Man allegedly injured with rock in argument in Mellieha

May 19 2022

Police have reported that they were informed yesterday at around 2030hrs that assistance was needed at Ghadira Bay, Mellieha.

Police convened immediately on site and, from preliminary investigations, it was shown that an argument broke out between two men. One of the men was a 28-year-old Nepalese man resident of Mellieha. The other man had fled the scene.

During the argument, a rock was reportedly used, injuring the man grievously. A medical team was called on site to give immediate assistance. The man was taken to Mater Dei Hospital where he was certified as having suffered grievous injures.

Investigations are ongoing.

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83 officers were tested for drugs reveal Malta Police Force

May 19 2022

According to a statement by the Malta Police Force, an internal document which sets out the policy and procedure in respect of testing for abuse of drugs and alcohol misuse was issued in November 2021.

The policy applies to all police officers irrespective of rank, who were, and are, subject to random routine drug testing. Since the policy was issued, 83 tests were conducted.

It was reported earlier in May of this year that three police officers resigned after testing positive for cocaine. A fourth officer was found to be under the influence of alcohol during work hours.

The law empowers the prime minister to dismiss any officers found under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri had stated that the law demonstrates a zero-tolerance approach to use among members of the forces.

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Girls over-16 in Spain to be allowed abortion rights without need for parental consent

May 19 2022

Spain has just approved a draft bill that would remove the necessary requirement for 16-year-old girls to have parental consent before terminating pregnancies.

The new bill, aimed at reforming a previous abortion law approved by the Conservative party in 2015, was described as a new step forward for democracy by government spokeswoman Isabel Rodriguez.

Should the bill be approved, Spain will become the first European country to offer its workers paid menstrual leave as well. Voluntary abortion in Spain is allowed up until the 14th week of pregnancy.

However, doctors in the overall traditionally Roman Catholic country, will still be able to sign up to a register of conscientious objectors. This comes as equality minister Irene Montero states that government institutions needed to discard taboos, stigmas and guilt regarding women’s bodies.

The bill aims to grant employees three days of sick leave for painful periods, potentially even extending it to five days for particularly intense on incapacitating pain. Tighter restrictions will be imposed on surrogacy, which is already banned in the country.

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Europe and North America detect rare monkeypox outbreaks

May 19 2022

North American and European health authorities have detected several suspected or confirmed cases of rare monkeypox starting early May.

Raising concerns that the disease, endemic in parts of Africa, is spreading, Canada was also the latest country to report it was investigating more than a dozen cases.

Spain and Portugal detected more than 40 possible and verified cases, with Britain confirming nine cases since May 6th and the USA verifying its first case Wednesday.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed Tuesday that it was coordinating with health officials in aforementioned countries over the new outbreaks.

Monkeypox is an illness which most people recover from within several weeks, only proving fatal in rare cases. The WHO also revealed that it was investigating how many cases reported were people identifying as gay, bisexual or as men who have sex with other men.

The UKHSA noted that monkeypox has not previously been characterised as a sexually transmitted disease, as it can be passed on by direct contact during sex. The illness starts with flu-like symptoms before causing a chicken-pox like rash.

According to the CDC, there were no reported cases of monkeypox for 40 years before it re-emerged in Nigeria in 2017. It currently poses no risk to the public however, as health authorities see how to address the outbreak.

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