Demand for Abela’s anti-abortion pledge by Doctors for Life

Mar 19 2022

A group of doctors who campaign against abortion expressed concerns about Labour’s pledge to revise Malta’s sexual health policy.

Doctors for Life said that the wording in the PL’s pledge was unclear and could thus imply that the party intended to include abortion in its pledge to respect ‘sexual and reproductive rights.’

This is in reference to proposal 506, which states that the party is committed to publishing an updated sexual health policy as soon as possibly. ‘The policy should reflect modern-day realities when it comes to health and sexual and reproductive rights, in all their diversity. We will also create an action plan with targets, measures and clear deadlines to hold the government accountable for implementing this policy’ it reads.

In a statement on Saturday, Doctors for Life said that the terminology used in the pledge was concerning. They urged the Prime Minister to explain what the party meant by ‘sexual and reproductive rights’ and ‘categorically exclude abortion from this definition.’

The island’s current sexual health policy was published in 2010, with work to revise it beginning some years ago. It was however scrapped last year as it was being based on research which was 12 years old.

The organisation said that it would remain politically neutral but that it would be advising the electorate that supporting proposal 506 of the manifesto ‘may be endorsing the future legalisation of abortion.’

Abela has previously stated that his against abortion but said that debate about the issue should not be politicised. He also expressed anger at political party ABBA reporting pro-choice activists to the police.

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Man dies after inhaling leaking heater gas at home

Mar 19 2022

A 35-year-old man from Qormi died on Saturday morning after he inhaled gas leaking from a heater.

The police confirmed that the man, from Guinea-Bissau, was found unconscious in his residence by a medical team which was called to assist.

The man was unfortunately pronounced dead at the site of the incident. Civil Protection Department members as well as police convened on the residence on Triq il-Poezija after they were called at 11:30am.

Investigations are underway, with magistrate Josette Demicoli opening a magisterial inquiry.

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Woman charged with fraud after scamming 46 individuals wanting to buy PlayStation 5

Mar 19 2022

A 37-year-old woman from Zabbar has been released from custody after being charged with committing fraud on multiple false online Playstation 5 sales.

Maxlene Mizzi pleaded not guilty to claims of misappropriation and fraud on 46 individuals who ordered the much-sought after games console, paying €100 deposits to no avail. The Malta Police Force began investigating this case back in November after receiving multiple reports from consumers, with the individuals paying hundreds of euro in deposits and not receiving their products or any form of communication in return.

Lawyers Mario Mifsud and Christian Camilleri, who appeared for Mizzi, requested release from arrest and treatment for the woman’s health conditions. Magistrate Leonard Caruana accepted this request on a number of conditions including a personal guarantee of €10,000 and regular signing at the police station.

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Former Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe does not plan on returning to role for reunion film

Mar 19 2022

Harry Potter fans around the world have had their hearts broken after the film star stated that he does not consider reprising his role as the boy wizard any time soon.

The 32-year-old actor recently took part in an HBO Max reunion special, but does not consider returning to the original role amid rumours of a ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ adaptation. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone director Chris Columbus stated that reuniting the old cast would be ‘cinematic bliss’ akin to what J.J. Abrams did with Star Wars years later.

Radcliffe stated that such a role isn’t something he is interested in doing right now and, while not being the answer that anybody wants, going back to it would be a massive change in his life.

Are you a Harry Potter fan?

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