Raye Makes History Winning 6 Of 7 Brit Awards

Mar 4 2024

Raye made history at the Brit Awards by winning six out of seven nominations, surpassing previous records set by Blur, Adele, and Harry Styles.

Notably, she became the first woman to win songwriter of the year. Accepting her awards barefoot, she reflected on her journey to independence, stating, “The artist I was three years ago would not believe I’m in control – I’m my own boss.”

Other notable winners included Dua Lipa for best pop act and Kylie Minogue, who received the global icon award. Dua Lipa expressed gratitude to her fans and her father, Dukagjin Lipa, affectionately called her “Dadager Dougie,” for their unwavering support.

Raye’s emotional moment came during her acceptance of album of the year, where she brought her grandmother on stage. Having faced rejection from her record label, Raye persevered and self-released her music, which eventually led to viral success with her song “Escapism.”

The evening also saw SZA crowned as the best international artist, triumphing over competitors such as Taylor Swift.

#MaltaDaily

Web Developer Shows 30 Years Of Building Permits In Malta

Mar 4 2024

The video captures three decades of planning applications in Malta, revealing a significant surge in construction activity.

Using data from the Planning Authority, it meticulously documents approved and rejected applications since 1993, distinguishing between those within and outside development zones.

Presented on an aerial map, the video showcases the overwhelming number of approved applications, outnumbering refusals by a large margin. Creator David Vella, a UK-based Maltese software developer, aimed to visually depict Malta’s development trends, acknowledging his initial suspicions confirmed by the project’s findings.

Vella’s software tool extracted data from the Planning Authority website, enabling the video’s creation over a span of three years, recently completed during a period of illness. Each frame represents a day, condensing a year’s data into six seconds, with textual summaries accompanying each application.

Vella, a former Times of Malta web developer, highlights the legitimacy of many applications outside development zones, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of Malta’s development landscape.

#MaltaDaily

Alfred Sant Advocates For EU Stability Pact Rule Changes

Mar 4 2024

During a public discussion at Europe House, MEP Alfred Sant advocated for changes to the rules of the European Union’s Stability Pact.

He proposed excluding investment costs from a country’s deficit calculation and suggested the establishment of a central fund for European investments. Expressing concern over the strain on social welfare expenditure due to new demands on the EU budget, he warned against excessive austerity measures that could negatively impact social spending.

MEP Sant, leading the European Parliament’s work on proposed laws for capital markets, highlighted the EU’s lag in capital market integration.

He attributed this to disagreements among Member States, with some prioritizing national interests and others fearing loss of control.

Regarding the EU’s fiscal union project, Sant stressed the necessity of a central Treasury for its success. He also identified the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) as a significant task in the European Parliament, aimed at enhancing cyber security for banks in response to past cyber attacks.

Sant emphasized the unanimous support for DORA, reflecting the shared commitment to bolstering cyber security measures.

#MaltaDaily

Smoking In Public Should Be Banned, OASI CEO Suggests

Mar 4 2024

Noel Xerri, CEO of the OASI Foundation, advocated for a complete ban on outdoor smoking in Malta, aligning with measures implemented in other countries.

Speaking on TVMnews+’s ‘Insights’ program, Xerri emphasized the health benefits of such a measure, stressing its importance for contemporary society.

He highlighted the normalization of cigarettes in the past decades due to aggressive marketing, including from medical perspectives.

Contrary to popular beliefs, Clinical Director of Aġenzija Sedqa, Anna Maria Vella, refuted the notion that moderate wine consumption is beneficial for health. She also dispelled the myth that vaping is safer than smoking, asserting that both harm lung health.

‘Insights’ delved into Malta’s drug situation based on a recent report. Findings revealed concerning statistics from 2022, including 68 heroin-related emergency admissions, 431 cocaine-related cases, and 438 incidents linked to cannabis use.

#MaltaDaily

Source: TVM, Insights