2 new boats and 5 mini buses for Malta Police Force fleet

Apr 8 2023

The Malta Police Force fleet has just been updated with 2 new Rigid Inflatable Boats (RHIBS) and 5 new mini-buses.

The RHIBS are now assigned to the Police Environment Protection Unit, with the aim of enhancing the police force’s capabilities inshore through patrolling of remote areas accessible only with maritime vessels.

‘This investment also includes trailers in order for the RHIBS to be able to use different slipways, depending on the emergency of the situation’ the police force said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the mini buses were assigned to the Police Immigration Section and are intended to ‘facilitate the transportation of immigrants to their respective hosting venues.’

4 of the mini buses are 20 seaters with the remaining one being a 17 seater with a wheelchair accessible ramp.

The investment was one of more than €1,100,000 and was funded as part of the Malta Police Force’s Specific Actions for Border Surveillance, an EU funded project under the Internal Security Fund 2014-2020.

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Malta’s football team drops 5 places to 172 in FIFA rankings

Apr 8 2023

Malta’s National Football team has dropped to 172nd place in FIFA rankings – five from it’s initial categorisation – following the losses suffered against Macedonia and Italy.

The team had lost the EURO 2024 Group C qualification matches in Skopje (2-1) and Ta’ Qali (2-0) against the aforementioned teams.

Malta is now therefore in between Moldova and Bermuda, with the Michele Marcolini team possessing 972.79 total points.

The team currently at the top of the qualification is Argentina, with a total of 1840.93 total points, followed by France (1838.45) and Brazil (1834.21) to round up the top three.

Argentina’s placement in the top 3 is a return that came after six years, after having just won the Qatar World Cup against the second place ranked France in the FIFA rankings.

Meanwhile, Malta’s national team will head back to the pitch in June in a friendly match against Luxembourg. They will then play to acquire even more points on the 16th of that same month against England. Malta will also play against Ukraine on the 19th of June.

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Humans were getting high on hallucinogens 3,000 years ago in Spain

Apr 8 2023

A new research has found evidence which suggests that people in Spain approximately 3,000 years ago were getting high on hallucinogenic drugs during cave rituals.

Researchers made the amazing discovery after studying Bronze Age strands of hair found in the Es Carritx cave on the Spanish island of Menorca.

Researchers dated the first occupation of the cave at around 3600 years ago, with it being used as a funeral space up until around 2,800 years ago.

Published to the Scientific Reports journal, the study found psychoactive substances such as atropine, scopolamine and ephedrine on red-dyed hair strands.

The scientists believe that the drugs would have created strong hallucinations and were likely derived from various plants. The strands of hair had been placed in wooden and horn containers decorated with concentric circles.

The ground-breaking discovery comes after previous evidence which indirectly suggested the use of hallucinogenic drug use during religious rituals.

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A return to Good Friday processions after a COVID-19 hiatus

Apr 8 2023

After 3 years of not being able to celebrate this cultural and deeply religious practice, the Maltese islands yesterday finally saw the return of various Good Friday processions in various localities.

The processions were a highlight of the Maltese festive and religious calendar, as many dress up as various Biblical figures, whether it be apostles or Roman guards as they walk down their respective localities.

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Others carry large statues depicting various stages of Jesus’ crucifixion as onlookers admire the aesthetic and devotion that goes into the creation and maintenance of such figures.

The celebrations commemorate the day Jesus Christ was crucified and brings an atmosphere of deep spiritual reflection before the jubilant celebrations which take place on Easter Sunday.

Here are but a few snapshots from some of the processions which took place – an appreciation into the hard work which goes into the organisation of these processions.

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