Malta Eurovision To Bring Back Live Audience

Oct 22 2024

The Malta Eurovision Song Contest will welcome back a live audience next year.

In 2024, winner Sarah Bonnici and the 11 other finalists performed without a live audience, with only the production crew present.

Performances were pre-recorded in a “live on tape” format, with each artist performing three times and selecting the best take for broadcast.

PBS has now published the 2025 contest regulations, confirming that both the semi-finals and final will be televised and include live performances before an audience.

The results will once again be determined by a combination of jury and public voting.

The 2025 semi-finals are set for February 4 and 6, followed by the final on February 8. Entries can be submitted from November 18 to 29, with the Eurovision Song Contest taking place in May in Basel, Switzerland.

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“Aħna l-Hotspurs”: The Mbong Brothers and Victoria Hotspurs’ Journey

Oct 22 2024

This season, Victoria Hotspurs made history as the first Gozitan club to compete in a Maltese championship. Their journey is being chronicled in the TVM Sport+ program Aħna l-Hotspurs, airing every Tuesday at 8:30 PM.

The show not only reviews the club’s recent matches but also offers an in-depth look at the people behind the scenes, including players, fans, and officials, sharing intriguing details about their lives. Viewers are treated to exclusive footage from training sessions and inside the dressing rooms, while the program also revisits the club’s rich history, with former players recounting memorable stories.

A recent episode featured an insightful interview with footballer brothers Joseph, Paul, and Emmanuel Mbong. This season, Emmanuel plays for Victoria Hotspurs, while Joseph and Paul were recently seen in action representing Malta against Moldova. It marked the first time the brothers shared personal reflections on their upbringing and one another on television.

Aħna l-Hotspurs continues tonight at 8:30 PM on TVM Sport+ and will run every Tuesday throughout the season. For anyone curious about the inner workings of a football team, both on and off the pitch, this unique Maltese sports docuseries is a must-watch.

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Pink Cocaine Reportedly In Liam Payne’s System At Time Of Death

Oct 22 2024

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, with multiple drugs reportedly found in his system.

Payne, 31, was staying in a hotel in the Palermo district when the incident occurred.

Local and international media, including ABC News and Argentine outlets, reported that a preliminary toxicology report revealed he had several drugs in his system, including “pink cocaine” (a mix of MDMA, ketamine, and methamphetamines), along with traces of cocaine, methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, and crack cocaine.

Authorities were alerted when a hotel receptionist called 911, reporting that a distressed guest was intoxicated and causing damage to the room.

Emergency services confirmed that Payne fell from the third-floor balcony and was found dead shortly after. An autopsy revealed 25 injuries consistent with a fall from height, with his cause of death listed as “polytraumatism, internal and external hemorrhage.”

The final toxicology report has not yet been made public, and no official release date has been confirmed. Payne’s team and local authorities have not yet commented on the incident or the preliminary findings.

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Half Of Who Took Driving Test In 2024 Failed

Oct 22 2024

Nearly half of those taking their driving test in 2024 have failed to obtain their license, according to Transport Minister Chris Bonett.

In response to a parliamentary question from PN MP Mark Anthony Sammut, Bonett revealed that 48% of applicants for the category B license (for cars) failed their test this year, up from 44% in 2023 and 40% in 2022, reflecting an 8% rise over two years.

The highest failure rate in 2024 was for the category D license, required for passenger vans, with a 56% failure rate, a sharp increase from 46% in 2023 and 39% in 2022.

Motorcycle learners (category A) also saw more failures, with 42% failing in 2024 compared to 40% in 2023 and 32% in 2022.

The category C license, for trucks and large vans, had the lowest failure rate at 38%, though it too rose from 33% in 2023 and 24% in 2022.

Failure rates have steadily increased across all categories, though it is unclear if this is due to stricter testing standards or other factors.

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