20

Apr

Europe Explained – EU Enlargement Process Update

While it is generally known that the European Union is on a continuing path to further enlargement, few are those that know which process precedes a country becoming effectively a…

Read More Here

19

Apr

Italy – Caselati given mandate to end political deadlock

Ansa: President Sergio Mattarella gave Senate Speaker Elisabetta Alberti Casellati a mandate to see if it is possible to end Italy's post-election political deadlock. Casellati had been given the task of…

Read More Here

19

Apr

Erdogan Calls Snap Elections in Turkey

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called an election more than a year early. “We have decided to hold elections on June 24,” Erdogan said in a televised address…

Read More Here

19

Apr

CNN: David Cameron says he doesn’t regret calling Brexit referendum

CNN: Former British Prime Minister David Cameron says he doesn't regret calling a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union -- but wishes the result had gone the other…

Read More Here

19

Apr

Ofcom investigating RT

The United Kingdom launched an investigation on a series of programmes aired by Russian TV, RT. Ofcom is in fact examining instances where Kremlin-backed news channel potentially breached UK broadcast…

Read More Here

17

Apr

Food and Wine – Parma to host City of Gastronomy Festival

Parma  has announced a series of events that will be taking place this year as Italy celebrates “Year of Italian food”. The main event is the City of Gastronomy Festival, an…

Read More Here

17

Apr

Pope Francis consoles a boy who asked if his non-believing father is in Heaven

Rome Reports: Those participating in the pope's encounter with children from the parish of St. Paul of the Cross in Corviale were undoubtedly moved. One of the children appeared embarrassed and…

Read More Here

17

Apr

Windrush – A dark page in the UK’s Commonwealth history, today.

As the UK is hosting Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) where leaders gathered in London and Windsor to "address the shared global challenges we face and agree actions on…

Read More Here

17

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – House of Commons debate

Theresa May told MPs that there was clear evidence that the Assad government was behind the Douma chemical weapons attack and it was "legally and morally right" for the UK to…

Read More Here

17

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – Russia to allow OPCW inspectors in Douma

Russia said that chemical weapons inspectors in Syria will be permitted to visit the site of an alleged chemical attack, on Wednesday. A representative of Russia's military said late Monday…

Read More Here

17

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria. What we know so far UPDATED

US President Trump ordered a military attack against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Friday, joining allies Britain and France in launching missile strikes in retaliation for what Western nations said…

Read More Here

15

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – Berlusconi weighs in his view on Italy’s position

In a letter published on Sunday's edition of Il Corriere Della Sera, Silvio Berlusconi said that faced with a complex and dramatic situation such as that which has been determined…

Read More Here

15

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – Pope Francis urges common action

In his first comments since the missile attacks on Syria by the United States, Britain and France, Pope Francis said on Sunday, April 15, that he is deeply disturbed by…

Read More Here

15

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – Macron’s stance criticised

France 24 reports that Macron drew criticism Saturday from the far-left to the far-right. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen tweeted that the strikes expose France to “unpredictable and potentially dramatic…

Read More Here

15

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – New Push in UN to end Syria’s chemical weapons

CNN reports that the United States, the United Kingdom and France are pushing for an "irreversible" end to Syria's chemical weapons program, amid furious recriminations from Russia over the effectiveness…

Read More Here

15

Apr

No progress registered in Italy

In Italy not much progress has been registered in the feat of forming a government in Italy. The second round of consultations proved inconclusive. President Mattarella warned that the country…

Read More Here

15

Apr

Russia threats dirty campaign against Britain’s elite

The Sunday Times reports that Russia threats to wage dirty campaign against Britain’s elite Spy chiefs are braced for a Russian revenge attack in which Kremlin-backed hackers release embarrassing information…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria. UK publishes legal documents

Air strikes on Syria were legally justified on humanitarian grounds, government documents say.  The British Government published the legal position document it had, and which led to the air strikes.…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – Mixed reactions for May and Trump

A chorus of voices across the American political spectrum expressed support for Trump’s latest strikes, but criticised the lack of a broader U.S. Syria strategy that could end the seven-year…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – France publishes declassified intelligence report

In a rather unprecedented move, one of the allies which took part in last night's air strikes on Syria, published the intelligence reports on the basis of which decisions were…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – Italy’s reaction

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that Italy did not participate in the attack in Syria. According to news agency ANSA, Gentiloni said that the Italian Government insisted and clarified…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria : Syria’s reaction

Syria’s Foreign Ministry described the joint US, UK and French airstrikes as a "flagrant violation of international law and the principals of UN charter." Syria called on the international community to…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes in Syria – Weapons used (CNN)

CNN provides an analysis of the weapons used by the US, France and the UK in the air strikes on Syria. A US defence official said the US Air Force used…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – NATO to meet later on today

CNN reports that following the trilateral airstrikes launched in Syria, a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) will be held Saturday afternoon, a NATO official tells CNN. France, the United…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – Reactions by Jeremy Corbyn

The UK Labour Party's leader said that bombs won’t save lives or bring about peace. This legally questionable action risks escalating further, as US defence secretary James Mattis has admitted,…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria. Vladimir Putin’s reaction

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced a strike on Syria launched by the US and its allies as an "act of aggression" that will exacerbate humanitarian catastrophe in Syria. In a statement…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – United Nations reaction

Following the air strikes on Syria, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations released the following statement. I have been following closely the reports of air strikes in Syria conducted…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – Emanuel Macron’s Statement

On Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Douma, dozens of men, women and children were massacred by chemical weapons, in total violation of international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions.…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria – Russian Foreign Ministry reaction

Syrian News Agency SANA reports that the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday that the aggression on Syria targeted a sovereign state that has tried to return…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria : Pentagon Briefing

U.S., British and French air and naval forces launched attacks against the Syrian government’s chemical weapon arsenal in retaliation for the use of such weapons on civilians, Defense Secretary James…

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria : Photos of US, UK, and French military strikes

Read More Here

14

Apr

Air Strikes on Syria : Russia’s reaction

Statement by the Ambassador of Russia to the USA Anatoly Antonov on the strikes on Syria and posted on Facebook: The worst apprehensions have come true. Our warnings have been left…

Read More Here

14

Apr

U.S. U.K. and France launched missile strikes in Syria

President Trump ordered a military attack against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Friday, joining allies Britain and France in launching missile strikes in retaliation for what Western nations said was…

Read More Here

12

Apr

Moscow Times : Russian Media gives ‘war time’ tips

The Moscow Times: A Russian television channel has instructed viewers to stock up on food and water in case a war breaks out with the United States, playing on fears…

Read More Here

12

Apr

Pope Francis sorry for defending Chilean bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse

In a letter addressed to Chile's bishops, Pope Francis admitted to making “serious mistakes” in handling the nation's massive sex abuse crisis and asked for forgiveness. The pope summoned Chile’s…

Read More Here

12

Apr

The latest on UK stance on Syria as reported on SkyNews and Russia Today

Sky News reports that Jeremy Corbyn has demanded MPs be given a vote in Parliament to authorise potential military action in Syria. The Labour leader insisted the House of Commons…

Read More Here

11

Apr

Gaudate et Exultate – Pope Francis’ guide to holiness

Holiness “has to do with the meaning of my life before the Father, who knows and loves me, with the real purpose of my life, that nobody knows better than…

Read More Here

11

Apr

Facebook – Redefining the arms race

Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook chief executive, warned on Tuesday of an online propaganda “arms race” with Russia and vowed that fighting interference in elections around the world is now his…

Read More Here

10

Apr

Hillary Clinton: Don’t let Brexit undermine Ireland’s peace

Hillary Clinton - Twenty years ago, the Good Friday/Belfast agreement helped bring an end to decades of conflict and violence in Northern Ireland. It was a watershed moment – the result of…

Read More Here

10

Apr

Hungary – Reactions to Orban’s Victory

Winning a two-thirds majority for the third time straight time in Sunday’s election, gives Victor Orban the power to change constitutional laws - potentially paving the way for further friction…

Read More Here

07

Apr

The election in Hungary

Hungary’s right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is the second-longest-serving government leader after Germany's Angela Merkel, seeks a third consecutive term in parliamentary elections on Sunday. Opinion polls show…

Read More Here

07

Apr

More US sanctions against Putin’s men

The United States announced more sanctions against Russia.  In contrast to sanctions issued in March, against Russian hackers and intelligence agencies, those announced Friday attack the wealth of some of…

Read More Here

07

Apr

Russia loses vote at OPCW on Salisbury

Russia has lost a vote at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on it attempt top seek a new joint investigation into Salisbury poisoning, Reuters is reporting. An unnamed…

Read More Here

05

Apr

Russia and UK’s future foreign policies post Salisbury

Sergei Scripal’s and his daughter’s poisoning came as a bolt out of the blue, barely a week before Russia’ deadweight presidential election. Russia has been adopting an emboldened projection of…

Read More Here

05

Apr

Italy’s President arduous task of forming a Government is probably as difficult as that of the Commissario Tecnico of the Italian National Team

One of the main burdens which come with the job of being President of Italy is the formation of a Government. In the country where football is a religion and…

Read More Here

03

Apr

MaltaToday Survey | Maltese identity still very much rooted in Catholicism

The secularisation drive of recent years does not appear to have alienated people from their Catholic roots, a MaltaToday survey has found. A whopping 93.9% of people still identify themselves…

Read More Here

02

Apr

John Paul II – A Geopolitical Actor

Today marked the 13th anniversary since Saint John Paul II died. He will be remembered as a formidable geopolitical actor who used his considerable moral values into the global politcal…

Read More Here

01

Apr

‘Easter sustains hope, turning it into concrete gestures of charity’ Pope Francis

At the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday, Pope Francis said the announcement of Christ’s resurrection was the greatest message in history, one that broke the silence of his death and…

Read More Here

01

Apr

Tensions between Italy and France

Bardonecchia  - Italy summoned French ambassador over incident at border migrant clinic which has irked the Italian authorities in an incident which has proved to be an opportunity to be…

Read More Here

30

Mar

Palestinians die in clashes with Israeli forces during major border protest

The Guardian - At least seven Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli forces in Gaza, Palestinian medics have said, as protesters kicked off a planned six-week demonstration demanding…

Read More Here

30

Mar

Balkans : It is open hunting season on independent thinkers

POLITICO reports that in the Balkans the West is fighting back against Russia in a battle for influence in the Balkans. But although the European Union has renewed its interest…

Read More Here

30

Mar

France unveils plans to drag country into the age of artificial intelligence.

France’s Emmanuel Macron knows his country is not about to develop a local equivalent of Google or Facebook to power the development of artificial intelligence. But in a new national…

Read More Here

29

Mar

Catalonia: why are the former leaders of the autonomous region being arrested?

Ing. Philip Micallef @ Diplomatique.Expert Ing Micallef's familiarity with Catalonia arises from fact that he lived and worked there from 1987 to 1992 and have been in continual contact with…

Read More Here

29

Mar

European diplomatic solidarity with the UK despite BREXIT

Malta yesterday recalled its ambassador in Russia. It wasn't the only country to do so. There were also a number of countries which expelled the Russian diplomats from their country.…

Read More Here

28

Mar

May considers banning City of London from selling Russian debt

Theresa May has agreed to look into imposing a ban on the City of London from helping Russia to sell its sovereign debt, which prop ups the Russian economy. Last month, City…

Read More Here

28

Mar

Malta recalls its ambassador to Russia

In the context of the Salisbury attack, the Government of Malta stands in full solidarity with the United Kingdom in the face of this serious challenge to our common security.…

Read More Here

27

Mar

D|E Introducing our experts – Part 1

Ing. Philip Micallef has over thirty years experience in middle and senior management roles in both the public and private sectors in Malta, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain and Bermuda. He holds…

Read More Here