MEA criticize ‘obscene and unprecedented’ Air Malta severance package

Aug 12 2022

The Malta Employers Association has revealed their disappointment in Air Malta’s severance package being offered to redundant employees, describing the packages as obscene and unprecedented. The news of the severance package was announced by The Shift News, outlining the plan to dissolve the airline through a tentative government plan.

In a statement, the MEA said that the severance package is “the most obscene agreement in Malta’s industrial relations history”, with workers being offered roughly only €16,000 for every year of service.

They also went on to say that “there are thousands of better ways to use such funds than wasting them on golden handshakes. This agreement is morally flawed, and only intended to appease an advantaged class of workers, many of whom should never have been employed at Air Malta in the first place.”

The MEA also went on to criticize the airline’s human resources, describing it as a tragedy of errors. They also went on to suggest to transfer Air Malta employees to the private sector instead of relocating them to a public entity, arguing that the public sector is already overstaffed.

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Various tributes comes in for maritime soldier and father Christian Degabriele

Aug 12 2022

Various tributes have poured in on social media for the late Christian Degabriele, who was not only a maritime soldier but also a loving father and a very good amateur football player.

Degabriele was unfortunately found dead by the Armed Forces of Malta and the Police after they started a search operation for a missing diver in St Paul’s Bay.

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri had this to say about the passing: “I salute the memory of Sergeant Christian Degabriele, a hardworking member of the Maritime Squad of the Armed Forces of Malta, who lost his life while diving in St Paul’s Bay,”

“What a misfortune that he lost his life so early and at sea, the place which was part of his career and his passion,” he said.

“I offer my condolences to his family and all his colleagues at AFM in this very difficult moment.”

His football team Kordin Stars football club have also paid a tribute to their former player on Facebook, writing: “Rest in peace Christian Degabriele, you will remain in our hearts. Condolences to his family,”. The Malta Amateur Football Association also played their part saying that “amateur football lost a gentleman”.

The GWU for Disciplined Forces, Security & Law Enforcement Officers Section also offered condolences and solidarity with Degabriele’s family and friends. The said “Everyone is describing him as an exemplary soldier that was always willing to help others,”.

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It’s official: You can’t pile up +2 or +4 cards during Uno

Aug 12 2022

As if disagreements over a card game of Uno weren’t already heated, the creators have come out and officially set a rule straight: you can’t pile +2 and +4 cards.

Uno has caused many to reassess their friendships as the game is known to bring out the dexterity and slyness of all players. And not everyone can take the adrenaline.

One classic way for players to get quick revenge is to stack up another +2 or +4 card until it’s the poor player’s turn who doesn’t have any such cards in their deck.

This can accumulate into a player ending up with an insane amount of cards in their hands. Thankfully (or not?) Uno have confirmed that this is not in the rule book.

If you’re hit with a +4 card, you must embrace your punishment and pick up those cards. However, many players have house rules and insist that it’s the creators who are playing the game wrong.

What is apparently allowed however is playing a skip card of the same colour, which will pass the unwanted baton on to the next player to pick up the extra 4 cards.

#MaltaDaily

WATCH: St Gaetan statue safely makes it up church steps to finish off feast

Aug 12 2022

All festa lovers are familiar with the traditional run at the end of the statue procession to close off the celebrations. And here is this year’s big finish – a culmination of around 2 years of COVID-19 hiatus.

The festa lovers loved it, but tension during this moment is often very much present as this part of the procession could very much lead to unprecedented disaster.

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The statue has come close to almost being toppled in the past, with many on the church steps usually playing a major role in avoiding the ruckus that could be caused if the large statue is indeed dropped.

This time around, the carriers managed to bring the state of the locally beloved saint up the steps safely and with surprising agility, considering they are carrying such a huge figure and base.

#MaltaDaily