Girl who claims to be Madeleine McCann alleges family asked for DNA test

Feb 20 2023

A woman named Julia Wandelt has taken the internet by storm with claims that she may actually be Madeleine McCann, the young British girl who went missing in Portugal in May 2007.

Wandelt, a 21-year-old from Poland, says that she bears a striking resemblance to Madeleine and has a freckle on her leg and a speck in her eye in the same places as the missing girl.

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A post shared by Help me, I need to talk with Kate and Gerry McCann (@iammadeleinemccan)

She also claims that she has been contacted by the McCann family and has been asked to take a DNA test to prove her identity.

Wandelt has created an Instagram account called @iammadeleinemcann, which has already gained more than 370,000 followers.

Wandelt’s claims have attracted the attention of the media and the public, with many people expressing their support for her and urging the McCann family to investigate her claims.

On the other hand, many are simply not buying it. Still, most are concerned about the Polish girl’s situation due to worries of an actual kidnapping.

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A post shared by Help me, I need to talk with Kate and Gerry McCann (@iammadeleinemccan)

There has been no official response from the McCanns, and it is unclear whether they will agree to a DNA test. Madeleine’s disappearance has remained a mystery for more than a decade, and Wandelt’s claims have raised new questions about what really happened to the young girl.

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93 kilometer indoor cycling super highway planned for Dubai

Feb 20 2023

Dubai could be transformed into a hub for sustainability and wellness, thanks to URB, a Dubai-based development firm.

URB has unveiled plans for two ambitious projects that are focused on the environment and aim to create a more sustainable future for the emirate.

One of the proposed developments, “The Loop,” is an indoor climate-controlled “sustainable urban highway” that would stretch over 93 kilometers and create a car-free green corridor for walking and cycling around the city.

URB’s CEO, Baharash Bagherian, believes that if built, it would be the world’s smartest cycling and running infrastructure, and make Dubai the most connected city on Earth by foot or bike.

The second project, the “Agri Hub,” would be a massive agritourism site in the desert, covering roughly 40 hectares. It would host spaces for education and research, as well as eco-lodges, farm shops, and farm-to-table restaurants and cafes.

The site is designed to be a benchmark for sustainable agriculture, environmental education, and green tourism in the region.

URB says both projects would be zero-waste, and on-site transport would be fossil-fuel-free, with its own biogas plant to generate energy from organic waste. Both projects would use recycled gray water for irrigation and feature drought-tolerant plants as well as rain gardens and bioretention areas that require no irrigation and create habitat for birds and insects.

URB is currently undertaking feasibility studies to establish the best site for the development of the Agri Hub, with construction planned to begin in 2024. Meanwhile, The Loop could be ready for Dubai’s cyclists and runners by 2040. URB hopes that these projects will put Dubai at the forefront of the world’s green economy, and create a more sustainable future for the city and its residents.

This comes as Maltese NGOs and activist continue to issue calls for better infrastructure for bike users on the islands due to severe accidents impacting those who utilise the alternative mode of transportation.

Most recently, three groups came together to call for the urgent redesign of the Sir Temi Żammit Road in Mġarr by issuing an open letter to the Infrastructure and Transport authorities.

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Maltese man goes viral for dancing with elderly woman in Valletta carnival

Feb 20 2023

A video of an elderly woman being cheered up by a costumed man in Valletta has gone viral as the guy gets massive praise for his positivity and all around attitude.

The post was uploaded by Mollie Debrincat to Facebook page ‘Are You Being Served?’, who went on to say:

‘I do not know who you are but I want to say thank you… you made my mum’s day by taking her hand and dancing with her. She had so much fun’ she said.

The man, dressed in a colourful green costume as he joined in the capital city’s carnival parade, was later identified as Duncan Paul Zammit Galea, who received a flood of positive messages for his charisma and bringing so much joy.

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7 fatal work accidents registered in second half of 2022

Feb 20 2023

According to new statistics by the National Statistics Office, the number of non-fatal work accident claims in the latter half of 2022 decreased by 24, or 1.9%, compared to the same period in 2021.

Seven fatal work accidents were reported during this time. In the July-December 2022 period, 1,229 individuals were involved in non-fatal work accidents, with the majority occurring in the construction sector (211 or 17.2%).

Another 201 or 16.4% of the accidents happened in the manufacturing sector, followed by the transportation and storage sector (173 or 14.1%).

The construction sector experienced the largest increase in accidents compared to the previous year (25 or 13.4%).

The majority of those affected in work accidents were in elementary occupations, followed by craft and related trades workers.

Nearly half of the injuries affected the upper extremities, with wounds and superficial injuries, dislocations, sprains, and strains being the most common types of injuries.

In the latter half of 2022, 29.2% of accidents occurred in enterprises with 500 employees or more. The standardised incidence rate of non-fatal work accidents was highest in manufacturing, followed by construction and transportation and storage.

OHSA reported seven fatal work accidents between July and December 2022, while there were three fatal work accidents in the same period in 2021.

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Read full report here.