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Malta Daily Among Top 3 ‘Start-Up Of The Year’ At Malta Business Awards

Malta Daily Among Top 3 'Start-Up Of The Year' At Malta Business Awards
Nov 21 2024 Share

Malta Daily is thrilled to announce its recognition as the silver winner for ‘Start-Up of the Year’ at the prestigious 2024 Malta Business Awards.

This was one of the most sought-after awards, given it had up to 50 nominations!

This award celebrates Malta Daily’s transformative impact on the media industry, driving innovation and energising the sector across the Maltese Islands. In just under four years, Malta Daily has rapidly grown into one of the nation’s largest and most-followed social media platforms.

We extend heartfelt gratitude to our incredible team—past and present—our dedicated suppliers, valued clients, and above all, our loyal followers. This achievement would not have been possible without your unwavering support. Thank you for being part of our journey!

Here’s to many more milestones ahead! 🚀✨

#MaltaDaily

Arrest Warrants By ICC For Israeli Prime Minister, Former Defence Minister

Arrest Warrants By ICC For Israeli Prime Minister, Former Defence Minister
Nov 21 2024 Share

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif.

The ICC’s pre-trial chamber rejected Israel’s objections to its jurisdiction, concluding there are “reasonable grounds” to accuse the men of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Both Israel and Hamas deny the charges.

The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, sought warrants in May for Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif, and two other Hamas leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, who were reportedly killed. While Israel claims Deif was also killed in a July airstrike, the court has not verified this.

The case focuses on the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza followed, resulting in at least 44,000 deaths, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.

The charges against Hamas leaders include crimes like extermination, murder, hostage-taking, rape, and torture. Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of targeting civilians, using starvation as a weapon, and mass killings.

Enforcement of the warrants depends on the ICC’s member states, excluding Israel and the United States, who are not signatories to the court.

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The Malta Book Festival 2024 Boosts Skills, Encourages Debate

The Malta Book Festival 2024 Boosts Skills, Encourages Debate
Nov 21 2024 Share

The Malta Book Festival 2024, themed #bindingworlds, attracted generous crowds and underscored literature’s power to unite diverse audiences. Organised by the National Book Council at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali from November 6-10, the Festival attracted both readers and industry professionals, offering a range of events that emphasised skill-building and career development within the publishing sector.

Key highlights included appearances by acclaimed international authors Anthony Horowitz, known for his crime and espionage novels, and Paul Lynch, 2023 Booker Prize winner for Prophet Song. Each brought a unique style and perspective, showcasing literature’s versatility and appeal across genres.

“The National Book Council aims to continually enhance the Festival experience for guests, exhibitors, and the thousands of visitors who attend annually,” Festival Director Simona Cassano said. “This year, we created numerous opportunities for the professional development of local literary talent, while honouring the rich cultural significance of literature,” Cassano added.

Horowitz engaged a packed audience in a lively creative writing masterclass, sharing key techniques that have sustained his bestseller success. Faber Academy’s Director of the Fiction Programme Richard Skinner offered a half-day workshop on fiction development, guiding participants through practical exercises to advance their writing skills. Both sessions gave participants valuable insights into the craft of storytelling.

Furthering its focus on professional development, the Festival hosted ‘Manuscript to Market’, where Horowitz’s literary agent Jonathan Lloyd and Maltese translator and publisher Kat Storace discussed strategies for entering the competitive UK publishing scene. Sessions on illustration, animation, printing and bookbinding provided a comprehensive look at the publishing process, enhancing the Festival’s interactive appeal.

As a crucial meeting point between industry stakeholders and local book lovers, the Festival has a key role to play in facilitating encounter, dialogue and critical conversation on Maltese literature, where readers can not only enthuse over and purchase freshly-minted books from their favourite publishers, but also engage in honest conversations about how the sector — and its output — could improve.

The space created in its pjazza area – where comfortable seating offered visitors close proximity to the café, this year managed by the Malta Community Chest Fund – was the perfect place to meet up and discuss book purchases new and old, while planning one’s trip across the 40-plus exhibitors after admiring the From Illustration to Book exhibition, whose third edition once again paid homage to book illustration while also offering an added visual ‘oomph’ to the event.

The atmosphere of open discussion was solidified further in a crucial roundtable discussion which took place on the Festival’s closing day – Sunday 10 November. Organised by the NBC, ‘Maltese Fiction: Where to Next?’ invited author and scholar Immanuel Mifsud, former National Book Prize adjudicators Maria Theuma and Omar ’N Shea and book reviewer Daniel Cossai for a discussion on the current status of Maltese fiction moderated by author and educator David Aloisio.

The decision to not award any prizes for either of the two fiction categories of the National Book Prize – Novel and Short Stories – was the initial spark for the talk, which evolved into a wider conversation about concerns related to readership rates on the island, the importance of cultivating work endowed with true ‘literariness’, while also acknowledging and creating a space for more ‘commercial’ fiction, which regularly pulls in a healthy swathe of readers.

“These events align with the NBC’s vision to empower Maltese creators – authors, illustrators, and publishers – by fostering skill development and providing a space for open, constructive dialogue about the state of Maltese literature,” Cassano said. “By addressing challenges and envisioning solutions, we hope to inspire growth and innovation in the sector.”

The Malta Book Festival will return on 5–9 November 2025, and preparations are already underway for the next edition. To stay updated on the latest developments, visit ktieb.org.mt and the Malta Book Festival Facebook and Instagram page.

#MaltaDaily

‘Politics Is Not About Likes’, Says MP Omar Farrugia

'Politics Is Not About Likes', Says MP Omar Farrugia
Nov 21 2024 Share

Speaking in parliament about the Budget 2025 expenses, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Works Omar Farrugia said that being a politician is not the same as being as an influencer without substance.

‘Politics is not about likes’, said Farrugia. ‘Politics is about substance.’

‘It’s not about being populist. It’s not about promising everything to everyone without considering reality. Politics is about linking daily work with the vision for a future.’

‘Politics is about improving the sector you are responsible for in a way that the life of people improves and to be close to those who elected you.’

This comes as the Public Works Department was allocated a €19.4 million budget for infrastructure and community projects.

Key allocations include €8.5 million for Ta’ Qali National Park upgrades, €3 million for public spaces, €1.5 million for storm-water system improvements, and €500,000 for energy-efficient public buildings.

Coastal and marine studies will receive €300,000, with €400,000 allocated to a children and youth community project.

The budget also funds equipment and property maintenance. Additionally, a landmark €10 million agreement with Local Councils will empower them to launch impactful projects that directly benefit residents, further strengthening government-community partnerships and fostering local development.

#MaltaDaily