Stranger Things boosts Metallica’s streams up by 400%

Jul 10 2022

If Kate Bush’s rise to prominence thanks to popular series Stranger Things was something to be baffled by, then Metallica’s recent surge in popularity will come as no surprise.

The legendary heavy metal band’s song ‘Master of Puppets’ was featured in a rather prominent way during the season finale of the fourth season.

The scene has even been described as the most iconic scene in the show’s history – yes, even more than Max running to Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill.’ This was after newcomer Eddie Munson played the song as a distraction to give his friends an advantage over the main villain.

In a scene featuring guitar-shredding atop of a trailer as a storm brews ahead and monstrous bats charge the heroes, the feature managed to boost Metallica’s streams by 400% according to Billboard.

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Fans have even launched an attempt to get the song to the top of the UK charts in a tribute to both Metallica’s legendary status and Eddie’s heroic deed, giving it the Kate Bush treatment.

Meanwhile, the band members themselves fully embraced the new fans and Stranger Things using their song for the finale. Taking to Instagram, they expressed they were beyond psyched their song was used in such a captivating way.

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Man grievously injured after traffic accident in Aldo Moro, Marsa

Jul 10 2022

Police were informed yesterday at around 2115hrs that a traffic accident had taken place in Triq Aldo Moro, Marsa.

District police convened on site and through preliminary investigations found that a crash had occurred between a Honda motorcycle driven by a 37-year-old Birzebbuga resident and a Toyota Vitz driven by a 29-year-old Nigerian man resident of San Pawl il-Bahar.

The motorcyclist was given first aid from a medical team and taken to Mater Dei hospital for further care. He was later certified to have suffered grievous injuries. Investigations are still ongoing.

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Three day menstrual leave every month for women in Spain

Jul 10 2022

A new legislative move is set to offer up women in Spain up to three days of menstrual leave when suffering with painful periods.

The legislation is expected to be passed in Spain next week, and it would make Spain the first European country to offer such support.

Such menstrual leaves are already offered elsewhere in the world outside the EU block, including countries like Japan, South Korea, Zambia and Indonesia. Spanish Secretary of State for equality and against gender violence Angela Rodriquez spoke out about some of the statistics which prompted the move.

Recent research from the Spanish Gynaecology and Obstetrics Society revealed that around one-third of menstruating women suffer from dysmenorrhea, resulting in painful periods.

Another survey by the charity Bloody Good Period also suggests that 73% of women struggle with work when menstruating. Rodriquez said such statistics were unacceptable and should make both doctors and society reflect.

‘When the problem cannot be solved medically, we believe that it is very sensible that there is a temporary disability associated with the issue.’ Other measures to improve menstrual health are also being bought into Spain.

These include a requirement for schools to provide sanitary products for girls who need them. Additionally, VAT from the sale of pads and tampons will be removed in supermarkets, whilst other products will be free.

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Two Maltese mountaineers make it up Western Europe’s highest peak

Jul 9 2022

Andrew Pullicino and Zach Cassar put their climbing skills to the test and successfully made it to the summit of Mont Blanc on July 2nd at 06:00am.

Facing strong winds and heavy snowfall, alongside bouts of thunder and lightning, the peak of the highest mountain in Western Europe – at 4,810m – seemed impossible to reach.

The climbers started their journey with weeks of physical training before their ascent, albeit endless training in Malta would have not prepared them enough for what they were to face due to the grandeur and height of this mountain.

A week before climbing Month Blanc, Andrew and Zach were trained on routines and acclimatisation regimes on Mount Gran Paradiso to prepare for their actual summit attempt.

During this climb they were met with cold, strong winds and static electricity which hindered them from making it to the top of Gran Paradiso just shy of the last 15m.

‘It felt so frustrating to be so close to the end and not manage – this definitely made us feel less confident to attempt Mont Blanc at the time and the pressure was on’ said Andrew.

The bad weather persisted even during the Mont Blanc expedition making the Goûter Route highly dangerous, a difficult feat even in the best of weather conditions. Their first resting point was the Tête Rousse Refuge at 3,167m. The following day, the group climbed the treacherous Gran Colouir to reach the Refuge du Goûter which stands at 3,835m.

The Gran Colouir, a dangerous gully, often referred to as the ‘gully of death’, has to be traversed on foot and was an extensive test to their stamina and physical fitness.

The third day allowed the climbers to finally sigh with relief, as the weather conditions slightly improved and gave them the opportunity to finish their ascent. Their final day started off at 02:30am – starting their journey in total darkness, the brave climbers – accompanied by two highly competent mountaineering guides – proudly made it to the summit.

‘Reaching the top felt so overwhelming. After such a tiring few days and the uncertainty of the weather, I had tears come to my eyes when we managed to get to the top!’ – Zach.

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Photo Source: @zachcassar IG, Andrew Pullicino FB