Brendan Fraser gives emotional speech about mental health after winning best actor

Jan 16 2023

Taking to the stage to accept his award for ‘Best Actor’ at the ‘Critics’ Choice Awards’ for his role in ‘The Whale’, actor Brendan Fraser delivered a powerful speech as he broke down in tears.

‘The Whale’ tells the tale of a reclusive overweight teacher named Charlie, who tries to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter.

The film, which was directed by Darren Aronofsky, received immense praise following its premier. The actor spoke over music which attempted to play him off and gave this powerful address:

“If you – like a guy like Charlie, who I played in this movie – in any way, struggle with obesity or you just feel like you’re in a dark sea. I want you to know that if you too can have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen.”

The 54-year-old also told the audience that he was in the wilderness when the director found him. He said he should have left a trail of breadcrumbs but he was found. ‘Like all bet directors you showed where I had to go to get to where I needed to be’ he said.

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€300 fine for man calling for public hanging for Repubblika activist

Jan 16 2023

A Facebook commenter who called for the hanging of a Repubblika and civil society activist was fined a €300 fine as well as a conditional discharge.

45-year-old Joe Schembri was charged with incitement in a Żebbuġ district sitting last October after he called for the hanging of Repubblika president Robert Aquilina’s hanging from ‘the nearest lamppost’ in a Facebook comment.

Aquilina testified, saying how he led a protest in March 2022 to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Schembri commented below a photo which was posted by zookeeper Anton Rea Cutajar to critique Aquilina. Schembri’s defence lawyer said that his client had no real intent of violence and that such phrases were ‘common in the South’.

Magistrate Lia found Schembri guilty as charged, with Schembri being conditionally discharged for one year and fined €300.

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Four vehicles crash in Mosta traffic accident

Jan 16 2023

Police were informed yesterday at around 1730hrs that their assistance was needed in Vjal l-Indipendenza, Mosta due to a traffic accident.

Police convened immediately on site and preliminary investigations showed that a 28-year-old man resident of Mosta who was driving a Honda motorcycle and a 27-year-old man resident of Swieqi driving a Husqvarna suffered injuries after being involved in accidents with two other cars.

A man driving a Toyota Vitz resident of Ħamrun and a 31-year-old man resident of Imsida driving a Peugeot 208 were also involved in the accident.

A medical team was called on site, with ambulances taking the motorcyclists as well as a 25-year-old man resident of Swieqi who was riding as passenger along with the 27-year-old to Mater Dei.

The two men were later confirmed to have suffered grievous injuries, but the woman was confirmed to have not suffered any injuries.

Police investigations are still ongoing.

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Pairs to hold referendum on banning e-scooter rentals

Jan 16 2023

Parisians will be asked to take a vote on whether or not to allow electric scooter rental services to operate in the city. Authorities are currently weighing banning the for-hire vehicles as the issue as become extremely divisive and controversial.

The capital city’s mayor, Anne Hidalgo, told the Le Parisien newspaper how critics of the service say that riders only show cursory respect for the rules of the road.

Critics pointed to reckless parking, the abandonment of scooters in parks (with others even getting tossed into the Seine river) as well as driving on pavements.

On the other hand, users praised the alternative mode of transport as a fast and efficient means of commuting. It was estimated that the scooters totalled 15,000, all owned by companies Lime, Dott and/or Tier.

The referendum, planned for April 2nd 2023, will ask residents the simple question of: ‘Do we or don’t we continue with free-floating rental scooters?’

The mayor herself revealed she was leaning towards a ban, but wants to respect the Parisian’s vote. The three operators were already threatened in September of last year with non-renewal of their licenses if they fail to limit reckless use of the vehicles.

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