Tenishia Thornton Wins Atlas Youth Athlete Of The Year Award 2024

Feb 13 2025

After winning the Atlas Youth Athlete of the Month for October, young weightlifter Tenishia Thornton has now claimed the prestigious Atlas Youth Athlete of the Year Award 2024. This marks her third victory, having previously won in 2020 and 2022.

Thornton secured the award through a combined vote by a panel of three sports journalists and an online public vote. The Blackball duo Jake Castaldi and Dielyn Edwards finished as runners-up, followed by young sailor Katrina Micallef.

At just 19, Thornton was crowned European Champion at the European Junior Championships in Warsaw, Poland.

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She impressed in the Snatch, lifting 86kg before successfully reaching 89kg. In the Clean and Jerk, she started with 107kg, missed 110kg on the jerk, but made a stunning final attempt of 112kg.

This lift secured her the gold and set a new national record. With a total lift of 201kg, she outperformed Spain (194kg) and Romania (196kg).

Thornton received the award and a sports apparel voucher from Atlas Insurance executives. Meanwhile, Atlas Insurance has renewed its partnership with the Malta Sports Journalists Association to continue supporting young Maltese athletes through this initiative.

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Warning After Fake Twitter Account Of Malta President

Feb 13 2025

The Office of the President of Malta (OPR) issued a warning against multiple fake social media accounts impersonating President Myriam Spiteri Debono which were detected on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Some of these profiles have used AI-generated deepfake videos to falsely attribute comments and on-camera footage to the President, promoting fraudulent financial schemes, primarily cryptocurrency investments.

One such account, @MyriamDebono, was even granted verification on Elon Musk’s platform, X, receiving a grey checkmark meant for official government accounts.

The account, created only this month, reportedly retweeted content from international politicians and dignitaries before abruptly shifting to posting Greek-language content, followed by misleading announcements about a “Malta National Crypto Coin on Solana.” It gained 50,000 followers before being suspended, Times of Malta reported.

Despite X’s verification process requiring government-issued ID or a linked official email, the fake account managed to bypass these safeguards, raising concerns about the platform’s handling of misinformation.

The genuine account of the President, @president_mt, remains unverified.

The OPR has reported these fraudulent profiles to the relevant authorities and urges the public to remain vigilant.

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32 Children Currently Being Treated For Cancer In Malta

Feb 13 2025

Minister Jo Etienne Abela revealed in parliament that there were 32 boys and girls receiving cancer treatment in Malta.

Each year, an average of 15 to 20 new cases were diagnosed, with treatment typically lasting between six months and three years.

Additionally, three children were reported to be undergoing treatment abroad.

The most common reasons for seeking overseas treatment include the need for bone marrow transplants, specialized chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and complicated surgeries that could not be provided locally.

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Meeting People Mon. Dun Victor Grech Helped In His Life

Feb 13 2025

The team behind Popolin met with the people who experienced the help by Mon. Dun Victor Grech, a founder of CARITAS.

In a special episode commemorating the memory of the late Dun Victor Grech, many shared how generous and loving he was as he helped many around the island face their challenges with drug addiction.

The Monsignor passed away earlier this month at the age of 95, but has left a legacy of support and care, which all the people who he helped are sure to never forget and pass onto those still in need.

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