Lasallian Colleges To Admit Girls In Junior School Next Year

Oct 7 2024

The two Lasallian colleges in Malta, De La Salle College and Stella Maris College (including St Benild School), will begin admitting girls to their junior schools starting next academic year, Times of Malta reported.

This marks the start of an 11-year transition towards co-education across all their primary and, eventually, secondary schools.

De La Salle College already admits girls at the sixth-form level, but from next year, Year 1 classes will be equally split between boys and girls.

Admissions will follow the standard Church School ballot process, organised by the Curia, while other year groups will remain boys-only.

The gradual introduction of co-education will continue year by year.

The senior schools will welcome their first cohort of girls in Year 7 (Form 1) in the 2031/32 academic year, with the full transition expected to be complete by 2035/36.

The decision was made by the Board of the Trust of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle Brothers) in Malta, following extensive consultations with staff, parents, and students. The colleges aim to create a more inclusive learning environment while maintaining their Lasallian values.

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175 Irregular Immigrants Repatriated In First 9 Months Of 2024

Oct 7 2024

Sixteen more irregular immigrants have been relocated from Malta, bringing the total number of relocations and returns in 2024 to 175.

Since the start of the year, 115 immigrants were returned to their country of origin, and 60 were relocated to other European Union (EU) nations. This exceeds the 103 immigrants who arrived in Malta irregularly during the same period.

The relocations were carried out by the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security, and Employment, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), under the Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism.

These efforts are part of a broader initiative by the Maltese government to manage irregular immigration more effectively, with relocations becoming a key strategy for alleviating pressure on border countries like Malta.

The Ministry stresses that while immigrants entitled to protection receive support and full legal rights, those without such status or who are living irregularly in Malta are either relocated or returned to their countries of origin.

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Pro-Palestinian Protestor Sets Himself On Fire Outside White House

Oct 7 2024

During a pro-Palestinian rally outside the White House, a protester named Samuel Mena Jr. attempted to self-immolate in Lafayette Park.

Mena, a self-described “visual storyteller,” was seen trying to set himself on fire, with his arm igniting in flames as he waved it in the air, screaming in pain. Nearby protestors and bystanders quickly intervened, pouring water on him to extinguish the flames. Police officers approached cautiously as they attempted to assist.

Footage captured after the fire was put out shows Mena standing among officers with his arm severely burned. Throughout the ordeal, he shouted about “misinformation” and claimed to be a journalist.

In the aftermath, Mena posted an essay on his website attempting to explain his actions, raising concerns about objectivity in journalism, particularly in relation to the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Mena, a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, is employed as a photojournalist and has worked with various news outlets.

Prior to the rally, he posted messages on social media expressing support for the Palestinian cause and announcing his intention to stream live from the protest. The incident occurred just days before the anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel, which sparked a larger conflict.

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Joker Sequel Receives Lowest Comic Book Film Score

Oct 7 2024

“Joker: Folie à Deux” has received a disappointing “D” CinemaScore, marking the lowest grade ever for a comic book movie, surpassing the previous record-holder, “Fantastic Four” (2015), which earned a “C-.”

This comes in stark contrast to its predecessor, 2019’s “Joker,” which received a “B+” and won Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor.

In this sequel, Phoenix reprises his role as Joker, joined by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Unlike the gritty tone of the original, “Folie à Deux” is a musical and love story, exploring the twisted relationship between Joker and Harley.

The film’s reception has been less positive compared to the first movie. Variety’s chief critic, Owen Gleiberman, described it as overly cautious, with Arthur (Joker) now more of a “singing-and-dancing puppet clown” than a menacing figure. Despite its ambition, he argues that the film lacks the boldness of the original.

Opening on Friday, “Folie à Deux” earned $20 million on its first day. Initial box office projections ranged from $50 million to $65 million for the weekend, but with the lukewarm reception, the film is now expected to fall short of those predictions.

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