Men Should Hang Out With The Boys Twice A Week, Says Study

Jan 24 2024

A 2013 study from the University of Oxford suggests that regular gatherings with friends, particularly for men, contribute significantly to good health.

Conducted by psychologist Robin Dunbar, the research indicates that men should engage in social activities with friends at least twice a week to fully benefit from male friendship.

The study emphasises the positive impact of activities like having a pint or engaging in team sports, asserting that meeting up twice a week with the four closest friends is crucial for maintaining strong bonds.

Benefits of regular social interactions among men include a stronger immune system, increased endorphin release, reduced anxiety levels, and heightened generosity.

The study highlights that maintaining such friendships helps prevent depression linked to financial and job insecurities, and individuals with strong social connections tend to recover more swiftly from illnesses.

However, the study reveals that a significant portion of men, around 40%, struggle to incorporate frequent male bonding into their routines, with only a weekly occurrence for many.

Dunbar suggests that despite spending 20% of their day interacting through other means, face-to-face meetings are essential for sustaining robust friendships, and socialising over a few beers serves as an effective means of achieving this.

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Fleet Of 24 New Police Motorcycles Inaugurated

Jan 24 2024

The Traffic Police section has unveiled a new fleet of 24 vehicles, representing a €600,000 investment, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance traffic management and safety.

The inauguration ceremony, led by Minister Byron Camilleri and Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà, highlighted the government’s commitment to the Police Force and its impact on community safety.

This investment in the Traffic Police fleet is seen as a strategic move to improve operational efficiency and aligns with the upcoming implementation of the Roads Policing budget measure, incorporating advanced technology in law enforcement.

The newly acquired vehicles are equipped with various safety features, aiming to facilitate the work of officers responsible for daily patrols and traffic management. Additionally, a fleet of 22 scooters from the Central Delivery Office has been introduced to assist in the distribution of court documents across Malta and Gozo.

Commissioner Gafà emphasized that the investment not only enhances operational capabilities but also contributes to a safer working environment for officers, ultimately resulting in more effective community service. Inspector Nicholas Vella from the Traffic Police section highlighted that this investment signifies a continued commitment to improving road safety for both Maltese and Gozitan communities.

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Forced Marriage To Be Added To EU Human Trafficking Laws

Jan 24 2024

MEP negotiators and the Council have provisionally agreed to expand the scope of the EU’s anti-trafficking law by adding forced marriage, illegal adoption, and surrogacy as forms of exploitation.

The update to the 2011 directive on preventing and combating human trafficking requires EU countries to impose sanctions on individuals knowingly using services provided by trafficking victims.

Sexual and labor exploitation were the primary purposes covered in the original directive, but the updated law now explicitly addresses forced marriage, illegal adoption, and surrogacy, which accounted for 11% of all victims in the EU in 2020.

The agreement mandates criminalizing the use of services provided by trafficking victims, with penalties that are effective, proportionate, and dissuasive.

The exploitation of surrogacy, coerced or deceived, is also targeted. The maximum penalty for these offences is at least five years of imprisonment, increasing to ten years for aggravated offenses.

The new law recognizes the amplifying impact of information and communication technologies on trafficking and strengthens sanctions against legal entities involved in trafficking, including exclusion from public funding and the withdrawal of permits. Swedish MEP Malin Björk praised the agreement for enhancing victim protection and urging member states to intensify their response to human trafficking.

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€7,800 ERA Fines For Four Waste Infringements

Jan 24 2024

In a decisive move during the first ERA Board session of 2024, the Board confirmed the issuance of €8,000 in fines targeting four waste legislation infringements. These fines come as a result of diligent monitoring and investigation, showcasing ERA’s commitment to environmental sustainability and proper waste disposal.

Spotting wrongdoers through the monitoring of strategically placed cameras in hotspot areas, ERA officers caught two individuals illegally dumping a refrigerator and cardboard waste in an area at Ħandaq, Qormi. ERA imposed a €1,400 fine for this environmentally harmful act.

Another case involved the dumping of construction waste, specifically cement slurry on garrigue, by a cement mixer. ERA officers who were provided with video footage by a vigilant member of the public, tracked down the offender through the vehicle registration number. The culprit was required to manually remove the fresh concrete, supervised by ERA officers, resulting also in a €4,000 fine.

Two instances of illegal waste incineration also drew ERA’s attention. In one case, smouldering burnt waste in a metal skip led to a €1,200 fine, while in Ta’ Sannat, Gozo, ERA officers, managed to identify the contravener who fled the scene and fined the culprit €1,200 for incinerating mixed waste.

ERA urges the public to report illegal waste disposal to the ERA via phone at 2292 3500 or through the online portal ERIS. Public cooperation is essential in supporting ERA’s Compliance Unit, which employs digital tools like drones and CCTV cameras to catch perpetrators. Together, let’s stand against irresponsible persons who degrade the environmental quality by irresponsible practices.

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