The latest road works achievements for 2022

Sep 21 2022

The Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects revealed on social media some of the latest achievements in road works for the year 2022.

The ministry, under current Infrastructure Minister Aaron Farrugia, rebuilt 128 new residential roads in the first 8 months of 2022 – that is from January to August.

This translates to around 4 roads being rebuilt per week as well as 27 kilometres of better roads for the residents of various Maltese towns and villages.

Last but not least, the work yielded 50 kilometres of new pavements being installed to ensure safer passageway for the same residents.

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Men spend more time on the toilet than women…but why?

Sep 21 2022

According to a VICE survey, 92% of men regularly spend at least 20 minutes on the toilet whereas up to 100% of women never spend longer than 10 minutes.

According to a 2018 study by a bathroom company, a third of men in the UK spend over 7 hours a year on the toilet to ‘enjoy respite’ and ‘avoid stress’.

Among the responses as to what men do when spending so much time on the throne, a whopping 84% said that they simply scroll through social media.

68% are watching videos (of the ‘decent’ variety), 62% are reading the news, 49% use it to catch up to emails, 24% continue binging their favourite series and 14% open a book to read.

However, one of the most common answers was that they were in there to get some alone time. According to psychotherapist Benjamin Jackson, a large amount of men tend to perform ‘single focus mental activities’.

These include reading the news or watching football to de-stress. 63% of the survey respondents said that they take longer in the toilet when they feel frustrated at work or at home. The toilet becomes a safe haven.

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Ozone layer hits ‘significant’ milestone in road to recovery

Sep 21 2022

The recovery of the Earth’s ozone layer has just reached a significant milestone in its road to recovery, and scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hint at one possible reason.

The ozone layer itself is a region which forms part of Earth’s stratosphere which absorbs most of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

A NASA publication delves deeper into the issue, explaining how without this layer, the intense UV radiation would essentially sterilise Earth’s surface.

During the 20th century, the impact of human emissions severely damaged the barrier and created a massive hole which opened up over Antartica.

Following recent research, the NOAA has found that concentrations of harmful chemicals that damage the layer dropped significantly, almost by 50%, in the stratosphere.

The decline in man-made emissions, coming from hairsprays and cleaning products for example, was the first step towards this healing.

Despite the momentary respite, scientists still highlight that the emissions need to continue declining as issues relating to climate change and global warming are having dire effects on the planet.

Meanwhile, the hole itself is predicted to fully recover by around the year 2070. Until then, the Antarctic hole is being monitored using 3D imaging technology.

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Here are some facts about Malta’s Independence Day

Sep 21 2022

Throughout its history, Malta was long dominated by various foreign powers – whether they were the Phoenicians, the Romans, the French, the Hospitallers or the British. Malta’s final ruler, Britain, granted Malta self-governance following the island’s brave resistance to the Axis powers and alliance to Britain during the Second World War.

But how did this exactly come about? The British arrived in Malta in 1800 to aid the people of the island expel the French forces. In 1814, Malta constitutionally and legally became a colony of the British Empire and began serving its purpose as a military base and island.

This put Malta utterly dependent economically on Great Britain’s military successes and expenditures. The fight for independence began in 1957 when Prime Minister Dom Mintoff put forth the ‘Break with Britain Resolution’ bill in parliament.

The bill was seconded by leader of the Opposition Dr Gorg Borg Olivier. In April 1958, the Labour Party resigned but Olivier refused to form the government. Mintoff, in response, sent a letter demanding for immediate and total independence for Malta.

A campaign for independence was kick started by the Labour Party through a string of demonstrations and protests, with Mintoff taking delegations to other countries to gain support for the cause for Independence.

Between 1958 and 1962, Malta’s political rights were taken over by Great Britain, leading to an increase in tension. In the latter year, for the general election, both major political parties put independence as one of the main goals of their manifesto.

The Nationalist Party won the election, with Gorg Borg Olivier asking for immediate independence shortly afterwards. The movement was met with much resistance, including the church which feared losing some of the privileges it retained due to British rule.

Archbishop Gonzi however changed his mind later on, due to the constitution being proposed by Malta’s government ensured that the Catholic Church retain its status on the island.

A referendum was held in May 1964 to ask the public about Independence. Olivier spent 10 weeks in Great Britain negotiating the needs of the Maltese population, with the British proposing a ‘Defence Agreement’ which the Labour Party refused.

On the night of 20 September 1964, the British flag was finally changed with the Maltese colours. In the presence of the Duke of Edinburgh, Prime Minister Gorg Borg Olivier signed the new constitution which gave Malta complete independence.

A monument was inaugurated in 1989, created by artist Ganni Bonnici, which depicts a woman confidently striding into the unknown and releasing herself from the chains of the past. This was one of the highlights of Bonnici’s artistic career as the piece of art representing a significant milestone for Malta.

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