16 activist groups demand closure of marine park due to dolphin deaths

Oct 23 2022

Fourteen local and two international NGOs came together to demand the closure of Mediterraneo Marine Park following the death of three dolphins due to lead poisoning.

The groups stated that the Bahar ic-Caghaq park has shown negligence and cruelty to the animals it keeps in captivity and is effectively operating an animal circus.

Animal circuses were outlawed in Malta in 2014, but Mediterraneo is classified as a zoo. However, Moviment Graffiti highlighted how the dolphins still perform tricks for the public.

The park itself pushed back against the claims by the groups, insisting that all animals are treated humanely and that dolphin activities are necessary to properly monitor the health of the animals.

In a joint statement, the groups suggested changing the establishment into a rehabilitation centre for aquatic creatures with the location of the park being perfect for this use due to its proximity to the coast.

‘Malta would have the opportunity to create a foundation of marine animal care, while the remaining dolphins should have the opportunity to be rehoused in a sea pen to live a more natural life and to stop being used and exploited as a form of entertainment.’

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Photo Source: Moviment Graffiti

Puttinu fundraisers organised by Robert Arrigo will still take place

Oct 23 2022

The fundraiser activities for NGO Puttinu Cares planned by the late PN Deputy Robert Arrigo will still be taking place.

This was revealed by one of the sons of Arrigo, Andrew, during his father’s funeral. Andrew revealed that he had made the promise to his father that the activities will go on under his direction.

Andrew reminded the funeral attendees of his father’s favourite statement of ‘Life is beautiful’ and said that he plans on carrying the legacy of fighting for what he believed in.

Robert Arrigo himself was born in December and used to organise the fundraisers to raise money for the NGO which helps people, especially children, as they fight cancer.

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Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ becomes Spotify’s most streamed album in just 1 day

Oct 23 2022

It’s as if Taylor Swift was aiming to break a record by naming her latest album ‘Midnight’s as the pop-star’s latest release broke records before the clock could even strike 0000hrs on October 22nd.

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After going live on Friday, Swift’s new album sparked a massive surge of new interest in the artist’s music as she became the singer to have the most Spotify streamed album in history in one day.

24 hours after the release, the streaming giant announced that Swift’s new collection amassed an influx of listeners, right after Spotify was reporting a worrying amount of exits.

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Swift herself described the album as the story of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout her life as well as a ‘journey through terrors and sweet dreams.’

It also sees Swift move away from the typical indie intimate writing of previous albums Folklore and Evermore as she dips her toes into electronica, synth-pop and even some hip-hop influenced tracks.

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Could the world’s first flying car solve Malta’s traffic problems? Probably not

Oct 23 2022

An all too familiar experience on Maltese roads – and one that has been seemingly only getting worse as of late – is sitting for hours on end in traffic and regretting getting out of bed in the morning.

And yet, the world is moving on from ‘basic’ on-the-road day-to-day vehicles as a company has just claimed that their world-first flying car will be able to fly people out of road jams for good.

California-based company Alef Aeronautics claims that the Model A uses the existing technology for driving and parking but adds the little perk of literally lifting into the air.

The brand plan on making their first deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2025, and will set back pilots some £270,000. It has a driving range of 200 miles as well as a flight range of 110 miles.

But wait. Even if according to Alef CEO the car is a supposed modern solution for urban and rural transportation needs in the 21st century, us Maltese don’t have a great track record for our behaviour on the roads.

In some rather somber statistics, there have been 253 registered traffic accidents between January and August 2022 alone. And those were the ones registered by police. 235 of these involved injuries and 16 proved fatal.

The NSO had even reported in August that there were an estimated 47 traffic accidents everyday between April and June. Now imagine all that road-rage chaos but up in the air. So we are in some serious doubt about whether having our vehicles leap into mid-air would solve our traffic issues.

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