News

Several death in suicide bombing in Kabul. ISIS claims responsibility, provides no evidence

Several people have been killed in a suicide attack targeting Muslim scholars who had gathered in a tent near the Polytechnic University in Afghanistan's Kabul, officials said. Afghan interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish…

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Will Ryanair meet June 30th deadline to avert cabin crew strike?

Ryanair cabin crew are threatening to strike by the end of this month if the company does not meet a series of demands from members. Unions representing cabin crew, which the…

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Grenfell Tower victims were told to stay put by the fire service

Grenfell Tower victims had more than half an hour to escape the high-rise block before the stairs filled with toxic smoke, but were told to stay put by the fire…

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69 dead as ‘Fuego’ erupts in Guatemala

Search and rescue operations were still ongoing in Guatemala on Monday after 69 people were killed when the Fuego volcano erupted. Some 300 people were also injured in the volcano’s…

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29 years ago – Tienamen

Chinese citizens around the world are remembering the lone man, armed with nothing more than two shopping bags, who stepped in front of a row of tanks moving down the…

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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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The Duchess of Sussex gets a ‘remarkable welcome’ into life in the Royal family from the Queen

The Duchess of Sussex is to embark on a lifetime of public service from the most glamorous of events to the rather mundane under the guidance of Her Majesty the…

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Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty’s appeal on the blocking of its Azerbaijani service rejected

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty reports that a court in Baku has rejected an appeal by the Azerbaijani Service of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty against the blockage of…

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Jordan’s Prime Minister resigns

Euronews reports that Jordan's Prime Minister Hani Mulki has resigned after days of protests against an IMF-backed tax bill and austerity measures. King Abdullah is reported to have summoned Mulki…

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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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France financial prosecutor probing Macron’s Chief of Staff on allegations of breaching of conflict of interest rules

Reuters report that France’s financial prosecutor opened an inquiry into allegations President Emmanuel Macron’s chief of staff breached conflict of interest rules while working in the state holdings agency and finance…

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Monday’s morning briefing – 4th June

Good morning It might be cloudy, and despite the early hours, its 21degrees. The heat intends to persist as the temperature in Malta is expected to reach the 30degree mark.…

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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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Salvini pledges to press EU for asylum law reform

The new Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini pledged on Sunday to press EU officials for asylum law reform that allows stricter controls on illegal immigration. During a visit to one…

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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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Slovenia Democratic Party ahead in highly fragmented election

The state election commission put Slovenia Democratic Party (SDS) ahead in the election with 26.3 percent of the votes after 25 percent of votes were counted. According to ExitPolls by…

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Libya signs agreement to secure joint borders with its southern neighbours

Libya’s Foreign Ministry announced that Libya had signed an agreement with its southern neighboring countries Niger, Chad and Sudan to secure the joint borders against human trafficking and weapons smuggling.…

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A quaint street in Zabbar gets colour and life

A quaint street, which links two main squares in the Maltese town of Zabbar is currently adorned with an installation of colourful hanging umbrellas. These umbrellas provide life and shade…

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British MPs claim Russia ‘abused’ of Interpol to target British critic of Putin

The Telegraph reports that MPs will urge the Home Secretary to intervene over Russia's "abuse" of Interpol to target a prominent British critic of Vladimir Putin. For a brief time Wednesday, Bill…

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Sheikh Al-Sadiq warns that silence and failure to support the weak in Derna is foreboding a bleak future

"What is happening in Derna is not a war on terrorism, but a war on all Libyans in order to subdue them" Addressing the Libyans during his weekly program on…

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Elections underway in Slovenia

The Slovenian Democratic Party looks set to win the most votes in the election taking place today. The party let by Led by Janez Janša, seen an increase in support, mainly…

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Newspaper Review – Sunday 3rd June

Malta’s newspapers cover a myriad of topics. The salient points include the ongoing investigations in Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder and the investigations carried by Magistrate Aaron Bugeja on the Egrant…

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Thousands attend funeral of 21 year old nurse killed on the border between Gaza and Israel.

The funeral of Razan al Najar, the 21-year old medic who was shot dead by Israeli forces as she ran to treat injured protesters, was held in the Gazan city…

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Sunday’s Morning Briefing

Good morning, Malta's newspapers cover a myriad of topics. The salient points include the ongoing investigations in Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder and the investigations carried by Magistrate Aaron Bugeja on…

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WHO plans to recommend higher taxes on sugary drinks to fight obesity ‘torpedoed’ by US administration

The PBS in the US said that the Trump administration has torpedoed a plan to recommend higher taxes on sugary drinks, forcing a World Health Organization panel to back off the U.N. agency’s…

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G7 finance ministers isolate the US

The United States' closest allies attacked the Trump administration for imposing tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and mounted challenges with the world's top trade body, fouling the mood at a…

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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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UK: 30% of teachers and 11% of teaching support staff say they have suffered sexually inappropriate behaviour

The Guardian reports that more than one in 10 teaching support staff say they have experienced sexually inappropriate behaviour from pupils. The finding has triggered calls for schools to adopt…

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Juncker invites ‘German-speaking’ countries not to repeat the Greek mistake with Italy and avoid giving lessons to Rome

Deutsche Welle and The Guardian reported that since the new Italian government assumed power, EU President Jean-Claude Juncker seems to have taken a position of respectful distance. In a stark warning to 'Germany'…

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Theresa May should be replaced

Michael Gove should be installed as the new Tory leader because Theresa May has shown that she cannot “carry Brexit through”, Crispin Odey, a major party donor has publicly warned. The…

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al-Sisi sworn in for a second term as Egypt’s president

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been sworn in for a second term as Egypt's president with a vow to fight "those who choose violence, terrorism and extremism". Sisi took the oath…

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Petrobras’ CEO resigns following nationwide strikes in Brazil

The head of Brazil's oil giant Petrobras, Pedro Parente, has resigned, following a nationwide strike by lorry drivers that caused huge disruption. Pedro Parente's resignation was one of the demands…

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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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Brexit – Northern Ireland’s DUP dismisses joint UK/EU status

According to Reuters, the Northern Irish party that supports Britain’s minority government dismissed the idea of giving Northern Ireland joint European Union and UK status after Brexit as at best…

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Pedro Sanchez sworn in as Spain’s new Prime Minister

Socialist party leader Pedro Sanchez has been sworn in as Spain's new Prime Minister a day after a vote of no-confidence booted his conservative People's Party (PP) rival Mariano Rajoy…

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EU launches legal proceedings in WTO against China

The EU has launched legal proceedings in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against Chinese legislation that undermines the intellectual property rights of European companies. Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said: "Technological innovation…

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158 persons (amongst which 9 children, 26 women and 36 unaccompanied minors) rescued in the Mediterranean and taken to Sicily

Almost 160 migrants disembarked a rescue ship Friday evening in Sicily, the NGO SOS Mediterranee said, days before hardline anti-immigrant League leader Matteo Salvini is to visit the island as…

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Editors’ Perspectives – 2nd June

The Malta Independent’s editorial writes about accountability. Entitled Sorry seems to be the hardest word, the edtiorial takes the cue from Pope Francis’ sorry following the Chilean sex scandal and…

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Newspaper Review – Saturday 2nd June ’18

The traffic accident in which a cyclist was killed near the new Kappara Junction features prominently on all local newspapers. In-Nazzjon and The Malta Independent report the incident. L-Orizzont carries…

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21 year old voluntary nurse killed by Israeli soldiers. Israel army investigating reports

A Palestinian woman has been shot dead by Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border fence, in another day of protests and violence, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Razan al-Najjar,…

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Saudi threatens military action against Qatar

In a letter addressed to President Emmanuel Macron of France, Saudi King Salman expressed his "profound concern" with talks under way between Moscow and Doha for the sale of the…

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Two UN Security Council resolutions about the Middle East fail to pass

The United States vetoed Friday an Arab-backed UN draft resolution calling for protective measures for the Palestinians that won backing from 10 countries at the Security Council. A US resolution…

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Supermarkets might be forced to ban ‘guilt lanes’ in the UK to fight obesity

You're done with your shopping in the supermarket and waiting impatiently for your turn. You're hungry and there lies the temptation, a rack full of sweets and chocolates. The temptation…

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VISA system back to normal

In a company statement VISA said that it has resolved a technical issue which occurred yesterday in Europe and prevented some consumers from using Visa for payments. Early on Saturday,…

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Donald Tusk emphasises on unity and solidarity in congratulatory letters to Conte and Sanchez

The President of the European Council congratulated Professor Giuseppe Conte on his appointment as President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic. "Your appointment comes at a crucial time for…

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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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European Union, Canada and US businesses express their dismay and concern following Trump’s decision to impose trade tariffs

The Financial Times reports that European Union has vowed to respond to Donald Trump’s new tariffs with measures of its own instead of returning to the negotiating table, as transatlantic trade…

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