Talks on Brexit seems to have stalled, Merkel’s ally CSU seemed to win most votes, despite losing support and Turkish and Saudi Arabian leaders discussed the Khashoggi’s case.
Your morning briefing provides you with a quick review of the latest headlines and what’s on Malta’s newspaper front-pages.
The Latest
Last-ditch talks between London and Brussels’ chief Brexit negotiators failed to agree a draft divorce settlement on Sunday, still blocked on the issue of the Northern Irish border just days before a make-or-break European Union summit. France 24
Saudi King Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have spoken by telephone over the disappearance and alleged killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. State-run news agencies in both Saudi Arabia and Turkey acknowledged Sunday night’s call. Turkey said Erdogan “stressed forming a joint working group to probe the case.” AP
President Donald Trump said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that he was “comfortable” in the White House after almost two years in office, despite political storms over immigration, tariffs and his nomination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Reuters
A deadline passed Monday without jihadists leaving a planned buffer zone around Syria’s last major rebel bastion of Idlib as set out under a Russian-Turkish deal The radical fighters were supposed to withdraw from the buffer as a final condition to implementing a Russian-Turkish deal to stave off a regime offensive on the northwestern region of Idlib.. France 24
The Christian Social Union (CSU) looked set to win the most votes in Sunday’s regional election in Bavaria, one of Germany’s conservative heartlands. But for only the third time in post-war history, Bavaria’s dominant political force will have to share power DW.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived in Sydney to begin an official visit to Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. It is the couple’s first official royal tour since getting married in May. BBC
In League A, Italy left it late to beat Poland, Cristiano Biraghi’s added-time winner securing Roberto Mancini a first competitive win as Azzurri coach. In League B Russia are one point from promotion after a win in Sochi that ended Turkey’s hopes of going up. In League C Israel top Group C1, Montenegro close gap to Serbia. In League D Azerbaijan and Malta drew 1 – 1. UEFA
The Review
The Malta Independent carries an interview with MCESD chairman John Bencini who says the upcoming Budget must address in a concrete manner the increase in rental prices and relative poverty. The Malta Independent also reports on the budget proposals presented by the General Workers Union: among them increasing the minimum pension.
The Times reports on statistics published by the European Greens showing that financial institutions in Malta are under-reporting by as much as 10 percent compared to those in other countries, despite being similar in size and volume.
Another story in The Times says that only 55 percent of patients at Mount Carmel Hospital have a care plan, and a survey among nurses revealed that only 36 percent of them are following care plans.
L-Orizzont leads with a report on Joseph Muscat’s speech at a political event in Gozo on Sunday. In another story L-Orizzont speaks to newly-appointed Commissioner for Domestic and Gender-based Violence Simone Cini. The Commissioner told the newspaper that a cultural change will not happen overnight, but everyone has their part to play.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that to end all speculation about Egrant, the Prime Minister should publish all the truth about the case instead of trying to silence the Opposition.
