Sea turtles stop nesting on Maltese shores due to heat and noise pollution

Aug 18 2021

As climate change impacts all aspects of daily life with ever-increasing intensity, Malta’s environment activists have noted a clear absence of turtle nests on the island’s beaches. 2020’s summer reportedly had around 320 loggerhead turtles birthed on Maltese bays, but 2021 reported absolutely none. Nature Trust revealed on Facebook that the heat, coupled with incessant noise and bright lights do not help the situation.

There is very little left of summer 2021, with environmentalists losing hope of finding just one this year. According to Nature Trust, turtles stayed away due to the shift in the world’s climate as higher sea temperatures mean aquatic animals move towards cooler waters. With Malta smack in the middle of the Mediterranean, the turtles prefer other bays to birth their new hatchlings as Italy and Sicily both experienced an increase in turtle nests this year.

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Photo Source: Sea Turtle Exploration, Nature Trust FB

Maltese-American politician Pete Buttigieg becomes a parent with husband Chasten

Aug 18 2021

Maltese-American and 19th United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced excitedly that he and his husband have just become parents. Posting to Instagram, Buttigieg revealed that he and his husband Chasten Glezman are overjoyed to having just extended their family, something they’ve been wanting to do for a while. The post revealed the process isn’t done yet but Buttigieg thanked everyone for the love, support and respect of their privacy that was offered.

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A post shared by Pete Buttigieg (@pete.buttigieg)

As we await more information, a little about Buttigieg’s career… Born to Maltese-American literary scholar and translator Joseph Buttigieg, Pete assumed office on the 3rd of February, 2021. After having served as the 32nd Mayor of South Bend from 2012 to 2020, he also had a presidential run in 2020 and would have been the first openly gay American president should he have won. Dropping out of the race on March 1st, 2020 and endorsing Biden, he is still the country’s first openly gay cabinet member.

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Photo Source: The Guardian, @pete.buttigieg IG

Cristiano Ronaldo posts statement about transfer speculation

Aug 18 2021

Yesterday, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo posted a statement on his Instagram page regarding recent transfer speculation. Recently Cristiano has been linked to many clubs around Europe, a return to Manchester but this time with City, a massive move to PSG to finally partner with Leo Messi and a come-back to Real Madrid have all been mentioned in the press.

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A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

He first started the statement by stating “Anyone who knows me is aware of how focused I am on my work. Less talk and more action, this has been my guiding motto since the start of my career.” He did follow up by stating that he had to release a statement and set-out his position in view of everything that has been written about him.

He stated that all these reports were not only disrespectful to himself but “to all the clubs involved in these rumours, as well as to their players and staff”. In the statement he went on to say that his story at Real Madrid has been written and that moves to other clubs abroad were also not on the cards.

Ronaldo just wanted to break his silence as he “can’t allow people to keep playing around with my name.” As usual he confirmed that he is fully committed to his work and prepared for anything.

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PN demands prison reform after second suicide-related inmate death in 2021

Aug 18 2021

After a prison inmate at Corradino Correctional Facility who attempted suicide died eight days following the incident, a national outcry and inquiry into the prison’s leadership was ignited. So much so that the Opposition Party, heralded by Bernard Grech, called for the immediate removal of the prison’s current leadership. The Nationalist Party is demanding comprehensive prison reform to protect the lives of inmates whilst also respecting the prison’s role as a rehabilitation facility.

The PN said that both Minister Byron Camilleri and the current prison administration have lost all credibility to carry out the aforementioned requirements of a prison. The attempted suicide prompted the launch of a board captained by psychiatrist Anton Grech to review suicide prevention measures at the correctional facility.

The passing of Colin Galea is the second loss related to suicide in Malta’s prison this year alone. 29-year-old Kim Borg attempted suicide in prison this June and died three weeks later. Coupled with images released by Xarabank host Peppi Azzopardi of the inhumane so-called ‘single room’, the prison is currently facing public criticism and proposals by the Opposition to consider various reforms.

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Photo Source: Wikipedia, Bernard Grech FB, Colin Grech FB, Byron Camilleri FB