Corradino Facility admits to blocking prisoner’s phone landline to Peppi Azzopardi

Jul 22 2021

In order to prohibit prisoners from calling the Xarabank host, the Corradino Correctional Facility has shockingly admitted that it has blocked a landline and mobile number to Peppi Azzopardi. The prisons operations director had acted swiftly to restore the service, after an official complaint was submitted. The famous Xarabank broadcaster complained that the prison management blocked access to the landline number of the TV programme as well as his personal mobile number.

Prisoners could call anyone – friends, family, lawyers and other journalists – but were blocked from calling Azzopardi himself, who is known to campaign for prisoner’s rights. Azzopardi stated that all calls were recorded for security reasons, so there really were no reasons as to why the numbers should be blocked. Randolph Spiteri, head of administration and operations at the prison, admitted that verifications indicate the numbers were blocked several years ago.

The original block was recorded back in 2008, whilst the personal mobile number block occurred on August 4th 2017. Spiteri stated that since the decision was taken before the current leadership was in place, the current authorities in question cannot give sufficient reasons as to the block.

Spiteri has since informed IGM that the numbers had been unblocked. The institute, whilst acknowledging the immediate action taken to remedy the block, condemned the prison authorities for preventing prisoners from contacting Azzopardi. The IGM emphasised that this is outright censorship and it deprives inmates from access to a journalist who was reporting on conditions of the prison. The IGM expressed its hope that no such incidents will occur in the future.

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Photo Source: Peppi Azzopardi FB, NJ Spotlight News, Wikipedia

500,000 COVID-19 voucher transactions and €16 million spent

Jul 22 2021

Minister for Economy and Industry Silvio Schembri revealed that around €16 million in COVID-19 vouchers have been spent in the first six weeks since the second batch was introduced. This is a third of the recently released €50 million batch, with most used at retail outlets, eateries and accommodations amongst other services. 37,851 people are still to collect them from their respective post branches after the second round of €100 vouchers were released for everyone aged over 16 in June.

S'issa intużaw total ta' €16-il miljun f'vawċers tal-Gvern 🎫 permezz ta' 500,000 transazzjoni.Waqt aġġornament fuq…

Posted by Silvio Schembri on Thursday, 22 July 2021

The minister also revealed how if one sees the multiplier effect of the first round of vouchers last year, it would mean that for every €1 spent in vouchers, an additional €1 was spent. Of the €16 million spent in these six weeks, which occurred through around 500,000 transactions, €6 million were digital vouchers, whilst €10 were physical vouchers. The average daily transaction value stands at €390,000 whereas average weekend daily transaction (Friday to Sunday) racks up to €624,000.

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Photo Source: Silvio Schembri FB

Gamer excitement as PES rebrands to ‘free to play’ eFootball

Jul 22 2021

PES, Konami’s long-running football series, has been rebranded to ‘eFootball’ and will be released as a free to play title. With Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. as the global ambassadors, eFootball will be PES’ new title, completely rebuilt in Unreal Engine. Releasing on PC, XBOX and PlayStation consoles this Autumn, iOS and Android releases are planned to release later all for free. Any additional content and game modes released after launch will cost money however, with Konami promising to add new content following its launch.

The free launch will also feature FC Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester United and FC Bayern matches will be available among others. eFootball series Producer at Konami Digital Entertainment Seitaro Kimura stated that the strong foundations of Unreal Engine will create a new football game engine that will power eFootball for years to come. One of the gameplay details out of the many as of yet unreleased is Motion Matching, which converts a vast range of movements that players make on the pitch into a series of animations and selects most accurate ones in real time.

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Photo Source: Trusted Reviews

New bill will revolutionise Malta’s court system towards more effectiveness

Minor offences to be heard by justice commissioners instead of courts

Jul 22 2021

Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis stated in a press conference on Wednesday that minor infractions will land persons a tribunal hearing rather than a court. This bill aims to widen the powers of justice commissioners to include hearing minor offences. In a bid to ease the burden of cases from the magistrate’s court, the bill will expand types of crimes which can be heard by commissioners for justice, instead of the typical tribunals that adjudicate traffic offences.

Minister Zammit Lewis added that the consultation process of de-penalisation had been ongoing for four years. This aim is to take minor crimes, which obstruct public peace or affect people or property, and create a system where low-impact cases could be heard. The Minister highlighted how in this way the courts will not face a massive burden with cases that could easily be resolved by justice commissioners. Magistrates will be freed to focus on serious criminal offences with more efficacy. The list of offences which will fall within this system has not yet been provided.

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Photo Source: Kamra tal-Periti, Edward Zammit Lewis