9 year prison sentence for man who raped woman on car bonnet in 2018

Mar 8 2022

A 31-year-old Eritrean man was given a nine year prison sentence after being found guilty of raping a woman in a nightclub parking lot in Paceville back in May 2018.

The case was investigated by police after they found the victim crying in the parking lot of what once was the Axis nightclub on the night of May 23rd.

The woman said that after she and her friend went out for a cigarette, she was approached by a French-speaking man who walked with her until they reached the parking lot.

The accused was subsequently called on from there, who raped the woman on the bonnet of a car and in a space between parked cars. The woman stated that she managed to escape after she bit the accused in the face and hit him with the heel of her shoe.

A medical test confirmed that the woman was raped and suffered injuries as a result of the attack. Experts found traces of the accused’s DNA on the victim’s underwear, but he denied the allegations.

The man asked police to ask the victim if she was crazy and claimed the woman bit him for no reason. Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech concluded that the version of the accused does not make sense, finding lots of scratches as a result of the woman trying to defend herself.

The accused was handed a 9 year prison sentence and ordered to pay €3,900 in court costs. The magistrate called the rape crime one which elects disgust and horror and could scar someone for life.

#MaltaDaily

eSIMS crashes as hundreds try to apply for University election debate

Mar 8 2022

Reports sent to this newsroom have revealed that the University of Malta’s eSIMS portal has crashed as many attempt to book a spot for the electoral debate.

Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition leader Bernard Grech will be facing off in their first ever electoral campaign debate on the 10th of March at Sir Temi Żammit Hall at noon.

Due to the demand of people wishing to attend the debate, the eSIMS portal through which people were to apply through crashed. eSIMS is also used by students to access course details including examination and assessment marks.

It is unsure if the situation was fixed yet, but the site crashing does indicate a very high anticipation rate to finally witness the two party heads shooting ideas and arguments at each other.

This will be the first debate of four between the party leaders and it has been long anticipated as many critiqued Abela for not accepting any public debate requests, with some made even by Grech himself.

#MaltaDaily

Kiabi launches empowering clothing for international women’s day

Mar 8 2022

In celebration of International Women’s Day, fashion brand Kiabi have released brand new empowering pieces for all the amazing women on the island to rock.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Francesca Rausi (@francescarausi_)

Posting to their social media, the brand shared snapshots of some local women influencers donning the colourful sweatshirts in commemoration of the special day.

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A post shared by Ira Losco (@iralosco)

With powerful slogans such as ‘Women’s voice matters’ and ‘feminism is for everybody’, the shirts were highlighted by the likes of Ira Losco, Danita Camilleri, Raisa from MyTrio and the adorable Francesca Rausi.

‘Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we car each other on’ the statement by the brand read.

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A post shared by My Trio (@mytrio123)

It is a wonderful gesture for all the hard-working women of all ages by the fashion brand to highlight the long way we’ve come to in supporting women’s rights throughout the years.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: KIABI FB

11-year-old boy with phone number written on arm crosses Ukrainian border

Mar 8 2022

An 11-year-old boy from Zaporizhzhia, a city in southeastern Ukraine, was deemed a hero by Slovakian authorities after he crossed the border into the country on his own.

CNN reported the news, revealing that the young boy carried a backpack, a plastic bag and a passport, and had a telephone number written on his hand.

According to the Slovak Ministry of Interior, the boy’s mother sent him on a 1,000km journey alone by train to find relatives as she stayed behind to care for her sick mother who cannot move.

Zaporizhzhia is the site where Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant is located, and was captured by Russian troops following a drawn out shootout between invaders and defenders.

Through the number written on the boy’s hand and on a piece of paper folded into his passport, the staff at the border were able to get in touch with the boy’s relatives in Slovakia who were then able to come and collect him.

Volunteers cared for him as he waited, giving him a warm place to shelter in as well as food and drink. More than 1.2 million refugees have left Ukraine since the 24th of February (according to the UN as of March 3rd). 53.7% of those who left crossed into Poland.

#MaltaDaily