Sexual health policy with ‘outdated information’ scrapped

Oct 12 2021

Addressing a press conference following the Budget 2022 presentation, Health Minister Chris Fearne revealed that the first draft of a long-awaited sexual health policy for Malta had to be scrapped. This is because it was based on outdated information. This comes after the Deputy Prime Minister had pledged last year that Malta’s first and only sexual health policy would be completed by March.

There is still no appearance of said new policy however, and it seems as though it will be postponed longer. Fearne was asked about a line item earmarking €50,000 for Malta’s sexual health policy to be completed.

The Health Minister answered by saying that a first draft was drawn up and presented to him. He had to however turn it down as the report was based on premises which were 12 years old. Due to Malta’s culture and laws having radically changed since then, the minister revealed he instructed public health to commission a new study which captured the contemporary mentality and practices around sexual health.

The study is expected for completion by the end of the year with a new policy expected at some point next year.

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Finance Minister bites back at PN criticism of budget 2022

Oct 12 2021

Following both the presentation of the budget for 2022 and the Nationalist Party’s rebuttal to this presentation, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana has responded to Bernard Grech’s claims of government proposing a budget lacking credibility. Addressing a press conference alongside Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne, Caruana insisted that he will not take lessons from a party which presided over an economic disaster when in power.

Grech criticised the budget yesterday after its presentation and said that it was one that lacked vision and only addressed present day concerns. Most notably, he accused the Labour government of increasing the country’s debt and deficits. Caruana however responded by saying that ‘all of a sudden’, the PN’s narrative has changed. This is because, according to the Finance Minister, the government ‘pulled the carpet out from under their legs.’

He said that the budget’s sustainability will have to be approved by the European Commission and how he was careful to explain exactly how much all measures would cost. He highlighted how the Opposition did not present its own costs when presenting proposals. In terms of national debt, Caruana said that this was lower than its highest point under the last Nationalist administration.

Fearne also bit back, saying that according to Grech’s logic, there must have been a lot of corruption under a Nationalist government because the deficit was always high. This is because Grech claimed that defect was high due to the current administration’s corruption. Fearne instead highlighted that the reason deficit was so high was because Malta provided free COVID-19 testing to everyone, set up vaccination centres and labs and succeeded in vaccinating the entire population.

The alternatives would have been unemployment, poverty, sickness and death, said Fearne. He framed the budget as one reflecting that the country was recovering and is able to live again in a normal future.

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Photo Source: Bernard Grech FB, Clyde Caruana FB

DC reveal new Superman is bisexual on Coming Out Day

Oct 12 2021

As many celebrate National Coming Out Day on the 11th of October , DC Comics have unveiled that the new Superman is bisexual. The character is Jonathan ‘Jon’ Kent, the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, taking up the Superman mantle to be a beacon of a bold new direction for DC in more ways than one. Writer Tom Taylor explained how he always said that everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes.

Jon’s story mirrors that of his father in that he falls in love with a reporter. As Clark fell for Lois, Jon strikes a friendship with jay Nakamura, eventually leading to a romantic relationship. Taylor pointed out how Superman’s symbol has always stood for hope, and now more people can relate to what the superhero stands for. The next comic issue is set to release on the 9th of November, and fans will get to see Jay care for the Man of Steel as he does his heroic duty.

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Photo Source: Ashley Talks Comics

Man arrested for stealing air-soft weapons worth thousands

Oct 12 2021

A conjoined investigation between Police of Criminal Investigations Department and Rahal Gdid District Police led to the arrest of a 21-year-old from Tarxien who stole air-soft weapons and munition. The 21 year old was arrested less than 24 hours after the robbery occurred, after the police were informed on Sunday at 1000hrs that their assistance was needed in Triq il-Merhba, Fgura.

Preliminary investigations revealed that during the night between Saturday and Sunday, the accused broke down a door and stole air-soft weapons, munition of the same weapons, and other objects worth thousands of euros. After tracking him down, he was arrested as other stolen items were retrieved. The man appeared in court today at 1130hrs and admitted to having stolen the weapons. He revealed that he did not work, and was accused of also damaging a garage door.

The court, which was presided over by Magistrate Charmaine Galea, gave the accused a 3 years probation and ordered him to pay the victim €70 within seven days as well as the costs of the inquiry. He was ordered to obey his probation officer and do as he was told as arrest would mean a jail sentence.

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Photo Source: Malta Police Force Communications