USA

Pope Francis hopes Singapore summit will lead to Peace

Reuters - Pope Francis said on Sunday he hoped a forthcoming summit in Singapore between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will lead to peace…

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Kim Jong Un lands in Singapore

The Singapore summit between the United States and North Korea is a "one-time shot" and a "mission of peace," President Donald Trump said Saturday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un…

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Kim Jong Un expected in Singapore tomorrow

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, a Singapore diplomatic source said Saturday.…

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Giuliani claims porn star Stormy Daniels had ‘no reputation’

AP reports that President Donald Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, said Stormy Daniels' claim she had sex with Trump in 2006 isn't credible because she's a porn actress with "no reputation."…

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Trade Tariffs: EU Commissioners endorse the imposition of additional duties on a number of US products

The European Union announced it will start imposing duties from July on a list of U.S. products in response to President Donald Trump's decision to slap tariffs on steel and…

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Venue for US – North Korea summit set

CNN reports that the White House Press Secretary announced that the summit between the US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, will be the Capella Hotel on Singapore's…

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Wednesday’s Morning Briefing

Good morning on another warm day! The heat seems to persist in the coming hours as the Met Office at the MIA is forecasting a high 28 degrees temperature during…

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German politicians call for US ambassador to be recalled

Politico reports that German politicians are calling for U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell to be recalled, following a controversial interview in which the diplomat claims he is seeking to…

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Trump’s former campaign manager accused of trying to tamper with potential witnesses ahead of trial

All major news outlets report that Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, has been accused of trying to tamper with potential witnesses ahead of his trial. Robert Mueller, who is…

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Trump declares that he has the absolute right to pardon himself

The US President Donald Trump asserted his presidential power and escalated his efforts and declared that he has the "absolute right" to pardon himself and attacking the investigation as "totally…

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Fierce political situation in the US is to blame for delays in US-Russia summit – Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed fierce political disturbances in the United States for difficulties in arranging a summit with President Donald Trump, in remarks broadcast on Monday. Trump said in…

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North Korea’s top three military officials removed from their posts

Reuters report that North Korea’s top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a senior U.S. official said. The move, analysts said, could support efforts by the North’s…

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Any agreement with the US on trade will be void, if tariffs go ahead – China

China warned the United States on Sunday that any deals the two countries reach on trade will be void if President Donald Trump goes ahead with the threatened tariff hike on…

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The world should stand up to US bullying behaviour – Iranian Foreign Minister

The world should stand up to Washington’s bullying behaviour, Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying on Sunday by state media in a letter to counterparts, as…

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US confirms its commitment to a stable, democratic and united Libya

In a statement released after a meeting between the US Chargé d’Affaires, Stephanie Williams and AFRICOM Commander General Tom Waldhauser and Presidency Council head Faiez Serraj, in Tripoli, the US…

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Google will not renew AI work contract with Pentagon after staff rebellion

Google will not renew a contract to do artificial intelligence work for the US Pentagon, company sources say. Employees were resigning due to the ethical concerns they had over Google’s…

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Corporate Dispatch – Saturday’s Morning Briefing

Good morning, The Maltese Newspapers report that the Malta Financial Services Authority said that Ali Sadr Hasheminejad’s arrest in the US “immediately compromised” Pilatus Bank’s entire operation and made it…

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Trump announces “summit back on track”

Donald Trump's summit with Kim Jong-un on 12 June is back on, the US president says, a week after it was scrapped. Earlier a senior North Korean official met U.S.…

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Morning Briefing – 1st June ’18

Good morning, Unfortunately today’s morning briefing starts on a sad note as all media portals in Malta report the news of a male cyclist who was killed after he was…

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A bad day for world trade – EU

The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker expressed his concern following the decision by the US that starting on 1 June 2018 ,it will impose additional duties of 25 % and 10…

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Breakthrough as human corneas were printed for first time

Human corneas have been 3D printed for the first time by scientists at Newcastle University. The researchers mixed stem cells from a healthy donor cornea with alginate, a gel derived…

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Senior North Korean official on a visit in New York

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and high-ranking North Korean official Kim Yong Chol enter a second day of meetings in New York on Thursday as they try to settle…

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ABC cancels popular sitcom “Roseanne” following racist tweet by main protagonist Roseanne Barr where she called former Obama advisor an ape.

ABC canceled its hit sitcom "Roseanne" on Tuesday after the show's biggest star, Roseanne Barr, went on a racist Twitter rant. ABC took the decision following what it called "abhorrent"…

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Netanyahu to meet Macron and Merkel

The Israeli's Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu will fly to Germany on June 4 to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel, before traveling later that day to France for talks with…

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US warns Syria of firm and appropriate measures if ceasefire is violated

The US has warned Syria it will take "firm and appropriate measures" if government forces violate a ceasefire by launching an anticipated assault on the rebel-held region of Daraa. Emboldened…

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JCPOA remaining partners convene after US withdrawal from Iranian Nuclear deal. They welcome the fact that the (IAEA) has again confirmed the continued adherence by Iran to its nuclear-related commitments

China, Russia, France, the UK and Germany have expressed their commitment to maintain the Iranian nuclear deal, but a solution has not yet been found on how to diffuse and…

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Developing Story – School shooting in Indiana USA

Various US media reported that at least two people (one teenager and one adult) were injured following a shooting in a Indiana middle school in the United States. The episode took place…

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US – North Korea Summit : On again, Off again, On Again, perhaps!

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that it was possible a planned summit with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un could still take place on June 12 as originally…

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“The Singapore summit (between the US and North Korea), for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place.” – Donald Trump

The BBC and CNN amongst others, reported that the planned summit between US President Donald Trump North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will not happen. Claiming that it would be inappropriate to have…

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Thursday’s Morning Briefing – 24th May, 2018

Good morning The Maltese newspapers lead with the story related to a bomb which exploded yesterday in Gharghur. In this explosion a man Kevin Ellul (43), who happens to…

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BBC: Trump’s personal lawyer received secret payment to arrange meeting between the US and Ukrainian Presidents

Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, received a secret payment of at least $400,000 (£300,000) to fix talks between the Ukrainian president and President Trump, according to sources in Kiev…

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NFL players will be fined if they kneel during US anthem

Various US media outlets report that N.F.L. players will be allowed to stay in the locker room during the national anthem, but their teams will be fined by the league if they…

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Trump’s blocking of critical Twitter users violates the First Amendment

The New York Times reports that a federal judge in Manhattan has ruled that President Trump’s practice of blocking Twitter users who are critical of him from seeing his posts…

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“Substantial Chance” that summit between US and North Korea might not happen next month

US President Donald Trump has said there is a "very substantial chance" a historic summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un next month may not happen. Trump said that the North…

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Tuesday’s Morning Briefing – 22nd May, 2018

Good morning Hazy morning in Malta. The overcast seems to stay throughout the day, even though temperatures should reach 21 degrees (C). Our morning round up follows. Today’s Malta's newspapers…

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South Korean President to meet US counterpart at White House

South Korean President Moon’s meeting with US counterpart Trump at the White House on Tuesday is going to be a crucial test of whether the two presidents will make history…

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Netflix secure deal with Obamas

Netflix has secured a deal with President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama to produce series and movies for the streaming service. The former first couple will, according…

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Scepticism around US – North Korea Summit grows

CNN reports that the US Administration aides have started to show scepticism that the summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will come to fruition. The harsh…

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Strongest sanctions ever will be imposed against Iran if it doesn’t change its course – Us Sec. of State Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has threatened to place "the strongest sanctions in history" on Iran if its government does not change course. While presenting the strategy following the…

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USA takes a step back from trade dispute with China

The Financial Times report that the USA has stepped back from the brink of a trade war with China after Washington halted plans to impose tariffs on up to $150bn…

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China carries training exercises on islands in the disputed South China Sea

China’s air force has landed several bombers of various types, on islands and reefs in the South China Sea as part of a training exercise in the disputed region, it said in…

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Dimitrios Pagourtzis arraigned in court over Santa Fe shool shooting

Dimitrios Pagourtzis was charged with the murder of ten people (students) in the latest of school shootings which took place in the United States. The Santa Fe High School shooting…

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17-year-old being held in custody following Santa Fe school shooting which claimed the life of 10 students

A 17-year-old suspect, Dimitrios Pagourtzis — an introvert who had given off few warning signs — had surrendered and been taken into custody, following the latest in a series of…

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Japan notifies WTO that it is reserving right to impose tariffs against the USA

On Friday, Japan notified the World Trade Organization that it was reserving the right to impose retaliatory tariffs against the United States in response to tariffs on steel and aluminum…

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Trump: US – North Korea summit still on the cards. No threat for Kim Jong-un, but only if he agrees to deal

US President Donald Trump said that the US and North Korean officials are continuing to prepare for a scheduled diplomatic summit next month, even as Pyongyang threatened in recent days…

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Developing Story – At least 8 people killed in shooting at Texas School

At least 8 people were killed, and others were injured, in a shooting on Friday at the Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas. Law enforcement officials confirmed these…

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Gina Haspel confirmed as CIA director

On Thursday, the US senate confirmed Gina Haspel as the first female CIA director, even though there were deep reservations among some lawmakers that her past involvement in the harsh…

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USA : Teacher and student die, several injured in school bus crash

At least one person died and many others were injured in the crash of a school bus carrying 46 students on Interstate 80, a US highway. The accident happened near Mount Olive, New Jersey,…

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EU committed to Iranian nuclear deal; wants the US to exempt the bloc from steel tariffs

The EU remains firmly committed to the Iranian nuclear deal, and it wants the US to permanently exempt the bloc from steel tariffs. Donald Tusk, the European Council president said…

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TOTAL warns that it will stop its operations in Iran

French company TOTAL announced that in view of the sanctions Total will not be able to operate its project SP 11, unless it will get special waivers. The company said…

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The clash of the Donalds – With friends like this, who needs enemies? Donald Tusk on Donald Trump

“Looking at the latest decisions of Trump, someone could even think: With friends like that, who needs enemies?” Donald Tusk, President of the European Council didn't leave much to anyone's imagination to…

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USA still hopeful about planned summit with North Korean leader

The United States is still hopeful about a planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un but President Donald Trump is prepared for a tough negotiation process, White House…

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There is a limit in showing goodwill and offering opportunity – North Korea

North Korea, through the country's official news agency, didn't mince words and expressed its dismay and anger at the joint drills taken by South Korea and the US, which for…

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North Korea cancels meeting with South Korea and threatens to cancel summit with the USA

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency says North Korea is canceling a high-level meeting between the two countries and is threatening also to cancel a summit with the United States due…

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‘Constructive meeting’ between Iran and and the EU

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has hailed as "very good and constructive" the meeting he had in Brussels with the European Union's foreign-policy chief, Federica Mogherini. Zarif was in…

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WTO rules against the European Union in landmark Airbus, Boeing judgement

The World Trade Organisation ruled on Tuesday the European Union had ignored requests to halt all subsidies to plane maker Airbus, prompting the United States to threaten sanctions against European…

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Tunisia’s largest trade union considers preventing American ships from entering the country’s ports over US embassy move to Jerusalem

Tunisia's largest trade union is considering preventing the unloading and launching of American ships in the country's ports in response to the US decision to transfer its Israeli embassy to…

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