Tuesday Morning Briefing

Good morning,

A Russian military aircraft disappeared from the radar while flying over Syria, hours after a buffer zone was agreed during summit between the Presidents of Turkey and Russia. The US President announced the tariffs on Chinese products, while the two Koreas’ presidents start their summit.

For the latest headlines, a review of the front pages of Malta’s News papers and our headline digest helps you start your day informed with the main news of the past hours

The Latest

Start your day informed 

• A Russian military aircraft with 14 people on board has disappeared from radar after flying over Syria, Russia’s defence ministry says. CD

• North Korean’s Kim Jong Un greeted Moon Jae-in with hugs and smiles on Tuesday as the South Korean president arrived in Pyongyang to discuss faltering talks on denuclearization and the prospect of officially ending the Korean War. Retuers

• Maroš Šefčovič declared his campaign on Monday to be the Social Democrats’ nominee to lead them into the May 2019 European Parliament election and take charge of the Commission. CD

• Donald Trump last night announced tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, escalating to new heights a trade war between the world’s two largest economies. The Telegraph

• Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates from Tuesday at the invitation of the two countries’ leaderships, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday. – Gulf News

• Poland was suspended from the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary on Monday because the body that nominates the country’s judges is no longer seen as being independent of political control. Politico

• US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the United States would cap the number of refugees allowed into the country at 30,000 for fiscal year 2019, a move rights advocates described as “shameful” and “outrageous”. Al Jazeera

The Review

Malta’s Newspaper Front Pages

The illicit activity in the Mediterranean as detailed through a UN report takes the main attention on two from the four front pages for today.

• The Times reports about a tanker that was fired upon by the Libyan coastguard sought shelter off Maltese territorial waters, a new United Nations report about fuel smuggling in Libya says. It adds “illicit exports of refined petroleum products by both land and sea continued to be a prosperous activity for those involved.”

• The Independent reports that “armed groups in Libya are involved in trafficking of persons and the smuggling of migrants for substantial financial benefits, and with seemingly complete impunity, a recently published UN report has explained.”

• In another story, we read that the Guardian of Future Generations, set up by law to protect the island from excesses that might affect future generations, has added his voice to the mounting opposition to the mega-project which the db Group is proposing for the site formerly occupied by the Institute of Tourism Studies in Pembroke. – The Times

• The Independent  also reports that the Court has decided that the Attorney General Peter Grech will have to take the witness stand in the case filed by Adrian Delia over the Egrant inquiry report.

• L-Orizzont speaks to the Programme Manager at Dar Merħba Bik who says that domestic violence perpetrators should be taken out of the home immediately and rehabilitated in a special institution. The newspaper says that the rate of domestic violence in Malta stands at a rate of 70%.

• L-Orizzont, in another story, reports that Malta’s biggest-ever drug haul was made yesterday at the Freeport, with “tons” of cannabis resin found in four containers. In a third story, the newspaper says that Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia announced the introduction of a police inspector specially-designated for Marsa.

• In-Nazzjon reports about the theme of yesterday’s event organised by the Nationalist Party, where the party’s leader Adrian Delia was reported saying that the PN believes that youths can contribute towards a ‘caring society’.

The Headline Roundup

In case you missed anything 

• Situation in Libya might mean more migrant departures Read More

• Merkel expected to oust country’s head of intelligence – reports Read more

• Theresa May says that the only alternative to the Chequers plan is a no-deal Brexit, as she quashes calls for second referendum Read More

• Russia’s Defense Ministry claims that MH17 was shot down by Ukrainian owned Buk missile Read more

• Salesforce CEO to buy Time Magazine Read More

• Germany: New tax incentives encouraging private developers to build new rental flats in a drive to tackle a drastic shortage of affordable housing Read More

• 26-year old Brazilian volleyball player found dead at Spanish home Read More

• New €100 and €200 banknotes unveiled Read More

• Romanian court rules for referendum to redefine marriage from a union between “spouses” to one between a man and woman Read More

• German government expresses concern about anti-Kremlin protestor Read More

• 5-Star Movement (M5s) will not support government’s plan for ‘fiscal peace’ with small taxpayers if this becomes a major amnesty for tax evaders Read More

• Balkans – Disinformation age challenges in the new ‘battle’ for Macedonia Read More

• Guitarist of Negramaro hospitalised following cerebral haemorrhage Read More