PN Urges Prime Minister To Restore Trust Amid Scandals

Nov 27 2024

The Nationalist Party has called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to take accountability for the following series of scandals implicating key government ministers.

Speaking outside of Castille, PN Deputy Leader Alex Perici Calascione expressed his frustration over the delayed resignation of Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo and called for the dismissal of Minister Clint Camilleri. Both ministers have been linked to allegations of fraudulent behaviour, with Camilleri accused of arranging a fictitious job for Bartolo’s wife, Calascione said.

Perici Calascione stressed that the public shouldn’t have had to take to the streets or rely on pressure from student groups and civil society for the government to act. “This isn’t the kind of leadership Malta deserves”, he said, adding that the country’s reputation as a serious investment hub is at stake.

PN Secretary General Michael Piccinino described the government as “distracted by scandals”, claiming it is focused more on covering up misconduct rather than leading the country. He warned that if Robert Abela cannot deliver accountability and good governance, the people will demand change.

He urged the administration to focus on regaining the people’s trust by ensuring accountability and fairness. “The country needs a government that puts the interests of the Maltese and Gozitan people first,” he said.

This comes as the Nationalist Party calls for another protest on Monday outside parliament, following last week’s protest concerning the same ‘Bartolo-Camilleri scandal.’

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General Motors To Enter F1 2026 Under Cadillac

Nov 27 2024

General Motors (GM) has announced its intention to join Formula 1 (F1) in 2026 with a team named after its Cadillac luxury brand.

Partnering with TWG Global, GM plans to eventually build its own engines, though initially, it will source engines from an existing supplier, likely Ferrari.

The move marks GM’s first venture into F1 and raises the number of engine manufacturers in the sport to six, alongside Mercedes, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, and Audi.

To secure entry, GM and TWG will pay a $450 million anti-dilution fee to compensate the current 10 teams for a share of F1’s revenue.

This fee surpasses the current $200 million requirement due to renegotiations for the sport’s new 2026 agreements.

The Cadillac team stems from a revised version of a previously rejected Andretti bid. Michael Andretti, who co-founded the initial project, is no longer involved, though his father, 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti, will serve as an advisor.

The 2026 engine regulations, emphasising hybrid power, have attracted multiple manufacturers, including new entrants Ford, Audi, and GM. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown welcomed Cadillac, citing its rich history and innovation. The addition brings excitement to the grid, further expanding F1’s global and U.S. presence.

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‘Enshittification’ Is Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of 2024

Nov 27 2024

Australia’s Macquarie Dictionary has selected enshittification as its word of 2024, defining it as the gradual decline in the quality of a service or product, particularly online platforms, driven by profit-seeking.

The term reflects widespread dissatisfaction with the digital world, where services initially cater to users but later prioritise business customers, ultimately exploiting both.

Coined by Canadian-British author Cory Doctorow in a 2022 essay, enshittification describes the life cycle of digital platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Doctorow argues that platforms first prioritise users, then shift focus to advertisers, before finally extracting maximum value for themselves, leading to their deterioration.

The judging committee noted the term resonated with current frustrations and beat out other contenders like looksmaxxing (enhancing one’s appearance), overtourism, and sigma (a popular social archetype). Honourable mentions included right to disconnect (the legal right to ignore work communications after hours) and rawdogging (long-haul flying without entertainment).

Macquarie, regarded as a key authority on Australian English, annually selects a word that captures cultural trends. Last year’s winner was cozzie livs, a slang term for “cost of living.” Meanwhile, the UK’s Oxford Dictionary is running a public vote on its own shortlist, including brain rot and dynamic pricing.

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PN Calls For Another Protest On Monday

Nov 27 2024

The Nationalist Party (PN) will stage another protest outside parliament next Monday over the Clint Camilleri-Clayton Bartolo scandal, PN leader Bernard Grech announced on Tuesday.

Grech criticised Prime Minister Robert Abela for not demanding the resignation of Clint Camilleri.

The controversy arose after a Standards Commissioner report found that Camilleri and Bartolo abused their positions by awarding consultancy jobs to Camilleri’s partner.

Bartolo resigned on Tuesday as tourism minister and Labour MP, with the prime minister attributing the decision to unrelated new claims involving Bartolo’s wife. However, Grech argued that Camilleri’s position also had become untenable.

Speaking in parliament during the budget estimates for the Ministry of Justice, Grech emphasised the power of public protests, declaring, “When people take to the streets in protest, they become unbeatable.”

He accused the government of attempting to dismiss public outrage while defending wrongdoing, stating, “This prime minister is betraying the people because he keeps defending fraud.”

#MaltaDaily