US women’s soccer teams to receive equal pay as men

May 21 2022

The US Soccer Federation announced last Wednesday that a deal has been struck to pay the US Women’s National Team and the US Men’s National Team equally.

Eliminating a pay gap which saw female players earning less, the new collective bargaining agreements will run through 2028 and include the equalisation of World Cup prize money.

Last February, the governing body and the women’s team announced a settlement to finally resolve the dispute which had been ongoing for years.

The federation agreed to pay the two teams equally in the next union contract and give the women’s team $22 million in back pay. President of the US Women’s National Team Players Association Becky Sauerbrunn said that this was the result of gains players made on and off the field.

Under these agreements, US Soccer becomes the first Federation in the world to equalise FIFA World Cup prize money awarded to the women’s team and the men’s team.

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Barbie reveals first ever doll with hearing aids

May 21 2022

Barbie has been on a mission to release new collections of dolls which are more inclusive of all children. And their latest instalment features the first doll with hearing aids.

This comes after Mattel unveiled Barbie dolls with different body shapes back in 2016. Then, in 2020, Barbie dolls with vitiligo – a condition that affects skin pigmentation – were released.

Their Fashionista collection now introduces the hearing aid barbie doll, along with a vitiligo version of Ken, as well as another doll with a prosthetic leg. Mattel executive Vice President Lisa McKnight said that the collection aims to reflect the diversity kids see in the world around them.

The company even worked with an audiologist to accurately represent the behind-the-ear hearing aids. With over 175 dolls, they seek to give representation to all children no matter their life context.

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Lassana Cisse’s body to be returned home to Ivory Coast three years after shooting

May 20 2022

The body of Lassana Cisse will be returned to the Ivory Coast, three years after Lassana was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Hal Far.

A government source told Times of Malta that he will be flown out inn the coming days.

42-year-old Lassana was fatally shot by two soldiers, Francesco Fenech & Lorin Scicluna, on his way home in Hal Far on 6 April 2019. The soldiers have been charged with the murder and are currently out on bail.

A memorial event for Lassana will be held as it is in its “final preparations”.

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Emma Muscat surpasses 1 million monthly Spotify listeners for the first time ever

May 20 2022

Hot off her recent appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Emma Muscat has announced that she has surpassed one million monthly listeners on Spotify for the first time in her career.

Muscat shared the news on a recent Instagram story, visibly surprised at major milestone. The 22-year-old singer launched her self-titled, 6-track EP ‘I Am Emma’ after her Eurovision Semi-Final 2 performance, where she failed to qualify for the final in Turin.

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A post shared by Emma Muscat (@emmamuscat_official)

At the time of writing, the ‘I Am What I Am’ performer stands at around 1,023,000 monthly listeners with tracks like Meglio di Sera & Sangria both surpassing the 15 million listen mark.

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