Ramadan has begun: here’s some facts you should know

Mar 23 2023

On the eve of March 23rd 2023, millions of Muslims around the world began the celebration of the month of Ramadan – all the way to Friday April 21st.

But what exactly is Ramadan? The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is a worldwide month of sawm (fasting), prayer (salat) and communal gathering.

The month commemorates Prophet Muhammad’s first revelation and is regarded as one of the five main pillars of Islam. It begins with the first sighting of the crescent moon to the next.

A predawn meal, known as suhur, kicks off the day before the practitioner fasts from dawn to sunset. The fast is then broken with a nightly feast called the Iftar.

It is believed by many Muslims that the spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are multiplied during the month of Ramadan, with Muslims refraining from food, drink, tobacco products, sexual relations and other behaviours considered sinful.

It is much more than just fasting however as Muslims engaged in recitations of the Quran and engage in spiritual reflections, as well as the practice of charity (zakat). Many Muslims donate a larger portion of their yearly zakat during this month.

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Vibe FM host Tina Zee receives wedding gift in 10c coins by JD

Mar 23 2023

As Vibe FM host Tina Zee, real name Martina Zammit, prepares for her big wedding day this upcoming weekend, her colleague JD Patrick decided it was time for another of his pranks.

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This time around, JD decided it would be fitting to congratulate Tina by handing her the long-awaited wedding gift – albeit with a twist.

Allying himself with Ashley Eric Peschel as the messenger, her gift was delivered completely in 10c coins, all spread over her recording studio desk. The question is, of course, to how much the coins actually amount to.

JD is well-known for his pranks on the famous Maltese radio show, especially when it comes to his favourite victim Tina!

And while we cannot help Tina pick up all those coins, the MaltaDaily team would still like to wish her all the best for her wedding this upcoming Saturday and for her newly wedded life!

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A post shared by Martina Zammit (@tinaz_zee)

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Dizzjunarju Queer: Maltese & English LGBTIQ+ dictionary of terms unveiled

Mar 23 2023

The Maltese government has released an official dictionary of terms pertaining to the LGBTIQ+ community in order to aid better media reporting on such matters.

Spearheaded by Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg, the dictionary is offered in both Maltese and English, bridging the gap between the various terms and definitions which were previously unknown to many in Maltese.

‘The decision to use one word or another in reporting about LGBTIQ+ persons can make a big difference between a sentiment of unity or a culture of prejudice’ said the Parliamentary Secretary.

‘I believe that the media has an important role so that our country continues to take progressive steps towards a society free of prejudice and discrimination.’

‘Many of us refrain from speaking about sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics out of fear of using the wrong terminology to express themselves or identify others’ the dictionary’s introduction explains.

‘This obstacle is often heightened in interactions in Maltese, with terminology often substituted with its English counterpart.’

You can access the full document on humanrights.gov.mt for the full list of terms, or follow these links to read in English or Maltese.

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Heinz and Absolut launch new vodka pasta sauce

Mar 22 2023

It’s the collaboration that you never knew you needed. If you like your pasta dish with a bit of an alcoholic kick, well Heinz and Absolut Vodka have got your back.

The Heinz x Absolut Tomato Vodka Pasta Sauce. Yes, you read that right.

The trend of mixing a little bit of alcohol, particularly vodka, with your pasta rose in popularity back in 2020 thanks to American model Gigi Hadid.

She admitted that she liked to have her pasta dish with a little bit of vodka, sending fans replicating the dish for themselves. And now, the two giant brands will be making this easier than ever as they brought the two together.

Heinz New Ventures Director, Caio Fontenele, said: “While it may have taken over 150 years of tomato expertise to launch our first Heinz pasta sauce, we’re determined to continue innovating and delighting consumers with delicious flavours, at the speed of social media trends.

The vodka kick reportedly unlocks the flavours as well as the aroma of the tomato, basil and cheese sauce. However, you better make sure to hop on the train as there will be a limited number of the Heinz x Absolut Tomato Vodka Pasta sauce available from mid-April.

What do you make of this?

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