New Centre To Help Volunteers Rehabilitate Wildlife

Nov 28 2023

A new Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre within the grounds of the Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park will provide improved shelter and rehabilitation facilities for injured wildlife as well as a hub for environmental research and education.

This Centre is already offering care to nine sea turtles and seven hedgehogs. The project was inaugurated by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli and Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett, in the presence of the President of Nature Trust Malta Vince Attard and Director General of Ambjent Malta Herman Galea.

The centre was developed by Nature Trust Malta, in collaboration with Ambjent Malta, with a €2.5 million investment co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre encompasses rehabilitation facilities for diverse wildlife, including marine, terrestrial and avian fauna, offering a sanctuary for their recovery before potential reintroduction to their habitats.

The centre will provide improved facilities for Nature Trust’s Wildlife Rescue Team, which receives financial assistance from the Environment and Resources Authority and other contributors, to rescue and care for injured wildlife.

The project also includes a Marine Research Centre and an educational area for children and visitors, where they will be able to learn about Maltese wildlife and their conservation. The Centre is housed in the former building of the Deutsche Welle radio station, which closed down in 1996.

The building, which is recognised as a structure of significant industrial heritage value, was restored and repurposed for its new life as a wildlife centre.

It also includes several sustainable building services, such as renewable energy, water conservation and waste management systems. With the support of Ambjent Malta, more than 20,000 native trees and shrubs were planted around the building and in other areas of the nature park, creating a thriving ecosystem.

Minister Miriam Dalli explained that this project marks a significant step forward for wildlife rehabilitation and conservation in Malta, emphasising the nation’s commitment to preserving its ecological diversity.

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Gladiator 2 To Resume Production In Malta Next Week

Nov 28 2023

The sequel to “Gladiator” is set to resume filming in Malta on December 4 after a delay caused by a 118-day actors’ strike that began in July.

The strike concluded on November 8, following a tentative three-year contract agreement between SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and studios.

This landmark agreement provides unprecedented protections for the use of artificial intelligence in film and television, alongside a significant pay increase.

Directed by Ridley Scott, the “Gladiator” sequel features Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal in leading roles, with Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprising their characters from the original 2000 film. Notably absent is Russell Crowe, as his character met his demise in the first instalment.

The sequel, distributed globally by Paramount Pictures, is slated for release on November 22, 2024.

Ridley Scott, whose recent film “Napoleon” premiered last week, shared insights into the sequel’s progress, revealing that during the strike, he spent time editing 90 minutes of footage.

Among the scenes is an intriguing encounter where the protagonist battles a group of baboons, inspired by real-life incidents in South Africa where baboons attacked tourists. Scott emphasised the unique physical abilities of baboons, underscoring the distinctive challenges they pose in the film.

#MaltaDaily

‘Milied Mingħajr Tiżjin’: Michael Azzopardi’s New Song

Nov 28 2023

As we all start to get into the Christmas spirit, local singer and songwriter Michael Azzopardi released a brand new song titled ‘Milied Mingħajr Tiżjin’ (A Christmas Without Decorations).

The song is written from the point of view of someone who is scared of Christmas, Azzopardi told MaltaDaily. Due to this fear, the person does not decorate for Christmas due to not wanting to remember the past. However, that lack of decoration becomes driven by a realisation that one does not really need to decorate at all.

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A post shared by Michael Azzopardi (@michaelazzo)

It’s an early Christmas gift by the Maltese artist, and in the Maltese no language. With most Christmas carols and songs being in English, a ballad like this is a sweet entry into the festive season, especially those who aren’t too keen on the holidays.

The song was written by Azzopardi himself, produced and mixed by Jimmy Bartolo and mastered by David Vella (Temple). It is now available on all streaming platforms.

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Roberta Metsola Amongst Politico’s Class Of 2024

Nov 28 2023

Listed as ‘the young gun’, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has been listed on Politico’s Class of 2024.

The annual ranking covers the most influential people in Europe, divided into three categories – doers, disrupters and dreamers. Metsola was listed on the latter list and praised for the way she led the EU Parliament during challenging times.

‘Metsola came out of the gates strong, becoming the first president of an EU institution to visit Ukraine after Vladimir Putin launched his lethal invasion (and strongly championing the war-struck country’s efforts to join the EU since)’, wrote Politico.

‘Perhaps Metsola’s most challenging mission has been to steer her institution through the Qatargate scandal the year before the EU election, amid lurid revelations that MEPs allegedly took bribes from Qatar and Morocco.’

‘Over the past two years, Metsola has steered the institution through turbulent times and positioned herself as a credible candidate for a second term.’

#MaltaDaily