Two heavily mutilated sharks wash up in Marsalforn

Two heavily mutilated sharks wash up at Marsalforn Bay

Jan 25 2022

WARNING: This article contains graphic content which may be unsettling for some. Read with caution.

Two Bluntnose Sixgill sharks washed up dead and heavily mutilated in Marsalforn in Gozo on Monday. Environmental NGO Nature Trust took to Facebook to share graphic images of the sharks, urging the Environment & Resources Authority to consider the legal protection of such species.

Two divers reportedly discovered the sharks, initially mistaking them for dead turtles. The sharks bodies were seen to be cut off, leaving only the head and some organs. The particular breed of sharks is not protected in Maltese waters and is quite a rare sighting for Malta.

In their post, Nature Trust went on to urge the ERA to “monitor exotic species, to try to resolve the ongoing and overdue issue of unwanted pets as these often end up cruelly abandoned in the countryside or the sea, resulting in agonizing slow deaths.” They closed their statement by urging the public to be responsible when adopting exotic pets and if personal situations change, efforts must be done to transfer the pets to a safe home.

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Tonight will be the coldest January night in three years, says Met Office

Jan 25 2022

A spokesperson for the Meteorological Office has stated that if the temperature drops to the forecasted 5°C, it will be the coldest January night since 2019.

Tonight will be the coldest January night in three years, says Met Office

The maximum temperature during this time of year is normally 15.6°C, with the current cold snap being caused by a high pressure ridge which triggered a wave of cold temperatures from the Balkans coming towards the Mediterranean. So far, this month has seen temperature lows of 5.9°C on January 15 and 6.1°C on January 24.

It has been reported that January seems to be colder than usual, with the mean air temperature being calculated as 12.7°C, based on data gathered between 1982 and 2010. The mean temperature for January 2022 has been registered as 12.4°C, which is slightly lower than the norm.

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Small study finds that marijuana use may improve sex and orgasms

Jan 25 2022

The results of a small study conducted by researchers from the University of Almeria in Spain suggest that marijuana use may improve arousal, intimacy and orgasms.

A survey of 274 people aged between 18 and 30 found that individuals who consumed cannabis prior to activity in the bedroom recalled more satisfying experiences compared to those who abstained from use of the substance or mixing it with alcohol. The study enlisted 89 male and 185 female volunteers who use cannabis, alcohol or neither of the two, excluding individuals with conditions such as depression or diabetes. Due to the size of the study, results cannot be generalised and “should be interpreted cautiously,” the researchers noted.

An unrelated 2017 study had also found that cannabis users tend to engage in more sexual activity compared to those who don’t and while such studies are inconclusive, they may open doors to cannabis’ medicinal capabilities for those who struggle with sexual dysfunction.

Internal medicine physician and president of the Association of Cannabis Specialists Dr. Jordan Tishler stated that patients regularly ask him whether or not they can incorporate marijuana use into their sex lives to handle certain difficulties related to sexual activity.

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Infrastructure Malta plants 22,162 trees in 2021; minister reveals

Jan 25 2022

In 2021, Infrastructure Malta invested €4.4 million in environmental works across Malta and Gozo. This was revealed by Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg, who went on to state that a total of 22,162 trees were planted throughout the year, amounting to an average of 60 trees a day. The Minister stated this during a visit to the Joseph Farrugia Garden in Dingli, which has also welcome the planting of a number of trees.

He went on to state that trees which died, were vandalised or stolen were replaced by other trees. The Minister went on to explain that the government is committed to bring more positive results and actuate its environmental vision in favour of a green infrastructure and sustainability across Malta.

The national afforestation plan which started in 2019 has affected 68 zones in 35 different localities including Gozo. Various trees and plants were planted in areas like the Marsa Junction, Central Link, Għeriexem and near the Santa Luċija tunnels in order to improve the areas’ aesthetic value.

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