Parliament set to open on May 7th

Apr 11 2022

Sources close to Times of Malta revealed that the opening of parliament is scheduled for the 7th of May. This is six weeks after the March general election, with the ceremonial sitting serving to elect the Speaker of the House.

The head of state will read from the speakers chair an address written by the prime minister to set out the governmental programme. Initial reports speculated that Prime Minister Robert Abela had chosen former minister for the elderly Michael Farrugia as the next speaker.

However, Farrugia informed Times of Malta that he had not been offered the role. He has still not ruled it out completely, saying that if it were to come his way, he has the experience and energy to take on the position.

Meanwhile, lawyer Andy Ellul, now parliamentary secretary for social dialogue, is expected to be the whip of the Labour parliamentary group. Ellul did not answer questions on his appointment.

President George Vella is expected to chart the way forward of this 14th legislature.

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Maxine Formosa Gruppetta crowned Miss Universe Malta 2022

Apr 11 2022

Malta has just crowned its Miss Universe Malta 2022, Maxine Formosa Gruppetta from San Giljan.

The 21-year-old model was chosen by the organisers of the Miss Universe Malta brand, crowned by previous winner Jade Cini. Miss Universe Malta is licensed by Alan J. Darmanin.

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Formosa Gruppetta classified as second-runner up during last year’s edition of the competition. Now, she will be representing Malta in the 71st edition of Miss Universe.

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With the date still to be announced, five countries have since confirmed their participation. Maxine will be going up against models from Ghana, Venezuela, Colombia and Kazakhstan, but more will undoubtedly be vying for the Miss Universe title.

The local model thanked all those who supported her throughout the journey, saying that she is immensely grateful for the opportunity to represent Malta.

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Photo Source: @maxine_formosegruppetta IG

Could this Maltese artist become the country’s biggest-ever music star?

Apr 11 2022

Malta’s music scene is thriving at the moment but very few artists, even globally, are making as quick a rise to the top as singer and songwriter Shaun Farrugia.

Hot off the release of some incredible tracks with the likes of Sigala, John Newman, The Script and many more, Farrugia is set to release his first official debut as an artist with none other than chart-topping, banger-dropping superstar Martin Garrix! The two reportedly linked up after the Dutch DJ & Producer found Farrugia on TikTok and invited him to Amsterdam, where they worked on two stellar tracks!

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The first to come out will be the much-anticipated Starlight (Keep Me Afloat), which is slated for release this Friday 15th April, with the second track If We’ll Ever Be Remembered to follow on April 29th. Garrix debuted the two tracks during Andorra Mountain Music Festival, with Garrix fans taking an immediate to liking to the tracks.

Farrugia told Malta Daily that Garrix “is the most humble guy [he has] ever met” and “an insane talent” and judging by what he has been posting on social media recently, this Maltese artist is in for the ride of his life.

Starlight (Keep Me Afloat) drops This Friday.

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Local eco-hero transforms Maltese bays with massive clean-ups

Apr 11 2022

A local fitness instructor by the name of Mark Galea Pace has made it his mission to clear out polluted waters in several Maltese localities.

Completely transforming the seaside in the area towards more a eco-friendly marine environment, piles of scrapped litter and garbage polluting several sites were cleaned up to restore Malta’s beautiful shores.

Galea Pace keeps the public informed about his latest initiatives and environmentally concerned purpose on social media through his page ‘Coast is Clear.’

Among the zones the fitness instructor revitalised were Paradise Bay, Balluta Bay and the Ta’ Xbiex Marina, pulling up tyres, wooden planks, plastic, jablo, nets, ropes and heaps of other garbage.

The initiatives show two sides of what occurs on beaches. The more somber revelation is that many still treat bays as dumping grounds for unwanted items, leading to a damaged biodiversity.

The other side however shows that there are people out there who care enough about Malta’s marine environment to give it new life. Initiatives like those of Coast is Clear by Galea Pace are on a constant mission to safeguard the already rich environments we have on the island.

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Photo Source: Coast is Clear FB