Manipulating gender quota is ‘slap in the face’ to fair representations, says Women’s Lobby

Apr 10 2022

Following what has been called ‘manipulation’ of the recently-introduced gender corrective mechanism, The Malta Women’s Lobby has expressed its distaste with the situation and called it a ‘slap in the face’ of real, fair representation.

In a statement published on Saturday, the Women’s Lobby stated that “in spite of pressure on some women candidates not to contest the by-election, women have still participated fully in this process. The attempt to manipulate the system is a slap in the face to those who have fair representation at heart.”

Earlier this week, PN candidate Janice Chetcuti passed on the opportunity to contest the casual election and use the gender corrective to get into Parliament, opting to use the gender corrective mechanism instead to give a chance to other candidates in her third district.

The mechanism will give a total of 12 additional seats, sex to each party, to Malta’s political parties in order to increase the number of women MPs.

The lobby stated that “Having another candidate represent a particular constituency is nothing but a veiled excuse, and it is evident party matters are being prioritised over democratic representation,” concluding by stating that “the perception of women as second class citizens needs to stop now.”

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Continuous glucose monitors for under-21s with type 1 diabetes

Apr 9 2022

As of next Monday, people aged up to 21-years-old living with type 1 diabetes will be given free continuous glucose monitors.

This is part of an extensive project which started as a pilot programme amongst children, acquiring extensions to teenagers of 16-years of age. Following successes, the project will include people up to 21-years-old.

The news was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and health minister Chris Fearne on Saturday morning. Fearne also announced that, as of the end of this year, the project will go on to include people up to the age of 35.

As of next year, anyone who lives with type 1 diabetes will benefit from this free programme. Fearne highlighted how in just two weeks of a new Labour government, a measure which was pledged in the electoral manifesto will come to fruition.

Kif wegħdna li se nagħmlu waqt il-kampanja elettorali, mil-ġimgħa d-dieħla se nibdew nagħtu l-Continuous Glucose Monitors lil dawk b’#dijabete tip 1 sal-età ta’ 21 sena. #SaħħaAħjar pic.twitter.com/vHnKzubcB7

— Chris Fearne (@chrisfearne) April 9, 2022

Fearne explained how people who live with the type 1 diabetes have to undergo testing at least three times a day to check the glucose levels in their blood. Through this project, which uses mobile application technology, these same people will have continuous monitoring.

The monitoring will be there 24/7, said Fearne. The programme will also be hooked up to an advisory system through online means to warn people who have low or high glucose levels. Medical staff will be able to call to check on people who need to undergo the monitoring should they have low or high glucose levels.

#MaltaDaily

Scaffolding smashes into Big Ben days after £80 million makeover

Apr 9 2022

Just days after the £80 million makeover of the famous Big Ben was unveiled, a scaffolding crashed into the clock-tower after strong winds hit London.

Passerby Sarah Haynes shot the moment of the impact on her smartphone on the 2nd of April, showing the tower being ht by the massive piece of scaffolding.

The construction material kept hitting the building which had just undergone a renovation costing millions. Nothing fell off but the scaffolding did make quite a tump said Haynes.

The golden clock tower was only revealed to the public last month after a lengthy five years of restoration work. The costs expected for renovation ballooned from £26 million to £80 million, with the project receiving widespread criticism.

Thus, the accidental hit by the metal girder could mean further repair work. No visible damage was captured on footage but the impact was rather violent. A man in a cherry picker was then placed to push the scaffolding out of the way as a solution was found.

With an updated clock with a new blue hue, the Big Ben clock has been silent for five years. It will be ringing once again come 1st January 2023.

#MaltaDaily

The kinky sequel to 365 Days is coming to Netflix this month

Apr 9 2022

Get ready because the kinky sequel to the infamous Polish Drama ‘365 Days’ is coming to Netflix on the 27th of April.

Called ‘365 Days: This Day’, the film, which features some of the most shockingly explicit sex scenes, will be making its grand return.

The film was quickly dubbed the Polish version of other raunchy series ’50 Shades of Grey’ and was met with backlash with critics accusing it of romanticising abusive relationships.

This is due to the fact that the male lead, played by Michele Morrone, quite literally kidnaps the female lead played by Anna-Maria Sieklucka. But Netflix seems to be going ahead with the story, and those who have watched the first instalment were left with a bit of a cliff-hanger.

The trailer picks up with more sexually charged scenes from the very first shot. But it does seem as though the couple are getting married, despite some secrets and possible love triangles.

The two main leads are signed on for the third and final film, with the author working on the script as well, meaning that this book-based series of films is far from over.

#MaltaDaily