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Increase in child abductions in 2020 during the pandemic

Increase in child abductions in 2020 during the pandemic
Feb 12 2022 Share

19 children were allegedly taken out of Malta illegally in 2020 as child abductions spiked. The kids were taken out of the country by one of their parents/guardians due to a trend fuelled by ‘opportunities and travel complications’ created by the epidemiological situation.

Family lawyer Robert Thake, who specialises in child abduction cases notice the uptick, saying that COVID-19 added a layer of complication as courts stopped operating and flights were halted for months. 

Thake stated that COVID did impact the spike in child abductions because in some cases, parents took advantage of the circumstances created by the pandemic. He revealed how he had clients leaving to the UK to visit their family but staying there and blaming it on the risk of travelling during the pandemic.

‘As time passes’ he said, ‘the children are setting up roots in that country – like going to school – making the return process more complicated.’ This prompted Thake to call for child abduction to become a crime in Malta.

According to the Maltese Central Authority, which handles child abduction cases, around 104 children were reported to have been abducted and taken out of Malta illegally over the past decade. The numbers peaked in 2020. 

‘Taking a child away from a parent and forcing a child and a parent out of contact should be a crime. Making it a crime would, at least, act as a deterrent. This sort of illegal removal is very cruel on both the child and on the left-behind parent’ he said. 

Thake had 12 enquiries and cases, with two new ones just this January. Clients were seeking the return of their children from places such as UK, France, Libya, Ukraine, Sweden, Germany, North Macedonia and Guatemala. Most children were under aged 10 and were taken out of Malta by their foreign mother. 

Under current civil law, a child must have the written consent of both parents to be able to leave the island. However, if one parent takes the child out of the country without permission of the other parent, this constitutes a breach of civil law and not criminal law. This means it is not punishable. 

Recent Criminal Code amendments make it a crime to remove a child from Malta if this is in breach of a court order or a care order. Thake believes this does not go far enough, saying it is an excellent amendment but falls short. 

This is because abductions can, and often, happen when the court isn’t involved. Sometimes, the parents are still in a relationship, with cases falling under two categories. 

The first is illegal removal, which is commonly referred to as abduction, and is when a child is removed from he child’s country of habitual residence without the consent of the other parent. On the other hand, illegal retention is when a parent is given consent to travel for a defined period but refuses tor return at the expiration of the time period. 

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Hooligan and his sister Daniela recreate THAT Maltese rap song

Hooligan and his sister Daniela recreate THAT Maltese rap song
Feb 12 2022 Share

Now this is what we call a throwback. Posting to her Instagram story, Daniela Farrugia and her brother Johnston, known better by his rapper name Hooligan, recreated the local HipHop classic ‘Oriġinali Bħali.’

The song was a massive hit 20 years ago, being one of the more well-known and pioneering Maltese HipHop numbers everyone was quoting and singing along to.

 

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A post shared by Malta Daily (@maltadaily.mt)

The two siblings came back together to enjoy a night out and bless the audience with an exclusive performance of their old track. And suffice to say, the audience was absolutely loving it!

Hooligan, also known as Hooli, still produces local rap music, going on to become a staple of Maltese HipHop culture and serving as inspiration for other local rappers to take up the mic and tell their own stories.

As for Daniela, she is now the proud owner of ‘D MAGNIFIQUE Beauty’, an esthetician and social media influencer. Both have taken their own career paths, but it’s moments like these that bring not only them together as siblings but fans of iconic Maltese lyric who grew up with the music.

 

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A post shared by D A N I E L A . (@daniela__farrugia)


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Source: daniela_farrugia IG, Hooli FB

Cheese lovers alert as McDonald’s unveil three cheddar flavoured burgers

Cheese lovers alert as McDonald’s unveil three cheddar-flavoured burgers
Feb 12 2022 Share

We’ve got some great news for the tastebuds of McDonald’s fans and cheese lovers. McDonald’s Malta have just unveiled three new burgers all centred around cheddar cheese.

Posting to their social media platforms, McDonald’s have announced three new sandwiches – the Chicken Cheddar, Beef Cheddar and Cheesy Cheddar.

With one burger for every day of the weekend, McDonald’s Malta have been stepping up their game with every new release. This time around, it’s all about cheese – making sure to give their loyal customers what they love.

Whether you prefer beef or chicken, or simply want to try out more cheddar, all three are topped off with a crispy cheddar patty and the signature McDonald’s flavours. 

Teased back in early February, McDonald’s raised some hype for their latest release by announcing the main star of the show – cheddar. And now that they’re out, we can’t wait to give them a bite. 

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Has Malta got a new super couple – Drakard and Lisa Gauci

Has Malta got a new super couple - Drakard and Lisa Gauci
Feb 12 2022 Share

If you’ve been keeping up with X-Factor Malta Season 3, the voices and talent of two young budding artists Lisa Gauci and Drakard are sure to have caught your attention.

But now, speculations have surfaced that the two young singers might me Malta’s next super couple. After a story takeover by host Ben Camille, the two were snapshotted backstage cuddling up close.

The host even went so far as to throw in some heart eyes emoji’s as a filter, and Drakard’s arm around Lisa fanned the flames even more. 

The two artists met at X-Factor and both were fan favourites, receiving standing ovations and nothing but praise by the judges. But if the rumours are true, the couple will have to set their connection apart for tonight as they battle it out in the finals. 

Some rumours had already started when the two had went on stage holding hands when the four finalists were announced. But many simply pointed out this could have good sportsmanship as Ryan and Cheryl did so too.

We’re sure that, if of course they are in fact actually dating, the singers can manage a bit of professional competition on stage. And who knows – should one of them win, the other would have more reason to celebrate!

XFactor Malta Season 3 airs tonight, with finalists Lisa and Drakard accompanied by Cheryl Balzan and Ryan Hili vying for the prize. 

 

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Photo Source: Ben Camille IG