Man jailed for three years for attacking officials at Nadur Carnival

Oct 15 2021

A 24-year-old from Naxxar has received a three year jail sentence and a €4,000 fine after he was found guilty of assaulting two Transport Malta officials during the Nadur Carnival in Gozo back in 2020. The accused was found guilty of punching the duo after being fined for traffic violations.

A police sergeant had testified that whilst on duty at the carnival, an altercation was reported to the piece. Two transport officials informed authorities that a man had approached them yelling at the fact that he was given a fine.

After allegedly stuffing the contravention notice in his mouth and spitting away, he later approached the two and punched them both in the face. The accused was found guilty, with Magistrate Joe Mifsud stating that it was inexcusable and unacceptable for law enforcement personnel to be assaulted on the job. The magistrate said that their orders were to be obeyed and that a level of respect must be shown.

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Photo Source: Malta Police Force Communications, Chevron Holidays

Anti-cocaine spray being used on toilets in pubs in UK

Oct 15 2021

Pubs in the UK have resorted to spraying their toilets with anti-cocaine spray in a bid to stop people from sniffing the drug off seas or radiators in their bathrooms. Using a spray called Blokit, it is said to make a coating when it is sprayed over surfaces such as hand-driers, toilets or even baby changing tables, destroying cocaine power if it comes into contact with it. This move has however been criticised by drug safety experts, despite the bid being a police move in the UK.

Being tried out in the northeast of England, in Darlington, 24 pubs have had the chemical sprayed on its surfaces by officers. The pubs were not chosen randomly, with drug sniffer dogs previously having found evidence of cocaine located there. It is also said that 600 licensed premises around the UK are set to begin its use. Colleges, cinemas and even libraries are being showered with Blokit, despite drug experts doubting whether it actually prevents the use of the drug.

The mixture is apparently non-toxic and costs £650 for 60 bottles. Posters are being put in up in pubs to alert customers that the spray is in use, with Durham police reporting that there has been an 80% reduction in drug-ingestion in their premises since its introduction. Some customers had also completely stopped drinking in certain pubs since the spray was introduced.

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Queen Elizabeth uses cane in public for first time in 17 years

Oct 15 2021

Appearing at a service at Westminster Abbey with her daughter earlier this week, Queen Elizabeth brought out her cane after a 17 year absence. The monarch accompanied Princess Anne to commemorate the Centenary of the Royal British Legion last Tuesday, making an appearance at a Service of Thanksgiving. The Queen carried a simple cork-handled, black cane – the last time she used such support having been back in 2003 following a knee surgery.

The Queen was walking stick-free outside Buckingham Palace last week, so this is a pretty recent development. The queen finished up the outfit with a deep blue coat with large gold buttons over a navy and ivory prints dress paired with a matching wide-brimmed hat.

The monarch also wore Queen Mary’s Russian brooch which features a sugarloaf cabochon sapphire. This was a wedding gift from Empress Marie Feodorovna in 1893, with the Queen inheriting it from her grandmother in 1953.

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Photo Source: Vanity Fair, People

Customs has seized 39,578 bottles of wine in 2021

Oct 15 2021

Customs Malta have revealed that in 2021, they seized 39,578 bottles of wine and 584 bottles of spirits, amounting to a total market value of €456,364.

The bottles were seized between January and September of this year, with €430,084 in value confiscated lots attributed to wine bottles and another €26,280 in bottles of spirits.

The wine bottle’s endangered taxes amounted up to €6,146 in excise duty and €78,521 in VAT. As for the bottles of spirits, endangered taxes amount to €2,224 in excise duty and €5,131 in VAT.

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Photo Source: Customs Communications