Two Men Grievously Injured In Separate Traffic Accidents

Oct 1 2024

Two men were hospitalised after suffering injuries in two separate traffic accidents.

The first accident took place at around 1700hrs in Triq Villabate, Ħaż-Żabbar.

Preliminary investigations showed that a 36 year old man resident of Marsaskala suffered injuries in a crash between a Volkswagen Golf he was driving and a Peugeot 2008 driven by a 44 year old woman resident of Żejtun.

A Toyota van was also hit during the incident, but was parked.

The second incident took place at around 1815hrs in Triq l-Imdina, Ħ’Attard, between a Honda motorcycle driven by a 32 year old man resident of Ħaż-Żebbuġ and a Nissan Qashqai driven by a 42 year old man resident of St Paul’s Bay.

A medical team gave their assistance in both accidents and the motorcyclist and the 36 year old man were taken to hospital where they were both certified as having suffered grievous injuries.

Investigations are ongoing.

#MaltaDaily

New Zealand Regains World Record For Largest Haka

Oct 1 2024

New Zealand has regained the world record for the largest mass Haka, with approximately 6,500 participants performing the traditional Māori dance at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday.

This event surpassed the previous record set by France in 2014, which had 4,028 participants.

The Haka, originally a ceremonial war dance meant to challenge opponents, is now a celebration of Māori culture and unity, often performed at significant occasions, including sports events, notably by the national rugby team, the All Blacks.

New record: Largest haka – 6,466 people organised by the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust

The Haka is a performative dance native to the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/vocUMWe5eA

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) September 30, 2024

Nick Sautner, Chief Executive of Eden Park, emphasized that the event goes beyond mere numbers, as it serves to honor New Zealand’s cultural legacy on a global stage.

The participants showcased the Haka’s intensity through stomping, vocal expressions, and dramatic facial gestures.

To meet the record requirement, they performed the well-known Ka Mate routine four times in a row. Despite the celebration, the Māori community continues to face discrimination, leading to health and education disparities.

Recent protests have erupted in response to the government’s proposed changes that threaten Māori health initiatives and language use, further highlighting ongoing challenges for the Māori population, which constitutes nearly 20% of New Zealand’s population.

#MaltaDaily

Only €1.60 For Eggs Spent By Former ABBA Leader For Election

Oct 1 2024

Ivan Grech Mintoff ran his entire campaign for the MEP elections with a declared expense of just €1.60, which he spent on a carton of eggs.

In his sworn statement to the electoral commission, Grech Mintoff explained that his only expenditure went towards purchasing eggs, which he used in a protest during a university debate, criticising the unequal speaking time allocated to candidates. He smashed an egg on stage before storming out in protest.

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His protest attempts extended beyond that event, as he was stopped from bringing eggs into a television studio for another political debate, claiming they were essential for his protest.

Earlier in the campaign, he had thrown eggs near the prime minister during a Labour Party event, which brought further attention to his campaign.

All election candidates must report their campaign expenses, and Grech Mintoff’s running mate, Tania Gauci, declared no expenses at all.

#MaltaDaily

Hamrun Road Closed After Fire: Reportedly By Candle

Oct 1 2024

On Tuesday morning, Ħamrun’s main road was shut down in both directions as firefighters responded to a fire inside a residence.

The blaze, which is thought to have been caused by a candle left burning, broke out around 8 a.m. on St Joseph High Street. Fortunately, no one was inside the house at the time.

By 8:45 a.m., Transport Malta reported that firefighters from the Civil Protection Department were actively working to extinguish the fire.

To facilitate the emergency response, both lanes of the road were closed. Authorities advised drivers to use alternative routes to avoid the area.

#MaltaDaily