Barney the purple dinosaur is coming back

Feb 15 2023

It appears that Barney the purple dinosaur, made famous by the “Barney & Friends” show that aired on PBS from 1992 to 2010, is set to make a comeback to TVs and toy shelves next year.

While Mattel, the toy company that owns the Barney franchise, has not yet officially confirmed the news, the company announced on Monday that the new show will be animated, and will include TV, film, and YouTube content, as well as music and merchandise such as toys, clothing, and books.

The company is also developing apparel and accessories for adult fans of the show, in an attempt to tap into the nostalgia of the generations who grew up with Barney, now parents themselves, and introduce the iconic purple dinosaur to a new generation of kids and families around the world.

The new franchise is being produced in collaboration with Nelvana, a studio owned by Canadian media company Corus Entertainment.

With this modern take on Barney, Mattel is hoping to inspire the next generation to listen, care, and dream big, and to cash in once again on young and middle-aged adults who yearn for the days of their childhood.

Mattel has recently brought back its Monster High and Masters of the Universe franchises, and is looking to generate more hit toys, as it recently announced disappointing earnings and sales for the holidays and a sluggish outlook.

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Did you know February 15th is Singles Awareness Day?

Feb 15 2023

For those who despise Valentine’s Day with all its commercialism, the perfect celebration for single people is Singles Awareness Day, which falls on February 15 – just one day after the one dedicated to teddy bears, chocolates and kisses.

The day was born out of loneliness, and in 2001, Dustin Barnes organised a day for his single friends to celebrate their status instead of feeling miserable.

They protested Valentine’s Day on February 15th and took advantage of steep discounts on chocolates and other romantic-themed products. The day grew in popularity and received legal copyright protection in 2005.

It started with college students giving gifts, having parties, and going on buddy dates with their single pals. Nowadays, people of all ages celebrate the day to remember that relationships are not necessary to celebrate love.

You can love your family, friends, and most importantly, yourself. The hashtag #SinglesAwarenessDay has been used in over 55,000 posts on Instagram.

Dustin eventually met his wife through a singles church group, indicating that this might actually serve to match up future Valentine’s together! Singles Awareness Day is a time to celebrate the fun and independence of being single.

Without a mate to return home to, single folks go out partying with their buddies. It’s also an opportunity to express love to the most deserving person – oneself – by giving a gift or buying a bouquet of flowers.

The day’s dominant colour is green, which is supposed to represent the antithesis of red. Although many people wear black to protest love, the day is also a way to let others know that you’re available, leading to many meet-ups at parties.

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Two men arrested for importation of 6kg worth of drugs

Feb 15 2023

The Malta Police Force revealed that two men were arrested in connection with the importation of around 6kg worth of drugs, suspected to be cannabis.

Following information that the drugs were being carried in a mercantile trailer, police followed the suspected vehicle on Tuesday morning until it stopped in Ħal Far.

From an investigation into the trailer, with the Customs Department assisting in the search, police found the drugs hidden in a fridge in the trailer.

The 53-year-old driver was arrested on site, with the second 43-year-old man arrested later on during the day. Magistrate Dr Caroline Farrugia Frendo LL.D was informed off the case and an inquiry opened.

The two men are being held in the Floriana General headquarters.

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Majority of Maltese people have trust in local police force

Feb 15 2023

According to a survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), the police force in Malta has varying levels of trust among the majority of the population.

Out of those surveyed, 44.9% expressed a high level of trust, 45.1% expressed a moderate level, and only 9.7% expressed a slight or no trust in the police.

55.3% of the population had a positive or very positive opinion of the police, while 8.7% had a negative or very negative opinion, and 35.8% expressed no opinion.

Respondents who trusted the police cited reasons such as fairness, dignity, and respect (48.9%), their presence being felt (40.2%), and prompt action when called upon (31.5%).

On the other hand, those who did not trust the police cited reasons such as their absence (27.6%), lack of fairness, dignity, and respect (24.5%), and failure to act or respond (19.4%).

The survey also asked participants about their perceptions of the police force in terms of integrity, professionalism, and impartiality. 59.6% believed that the police had a high level of integrity, while 68.5% saw them as providing a professional level of service and 54.1% as impartial enforcers of the law.

Additionally, 32.7% of the population had some type of contact with the police within the past 12 months, with two-thirds rating their experience as good or very good and 18.2% rating it as bad or very bad.

When asked about the type of service they would like to see an increase in, 79.5% preferred more visibility of police officers on the road, and 18% preferred access to a nearer police station.

Just over half of the respondents (53.2%) did not follow the police force on social media, while 30.3% believed that the police force had undergone a good or very good level of modernisation in its public image and operations within the past year. The largest segment (48.6%) believed that modernisation in these two aspects had been moderate.

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