Sheep found dead in water retrieved by Cleansing department

Feb 16 2023

PN spokesperson for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector Graziella Galea took to social media to share an image of what seems to be a sheep floating dead in St Paul’s Bay.

The sheep was glimpsed floating at a slight distance away from the Sirens area, with Galea revealing that the sheep was later retrieved by the Cleansing Department.

Following her appeal to remove the animal, Galea also went on to condemn without reserve the person responsible for the act.

It is currently unknown how and why the sheep ended up dead in the water, but most commenters on the post also condemned the possibility of this being a brutal act.

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Study suggests average penis size grew 24% over 29 years

Feb 16 2023

A newly published meta-analysis of men from around the world shows that the length of the erect penis has reportedly grown by around 24% over the last 29 years.

Dr. Michael Eisenberg, a urologist and male fertility specialist at Stanford Medicine and who led the research, now wonders why this has occurred.

With this study having been published Tuesday in The World’s Journal of Men’s Health, other complementary research has shown that both sperm count and testosterone levels are falling.

Anything that changes the reproductive system is ‘fundamental to human existence, said Eisenberg, but also noted that penile length may not be directly related to fertility.

Studies have measured the lengths back at least 80 years, with Eisenberg’s team compiling data from 75 studies conducted between 1942 and 2021 and involving nearly 56,000 men.

The trend was noted, said Eisenberg, in different regions of the world and it was not isolated to specific populations. The study found that the average length of the erect penis across all regions and decades was about 5.5 inches.

On his part, urologist and men’s fertility specialist at the University of Utah Health Dr James Hotaling, said that, despite the study’s breadth, he’s not yet convinced.

The simplest explanation could be, according to Hotaling, that the ways of measurement changed over the years. For Eisenberg, the change in length could be correlated to earlier puberty but further research is required to corroborate the hypothesis.

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Malta to host Europride 2023; Celebrating diversity and equality

Feb 15 2023

Malta has announced the launch of the Europride 2023 program, an international event that will continue to celebrate diversity and equality. The program was launched by the Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality, Rebecca Buttigieg, and will take place from September 7th to 17th, 2023, with the theme “Equality from the Heart”. Europride aims to attract thousands of people from all over the world to Malta to celebrate the LGBTIQ+ community, while promoting a strong message of equality.

During the launch event in Valletta, Parliamentary Secretary Buttigieg highlighted the significance of the date chosen for the launch, stating that it symbolises a society of love where people cherish each other, regardless of their personal choices. She added that Europride represents a historic moment for Malta, as it will be the first time the country hosts this international event and the smallest country in the EU with the best rights for the LGBTIQ+ community.

Buttigieg emphasised that the program of activities was designed to go beyond a week of celebrations and focus on creating a legacy of equality and respect for future generations. The goal is to ensure that the battles that should have been won long ago do not have to be fought again.

The President of the Allied Rainbow Communities (ARC), Clayton Mercieca, also spoke at the launch event and praised Malta’s progress in civil liberties and equality rights. He said that Europride in Malta will continue to increase diversity in the country.

The Artistic Director, Toni Attard, listed the main activities that will be taking place, including an art exhibition, dance and fashion shows. He emphasized that the EuroPride artistic program will primarily focus on work created by queer artists and community allies, showcasing different aspects of queer culture.

The official program details can be obtained from the europride2023.mt website. The Europride 2023 program is an opportunity for Malta to celebrate diversity and equality while promoting a message of love and acceptance. It is a significant step forward in the ongoing fight for civil liberties and equality rights for the LGBTIQ+ community.

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Historical documents & research related to Malta’s history donated to the national archives by Henry Frendo

Feb 15 2023

Professor Henry Frendo donated a significant number of historical documents and other records related to his research into the history of Malta to the National Archives. These records include notes, interviews, research papers, photos and audio-recordings mainly related to the history of Malta during the last 200 hundred years.

During an official event, the Minister of the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici thanked Professor Henry Frendo for donating this work which will contribute to a better understanding of our cultural patrimony and history. He also thanked the staff at the National Archives, led by Dr Charles Farrugia, for the great work and dedication they have towards the living history of Malta.

The National Archivist, Dr Charles Farrugia also thanked Prof Frendo for his generous donation. “This donation will enrich the National Archives and will address some areas where our holdings are currently silent. The next step will be the catalouging of this collection so that it will be available to our researchers,” said Dr Farrrugia.

Prof Frendo is a professor of Modern History at the University of Malta. His main areas of research include imperialism, nationalism, decolonization, postcolonialism, journalism, migration and ethnicity in Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean as well as the Middle East and North Africa.

Frendo previously worked with the UNHCR, stationed in Switzerland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Papua New Guinea. He was editor (1971-72) of Il-Ħajja, a daily Maltese newspaper. During this period he also researched and published about Manwel Dimech (1860-1921), a controversial Maltese social reformer.

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