s parliamentary spokeswoman, called a members’ vote of confidence in response to complaints about their €600.000, 268 square-meter villa, equipped…

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