MCAST Students Protest As No Collective Agreement Reached

Jan 19 2024

MCAST students protested today as the directives set by the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) will be keeping the release of exam and assignment results from being published.

The MUT has not yet been able to negotiate with the government for a collective agreement that would improve the conditions of work for the staff at the educational institution.

Leading the protest was Swieqi Local Council candidate Jordan Galea Pace, who thanked all those who attended the rally.

‘No student should have to suffer because the government and union can’t come to an agreement’, he wrote on social media in a statement. ‘We show our support to our lecturers who deserve better working conditions.’

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Gladiator 2 Set Open Day Map Of Exhibits Unveiled

Jan 19 2024

The Malta Film Studios have released the official map for the ‘Ġurnata ma’ tal-Films’ open day, which will welcome guests to the set of Gladiator 2.

Film Commissioner Johann Grech shared the map to social media, with one of the posts emphasising that while photography will be allowed at the Malta Film Studios, photography or videos will not be allowed at Fort Ricasoli.

The fort will feature a colosseum, an ancient and triumphal arch, a colonnade, an imperial palace, an armoury and much, much more.

The Film Studios will also show the Jurassic World Blue and Beta Statues, a Fishing Village set construction, roman warships, the Deep Tank and many more exhibits.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Johann Grech (@johanngrech)

The open day will also feature a kid’s area, a Puttinu Cares stand and food stalls.

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57% Of Maltese Would Like To Have Children

Jan 19 2024

Asking our followers on Instagram, 57% of respondents said that they would love to have children.

13% of respondents said that they already have children, whereas 17% said they were unsure about having kids. 13% responded with ‘no’.

Asking our followers whether they would like to get married, 55% said they would like to get married, with 14% saying they already are married.

19% said they are unsure about marriage, followed by 12% who said that they would not like to get married.

What do you think?

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Our Finger Prints May Not Be Unique, AI Suggests

Jan 19 2024

Columbia University researchers have challenged the belief of uniqueness of fingerprints, revealing an AI tool’s ability to identify, with 75-90% accuracy, whether prints from different fingers belong to the same individual.

The AI focused on ridge orientation in the finger’s centre, deviating from traditional minutiae-based methods.

While uncertain about the AI’s specific mechanism, the researchers, led by Prof Hod Lipson, suggest it could be examining curvature and swirl angles. Skeptical at first, Lipson and student Gabe Guo found the AI’s capabilities surprising.

This study could impact biometrics and forensic science, potentially connecting unidentified fingerprints from different crime scenes.

Although not court-ready, the tool aids forensic investigations by generating leads. Graham Williams from Hull University notes the historical uncertainty of fingerprint uniqueness.

However, Dr. Sarah Fieldhouse of Staffordshire University questions the AI tool’s impact on casework, citing concerns about stability in markers and the researchers’ uncertainty about the AI’s functioning.

The study, peer-reviewed and set for publication in Science Advances, raises questions about fingerprint uniqueness and introduces an AI-driven tool for forensic leads, emphasising the need for further research and data diversity.

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