Woman who attempted to smuggle drugs hidden in bra to prisoner given jail sentence

Jul 16 2021

A 40-year-old woman resident of Sliema was handed an eight month jail sentence and €2,000 fine for attempting to smuggle drugs into prison. Graziella Francalanza was charged that on the 5th November and weeks before, she was trafficking and possessed heroin. She attempted to smuggle the drug into the Corradino Correctional Facility. After police conducted investigations following reports that she was going to smuggle drugs to a prisoner when he was set to appear in court, the woman was arrested upon her entrance in court.

Francalanza was taken to the Valletta police station where she gave them the packet of drugs which she hid in her bra. The drugs racked up to 0.81 grams and was 32% pure. Around 11 hours of telephone calls had also been recorded, in which the prisoner for whom the drugs were intended, was heard speaking and suggesting that some things be passed on to him. It also resulted that two weeks prior to the case the same accused had passed something on to the prisoner via a kiss.

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Photo Source: Kamra tal-Periti

A possible end to internal combustion engines by 2035

Jul 16 2021

Proposals tabled by the European Commission (EU) revealed on Wednesday 14th July signal the ban of sales of new cars and vans that produce carbon emissions as of 2035. The era of internal combustion engines (ICE) is moving towards an end in the EU, with the new rules resulting in the bloc making the shift to electric vehicles towards having almost 100% of cars on roads in 2050 emission free. A package of climate and energy laws have been released by the EU executive, aiming to reduce the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, with net zero the target for 2050.

EU transport commissioner Adina Vălean stated that transport is ‘today the source of 29% of the EU total greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050 we need to cut it by 90%.’ To ward off potential criticism by the industry, a senior EU official stated that the move is in line with the principle of technology neutrality. EU produced cars are allowed at present to emit 95g of carbon per kilometre driven.

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Photo Source: Financial Times

Euro 2020 final watched by over 175,000 people

Jul 16 2021

It is of no doubt that the Euro 2020 final clash between England and Italy captured the attention of many before, during and well after the match. New figures indicate that at least 176,000 people watched the Euro 2020 final, with TVM attracting an estimated peak live TV audience of 48,000 as they broadcasted the match with Italian commentary. TVM2 attracted an estimated 129,000 peak audience, broadcasting the match in English. The total live TV audience for the final exceeded those for semi-finals by around 20,000 viewers.

Italy versus Spain attracted around 154,000 viewers and England versus Denmark just over 156,000 viewers. Television Malta Product Manager Simon Poljsak attributed this to the power of football to bring people together. The match garnered attention well beyond the actual game night, with news concerning the game, for better or for worse, still making headlines.

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Photo Source: Hindustan Times

AirMalta reports 6000 flight bookings cancelled in single week

Jul 16 2021

AirMalta reported the cancellation of over 6000 flight bookings since the new travel rules were announced Friday. A spokesperson told Times of Malta that it had received a ‘significant number of cancellations on the majority of its routes’ for both July and August. Apart from these cancellations, a number of people are also being declined travel daily due to incorrect travel documentation. People failing to turn up to travel as booked has also been noted as an increased phenomenon.

This has occurred across all 19 markets AirMalta operates to, call centres being allegedly ‘inundated’ with customer calls inquiring about the new rules. Many of these calls asking for clarification result in the cancellation of flights. Asked whether cancelling flights due to the situation was being considered, the spokesperson stated that despite as of yet this has not been the case, it is still a possibility should business continue at such a slow pace.

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Photo Source: AirMalta