Sunday Morning Briefing

Good morning,

What follows is the Sunday morning briefing, with the latest development, a Sunday newspaper review and a roundup of the headlines of the news in the last hours.

Have a good Sunday.

The Latest

• The woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of a decades-old sexual assault has accepted a Senate committee’s request to tell her side next week but Christine Blasey Ford wants to resume negotiations over the exact terms of her appearance, her lawyers said Saturday.  AP/NYT

• Jeremy Corbyn has said he would back a second EU referendum if Labour members demand he do so at his party conference. Sky News

• An EU delegation in Libya on Saturday urged warring militias fighting in the capital, Tripoli, to end the latest escalation of violence, saying it “has caused civilian fatalities.” DW

• A spokesperson for Italy’s prime minister said Treasury officials unable to find funds for welfare spending would be sacked. In a leaked audio recording, spokesperson Rocco Casalino said that the 5Star Movement, a member of the ruling coalition, would embark on a campaign to remove civil servants. Reuters/Politico

• Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday the United States wants to create insecurity in the Islamic Republic, a day after an attack on a military parade that killed 12 members of the country’s elite Revolutionary Guards.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced calls for his resignation over allegations of corruption in a military jet deal with France after former French president François Hollande was quoted as saying France had no choice in local partners. France 24

• A member of the European Parliament and her assistant were attacked — and the latter hospitalized — by members of a far-right organization in southern Italy. According to ANSA, five or six members of CasaPound, a far-right Italian group, attacked anti-racism demonstrators in Bari late Friday night, resulting in two demonstrators needing hospital treatment. The CasaPound members were armed with bats, according to Ansa. Ansa

• The Maldives has started to vote in a heavily-criticised election that will be closely watched by India and China. BBC

• Addressing the faithful in Lithuania, Pope Francis said may everyone be lead to “experience the power that purifies our way of dealing with our neighbours”. Asking that Mary our Mother “grant that we may regard their limits and faults with mercy and humility, thinking ourselves superior to no one.” and that Lithuania “be a country that chooses to build bridges, not walls”. Vatican News

• Many yoghurts are full of sugar and the public should not be lulled into thinking they are eating healthy products, researchers say. Various

The Review

• The Sunday Times, The Malta Independent on Sunday and MaltaToday leads with a photo story showing those who on Saturday took part in a protest against domestic violence and femicide.

• The Malta Independent we read another interview, this time with Mark Sultana, CEO of Birdlife Malta, who argues that the ‘hunting lobby’ does not have the power to decide elections. The main story of the newspaper is based on an exclusive interview with a former drug dealer, who used to earn around €3000 a week selling drugs.

• Illum reveals more details about the case of Liam Debono. Debono, who stand accused with attempted murder of policeman by driving onto him, seems to be asked to drive his mother, despite not being licenced to drive and under age, to the DETOX centre to take her methadone dose, in view of her habit of heroin. In a previous hearing, the accused was reported saying that his mother used to drug him to put him to sleep when he was young.

• The Sunday Times reports that 75 drivers have lost their licence under the points system, since having it introduced in December of last year. The newspaper also report an interview by Ivan Camilleri to Godfrey Farrugia, where the latter is reported saying that under Muscat, especially since the party got in power, the Labour party morphed in a cult. We also read that activist and blogger Manuel Delia, this week will file a constitutional case against the government, over what he says is a breach of his fundamental right to free expression after the memorial to Daphne Caruana Galizia was dismantled 17 times.

• Il-Mument leads with a story (which follows through on page 3), where it reports maneuvers within the Labour Party, which are being led by the deputy leader Chris Fearne, so that the Police Commissioner is replaced, by Angelo Gafa, who is known to be close to Fearne. In another story we read that about the launch of a new initiative by the PN, aimed to form youths in political leadership.

• It-Torca reports that the emissions from the BWSC power station has been reduced to under the established minimum levels.  We also read that S&P has retained Malta’s credit rating, while indicating a positive outlook for the future. In another story, we read about the role and work of the FSWS in view of the issues related to Domestic Violence. This is done through an interview with Alfred Grixti, the foundation’s CEO. It-Torca also reports a story about the fundraising scheme of the Nationalist Party, claiming that the party did not answer to questions and this the PN is choosing to be secretive on the matter.

• Il-Kullħadd presents four linked stories on its front page. They’re all presented as what the ‘budget’ and ‘surplus’ translates to, namely the free school transport, the project of a park and ride in Gozo, the €14 million invested in road works in Marsa and the new Health Centre in Kirkop. The paper says that all this is presented at the same time that the PN leader was reported saying that there is no capital investment.

• MaltaToday reports that the a band club in Marsa is breaking the law under the guise of members-only policy, by refusing entry to black people. In another story we read that Air Malta has once again found itself locked in talks with its pilots over their working conditions.

The Headline Digest

• Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt urges EU not to mistake British politeness for weakness after Brexit negotiations reached an impasse.

• Five year old boy amongst dead as a boat with 39 Syrian refugees sank off Lebanon as it sailed for Cyprus.

• 24 dead – death toll set to rise after Iran’s ‘terrorist’ attack – Conflicting reports about who is claiming responsibility.

• Vatican and China sign historic agreement on appointment of bishops.

• As promised, Ferguson biggest comeback is complete as he is at Old Trafford after life-threatening brain haemorrhage in May.

• UK labour have ’emergency leadership plans” amid fears that Corbyn could be suspended over a series of alleged undeclared trips.

• Mitiga airport remains closed as violence resumes in Tripoli.

• Libyan businessman, Husni Bey, critical of ‘economic reform package’ announced by Presidential Council.

• Greece, Romania and Italy register highest VAT evasion.

• Abbas seeks French support to counter Trump’s policy position in Israeli – Palestinian conflict.