Confirmed visit by Pope in April fuels March election rumours

Confirmed visit by Pope in April sparks March election rumours

Feb 10 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela has just unveiled the confirmation that Pope Francis will be visiting Malta on the 2nd and 3rd of April 2022.

This has sparked rumours, and a higher probability, of a general election being announced for March. Sources had revealed earlier this year that the Vatican expressed their wish for the pope’s visit to take place after an election so as not to give the impression of any political influence.

The papal visit had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Pope Francis being the third pontiff to visit Malta after St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

In a Facebook statement, the Prime Minister said that the visit by the Pope will be a wonderful occasion for the Maltese and Gozitan population. He however did not give any indication in regards to the election, despite rumours mounting with every passing day.

Cats taken away from Kurt Zouma after abuse video and fined £250K

Feb 10 2022

The RSPCA have taken way Kurt Zouma’s cats after a disturbing video of the player hitting, dropping and kicking his pet across the kitchen floor surfaced.

The 27-year-old West Ham defender issued an apology since then, but Essex Police have confirmed that urgent enquiries were underway in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

West Ham also fined the player two weeks wages, which are understood to amount around £250,000. The money will all be donated to animal welfare charities.

Despite the club condemning the player’s actions, it also backed manager David Moyes’ decision to start the player against Watford on Tuesday. Moyes confirmed that Zouma would remain available for selection while the clubs internal investigation ran its course. Adidas also confirmed that Zouma is no longer associated with the company after the investigation.

A statement read: ‘We have concluded our investigation and can confirm Kurt Zouma is no longer an Adidas contracted athlete’, saying that no animal should be subject to cruel and unwarranted abuse.

West Ham itself is resisting pressure, with other sensors withdrawing their support for their weak response to his behaviour. Heineken said they were appalled, with Experience Kissimmee and Yield App now evaluating their relationship.

With Zouma himself allegedly being sent on an animal awareness course by his club, Moyes defended not dropping the player by saying that he was one of the better players and that he wants the best team on the field – a statement which received much criticism.

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Mika the missing Chow Chow safely found and back home

Feb 10 2022

After going missing on Sunday evening, Mika, the four-year-old Chow Chow was found after a family member returning from work spotted her in the Magħtab area.

Dylan Drago, Mika’s owner, revealed to newsroom Times of Malta that it was another family member, Nicole, who spotted the dog in the early hours of the morning.

Drago explained how his cousin Nicole had just finished work, being an independent taxi driver, and spotted the fluffy silhouette of Mika as she was returning home in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.

She spotted the dog after deciding to drive in the area instead of passing through the main roads. Unfortunately, Mika ran away after Nicole tried to chase her, but she was soon accompanied by Dylan, his father and uncles.

Dylan expressed his joy at seeing Mika, who was found within minutes, breaking into tears along with his cousin. ‘It was a moment of relief for all of us’ he said, thanking everyone, including Times of Malta and other newsrooms, for reporting on the case.

He had initially suspected Mika to have been taken by someone, but Dylan said that had not the media attention helped their search, he would have gave up on the prospect of finding the dog.

Mika herself is doing well, settled back home and resting. The family had initially offered a €1,500, but Nicole refused it. Drago however revealed that they want to help her out in her new business, ‘so no regrets whatsoever.’

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Photo Source: Dylan Drago FB

Cyber-stalking and bullying law could issue five year prison sentence

Feb 10 2022

A bill which has started the process of debate in parliament on Wednesday involves making cyberstalking and cyberbullying specific offences in the Criminal Code.

The bill, which is piloted by Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis, provides that it shall be a crime for anyone, with the intention of causing fear or harm, to;

Stalk another person through the use of a computer or electronic communications device; to cause unauthorised computer function in a computer owned or used by another person and; to trace another person’s use of the internet or other electronic communication.

Those found guilty of such offences would be liable to a prison term between one and five years and/or a fine not exceeding €30,000. The punishment will be increased by one degree when the crime is committed against an underage person or a vulnerable person.

This is also applicable if the offence is committed by two or more persons working together. Introducing the bill, Minister Zammit Lewis said that despite people having the right to express themselves on the internet, criminal sanctions were needed against cyberstalking and cyberbullying because of the negative impact they had on people, leading even to self-harm or suicide.

He went on to present the provisions of the bill, explaining that the crimes can be caused through threats, intimidation, abuse or offensive words directed at the victim through the use of a computer or other electronic communication device.

When it comes to cyberstalking, the accused will be able to argue in court that they did so without malicious intent in the normal course of a lawful business or for the purpose of engaging in discussion or communication with respect to public affairs. The latter provision would protect journalists from such charges.

On cyberbullying, the crime would apply when the accused ought to have known that his actions would cause fear or harm to another person. This follows a 2017 plea by then President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca who said that the fight against such crimes should not only include strengthening existing legislation but enacting a specific law.

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Photo Source: Edward Zammit Lewis