Good morning,
Today’s morning brief is mainly focused on the latest developments at international level, especially in view of the chaotic situation after the G7 meeting. The underlying currents, the issues which came up, the fact that effectively everything is pointing towards a ‘trade war’ could be felt and seen in most of the debates. The point of departure, after the meeting is similar to the overture that led to it.
Possibly one can say that the world is witnessing a first, where the US, which normally used to be the force of linking allies, dismantling this role and in the process creating what potentially can be a new world disorder. If there’s one photo which says 1,000 words, probably the one shared by Angela Merkel on her Instagram Account.
A quick review through Malta’s newspapers front-pages state that the magistrate carrying out the inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia has requested the telephone logs of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Opposition leader Adrian Delia and Economy Minister Chris Cardona as part of his ongoing investigation. Sources told MaltaToday the request was made a few weeks ago. The report adds that it the newspaper is informed that the telephone logs have not yet been provided, as a number of security issues could be raised over releasing the entire telephone logs of the Prime Minister.
Police Constable Simon Schembri left the hospital after he was nearly killed while on duty when he was run over by 17 year-old Liam Debono three weeks ago.
Germany’s finance minister is urging bolder steps to strengthen the 19-country euro currency union by setting up a fund to help member states with high unemployment and by laying the foundations for a European Union-wide tax system. Greece submitted a draft bill to parliament late on Friday outlining reforms in the energy, pension and labor sectors as the government races to secure the last loans from its international bailout program.
The U.K’s proposal for a “backstop” solution to Ireland “doesn’t correspond” to the EU’s wishes, Barnier said on Friday, adding that May had agreed on the need for it, and “there is no way we will go backwards.” Barnier said he would discuss the plan with Davis on Monday morning when the two meet for talks in Brussels.
The Sunday Times of Malta reports that the Maltese government cast aside the original choice of a fast-ferry service provider for Gozo Channel and instead appointed a brand new selection committee that came out with a different recommendation whereby Gozo Channel should instead partner with a company set up just a few days earlier, owned by tomato product manufacturers Magro Brothers and the Zammit Tabonas, owners of the Fortina Hotel and Captain Morgan Cruises.
The Malta Independent reports that insolvency administrators of bankrupt Italian shipping company Deiulemar have seized €392,774,566 in Bank of Valletta negotiable securities held in Italy, according to an Italian court notice issued on Friday.
While addressing participants in a Vatican conference dedicated to “Energy Transition and Care for our Common Home”, Pope Francis said “civiliazation requires energy but energy use must not destroy civilization”.
On Illum we read about the strain on the relation between Italy and Malta following the statements done by Interior Minister Salvini about migrants and Malta. The newspaper It-Torċa reports that there might be new harsher penalties for parents found guilty of ‘neglect’.
The Kullħadd and Il-Mument newspapers focus on the issues within the political scenario in Malta. Il-Kulħadd argues that the PN is experiencing the deepest split within its ranks. Il-Mument argues that the Prime Minister is weak in terms of ‘action he can take in respect to Foreign Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela’s case of works at home by public workers, in view of inaction towards Minister Konrad Mizzi following his involvements in bigger scandals as highlighted by Panama Papers’ revelations.
Israeli troops fatally shot three people and injured more than 600 others during a weekly protest along the Gaza-Israel border, according to medics in Gaza. According to the reports some 10,000 Palestinians took part in the protest, according to the Israeli army, throwing rocks at troops, burning tyres, and hurling “a number of explosive devices and a grenade” across the fence. An Israeli aircraft on Saturday for the first time attacked a group of three Gazans preparing a store of balloons that Palestinianshave been using to send incendiary devices over the border during Gaza protests.
Saudi Arabia will host a regional summit to discuss the ongoing economic crisis in Jordan, where a proposed income tax rise recently triggered some of the largest protests in years.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will arrive in Singapore on Sunday for his historic meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the city-state.
The United Nations General Assembly voted to elect Germany, Belgium, South Africa, the Dominican Republic and Indonesia for a two-year term on the Security Council starting on Jan. 1, 2019.
Austria has said it will close down seven mosques and expel imamswho it says are funded by foreign countries.
Microsoft Malta, through its Microsoft Innovation Centre today launched its 21st Century Classroom project. This project, an investment by Microsoft of around €50,000 will kick off in the next scholastic year and will visit 1500 students in 10 State, Church and independent schools, giving the students the opportunity to experience Microsoft’s latest technologies namely the use of virtual reality in the class.
Prince Harry and his new wife Meghan Markle, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, attended the annual Trooping of the Colour ceremony on Saturday, the first time the couple have attended the Queen’s birthday celebrations together.
A hug too much leads to theresignation of Walt Disney Co Animation head and Pixar co-founder John Lasseter,
Musician Danny Kirwan, one-time guitarist for British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, died on Friday at the age of 68.
Jesmond Saliba
Managing Editor
