A new Neil Agius in the making?
Liam Daly just broke a Malta Record for being the youngest Maltese boy to swim from Malta to Gozo.
The 12 year old swam a distance between Popeye’s Village in malta and Mġarr ix-Xini, Gozo, which amounts to approximately 11km.
With a time of around 3 hours and 54 minutes, Daly is known for his initiatives when it comes to raising awareness on clean seas and environmental protection.
Well done Liam!
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Addressing a press conference, Executive Chairperson of the Authority for Responsible Cannabis Use (ARUC) Leonid McKay announced that the first operational licenses for cannabis harm reduction associations have been handed to two organisations.
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This means that the organisations can begin cannabis cultivation and, later on, distribution – with the aim being early next year.
The associations are KDD Society and Ta’ Żelli, with their cannabis product undergoing rigorous analysis and testing by ARUC before being made available.
Four other associations have been handed in-principle licenses and are thus in advanced stages of getting their own operational licenses.
Here’s a brief recap of Malta’s Cannabis Model, following the announcement of the first two cannabis organisations being handed their operational licenses. More information here.
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A 54 year old man resident of Ħal Qormi, at around 1515hrs yesterday, was taken to Mater Dei after having been injured in a traffic accident in Triq Ħal Far, Birżebbuġa.
Preliminary investigations showed that a crash had taken place between a Mazda 2 driven by the victim and a readymix MAN driven by a 31 year old resident of Ħad Dingli.
Civil protection officers and a medical team assisted on site and transported the victim to Mater Dei, where he was certified as having suffered serious injuries.
An inquiry has been opened, and police are continuing their investigations.
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Your favourite banana might no longer exist.
The Cavendish banana, comprising 47% of global consumption, faces extinction due to the spread of Panama Disease (Fusarium wilt) tropical race 4.
This disease disrupts the plant’s water absorption and photosynthesis, ultimately leading to its demise. Historically, a similar fate befell the Gros Michel banana variety, replaced by the immune Cavendish.
Scientists are pursuing various approaches to combat the threat. Some are developing genetically modified Cavendish strains resistant to TR4, while others explore grafting and natural selection techniques. However, skeptics argue that these solutions may only offer short-term relief.
Journalist Dan Koeppel proposes diversifying banana varieties as the ultimate solution. He advocates for a shift away from monoculture towards cultivating and selling multiple banana types.
This strategy, seen in the apple industry, reduces disease risk, provides consumer choice, and increases profits for growers.
Nonetheless, concerns about price, transportation, and ripening processes present hurdles to implementing this idea.
Despite ongoing efforts, no definitive solution has emerged, leaving the fate of the Cavendish uncertain. The potential end of the Cavendish era looms, echoing the historical transition from Gros Michel to the now-threatened variety.
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