Pro-Palestinian Protestor Sets Himself On Fire Outside White House

Oct 7 2024

During a pro-Palestinian rally outside the White House, a protester named Samuel Mena Jr. attempted to self-immolate in Lafayette Park.

Mena, a self-described “visual storyteller,” was seen trying to set himself on fire, with his arm igniting in flames as he waved it in the air, screaming in pain. Nearby protestors and bystanders quickly intervened, pouring water on him to extinguish the flames. Police officers approached cautiously as they attempted to assist.

Footage captured after the fire was put out shows Mena standing among officers with his arm severely burned. Throughout the ordeal, he shouted about “misinformation” and claimed to be a journalist.

In the aftermath, Mena posted an essay on his website attempting to explain his actions, raising concerns about objectivity in journalism, particularly in relation to the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Mena, a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, is employed as a photojournalist and has worked with various news outlets.

Prior to the rally, he posted messages on social media expressing support for the Palestinian cause and announcing his intention to stream live from the protest. The incident occurred just days before the anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel, which sparked a larger conflict.

#MaltaDaily

Joker Sequel Receives Lowest Comic Book Film Score

Oct 7 2024

“Joker: Folie à Deux” has received a disappointing “D” CinemaScore, marking the lowest grade ever for a comic book movie, surpassing the previous record-holder, “Fantastic Four” (2015), which earned a “C-.”

This comes in stark contrast to its predecessor, 2019’s “Joker,” which received a “B+” and won Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor.

In this sequel, Phoenix reprises his role as Joker, joined by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Unlike the gritty tone of the original, “Folie à Deux” is a musical and love story, exploring the twisted relationship between Joker and Harley.

The film’s reception has been less positive compared to the first movie. Variety’s chief critic, Owen Gleiberman, described it as overly cautious, with Arthur (Joker) now more of a “singing-and-dancing puppet clown” than a menacing figure. Despite its ambition, he argues that the film lacks the boldness of the original.

Opening on Friday, “Folie à Deux” earned $20 million on its first day. Initial box office projections ranged from $50 million to $65 million for the weekend, but with the lukewarm reception, the film is now expected to fall short of those predictions.

#MaltaDaily

Mystery Question Mark Box Appears In Valletta

Oct 7 2024

A massive black question mark, ‘?’, on a pink box has appeared in the entrance to the capital city of Valletta.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Malta Daily (@maltadaily.mt)

We too, have questions as to what this could possibly symbolise as people make their way in and out of the capital city past it.

Guess we’ll have to wait and see what this is all about. Do you have any ideas?

Sound off below.

#MaltaDaily

Taylor Swift Officially World’s Richest Female Musician

Oct 7 2024

Taylor Swift has officially become the world’s richest female musician, with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion, surpassing Rihanna, who has a net worth of $1.4 billion.

Swift made her debut on Forbes’ billionaire list earlier this year, with her wealth continuing to grow due to her massive “Eras Tour” and the popularity of her music catalogue.

Forbes attributes $600 million of her fortune to royalties and touring, with another $600 million coming from her catalogue, which includes her re-recorded albums like “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” outselling the original.

Additionally, Swift has earned $125 million from real estate and reportedly made $100 million from Spotify royalties in the past year, boosted by her albums “Midnights” and the re-release of “1989.”

Bloomberg noted that Swift became a billionaire in October 2023, largely thanks to her record-breaking tour and concert film.

In other news, Swift completed the UK and European leg of her tour in August and will resume in Miami on October 18. Swift has also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a move that sparked backlash from Donald Trump, who publicly criticised her on social media.

#MaltaDaily