New Hub For Pregnant Women & Young Families In Malta

Sep 15 2023

Life Network Foundation has inaugurated “Id F’Id” (Hand in Hand), new premises providing material assistance services for pregnant women and young families raising infants.

The opening of Id F’Id complements the holistic support services for women run by Life Network Foundation which include;

A 24/7 chat service and helpline; the ‘Dar Tgħanniqa ta’ Omm maternity home service; counselling and; community outreach services.

In the last four years more than 200 families have received regular support, and LifeLine pregnancy helpline has recently celebrated the100th baby born through their services.

Thanks to the generous support from sponsors and volunteers, Id F’Id, a flower shop, has been completely refurbished. Now finished in natural wood and making available baby clothing, items for maternity needs, as well as bedding, toys and other necessary items, Id F’Id provides a haven for pregnant women seeking assistance.

The hub will serve to enable centralisation of sorting, organisation and distribution of donated items. Baby food, hospital bag items, baby and maternity equipment, and infant clothing will supply the maternity home residents and others in the outreach programme.

Monetary donations will also be accepted towards purchasing of items needed to run the service. Id F’Id, located at 495, Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp, Santa Venera was opened on Thursday 14th September, by CEO Dr Miriam Sciberras and blessed by the Archbishop of Malta HG Charles J Scicluna.

#MaltaDaily

META Denies WhatsApp Will Be Including Ads

Sep 15 2023

On Friday, parent company Meta disputed a media report that the company will be exploring including adverts into the messaging app WhatsApp.

The Financial Times reported that some Meta teams have explored whether adverts should be introduced in lists of conversations with contacts on WhatsApp’s home screen.

This @FT story is false. We aren’t doing this.

Also it looks like you misspelled Brian’s name… https://t.co/Z47z9FC5yu

— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) September 15, 2023

Head of WhatsApp Will Cathcart at Meta took to Twitter (X) to state that the story is false. ‘We aren’t doing this’, wrote Cathcart.

Up until now, Meta has resisted the notion of incorporating ads into the WhatsApp app. Instead, it has focused on monetising through WhatsApp Business, a service tailored for merchants who pay for specific features. WhatsApp Business has garnered over 200 million monthly active users.

#MaltaDaily

7,000 Migrants Arrive On Lampedusa Over Two Days

Sep 15 2023

The Italian island of Lampedusa is grappling with an overwhelming influx of migrant boats from North Africa, reaching a peak of 7,000 people, equivalent to its entire local population.

The reception centre designed for less than 400 individuals is now overcrowded, forcing men, women, and children to sleep outside on makeshift cots.

Tensions arose during food distribution, requiring police intervention. Some migrants left for Lampedusa’s town centre seeking sustenance. While some restaurants turned them away, others provided food for free or were covered by residents and tourists.

Located 90 miles off Tunisia’s coast, Lampedusa is a primary destination for migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Recent fine weather has led to a surge in arrivals, with over 5,000 people reaching Italy on a single day. Many are rescued at sea by the coastguard and brought to Lampedusa port.

On Thursday, nearly 400 arrived in nine boats from Tunisia. Tragically, over 2,000 individuals have lost their lives this year attempting this perilous journey.

Lampedusa’s migrant “hotspot” has long struggled with inadequate resources. The Italian Red Cross, which took charge in June, is finding it challenging to manage the surge. They reported over 7,000 people at the hotspot, and around 5,000 were slated for transfer to Sicily, where larger processing facilities are available.

Italy’s government allocated €45 million to Lampedusa to aid in managing the situation, but Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is calling for EU assistance. This year, nearly 124,000 migrants have arrived in Italy, up from 65,500 during the same period last year, though the numbers have not yet surpassed the 2016 peak.

#MaltaDaily

Shaun Farrugia Teases Collaboration With The Script

Sep 15 2023

It’s a scroll and you’ll miss it. Shaun Farrugia took to social media to upload a swipe post of his recent activities and, among them, is a short, soundless video of him in a recording studio with famous Irish rock band ‘The Script.’

‘From smiles to writing with insane talent to still going to the gym to kicking a football’, wrote the Maltese singer and songwriter.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shaun Farrugia (@shaunfarrrugia)

In the video in question, Shaun can be seen in the studio vibing with singer Danny O’Donoghue, whilst another band member works on the piano.

Of course, Shaun didn’t reveal what they’re working on just yet, keeping us on our toes for what could be in store for his musical career.

Shaun has been working with many international artists, kicking it all off with Martin Garrix before being signed on to a massive label which boasts some of the most famous names in the industry.

#MaltaDaily