Safe to hold hands for everyone, says Qatar World Cup chief

Nov 19 2022

Speaking to Sky News, 2022 World Cup CEO Nasser Al Khater insisted that public displays of affection such as holding hands would be tolerated for the duration of the World Cup.

With the massive football event about to kick off, many wishing to travel to Qatar to watch the matches live were expressing concerns due to cultural values being very different to countries which held the games before.

Following the sudden ban on alcohol despite the agreement between FIFA and Qatar, Al Khater explained to Sky News that everybody is welcome to Qatar. All they ask is for people to be respectful of the culture.

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Pressed on the LGBTIQ+ mater, Al Khater told interviewer Rob Harris that if he held his hand and walked outside the street for hours on end, ‘nobody would say anything to us.’

Homosexuality is still illegal in Qatar and could lend someone convicted a prison sentence of up to 3 years along with a fine. People still expressed doubts about the apparent openness, with recent footage of local security threatening to break a journalist’s camera raising further worries.

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Fast X could be one of the most expensive movies ever filmed

Nov 19 2022

As fans gear up (pun intended) for the tenth instalment of the Fast and the Furious franchise, it seems as though this particular continuation of the series could be one of the most expensive film-makings in history.

Fans still have to wait around another six months for this film to be released, but insider scoops have suggested that the budget has ballooned so much that it could join the ranks of most expensive films ever made.

The Wrap reported how ‘Fast X’s budget currently supposedly sits at $340 million – that is, a whopping 70% more than the blockbuster’s budget was intended to be.

The outlet revealed that the price tag can be blamed on various elements such as the increased salaries for main star Vin Diesel and cast, production costs due to inflation as well as pandemic impacts.

If the budget did shoot up to $340 million, Fast X would be right up there with the likes of Avengers: Endgame ($356 million) and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ($379 million).

In comparison, James Cameron’s Avatar, which was considered to be a groundbreaking film in terms of VFX and overall costs, racked up a $237 million budget. Its sequel jumped to $250 million.

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New routes as airport bypass work enters final stages

Nov 19 2022

Updates released by Infrastructure Malta have revealed that traffic to and from the Kirkop tunnels and airport will be redirected due to the construction entering the final stages.

On Monday 21st November 2022, IM will be opening part of the new underpass of the Kirkop tunnels and the Airport Intersection Project.

According to the new infographic, commuters driving from Gudja towards the Kirkop tunnels will head directly towards them as of next Monday.

On the other hand, drivers travelling from Luqa or Vjal il-Gudja towards the airport or Birzebbuga will use the underpass by driving towards Luqa and then making a U-turn.

Others heading to Luqa from Birzebbuga will drive towards Kirkop and then exit the roundabout towards their destination.

The works are expected to be completed by the start of next year.

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Trash littered around container vending machine in Sliema

Nov 19 2022

A photo taken by Nicky Pillow and uploaded to social media shows a Sliema Beverage Container Refund Scheme vending machine surrounding by litter.

‘WHY?’ wrote Pillow, with most commenters also condemning the recklessness and environmental damaging nature of the act.

The purpose of the machine is to encourage recycling through monetary incentives. Currently, not every type of bottle will be accepted by the machine as it currently allows people tor cycle plastic, metal and glass bottles.

Having just been launched, some people have lamented that some machines have already been found to be out of order. This could have been the case for this machine, as the person left whatever material they intended to recycle next to the machine.

Meanwhile, NGO Friends of the Earth Malta have welcomed the initiative but also released their proposals to urge those responsible to expand the type of materials which can be recycled through the machines.

They also, along with many other members of the public, urged the increase of vending machines around localities to ease the mode of access.

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