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Calls for auditor to investigate Malta Film Awards costs

Calls for auditor to investigate Malta Film Awards costs
Feb 1 2022 Share

Election candidate Arnold Cassola has asked the auditor-general to investigate the spending by the Malta Film Commission on the Malta Film Awards.

He observed that the declared budget was €400,000, which is already a substantial amount given that the commission’s annual budget was €600,000. 

However, suspicions that the awards budget was exceeded surfaced, with Times of Malta reporting that commissioner Johann Grech was being evasive when asked about this matter. 

In the mean time, Matthew Caruana Galizia tweeted on Monday that a freedom of information request will be filed for the film commission to reveal how much presenter David Walliams was paid. 

The presenter even made live jabs at Malta’s reputation for being a country of tax evasion to an International audience. ‘I was wondering whether you could just cut to the chase and tell us how much you were paid to speak at what was turned into a party-political event’ added Galizia. 

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312 new electric car charging points installed in 6 months

312 new electric car charging points installed in 6 months
Feb 1 2022 Share

In the past six months, 312 new charging points for electric cars were installed in various localities in order to increase the breadth of areas where drivers can charge their vehicle. 

The aim of the charging points is to encourage more people to use vehicles with cleaner energy and at the same time do this in the least amount of time. 

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The latest figures show that there are 5,000 electric vehicles registered in Malta, with engineer Abigail Cutajar telling TVMNews that more charing points are being installed in public places as more electric transportation is registered. 

The points are capable of charging a battery in 30 minutes, with the number possibly increasing especially due to the subsidy increase which was announced in this year’s budget. This would bring a grant of €11,000 for buyers of electric cars. 

Energy Ministry project manager Joanna Incorvaja said that attention is being given to local councils’ suggestions before new charing points are installed. This is just one of many initiatives taken into consideration by authorities in order for Malta to transition to a sustainable economic model. 

This is also part of the nation’s commitment to follow the UN meeting on Climate Change, COP26. Malta pledged that it will reduce the carbon use within nine years while it will no longer use toxic gas by 2050. 

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Photo Source: Miriam Dalli FB

Force 8 winds to batter Maltese islands later today

Force 8 winds to batter Maltese islands later today
Feb 1 2022 Share

As hail rained down in various localities around the Maltese islands, the weather is set to get more intense as the days go on. 

For today and to kick off a new month, Tuesday 1st February 2022, cold Force 7 winds started the day off. This is set to increase to Force 8 later during the day, report various weather news portals. 

The sea is also reportedly forecasted to increase in force, especially in areas wherein the incoming winds match. Temperatures are set to be 13 degrees Celsius as per the highest and 9 degrees Celsius later today.

We all know that this varies in terms of how it feels however, as temperatures are set to feel like 11°C and a freezing 4°C. The chances of thunder and lightning are at a 40%, with more chance of rain expected throughout. 

Such weather brings slippery roads, fog, the usual traffic jam and increased cautionary warnings for anyone venturing out. Stay safe out there!

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Photo Source: Ramon Curmi – It-Temp Madwarna

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

3D avatars are coming to Instagram and Messenger in Meta move
Feb 1 2022 Share

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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