Young Siblings Raise €700 for Puttinu by Donating Their Birthday Gifts

Oct 12 2024

In a heartwarming display of generosity, local charity Puttinu Cares have revealed that young siblings Giulia and Nicholas Xerri made their birthdays truly special this year by choosing to give back to those in need.

Instead of asking for the usual presents, six-year-old Giulia and her four-year-old brother Nicholas asked family and friends to contribute money towards a cause close to their hearts—Puttinu Cares, the Maltese charity that supports families facing cancer.

Their inspiring act of kindness, coupled with the generosity of their loved ones, resulted in a remarkable €700 donation to Puttinu. This noble gesture by the young siblings not only demonstrates their selflessness but also sets a powerful example of compassion and giving at such a young age.

Well done to Giulia and Nicholas for their kind-hearted initiative, showing that no one is too young to make a positive difference in the world.

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Tourist Jailed After Leaving Cocaine and Ecstasy Behind in Hotel Room

Oct 12 2024

A tourist who left 41 sachets of cocaine and ecstasy pills in his hotel room after checking out has been jailed following his admission that the drugs were his.

The drugs were discovered by a cleaner at the St Paul’s Bay hotel, who found them inside an oven in the room after three guests had checked out. The substances included 41 sachets of cocaine, a brownish substance, and four ecstasy pills.

Later that day, around 8:30 pm, one of the former guests, 24-year-old British national Kane Dylan Bennington, contacted the hotel to report that he had forgotten his passport. Police were alerted, and Bennington, who is self-employed, was promptly arrested upon his return to the hotel.

He was subsequently arraigned and charged with possessing cocaine and ecstasy in circumstances suggesting the drugs were not solely for personal use. After consulting his legal aid lawyer, he pled guilty to the charges.

During the hearing, magistrate Noel Bartolo cautioned the defendant about the legal consequences of his guilty plea, including the possibility of imprisonment, and provided an opportunity to reconsider. However, Bennington confirmed his admission by raising his right hand and repeating, “I’m guilty.”

After hearing submissions, the court found Bennington guilty and sentenced him to an effective 18-month jail term, a sentence agreed upon by both the defense and prosecution. Additionally, the court issued a treatment order for the same duration, following the defense lawyer’s statement that Bennington was struggling with drug addiction.

Inspectors Francesco Mizzi and John Leigh Howard led the prosecution, while lawyer Ilona Schembri served as the legal aid attorney.

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Labour Lead By 12,000 Votes In Recent Vince Marmarà Survey

Oct 12 2024

A recent survey conducted by statistician and professor Vince Marmarà reveals that if a general election were held today, the Labour Party would secure a fourth consecutive victory, albeit with a significantly reduced margin of 12,000 votes.

Despite the party’s efforts to rejuvenate itself following underwhelming results in the recent MEP and Local Council elections, the poll indicates that their position remains relatively unchanged compared to previous wins by 8,000 and 20,000 votes.

The survey, along with others, highlights growing voter apathy toward the two main political parties, with 21.6% of respondents expressing support for ADPD, other alternatives, or remaining undecided.

The findings also suggest that under the current conditions, neither party would achieve an absolute majority, exceeding 50% of the vote.

This outcome contrasts sharply with a MaltaToday poll from two weeks earlier, which projected a 12,000-vote victory for the Nationalist Party.

In Marmarà’s survey ,nearly 40% of voters expressed a lack of trust in either Robert Abela or Bernard Grech as their preferred prime minister. Among them, 15% said they trust neither leader, 8% were unsure, and almost 17% indicated trust in other leaders.

Despite this, Abela remains significantly more trusted than Grech, with 36% of voters expressing confidence in him compared to Grech’s 24%, giving Abela a 12-point advantage.

#MaltaDaily

Young Hedgehog Healing After Signs Of Poisoning

Oct 12 2024

Xrobb L-Għaġin’s Nature Park and Wildlife Rehab Centre shared the story of little Munchkin, a young juvenile hedgehog who was found in Victoria Gozo showing symptoms of poisoning.

Munchkin was shaking, foaming at the mouth and was unable to walk.

‘She has been treated by our vet and is so far showing signs of improvement but she is still not out of the woods yet’, the wildlife team explained.

‘As she is still unable to walk, she also has to be given food and water by syringe to keep her strength up. If she had not been found by a member of the public, she definitely would not have survived.’

‘We urge people to consider the unintended victims of poisonings. Our vet suspects this was a case of snail poison but we cannot say for sure. Very often our local wildlife falls victim to poisons and pesticides that are left out intending to kill other species. Hedgehogs are a natural pest controller as they eat insects such as snails, slugs, worms, beetles and other insects.’

‘Thankfully it looks like this little one was found in time and our volunteers and Vets will continue to care for her in the hope that she will make a full recovery.’

All the animals rescued are protected species and it is illegal to keep them as pets or harm them in Malta.

#MaltaDaily