Here’s what Netflix’s new rules could mean for users

Feb 4 2023

Netflix users are bracing themselves for a new change in policy regarding password sharing, which the streaming service claims undermines its ability to improve and invest in the service.

The company recently announced that subscribers would be able to pay extra to share an account with someone outside their household.

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This change will require users to log in to their account from their home address at least once every 31 days, or risk having their account blocked.

The news of this policy change caused confusion among users, and its brief appearance on the Netflix domestic Help Center earlier this week sparked speculation about how the policy would be enforced.

However, the information was later removed from the website and a Netflix spokesperson confirmed that the rules are currently in place for some countries, but not for the United States.

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Another earthquake wakes up the Maltese islands

Feb 4 2023

Seismic activity continues to shake Malta with tremors, which, this time around, were felt on Saturday morning.

The magnitude 4.9 shake reportedly originated from the same epicentre as the previous earthquakes, located approximately 130 km south of Malta.

The tremors were reported in areas such as Sliema, St Julian’s, Żebbuġ, and Naxxar. Despite the persistent shaking, seismologists assure the public that there is no cause for concern.

UOM Seismic Monitoring Researcher Dr Daniela Farrugia told MaltaDaily late lost month that this is not the first time such a sequence of tremors has happened.

In fact, Malta had registered over 100 earthquakes in just 8 days ending January 25th. Other tremors continued to be felt following that, with the latest being this morning.

This recent tremor follows a magnitude 5.1 event that was widely felt on January 30th. This marks a weeks-long streak of seismic activity with numerous tremors felt across Malta, all stemming from the same undersea epicentre.

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Australia approves MDMA & magic mushrooms for medical use

Feb 4 2023

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia has announced that MDMA and magic mushrooms have been approved for medical use.

The TGA reclassified the drugs as “controlled drugs” which means that authorised psychiatrists will be able to prescribe the drugs for specific mental health issues from July 1st.

MDMA will only be prescribed for post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. There is currently no TGA approved product containing either substance, so the TGA has emphasised the need for controls to protect patients during therapy.

The reclassification was seen by Dr. David Caldicott, a clinical senior lecturer in emergency medicine, as a positive step away from demonising these drugs. Approved psychiatrists will need to be approved by a human research ethics committee and the Authorized Prescriber Scheme.

GPs can refer patients to approved psychiatrists or they may be eligible for clinical trials.

This echoes Maltese MEP Cyrus Engerer’s urging of the EU last year to look into the possibility of psychedelics such as MDMA and magic mushrooms in helping to treat mental health illnesses.

Engerer told MaltaDaily in December that he is working hard to urge the EU commission to invest in more research so that the EU could be part of the forefront in the innovation in this particular field.

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Fines and penalty points for driving while using a mobile phone will double

Feb 3 2023

Minister Aaron Farrugia was speaking during press conference during which a number of announcements were made:

• Four new motorbikes for enforcement officers through an investment of €120,000 for a total of 14;
• Increased operation throughout 2022 with 24,500 fines issued, and 607 cars towed;
• More training provided to enforcement officers over the past months;
• Improved road safety: better infrastructure, more enforcement, and tougher penalties.

In 2022 the Roadside Inspections also increased in Malta and Gozo. Several Joint Roadside Inspections were also carried out together with other entities. This increase in operations led to a total of 24,500 fines being issued during the year 2022, and 607 vehicles were not in compliance with traffic regulations.

Fines and points

Infringement	At present	Changed
Driving through a red light	€100	€200
No-entry	€46.59	€75
Excessive speeding: 15km/h over the speed limit	€69.88	€100
Driving a vehicle carrying iron rods or nets which are not properly secured	€116.47	€200
Non-usage of tailboard, overloading or spillage	€46.69	Not less than €250, but not more than €500
Obstruction (including slipways and piers)	€104.82	€104.82 [reworded]
Obstructing the free flow of traffic in any road including all types of obstructions, such as obstructing a bus or priority lane, the safe entry, docking and existing for bus stops, creating an unauthorised road or lane closure, etc)	€104.82	€104.82 [reworded]
Overloading the number of passengers	€11.65	€50
Use of vehicle for the purpose other than licensed in case of hire or compensation	€34.94	€200
Use of mobile phone, earphones or over-ear headphones in the ear facing the window and while stationary or in motion for motorcycles, mopeds, and ekick scooters and vehicles of category L, M1 jew N1	€100	€200
Use of mobile phone, earphones or over-ear headphones in the ear facing the window and while stationary or in motion for vehicles of category N2, N3, M2 u M3 and drivers carrying passengersfor hire or compensation	€100	€300

	Deduction at present	Changed
Use of mobile phone	3-6	6-9
Use of headphones while driving	3-6	6-9

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