Good morning
A rather hot day as temperatures are expected to reach the 30 degree mark on the Celsius scale, which at times will feel like 34 degrees.
The main story on the local newspapers refer to the events that practically dominated the news in the last 24 hours, namely the diplomatic issues surrounding the case of the MSF’s ship Aquarius which currently is in the Mediterranean waiting for instructions on where to go, following the refusal of Malta and Italy.
The Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, and the Prime Minister of Italy, Giuseppe Conte, had a telephone conversation on the developing situation of the vessel Aquarius on Sunday evening. Prime Minister Muscat reiterated that Malta is acting in full conformity with its international obligations. As such Malta will not take the said vessel in its ports. Nevertheless, without prejudice to its position, and in conformity with its policy throughout the past years, Malta has always been willing, where possible, to carry out emergency medical evacuations of persons requiring urgent medical care for humanitarian reasons.
Conte, Salvini, Di Maio and Giorgetti held a high level meeting, at the end of which the Italian premier also confirmed that he spoke personally with his Maltese counterpart, but without achieving the desired results.
“I asked the Maltese Prime Minister to take care of at least humanitarian assistance to people in distress on the Aquarius, but Muscat did not assure any intervention”, explained Conte, underlining that “the umpteenth unavailability of Malta is confirmed , and therefore of Europe, to intervene and take responsibility for the emergency “.
The Mayor of Naples said “If a heartless minister lets pregnant women, children, the elderly, human beings die at sea, the port of Naples is ready to welcome them, we are human.”
Migration in the Mediterranean sea also was experienced in other areas, namely Libya and Spain, where the rescue teams of both countries were engaged in a number of exercises.
President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Singapore on Sunday ahead of one of the most unusual and highly anticipated summits in recent world history, a Tuesday sit-down meant to settle a standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal. Pope Francis said he hopeda forthcoming summit in Singapore between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will lead to peace for Korea.
Trump went to the Singapore, straight from the G7 summit. The summit was one which exposed divisions and somehow confusion on the state of the world, especially in view of the various statements done, before and after (rather than what happened during). What happened during the summit was perhaps best captured in a photowhich said 1,000 words and the various perspectives of it.
With only months to go until Britain leaves the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May faces a showdown with criticsthat could further undermine her fragile grip on power ahead of crucial negotiations. The House of Commons will vote on Tuesday on legislation underpinning Brexit — a crucial test of May’s ability to end a deadlock that has exasperated voters and business leaders.
Arron Banks, the millionaire businessman who bankrolled Nigel Farage’s campaign to quit the EU, had multiple meetings with Russian embassyofficials in the run-up to the Brexit referendum, documents seen by the Observer suggest.
The social cost of emigration faced by Polish people, who leave the country for employment means that many Polish children grow up without parents, who are gone for months or even years at a time.
Tens of thousands of people in the autonomous Basquecountry of northern Spain have formed a human chain to push for greater autonomy.
Multi-use of tea towels is putting households at risk of food poisoning, research suggests. Scientists from the University of Mauritius examined 100 towels that had been used for a month.
Amy Lawrence, a blogger who writes about football for the Guardian and the Observer argues that twenty-five years after Gazza’s tears, Pavarotti, Totò Schillaci, World in Motion and the joy of Cameroon, the memories of an era-defining tournament still remind us of when even a World Cup was a smaller, simpler affair.
Jesmond Saliba
Managing Editor
