4,000 Seat Stadium Plans By Floriana FC Announced

Aug 23 2024

Floriana FC is set to realize its long-standing dream of transforming the Independence Arena into a modern stadium with a 4,000-seat capacity.

Club president Johann Said revealed these exciting plans during a rally, emphasizing that obtaining Voluntary Organisation (VO) status has been a key milestone. This new status enables the club to begin commercial ventures, facilitating progress on the stadium project.

Said also presented architectural plans and confidently predicted that the stadium will elevate the surrounding area, contributing positively to the community.

He argued that regenerating Maltese football hinges on bringing stadiums closer to local communities rather than centralizing matches at Ta’ Qali.

He also pointed out that football attendances dropped after the Gzira Stadium closed down and matches moved to Ta’ Qali, underscoring the need for more localized venues. Though no specific timeline or funding details were shared, Said expressed his gratitude to Sports Minister Clifton Grima for his advice and support.

He assured fans that the club is determined to see this project through and believes that the stadium’s construction will have a transformative effect on both the team and the local community, boosting football’s popularity and engagement in the area.

#MaltaDaily

“I Am Now Almost Losing Hope” – Leon Farrugia

Aug 23 2024

Leon Farrugia, a 26-year-old barman, had his laptop bag stolen yesterday while he was cleaning the bar at the Mosta FC Ground. The laptop contained his entire master’s thesis, which he had been working on for years. Unfortunately, the hard drive that served as the backup was also inside the bag, leaving him unable to graduate without it, as the thesis is due next week.

Earlier today, Leon spoke out again, stating that he is almost certain the person who took his laptop has seen his plea. However, since the laptop has not yet been returned, he is beginning to lose hope. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who has supported him by sharing his posts and showing interest in his situation. Leon mentioned that this support has given him the motivation and confidence to start working on finishing his thesis again, beginning on Monday.

He also announced a €1,000 finder’s fee, made possible through contributions from various supporters. Additionally, he provided the contact information of a priest to whom the laptop can be returned if the person wishes to remain anonymous. Leon assured that he has agreed with the priest never to ask for any information about the person who returns the laptop.

#MaltaDaily

Prime Minister’s Secretary Cabinet Charged with Drunk Driving

Aug 23 2024

Ryan Spagnol, the Cabinet Secretary under Prime Minister, is facing calls to resign after being convicted of drink-driving. Spagnol was stopped at a Żejtun roadblock on December 22, where he failed a breathalyser test, registering nearly twice the legal alcohol limit. In May, a court found him guilty of driving while intoxicated, fined him €1,800, and suspended his licence for six months.

The conviction only came to light in mid-August, after lawyer Jason Azzopardi publicized the case on social media. Azzopardi accused Abela of delaying the publication of the court ruling to avoid scrutiny. The Prime Minister’s office denied the accusation.

The Nationalist Party has since demanded Spagnol’s resignation, calling his continued presence in office unacceptable. They criticised the government for not acting sooner, arguing that public officials should be held to higher standards. Despite being aware of the charges, Abela kept Spagnol in his role.

#MaltaDaily

Temu’s Owner Colin Huang Now China’s Richest Person

Aug 23 2024

Colin Huang, 44, has risen to become one of the world’s richest people, with a net worth of $51.1 billion as of August 16, 2023, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This puts him at number 23 on the global rich list.

Huang started his career with internships at Microsoft before earning a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004. After graduating, he joined Google as a software engineer and quickly moved up to a product manager position.

His major breakthrough came with the launch of Temu, an e-commerce marketplace where sellers, mostly from China, offer a wide range of products. These include fast fashion, makeup, electronics, and homeware, available through Temu’s website and app.

Temu operates by allowing third-party sellers to list and sell their products directly to consumers, a model that has driven its rapid success. Huang’s journey from tech worker to billionaire entrepreneur highlights his sharp business acumen and has firmly established him among the world’s wealthiest.

#MaltaDaily