Injured Honey Buzzard Rescued In Mdina

Oct 28 2024

The Malta Ranger Unit were in right place at the right time to rescue an injured Honey Buzzard in Mdina.

The rangers were out on patrol in Rabat and got a call from a member of the public that a large bird had been spotted below the bastions.

The bird, which has a wing-span of over 120cm, was retrieved from dense vegetation, but it is reported too early to know what injuries it sustained and why it wasn’t flying.

The bird was handed over to BirdLife Malta and will be taken to the Malta government vet who will examine it.

#MaltaDaily

Manchester United Manager Erik Ten Hag Sacked

Oct 28 2024

Manchester United has dismissed manager Erik ten Hag following a poor start to the season, as confirmed by the club on Monday.

United, currently 14th in the Premier League, suffered their fourth league defeat in nine games against West Ham, with only one win in their last eight matches across all competitions.

This disappointing performance marked United’s worst season start in English top-flight football since 1989.

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Ten Hag, appointed in April 2022, led the team to victories in the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.

However, recent struggles cast doubt over his future, with pressure mounting from fans and management. Despite initial support from United’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, Ten Hag’s position became untenable.

The club has named former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim head coach, with the current coaching team assisting him while a search for a permanent manager is underway.

In their statement, United expressed gratitude for Ten Hag’s contributions and wished him success in his future endeavours. Van Nistelrooy will now look to stabilise the team’s performance as they aim to recover from their current league position.

#MaltaDaily

Shorter Work Week Sees Iceland Economic Boost

Oct 28 2024

Iceland’s economy is thriving, outpacing much of Europe since the nationwide adoption of a shorter workweek with no reduction in pay.

Between 2020 and 2022, over half of Icelandic workers adopted shorter hours, including four-day workweeks, boosting productivity and worker well-being, according to research by the Autonomy Institute and Iceland’s Association for Sustainability and Democracy (Alda).

The study shows that, despite reduced hours, Iceland saw robust economic growth and maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe. In 2023, Iceland’s economy grew by 5%, second only to Malta among high-income European nations, a significant increase over its prior decade’s average of around 2%.

Initial trials from 2015 to 2019, which reduced public sector hours from 40 to 35-36 per week, showed sustained or improved productivity and notable increases in worker well-being, reducing stress, burnout, and health concerns.

Following the trials, Icelandic unions secured reduced hours for tens of thousands of workers.

While the IMF expects Iceland’s growth to slow due to lower tourism demand, the country’s unemployment remains a strong indicator of economic health, with last year’s rate at 3.4%, well below the European average.

Similar shorter workweek trials are gaining traction worldwide, including recent successful trials in the U.S. and Ireland.

#MaltaDaily

Matthew Perry Passed Away One Year Ago Today

Oct 28 2024

It’s already been one year since FRIENDS star Matthew Perry passed away – a sudden death that shook both the celebrity world and the massive fandom of the beloved sitcom.

One year after Friends star Matthew Perry’s tragic death, investigations have unveiled a complex web of exploitation by those closest to him.

Perry, who died on October 28, 2023, in his Pacific Palisades home, had struggled with addiction but seemed to be living peacefully prior to his death. The 54-year-old actor drowned in his jacuzzi after receiving several high doses of ketamine, a substance he had previously used therapeutically.

Months of investigation revealed a scheme involving Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and medical professionals who exploited his vulnerability, leading to severe overuse of ketamine.

Five individuals, including Iwamasa and two doctors, were arrested and charged with crimes including ketamine distribution and conspiracy. Allegedly, they administered inflated doses and charged Perry exorbitant rates. Notably, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of the implicated doctors, continued supplying Perry with large doses despite signs of deteriorating health.

Iwamasa has pleaded guilty, facing a possible 15-year sentence, while others await trials.

Key figures like Plasencia and a ketamine distributor, Jasveen Sangha, face extensive charges with possible life sentences. The trial for those pleading not guilty is set for March 2025, and Perry’s death has become a cautionary tale about the exploitation of addiction in Hollywood.

#MaltaDaily