Cyclist shoots cat

portedly fired an air rifle at the cat’s head in the microstate, claiming he was merely trying out the new rifle.

Tiberi was fined €4,000 by a San Marino court on Wednesday, March 1 and suspended from his team, Trek for 20 days.

Northern Lights fly-by

PASSENGERS aboard an easyJet flight from Reykjavik to Manchester were in for a real treat on Monday, February 27 as the pilot made a stunning 360­degree turn to give everyone on board a chance to see the breathtaking Northern Lights. The plane was flying over the UK when the Aurora Borealis lit up the skies in a rare display.

The passengers were treated to a spectacular view of the lights, which illuminated the skies with a dazzling display of green, yellow, and pink colours.

One passenger from Cheshire, Adam Groves, took to Twitter to describe the experience as “incredible”, saying it topped off his four­night trip, which also saw him get engaged. The couple had been hunting for the Northern Lights the entire time they were in Iceland without success. Little did they know they would get to witness the spectacular sight on their flight home.

An easyJet spokesperson said that the crew will always go above and beyond for passengers, saying “we’re delighted to have been able to share this special view with them.”

The Minister for Tourism, Federico Pedini Amati expressed his disappointment and anger towards Tiberi, saying that the cat was a beloved family pet and his actions cannot be rectified with a mere fine.

Tiberi also released a statement on Instagram in English and Italian where he apologised profoundly describing his “strong sense of shame and regret,” saying he never intended to kill the cat. He added that he wanted to make a “concrete and useful gesture,” so will donate a portion of his winnings to a stray cat association in San Marino where he will also volunteer his time.

However, the incident has caused outrage among animal lovers and sparked a debate on the accountability of professional athletes.