A video sent to this newsroom shows a car slowly driving into Busy Bee Sliema’s side.
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A woman walking close by with a pushchair can be seen quickly retreating as the car gradually makes its way towards the shutter.
A person then exits the vehicle as bystanders stop to assess the situation. It does not seem as though anyone was injured during this incident.
#MaltaDaily
Researchers have made a significant stride toward understanding and potentially treating severe pregnancy sickness, known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
A study reveals that babies produce a hormone, GDF15, which can trigger HG, affecting between one and three in 100 pregnancies.
Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly from the University of Cambridge indicates that the more sensitive a mother is to this hormone, the more severe the sickness.
This insight provides a clue on preventive measures. Pregnant women with HG often require hospitalization due to dehydration, and some report vomiting up to 50 times a day.
The research, published in Nature and conducted by scientists from the University of Cambridge, Scotland, the USA, and Sri Lanka, found a correlation between the degree of sickness and the amount of GDF15 produced in the womb.
Women with a genetic variant putting them at higher HG risk had lower hormone levels, while those with beta thalassemia, a blood disorder causing elevated GDF15 levels before pregnancy, experienced less nausea or vomiting.
Blocking the hormone’s access to the mother’s brain receptor could be a potential treatment strategy, says Professor Sir Stephen, offering hope for improved care for affected pregnant women.
#MaltaDaily
On December 5, 2023, BirdLife Malta successfully released three protected birds— a European Honey-buzzard, a Greater Flamingo, and a Western Marsh-harrier— at LIPU’s Saline Di Priolo Nature Reserve in Sicily.
These birds, victims of illegal shooting during Malta’s ongoing autumn hunting season, were rehabilitated after concerned members of the public reported and assisted in their rescue.
The release is part of BirdLife Malta’s broader effort to protect and rehabilitate shot birds, with up to 53 birds recovered since the season commenced in September, including those ringed or tracked from countries like Finland, Czechia, and Latvia, targeted illegally.
The release marked the second attempt in recent years by BirdLife Malta, featuring, for the first time, a flamingo and a Honey-buzzard. The decision to release these rehabilitated birds in Sicily followed the October incident where a GPS-tracked Honey-buzzard, released on Comino, lost transmission while attempting to migrate south over Birżebbuġa.
Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta’s Head of Conservation, emphasized the risks of Malta’s illegal hunting season, prompting the decision to release the birds in Sicily for a higher chance of survival.
The initiative involved two and a half months of rehabilitation, veterinary assistance, and collaboration with Virtu Ferries Ltd. and LIPU’s Saline Di Priolo.
#MaltaDaily
The road up to Kordin Prison in Paola has been temporarily shut down to traffic following an incident this morning where a small car caught fire.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 10:30 am, prompted a rapid response from officers and CPD officials dispatched to the location to combat the blaze.
As of now, there is no confirmation regarding the presence of individuals in the vehicle at the time or if there are any reported injuries arising from the incident.
Maltese Road Traffic Updates indicate that, despite rapid reaction by officials, the road leading to Kordin Prison was closed at 11 am.
More details to emerge as story develops.
#MaltaDaily
