Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for George Floyd murder

Jun 26 2021

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison for second degree murder of George Floyd. Appearing in court on Friday, the 45-year-old was found guilty on three charges related to Floyd’s death two months beforehand. The sentence was a ten year increase to the state’s recommended sentencing. The prosecutors argued that Chauvin should face harsher sentencing due to a range of aggravating factors.

Judge Peter Cahill stated that the decision was not based on emotion or sympathy but added that he wanted to acknowledge the deep and tremendous pain all the families, especially the Floyd family, were feeling. The announcement followed victim impact statements from members of the Floyd family, including his 7-year-old daughter Gianna who stated that she missed her father and loved him.

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Photo Source: MARCA, KTTC

Could Malta see a return to events as we know them in August?

Jun 25 2021

The British Government has made way for an Event Research Programme which is set to take place between July 16-18 and will allow a number of pilot events in order to determine how events with larger crowd can take place as restrictions are eased.

Health officials will monitor and analyse the spread of COVID-19 amongst attendees within the different events, much like the similar scheme which had allowed a club event and sporting event.

The list of events includes seated and standing events with venues at full capacity and will monitor use of Covid passport through the UK’s NHS app.

In the past, Maltese health Authorities have attributed their national decisions to scientific outcomes, figures & examples from beyond our shores. This would mean that if the UK’s Event Research Programme is successful, Maltese Health Authorities may reconsider their current position and potentially be motivated to test out larger events in Malta.

Currently, large-scale campaigns such as entertainment and culture lobby ‘Restart’ have been calling for a restart to Malta’s events scene with controlled entrance and presentation of vaccine certificate, amongst other measures.

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Maltese MEPs in split vote as ‘abortion’ report passes in European Parliament

Jun 25 2021

Maltese MEPs of both political parties exhibited a mixed voting patter on Thursday after the passing of the sensitive Matic report calling for universal access to safe and legal abortion in the EU.

Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer was the only Maltese MEP to vote in favour of the report, with fellow Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba joining Nationalist MEPs Roberta Metsola and David Casa voting against while Labour MEPs Alfred Sant and Josianne Cutajar abstained.

The report raised a fair amount of controversy after Croatian MEP Predrag Fred Matic claiming a campaign of misinformation by a Polish anti-human rights organisation.

The report calls for a universal provision of contraceptive supplies, counselling and widespread information of contraception, amongst other proposals.

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UK to impose ban on junk food advertising online & after 9pm from 2023

Jun 25 2021

In attempt to tackle the UK’s ongoing obesity crisis, the UK government is set to impose a ban on junk food advertising as from 2023, a ban which prohibits TV advertising after 9PM and all forms of online paid promotion.

These new measures, which many have called radical marketing restrictions, will impact a market which spends over £600 million per year on food advertising.

The 9pm television ban applies to products which have been deemed to be high in fat, salt and sugar while the online ad ban concerns all online paid promotion including Facebook ads, paid Google results, text message promotions and sponsored posts on Instagram and Twitter.

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