Feeding stray cats is not illegal but leaving a mess is

Sep 6 2022

The Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare released a statement outlining the law when it comes to the feeding of stray cats.

It is not illegal for one to feed the stray cats but it is illegal for these same people to leave a mess afterwards.

‘When we argue that stray cats shouldn’t be fed due to the waste it creates, we would be going against the appropriate treatment of animals act (KAP 439)’ the statement read.

‘In Malta we find lots of rubbish pertaining to ice cream wrappers and crisp packets. But no one thinks of stopping people from eating these snacks outside.’

‘As is written in Chapter 439, the state has the responsibility to push a culture of respect towards animals. The state also has the responsibility of promoting the well-being of animals and that this well-being is protected with state intervention, with all of its legislative, judicial and administrative sections.’

However, according to the law it is also illegal to litter and leave rubbish in public spaces. Thus, those who engage in feeding strays are obliged to clean up after the fact. They are also obliged to remove the containers out of which the cats fed.

In the same breadth, containers with clean water are not considered as rubbish, and can thus be left in spaces which bother no one.

‘Ideally, local councils should try and arrive at a compromise along with those who feed stray cats to find a space outside where the cats can be fed. The identified space needs to comply with the natural and territorial needs of the cats. This means that cats should not have to go long distances to eat and that they should never be in any danger of being too close to a street.’

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Netflix adverts will be starting in the coming weeks as price plans change

Sep 6 2022

Netflix have just announced their latest addition to their platform, and you know what that means – the anticipated arrival of adverts is almost here.

According to reports made by Variety, Netflix is set to fully debut their advertisement schemes on November 1st as an all-new feature to their subscription model.

It is unsure whether Malta will be among one of the many countries to be included in this first rollout of the model which will impact the US, France, Germany, Australia and Canada.

The price tags will also be remodelled, as the new membership tier will be $7 to $9, while the current most basic monthly membership without ads stands at around $9.99 (€10.07).

This can go up to $19.99 (€20.15) for the premium tier as the change follows a particularly challenging period for the streaming giant.

Netflix lost over one million of its customer base this year alone and reported a drop in shares of about 67%. This new cheaper, ad-supported tier is supposed to generate a new era for the platform.

Spokespersons for Netflix revealed that the company is still in the early days of making such decisions and that it is all speculation at this point in time. Chief producer Greg Peters still emphasised giving customers a quality experience and that this could be the way forward.

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Glacier the size of 500 Maltas is ‘hanging on by it’s fingernails’

Sep 6 2022

A stark warning has been issued by scientists as a glacier the size of Florida, or 539 Malta’s, is ‘hanging on by its fingernails.

For some perspective, Florida is around 170,312km², whereas Malta is a measly 316km² in comparison. That means you can fit our Mediterranean island up to 539 times in this frozen monolith.

The Thwaites Glacier in West Antartica, also dubbed the ‘Doomsday Glacier, is acting as sort of an armageddon clock when it comes to the impacts of climate change and global sea level rise.

A team of scientists from around the globe launched a state-of-the-art robotic vehicle with imaging sensors to gather evidence, followed by further projects on this glacier.

It has now been found that at some point in the last 200 years, over a duration of less than 6 months, the front of the glacier lost contact with a seabed ridge and retreated at a rate of over 2.1 kilometres per year.

The project in essential in providing information to inform global planning efforts as many countries and organisations attempt to set goals and standards to reduce our damaging impacts on the planet as a whole.

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Eight female couples benefit from sperm donations in 2021 to start families

Sep 6 2022

Eight female couples benefitted from the ART Clinic service at Mater Dei to start their families through sperm donation last year.

The annual report of the Human Rights Directorate showed that, starting from 2022, the Gender Wellbeing Clinic continued to increase its services through the free breast surgery for transgender persons.

With some couples now even expecting a baby, the clinic was relocated in Paola with 325 persons referred for this service.

Parliamentary Secretary for Equality Rebecca Buttigieg highlighted a new strategy which will be drafted along the Consultative Council and LGBTIQ+ representatives.

Buttigieg said that there were eight lesbian couples who had access to this service to start their family.

With around 300 marriages since the equal marriage law was introduced, she said that this clearly shows how Malta has provided an opportunity to everyone to start a family that they desire.

#MaltaDaily