Confronting the challenge : Innovation in the regulation of broadcasting in Malta

This discussion paper attempts to provide an overview of certain aspects of the broadcasting sector in Malta. In particular, it focuses on clauses 118 and 119 of the Constitution of Malta as well as the Broadcasting Act, exploring possibilities for innovation in the sector while also taking into account the implications of rapid changes brought about by new technologies.N/

We need to talk about silence: Re-examining silence in International Relations theory

The critique of silence in International Relations theory has been long-standing and sustained. However, despite the lasting popularity of the term, little effort has been made to unpack the implications of existing definitions and their uses, and of attempts to rid the worlds of theory and practice of silences. This article seeks to fill this vacuum by conducting a twofold exercise: a review and revision of the conceptualisation of silence current in the literature; and a review of the implications of attempts to eliminate silence from the worlds of theory and practice. Through the discussion, the article suggests that we deepen and broaden our understanding of silence while simultaneously accepting that a degree of silence will be a permanent feature of theory and practice in international politics. Finally, the conclusion illustrates the possibilities for analysis and theory opened by these arguments through an exploration of how they may be used to interpret and address recent events in Yemen

North Korea's Strategic Significance to China

"What kind of security situation will China face if one day North Korea signs a treaty with the United States, following in Libya's footsteps?" Shen Dingli is the executive director and a professor of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai

'Daughter of th' Italian heaven!' : Madame de Staël's Corinne in England

Madame de Staël's life and political interests are an important background to her writing. Her interest in the dynamics of the artistic, cultural and political life of Germany, France, England and Italy is reflected in her novel 'Corinne' (1807), where female destiny is shaped by cultural and national values.peer-reviewe

Inguinal hernia repair

A hernia usually presents as a painful lump in the groin, often associated with a large strain but it may also be asymptomatic and coincidentally discovered on routine examination. The incidence of hernia increases with age but a large number affected are working men and they can be severely disabled by the condition. Inguinal hernia is a common condition and 763 hernia operations were carried out in Government hospitals in Malta and Gozo during 1997.peer-reviewe

Memories in verse : the travels of Ludwig von Anhalt-Koethen (1579-1650)

In he 1640s the aging Duke Ludwig von Anhalt-Koethen embarked on a project to turn the journal that he kept during his journeys as a young man into a long narrative poem in the vernacular German. In 1617 he had founded the 'Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft', inspired by the Italian academies that he had seen in Florence some 20 years earlier.peer-reviewe

Encounters with Valletta : a baroque city through the ages

This article explores life in nineteenth-century Valletta, and the cross-currents between British and Maltese culture which developed at this period. The first century of British colonial policies and influence in Malta left a deep mark on all aspects of life in the city – on its society, education, housing, religious buildings and practices, as well as on leisure including theatre and public gardens.peer-reviewe

The Aden pivot? British counter-insurgency after Aden

This article argues that the Aden Insurgency was a pivotal moment in the history of British counter-insurgency. We argue that it was in Aden where the newfound strength of human rights discourse, embodied in Amnesty International, and of anti-colonial sentiment, expressed by the UN General Assembly, forced the British government to pay attention to public perceptions of colonial brutality. Using archival sources, we foreground three episodes in the history of the insurgency to support our argument and to illustrate that the changes witnessed were not the result of ‘learning’ but of a fundamental shift in the international environment

Multiple Myeloma : an update on disease biology and therapy

Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of immunoglobulin producing plasma cells. Clinical features include bone pain due to lytic bone lesions or pathological fractures, anemia, symptomatic hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, recurrent infections and amyloidosis. In the last few years, there have been considerable advances in the understanding of the biology of this disease. While multiple myeloma is biologically diverse, several oncogenes are activated in this illness. In addition, the role of the bone marrow microenvironment to support the growth and survival of the malignant cells has been well described. In this review, we discuss recent developments in the molecular pathogenesis of myeloma. These recent observations are being translated into novel therapeutic approaches that target both the tumor cell as well as the stroma. Current therapeutic strategies are discussed.peer-reviewe

Breast cancer in Malta : a comparative study between the year 2000 and 2010

Introduction: During the last decade, Malta experienced the introduction of a number of programmes and initiatives aiming to raise risk and cancer awareness on breast cancer. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess whether the rise in breast cancer awareness influenced the presentation pattern of breast cancer in Malta. Method: The patients’ records operated for breast cancer in the year 2000 and 2010 were reviewed after sourcing the list from the Pathology Department at Mater Dei Hospital. For each case demographics, laterality, surgical procedure, histology of tumour, largest histological tumour dimension, differentiation and nodal status were collected. Results: 456 patients were studied; 171 for the year 2000 and 285 for the year 2010. Median age was 64 years (range 23-91 years) in 2000 and 59 years (range 29-96 years) in 2010. Lumpectomy or wide local excision were carried out in 41.0% of patients in 2000 and 64.7% in 2010. Mastectomy was done in 49.7% of patients in 2000 and 27.1% in 2010. Invasive ductal carcinoma of the unspecified type was the most common histological tumour in both years (68.8% in 2000, 74.7% in 2010). Peak incidence for the histological tumour dimension shifted from pT2 in 2000 to pT1c in 2010. Mean tumour size of the invasive type decreased from 28.2mm in the year 2000, to 22.9mm in the year 2010 (p value = 0.007). Histological regional lymph node metastases decreased from 52.2% in 2000 to 45.0% in 2010. Conclusion: Our study shows a trend of decrease in tumour size, less axillary node metastases and an increase in breast conservation surgery. Current initiatives and programmes appear to be effective at increasing breast cancer awareness.peer-reviewe