Think Malta is cold? China sets temperature record at -53°C

Jan 24 2023

If you think Malta is freezing cold right now, then you really wouldn’t want to be in China. The country’s northernmost city, Mohe, has recorded its lowest temperature since records began.

Known as ‘China’s North Pole’, it is situated in the province of Heilongjiang which is very close to the Russian border.

The local meteorological station recorded a low temperature on Sunday at -53°C at 7am. The previous coldest temperature on record in the city was just one degree less at -52.3°C back in 1969.

This is still shy of China’s national record, which was registered back in the city of Genhe, Inner Mongolia in December 2009 at -58°C. Mohe is no stranger to cold weather, with China Daily saying that the city is regarded as the coldest in China with a winter period of around 8 months.

This time of year, it is common for the city to see average temperatures of -15°C, with the meteorological authority issuing alerts for plunging temperatures and cold winds.

Meanwhile, and to compare, Malta is currently registering a low temperature of 8°C and a high of 15°C, which feels like 13°C.

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Prison director Robert Brincau handed suspended sentence

Jan 24 2023

Corradino Correctional Facility boss Robert Brincau has stepped down from his prison director role after being handed a 12-month sentence suspended for three years.

Brincau was found guilty of a number of offences, including carrying a firearm without a license and injuring a man with the same firearm in Għadira back in August.

The 49-year-old was cleared of misuse of electronic communications equipment.

Commissioner for the Safeguarding and Development of Prisoners Christopher Siegersma was appointed as Brincau’s replacement by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri.

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Protest against abuse on women set for Sunday 29th in Valletta

Jan 24 2023

A protest against abuse on women is planned to take place next Sunday 29th of January, beginning at 1pm at Triton Fountain, Valletta.

Organised by organisation Kaizen, which means ‘good change’ or ‘continuous improvement’ in Japanese, the event is a silent march which will have several demands concerning abuse on women.

Kaizen is calling for the setting up of more street lights and cameras on roads to ensure the safety of commuters as well as increasing more police patrols in areas other than Paceville.

The organisation is also calling for the correct training to take place for police officers to be able to deal with reports of rape, assault and abuse in a professional manner. Last but not least, Kaizen is calling for a thorough follow-up on ex-convicts of drugs, alcohol and psychological cases.

The team behind Kaizen consists of Paula Mendes, a sales executive from Portugal who is also enrolled for a masters in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Malta.

Virginie Cielen is the second brains behind the operation. Hailing from Brussels, Belgium, she works as an FA for a private jets company and is enrolled in online courses for event management.

You can get more information here.

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Emotional return for Sebastien Haller after cancer battle

Jan 24 2023

Borussia Dortmund opened the year with a 4-3 victory over Augsburg this Sunday, as they welcomed back Sebastien Haller, six months after he was diagnosed with cancer.

The player had been diagnosed with testicular cancer, and was greeted by a roar from the famous ‘Yellow Wall’ of fans.

The debut came as a 62nd minute substitute in his after cancer treatment which included two operations and chemotherapy. The diagnosis was received during pre-season training, turning his life upside down.

The delayed debut brought a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 81,000, after Haller was diagnosed less than a month after signing from Ajax.

“Great feeling, of course, especially with this welcome, with the atmosphere, the win,” Haller said. “Everything went well — except a goal, of course. It will come.”

The player required chemotherapy and two operations, with the second of them in late November, after he was informed in July that he had testicular cancer.

#MaltaDaily