Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/827430
2 BRITISH police have confirmed the arrest of a man in connec- tion with a suicide bomb attack in Manchester which killed 22 people and injured dozens at a concert by American singer Ari- ana Grande on Monday. Meanwhile, Salman Abedi was named by police as the suspected suicide bomber. The Manchester born 22-year-old came from a family of Libyan origin. Maltese nationals were present at the Manchester Arena at the time of the explosion, but there are no reports of Maltese citizens being injured as a result in the attack, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said yesterday morning. Taking moments from a press conference to express solidarity with the UK following the ter- rorist attack at the pop concert in Manchester Arena, Muscat said: "I am informed that some Maltese were present during the concert, but we are not informed until now as a government that there are any Maltese among the dead or injured, but obviously we need to confirm this later on." The injured, including chil- dren and young people, are be- ing treated at eight hospitals in Greater Manchester. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack and called it an assault on a "shameless concert arena". Greater Manchester police said the perpetrator was a man acting alone, who died at the scene after detonating an improvised explo- sive device. Muscat said that the govern- ment had already contacted a number of Maltese nationals that it was aware that were at the scene of the attack when the suicide bomber struck. He de- scribed them as being in a state of "shock" but that their condi- tion was "good." He added that the foreign office would continue to make contact with nationals throughout the day. "One should note, howev- er, that as a government, we wouldn't know who would be at any given country or venue at one point in time. We operate by checking the list of casualties after contacting the UK govern- ment through open source data we have, as well as through other contacts," Muscat said, insisting that up until that moment, no Maltese nationals were among the causalities. He expressed solidarity to the British people, describing the at- tack as "brutal". The death toll makes the attack the deadliest attack on British soil since the 7/7 bombings. Police confirmed that the bomber died upon detonating an improvised explosive devise. The priority for police was to estab- lish if he was acting alone or as part of a network, a chief consta- ble told a news conference. The incident unfolded at around 10.30pm (11.30pm CET) on Monday at the end of a con- cert by Ariana Grande, whose music is popular with children and teenagers. As crowds began leaving the concert, the explosion ripped through the foyer of Manchester Arena. At least 22 people have died and 59 were injured, with medics describing wounds con- sistent with shrapnel injury. maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 24 MAY 2017 News Police make arrest in connection with deadly Manchester bombing Maltese nationals attended Manchester concert but no reports of injuries An injured woman is helped by emergency services in Manchester Climate change targets derailed by more cars and air-conditioning units JAMES DEBONO A marked increase in emissions from the transport sector and air-conditioning units, has de- railed Malta's climate change targets according to a country report issued by the European Commission. The report confirms that Malta was the only EU member state that missed its target for reducing greenhouse gas emis- sions in 2013, 2014 and 2015. This is attributed to the in- crease in emissions in hydro- fluorocarbons – organic com- pounds that contain fluorine and hydrogen atoms, most com- monly used in air conditioning and as refrigerants. The other reason for the in- crease is the heavier load of greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector "in the con- text of economic and popula- tion growth." The report also reveals that while the country has become more efficient in producing its energy, energy consumption is on the rise. In fact while primary energy consumption – which includes the consumption of the energy sector itself – has been reduced by 15% between 2014 and 2015, final energy consumption has increased by 5% in the same pe- riod. Final energy consumption is the total energy consumed by end users, such as households, industry and agriculture. It is the energy which reaches the final consumer's door and ex- cludes that which is used by the energy sector itself. The report warns that in view of "buoyant economic activ- ity" achieving the national en- ergy efficiency target "remains a challenge" but the report states that energy efficiency has the "highest potential to further reduce energy costs and raise competitiveness and dispos- able income." The report notes that the government strategy of diversifying sources of energy and upgrading infrastructure has already resulted in lower electricity tariffs for both busi- nesses and households. The report also warns that in view of natural resource con- straints current policies do not appear sufficient to achieve the goals related to green growth and a circular economy. "There are signs that the exist- ing physical infrastructure may not be sufficient to cope with the current pace of develop- ment." Malta was the only EU member state that missed its target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2013, 2014 and 2015