Near-Certainty That 2023 Will Be The Hottest Year On Record

Oct 14 2023

After yet another record-breaking stint of hot weather in September, a US agency has stated that it is near-certainty that 2023 will be the hottest year on record.

This news comes ahead of a meeting of world leaders in Dubai in November, where the discussion of phasing out fossil fuels will be tabled as humanity’s main driver of climate change is increasingly used.

In its monthly update, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated that “There is a greater than 99% probability that 2023 will rank as the warmest year on record.”

NOAA chief scientist Sarah Kapnick also stated that not only was it the warmest September on record, it was also the most atypically warm month in 174 years of climate keeping, warmer than the average July from 2001-2010.

September was also characterised by a handful of climate anomalies and events such as Storm Daniel, a wave of strong winds and rainfall in Eastern Libya which left over 10,000 people dead.

What do you make of this?

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Shark Spotted In Delimara Waters

Oct 13 2023

A video sent to this newsroom shows what seems to be a great white shark swimming the Delimara waters.

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The sailors came across the shortfin mako (scientific name Isurus oxyrinchus), expressing their bewilderment at catching a glimpse of the magnificent but understandably terrifying creature.

MaltaDaily has reached out to Researcher Alex Sharkman, who as of yet can confirm, along with Ian Fergusson, a Mediterranean shark specialist, that this is a shortfin mako.

The shark probably measures around 4 metres in length – a size which is still very rare to be spotted in the islands’ waters. The species is also protected.

‘While this shark bears many characteristics of a white shark, the clear frames of the rounded apex to pectoral fin; the pelvic fin & caudal peduncle lean more to this being a particularly large Isurus oxyrinchus, unusually close inshore’.

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The Dress Capable Of Animated Shape Shifting

Oct 13 2023

At the Adobe MAX 2023 event, Adobe introduced “Project Primrose,” an innovative dress capable of animated, shape-shifting, and interactive designs.

Led by Christine Dierk, the presentation showcased the dress’s ability to continuously change patterns and respond to the wearer’s movements. The concept behind Project Primrose is to create a wearable, adaptable garment using non-emissive textiles, allowing designers to project their creations onto it like a canvas.

This is achieved through Adobe tools like Firefly, After Effects, Stock, and Illustrator.

The technology holds potential beyond fashion, hinting at applications in industries like furniture. It opens up possibilities for designers to experiment with various styles and even download the latest designs from their favorite creators. Prior research by Dierk’s team in 2022 laid the groundwork for reflective light-diffuser modules for non-emissive flexible displays.

Project Primrose is not only responsive to external triggers but also versatile in its applications. It can serve as an interactive canvas for new designs, a low-power billboard for text-based ads, or be shaped and diffused dynamically to suit different needs. While initially explored for fabrics like handbags, the introduction of the interactive dress suggests broader influences on creative industries in the future.

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Fines For Depositing Waste In The Wrong Bags As Of October 15th

Oct 13 2023

From Sunday 15th October, individuals and businesses caught depositing waste in the wrong waste bags will be liable to fines of up to €150, as the six-month educational period on the new mandatory waste separation regulations ends this week.

In the coming weeks, ERA officials and other enforcement officers will be continuing inspections across Malta and Gozo, to ensure that households and businesses are separating waste properly in the three waste bags specified by law – the white bag for organic waste, the grey or green bag for recyclable waste and the black bag strictly for other waste.

Enforcement officers are authorized by law to check bags taken out for collection by households and businesses, and to issue warnings and fines when waste items are found in the wrong bag:

Households:

1st Offence – Official Warning

2nd Offence – €25

3rd Offence – €50

Businesses:

1st Offence – Official Warning

2nd Offence – €75

3rd Offence – €150

From July 2024 transparent black bags will become mandatory instead of the current black bags for municipal waste collection, making it easier for enforcement officials to check the content of bags without opening them.

Meanwhile, separate fines of €150 continue to apply for persons taking out waste bags on the wrong day. In January, regional councils launched a new municipal waste collection schedule for all localities. Organic waste bags are collected on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while black bags are collected on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Grey or green bags for recyclable materials are collected every Thursday. Glass is collected on the first and third Friday of the month.

Mandatory waste separation regulations were introduced in Malta last April, as ERA launched a six-month educational campaign to help the public gradually adapt to this new waste management system. During the last six months, ERA enforcement officers conducted more than 2600 inspections in different localities to ascertain compliance with national waste schedule and educate on waste separation.

ERA encourages everyone to properly separate waste, to contribute to a more sustainable future and avoid the consequences of non-compliance. By properly separating waste, households, businesses, government entities and other organisations can help increase the sustainable management of waste, to be recycled or processed to generate clean energy, while reducing the negative impacts of landfilling on the environment.

Through the Long-Term Waste Management Plan 2021-2030, Malta is working to reduce landfilling to 10% of total municipal waste by 2035.

For more information, visit wastecollection.mt, the online waste separation and collection guide available in ten different languages.

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