Austin: Maltese owner of 80 dogs and cats passes away

May 31 2022

It was announced earlier today that Austin, a Maltese man who raised around 80 dogs and cats, has sadly passed away.

Austin had gathered the stray animals off Malta’s roads and gave them a better life in his home. His passion for helping animals is very well known on the island, with many even donating to him to help in his mission.

Austin had appeared on Xarabank around 11-years-ago when he explained what it means to him to help so many animals. The news of his passing was reported by Jenkins Maria, who also has a passion for helping animals.

His funeral will take place on Thursday at 14:30 at Our Lady of Sorrow in Hamrun. Austin had around 4 to 5 dogs left in his care when he passed, according to Jenkins.

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Only shooting athletes and hunters will be allowed guns in Canada

May 31 2022

Following yet another instance of online debate and raising of concerns after the school-shooting in Texas, which saw the death of several young children, Canada has moved to introduce a total ban on buying and selling of all handguns.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has proposed the move, saying that his government is pushing a new law which would freeze private ownership of all short-barrelled firearms.

The legislation would not ban the ownership of handguns outright but it would make it illegal to buy them. The bill, which was presented to Canadian parliament on Monday, makes it impossible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in the country.

Reporters were told by the Prime Minister that ‘other than using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need guns in their everyday lives.’

The ambitious bill would also require rifle magazines reconfigured to hold no more than five rounds at a time as well as taking away firearms licenses from owners involved in domestic violence or criminal harassment.

Despite gun ownership not being enshrined in Canada’s constitution, as it is in the US, they are still popular in rural parts of Canada. The northern neighbour of the US already records fewer firearm incidents yearly due to its laws.

This includes keeping all guns locked and unloaded, with anyone wishing to buy firearms having to undergo extensive background checks.

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Two-thirds of Russian oil imports banned by European Union

May 31 2022

European Union leaders have reached an agreement to ban over two-third of Russian oil imports as they tighten the economic sanctions on Moscow. This comes even as Russia’s forces press into Ukraine’s eastern region of Donbas.

The deal was reached late on Monday and is meant to punish Russia for its invasion three months ago.

European Council chief Charles Michel tweeted out saying that the deal cuts a huge source of financing for the Russian war machine. ‘Maximum pressure on Russia to end the war’ he said.

The leaders of the 27-nation bloc had met up to negotiate the deal earlier on Monday in Brussels. The agreement also includes plans for the EU to send around €9 billion in immediate liquidity, Michel revealed.

This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an oil embargo the key point to any sanctions passage. Meanwhile, Washington was cautiously regarding weapons for Ukraine. The invaded country has received extensive military aid from the US, with a mother $40 billion assistance approved for May.

US President Joe Biden however revealed that he would not send rocket systems which could Russian territory, despite urgent requests from Kyiv to do so.

#MaltaDaily

St Julians argument breaks out with sword and glass

May 31 2022

Police were informed at around 0415hrs that an argument had broken out between several people in Triq San Borg, St Julian’s.

District police, aided by officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit, convened on site and found from preliminary investigations that an argument had broken out amongst several men.

Allegedly, a sword and a glass item were used in the altercation. A medical team was called on site to assist those injured. A 36-year-old Libyan, 24-year-old Iranian, 28-year-old Englishman and another man, whose details were not divulged, were taken to Mater Dei.

They were all later confirmed to have sustained grievous injuries. Another five foreigners are assisting the police with the ongoing investigations.

#MaltaDaily