Over €580K Raised During Hospice Malta Telethon

Jul 8 2024

Hospice Malta has successfully wrapped up its ‘L-Aħħar Pass’ fundraising telethon, celebrating an overwhelming wave of community support and raising €581,616.

The funds collected during this telethon will be instrumental in completing the St Michael Hospice project which will soon fully open its doors to patients and address community needs within the coming weeks.

The telethon featured a range of activities, including a preview of the nearly completed areas of St. Michael Hospice. St Michael Hospice will provide inpatient services and enhanced day therapy services, reinforcing the NGO’s commitment to palliative care.

Hospice Malta Chairperson, Bernadette Bonnici Kind, shared her thoughts on the success of the event, saying, “We are immensely grateful for the generosity shown by everyone who contributed. While the inauguration of St Michael Hospice marks a significant milestone, our mission continues. Ongoing support is crucial for us to keep providing comprehensive palliative care to all patients and families in need. We invite individuals and the business community to continue supporting us through donations on the Hospice Malta website.”

Hospice Malta remains dedicated to providing support to patients with life-limiting illnesses, including cancer, ALS, end-of-life respiratory, cardiac, renal, and liver diseases, as well as Multiple Sclerosis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

#MaltaDaily

John Cena Announces His Retirement From The WWE

Jul 7 2024

US actor and wrestler John Cena announced his retirement from competing in WWE events during an appearance at the WWE Money in the Bank event in Canada.

The 47-year-old, who transitioned to acting 18 years ago, revealed that his final match will be in 2025 as part of a farewell tour. Cena, a 16-time world champion since joining WWE in 2001, is considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever.

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Addressing fans in Toronto, he expressed gratitude for their support over the years, wearing a t-shirt reading “The Last Time is Now” and his signature denim shorts.

Despite retiring from in-ring competition due to physical limitations, Cena plans to remain involved with WWE in some capacity. Cena began his acting career in 2006 with “The Marine” and has since appeared in major films such as “The Suicide Squad,” “Fast & Furious 9,” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

Since 2018, he has performed in WWE part-time due to his burgeoning acting career. Cena also made headlines for his comedic appearance at the Academy Awards this year and holds a Guinness World Record for granting the most wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

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Parent Influencers In Illinois Need To Pay Kids Seen In Videos

Jul 7 2024

A new law that took effect on July 1 mandates that children featured on social media must be compensated for their participation.

The legislation updates the state’s Child Labor law to include children appearing on their parents’ or caregivers’ social media channels.

“The rise of social media has given children new opportunities to earn a profit,” Sen. David Koehler said in a press release after the bill’s signing last year.

“However, many parents have taken this opportunity to pocket the money while making their children continue to work in these digital environments.”

The law applies to children under 16 who appear in more than 30% of videos on monetised platforms, such as video blogs.

It stipulates that these children must receive 50% of the profits proportional to their screen time. The adult responsible for the videos must deposit the earnings into a trust account within 30 days, which the child can access at 18.

Family vlogs often share intimate details of children’s lives, such as grades, potty training, illnesses, misbehaviours, and first periods, with a wide audience.

Brand deals featuring popular child influencers can generate substantial income, but there are few regulations governing this “sharenthood” industry, which experts warn can seriously harm children.

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Over 4,500 Referrals To Anti-Bullying Services From 2012 To 2023

Jul 7 2024

Between 2012 and 2023, over 4,500 referrals were made to the Anti-Bullying Services, the Education Minister informed parliament on Monday.

Clifton Grima shared these statistics in response to a parliamentary query from PN MP Graziella Attard Previ.

Previ inquired about the number of bullying cases reported from 2012 to 2023, and the specific referrals made in 2023.

Grima clarified that although 4,611 referrals were logged during this period, this number does not reflect the actual count of bullying victims or perpetrators. In 2023 alone, there were 499 referrals.

Addressing further questions from Previ, Grima detailed that the Anti-Bullying Services team for the 2023/2024 academic year consists of five guidance teachers and two education support practitioners.

The minister highlighted that the staff conducts awareness sessions for parents and students, and offers training for teachers.

The Anti-Bullying Service, operating under the Educational Support Services, was established to address and manage bullying behavior within colleges.

#MaltaDaily