3D avatars are coming to Instagram and Messenger in Meta move

Feb 1 2022

Along with Super Bowl themed shirts, 3D avatars will be coming to Messenger, Facebook and Instagram as part of a ‘metaverse-focused strategy.’ With Facebook changing its company name last fall, it promised an upcoming strategy which would blend VR, AR and the company’s existing social media platforms.

Today, Meta announced that its 3D VR avatars will be showing up on the company’s other apps – Facebook, Messenger and Instagram, with a limited time Super Bowl themed jersey. The current avatar-creation tools which are already on the Oculus Quest 2, and were updated last year, will start appearing on other Facebook apps.

However, using them beyond profile images will mainly happen through sticker-pack-type emoji for now. The avatars will be animated with expressions which can be sent n messages on Messenger or put into Instagram posts. The changes are set to first come to the US, Mexico and Canada but will eventually spread out to other regions next. Facebook already had avatar profile image options before, but the update adds 3D animations.

Meta’s GM of Avatars and Identity Distribution said that the meta verse is seen as an interconnected digital world which bridges VR, AR mobile and computer. ‘Being able to offer avatars across all the platforms is one of our first steps towards making this vision for the metaverse a reality.’ Meta still isn’t allowing more than one avatar ti exist per profile in any app. They are currently designed to be singular, and humanoid based. Meta’s head of Metaverse, Vishal Shah, said that a big part of the company’s avatar and metaverse strategy will be selling virtual items, either for virtual spaces or as avatar accessories.

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Move over Squid Game, ‘All of Us Are Dead’ is the next hit

Feb 1 2022

Squid Game can just move over as a new South Korean thriller has just entered the game and it’s already scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The latest Netflix show ‘All of Us Are Dead’ is a zombie horror which has been receiving critical praise by both audiences and critics after dropping on the 28th of January.

According to ComicBook.com, the show has already reached the third spot on the streaming platform in the US. The thriller is based on a popular webtoon called ‘Now At Our School’ and takes place at a high school which is overrun with zombies.Students are forced to decide whether to hide, flee or fight against the raging monsters, with teasers showing hordes of blood-thirsty zombie-like creatures invading a school.

With the series featuring a young ensemble cast, the early favourable reviews are expected to push ‘All of Us Are Dead’ to rise to the level of other such K-drama Netflix hits like Squid Game in a short amount of time.The series is filled with constant action and gore, but the themes being tackled are highlighted as universal, making it extremely relatable. It’s no wonder that a cross between The Walking Dead and Squid Game is receiving such praise. It still has some way to go before it knocks off the most viewed Netflix show in history, but it’s making a sprint towards the top faster than any of the running zombies it features.

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The new Rare Diseases Campaign 2022 seeks to help hundreds in need

Feb 1 2022

The National Alliance for Rare Diseases Support Malta has just launched the 2022 nationwide Rare Diseases Campaign. With the launch held at the Parliament Foyer under the auspices of the Speaker of House Dr Angelo Farrugia, President of the National Alliance Michelle Muscat explained what the campaign will entail.

She called on for local policy makers to support the Alliance’s call for a National Action plan on rare diseases based on the European Action Plan that is currently being advocated for by EURORDIS, of which the Alliance is an active member. There are three main goals this campaign seeks to work on – ensuring that people stop losing their lives too young from rare diseases; to improve the quality of life of people living with a rare disease and; to ensure that both Europe and Malta as its member leads in rare disease innovation.

In Malta, it is estimated that there are 27,000 individuals living with a rare disease. The Malta National Register for Rare Diseases lists approx 4k patients suffering from a rare disease. However, it is estimated that there are approx 27,000 people suffering from a rare disease/condition.As per EU statistics, 30 million EU citizens currently live with a rare disease. 6,000 are diagnosed with rare diseases and 1 in 2,000 get a rare disease.

The Alliance will be advocating for more awareness about rare diseases through a month long campaign starting with a week long initiative ‘Rare in the City’ held under the auspices of The Speaker of The House.As there is no current overreaching strategy for rare diseases both at a local and European level, care and research experts across Europe must collaborate for the best possible treatments.

Michelle Muscat said that National and European policy makers should recognise the complexity of these issues and the importance of a ‘one health’ approach with measurable goals and strategic plans that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.She also said that it was an honour for the National Alliance for Rare Diseases Support Malta to be part of the ECOSOC Committee on Rare Diseases which pushed forward the UN Resolution which was adopted inD member 2021 by the United General Assembly.

The National Alliance for Rare Diseases Support Malta will continue to ensure that its members will have a voice in our society and across the world and to make sure that the United Nations sustainability goals are fulfilled. Michelle Muscat went on to thank all the different stakeholders that form the Alliance including researchers, geneticists, genetic councillors, health professionals and the patients and their family/carers.

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Two Mosta streets named after Victor Calvagna and Mons. Joseph Carabott

Feb 1 2022

Minority Leader in Mosta’s Local Council Keith Cassar took to Facebook to announce that in their last council meeting on Tuesday of last week, two streets in the locality will be named after two late beloved men.

Triq il-Bufula l-Ħamra will be named Triq Dr. Victor Calvagna and Triq Stivala will be named Triq Mons. Joseph Carabott in recognition of the two men’s hard work in the community. The decision was unanimously approved.

The proposals were put forth by Mayor Romilda B. Żarb and Cassar himself.

Carabott was a beloved priest who was ordained in 1962, going on to work extensively in the community, earning the respect and love of many locals.

Calvagna was the founder of Puttinu Cares and one of the leading paediatric oncologists who helped hundreds of kids and families suffering from serious illnesses.

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Photo Source: Keith Cassar FB