Study Reveals That Legalising Cannabis Did Not Make It More Attractive To Youth

Mar 1 2025

A recent study has revealed that the recent legalisation of cannabis did not make it more attractive to youth.

The research, surveying 400 non-drug users aged 18 to 30, found that 92% were confident in their ability to remain drug-free, regardless of legal changes.

Led by Andrew Azzopardi, former dean of the Faculty for Social Well-being, in collaboration with Caritas Malta, the study focused on why young people choose to avoid drugs, shifting attention away from why people start using them.

Malta legalised recreational cannabis in December 2021, making it the first EU country to do so. The move, however, attracted criticism from organisations like Caritas and Sedqa, which warned it could lead to higher consumption and stronger drug forms.

The study found that 40% of respondents believed obtaining drugs would be difficult, while 53% saw drug use as harmful. A lack of curiosity (77%) and financial concerns (61%) were key reasons for avoiding drugs. Education played a role, with 77% crediting awareness campaigns for their decision-making.

The study highlighted the importance of social support, with 80% of respondents seeing refusal strategies and support from friends and family as effective in avoiding drug use.

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Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg Confirms Malta Offer To Host Peace Talks Between Russia And Ukraine

Mar 1 2025

Malta has offered to act as a mediator in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg announced, whilst speaking on RTK103, following a dramatic public clash between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Borg revealed that he had reached out to US officials through private diplomatic channels to propose Malta’s mediation services, aligning with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s call for peace negotiations.

“I am certain that many other countries have made similar offers, but we stand ready and willing to provide a space for talks,” Borg stated, highlighting Malta’s recent role in hosting high-level officials from the US, Russia, and China.

The Foreign Affairs Minister made these remarks on Saturday, a day after US President Trump and Vice-President JD Vance publicly rebuked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.

The confrontation, which stunned world leaders, overshadowed what was intended to be a signing ceremony for a rare minerals agreement granting the US access to crucial Ukrainian natural resources.

Malta hosted a round of peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine war in October 2023, but with Russia refusing to participate, the discussions ultimately led to no significant progress.

Malta saw greater success in fostering diplomacy in December 1989 when it hosted a high-level summit between US President George H. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, an event widely regarded as a pivotal moment in ending the Cold War.

Former MP Franco Debono referenced this achievement in a social media post on Saturday morning, urging the Maltese government to take on a similar role in facilitating peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

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22 Year Old Man Dies After Finding Difficulty In Sliema Jacuzzi

Feb 28 2025

A 22 year old Norwegian man sadly lost his life after he found himself in difficulty whilst in a jacuzzi in a Ta’ Sliema residence.

It was around 1015hrs when police were informed that their assistance was needed in Triq Viani.

Police, along with a medical team from Mater Dei, convened on site where they found a man who had lost consciousness.

The victim was given preliminary aid but he was unfortunately declared deceased on site.

An inquiry has been opened, but the death does not seem to be suspicious. Police investigations are ongoing.

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Maltese Professor Helps Rewrite History With New Discovery

Feb 28 2025

Humans are now known to have inhabited rainforests far earlier than previously believed, thanks to groundbreaking research led by Professor Eleanor Scerri from the University of Malta.

For years, rainforests were viewed as natural barriers to human habitation, but Scerri and her team have challenged this assumption, revealing that humans were living in Africa’s rainforests at least 150,000 years ago.

The research, published in Nature, focused on a site in present-day Côte d’Ivoire. This study pushes back the timeline of human habitation in rainforests by over 130,000 years, a significant leap from the previous understanding that humans only began living in such environments around 18,000 years ago.

Scerri, a senior author of the study and leader of the Human Palaeosystems research group, emphasised that the findings suggest human evolution unfolded across a diverse range of habitats, including dense rainforests.

By employing cutting-edge dating techniques and analysing pollen and plant remains, the team confirmed that the region was a heavily wooded rainforest.

Their research now rewrites the history of human ecological adaptation, offering valuable new insights into the environmental contexts of our early ancestors’ lives.

This discovery also opens the door to further exploration of other potential rainforest sites across Africa.

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