Good morning,
This is the Morning Briefing for Friday, with the latest news to start informed, the Maltese papers review to get an overview of what the headlines are, and the headline roundup in case you missed anything.
Have a good day
The Latest
Start your day informed
The surgical interventions which Jair Bolsonaro underwent, due to the stab wound that was inflicted on his abdomen in a rally, will probably prevent the candidate of the Brazilian extreme right participate in the campaign for the first round of presidential elections, scheduled for October 7 and for which it is currently leading the polls. ANSA
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck central Ecuador on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, although there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The quake hit 94 km (58 miles) south of the city of Ambato at a depth of 112 km (69 miles), the USGS said. Tremors were felt in the capital, Quito, and in the industrial port city of Guayaquil, where people ran into the streets, a Reuters witness said. Ecuador’s geological institute said the earthquake, which hit a remote area with a low population, had a magnitude of 6.5. Reuters/Euronews
The death toll from a powerful earthquake that hit Hokkaido has doubled to at least 16, according to Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, with more than half the island’s 5.3 million residents still without power. Another 26 people were missing, disaster management authorities said. The Guardian
There is “lots of evidence” chemical weapons are being prepared by Syrian government forces in Idlib, north-west Syria, the new US representative for Syria has said, warning any attack on the last big rebel enclave would be a “reckless escalation”. The Guardian
Fifty of the 144 migrants that were stranded on a coastguard ship off the coast of Sicily last month have supposedly vanished from Italian reception centres in Italy. The news comes from far-right Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who said the “disappearance” of the migrants is another piece of evidence that they do not need their help. Ansa
The government of the Libyan national agreement has announced an imminent recovery of flights from the Mitiga airport, the Tripoli airport closed since August 31st due to clashes between militias. This is reported by the Facebook page of the Executive Press Office.
The European Popular Party needs to “clarify its positions” on migrants and respect for the rule of law, since at the same time “it can not be on the side of Merkel and on the side of Orban”. This was stated by French President Emmanuel Macron at the summit in Luxembourg with the premier of Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium. The Belgian agency writes it. Belgian Press via Ansa
The bodies of at least 166 people have been found in the Mexican state of Veracruz, prosecutors said on Thursday, the latest in a string of grim discoveries made in the eastern region in recent years. Reuters
Special Counsel Robert Mueller wants President Donald Trump to commit to a follow-up interview to written answers to questions in his probe of any coordination between Trump campaign members and Russia in the 2016 U.S. election, Rudy Giuliani, who is representing the president, said on Thursday. Euronews
The Review
Malta’s News Front Pages
The Malta Independent – The Environment and Resources Authority has raised serious concerns about a planning application which would construct agri-tourism accommodation and a swimming pool at Bingemma, Mgarr, Malta.
A long-term solution that completely eradicates the slime that is a bi-product of tuna farming is possible, the Secretary of the Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers (FMAP) John Refalo told The Malta Independent yesterday. The Times reports that fish farm operators are selling the slime collected in booms for various uses, including medicine, a representative for the Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers said.
The Times – Widening Tal-Balal Road despite having no permit in hand is a sign of the “disdain” being shown by public authorities, which are “steamrolling” over planning processes, the Church Environment Commission has warned.
L-Orizzont leads with a story about Malta’s economic growth which is happening at three times the European rate.
In-Nazzjon leads with a photo story and report about Malta commemorating Victory day, showing a photo of the Great Siege Monument in Valletta.
The Headline Roundup
in case you missed anything
Idlib to dominate agenda summit between Iran, Russia and Turkey
British Airways suffers customer data theft – around 380,000 payment card were compromised
Sunday shopping in Italy might soon be a thing of the past
Actor Burt Reynolds passes away
Justice Department has charged a computer programmer working on behalf of the North Korean government with the hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2014
Major earthquake rocks Fiji and Pacific Islands – No Tsunami Dangers – Damage reported
Party cups instead of masks. This is how Idlib’s children are preparing for the imminent conflict
Paris councilor wants Airbnb in city centre outlawed as residents are forced out of French capital
Migration worries German people, but Trump’s policies worries them even more – Survey
Saudi led coalition admits responsibility in Yemen for second time in a week
USA, France, Germany and Canada agree with UK that Russian government “almost certainly” approved Novichok poisoning in Salisbury
Pence and Pompeo deny writing anonymous ‘resistance to Trump’ opinion piece
Italian ruling party Lega faces bankruptcy following court confirms seizure of €49 million
Five persons drowned, 193 rescued after six rafts carrying migrants sank
Danish developer to build apartment block exclusively for dog owners
Seehofer: Migration is EU’s mother of all problems – Verhofstadt replies ‘Europe’s inability to act together is the real problem’
Lithuanian Prime Minister pays tribute to the late Polish President Lech Kaczynski
Tests result awaited to determine cause of passenger illness on Emirates flight
More than 4,000 children evacuated from Crimean town hit by sulphur dioxide gas leak
Cranberries Singer Dolores O’Riordan death was caused by accidental drowning after heavy drinking- coroner
