Scheme to promote good use of Maltese language & culture in newspapers launched

Mar 31 2023

The Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government has launched a scheme for printed newspapers through the Arts Council with the aim of promoting the good use of Maltese language and culture in newspapers.

Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government Owen Bonnici stated that “through such an initiative we are promoting the Maltese language and its correct use, whilst also continuing the dissemination of more information and knowledge on the arts, culture, and creative sectors in the various languages.

“We are addressing a need and encouraging more recognition of the sectors and their role in the wellbeing of our society by making them more accessible”.

Arts Council Malta’s Director of Funding and Strategy, Mary Ann Cauchi, said, “Arts Council Malta is working together with the ministry to continue creating more synergies within the sector, to further strengthen it as a platform, and also to let the public know about opportunities offered within the cultural and creative sector, whilst also creating more awareness.”

The scheme is divided into two strands.

Strand 1 aims at supporting linguistic services for print newspapers in the Maltese language. Newspapers published in Maltese will benefit from financial support for linguistic development, including orthography and the improvement of journalistic expression in terms of style, clarity, syntax, and semantics.

With a budget of €150,000, each project is eligible for a maximum amount of €30,000.

Strand 2 aims at supporting expenditure for the creation of regular arts, culture, and heritage content designed to disseminate knowledge to readers about cultural aspects via features, articles, and pictorial material in view of promoting events and projects to attract new audiences.

With a budget of €250,000, each project is eligible for a maximum amount of €30,000. The fund may cover up to 100% of total project costs, with a maximum eligible timeframe for project implementation of 12 months.

The deadline for the call is May 23, 2023, at noon, with results being published on July 4. The eligible timeframe is from July 5, 2023, to July 4, 2024.

White Storks roosting in Malta safely guarded by police & BirdLife

Mar 31 2023

BirdLife Malta took to social media to announce the arrival of circa 47 White Storks (Ċikonja Bajda in Maltese) that arrived over Comino and settled in two different locations in Malta.

BirdLife Malta requested aid from the Malta Police Force to keep watch over them ‘given the high risk these birds pose for illegal hunting and taxidermy purposes.’

‘Currently the hunting season is closed, and any shots fired at any location or time of day should be reported’ the NGO stated. In an update post, it was revealed that around 2130hrs, three shots were fired from two locations in the vicinity of their current Wied iz-Ziju roosting area.

It was reported that a witness who saw two persons acting suspiciously near the scene of the shooting also alerted the police.

Various Rapid Intervention Units blocked a road and apprehended the individuals who have been questioned.

‘The number of remaining storks was not immediately clear after the events of last night. However, following further investigations, as at 9am this morning only 33 storks out of the initial flock of around 50 are accounted for. It seems that the highly-protected birds dispersed in small roosts and this morning two different flocks of six and 13 birds were observed taking off, and were later joined by another 14. The White Storks continue to roam the Maltese Islands.’

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Sæřæh Cæmîłł, Bird Life Malta

Prime Minister announces stipends & children’s allowance increase

Mar 31 2023

Prime Minister Robert Abela announced an increase in children’s allowance and in stipends during his massive crowd address in Birgu on the eve of Freedom Day.

After walking down a red carpet towards a podium with his wife Lydia Abela, the Prime Minister spoke about how the increase will specifically benefit students choosing to study sectors required by the Maltese economy.

Despite not giving details as to the increase, Abela said that he looks forward to a future economy based on diversification whilst promoting the prospect of seeing more women choosing jobs in fields such as technology, science and mathematics.

Apart from this, the Prime Minister said further strengthening will be aimed at equality laws as new tax credits will soon be implemented to help people with disabilities.

The speech comes after a recent Times of Malta poll showed that Labour’s popularity dropped to its lowest in years, with the Prime Minister’s own trust rating also plummeting.

This was picked up by civil society movement Repubblika, which issued a statement calling out the Prime Minister to ‘not use children’s allowance to cover government corruption.’

‘We expect the Prime Minister to respect the Maltese people and to stop treating us like children by shutting our eyes and mouths with money which we work for ourselves’ the group said.

The group highlighted the recent Vitals-Steward hospitals scandal and the recent Rosianne Cutajar and Yorgen Fenech WhatsApp chat leaks as matters which the government intends to cover with this ‘insulting’ move.

#MaltaDaily

Blue jellyfish wash ashore in Gozo & Malta’s southern coast

Mar 31 2023

Taking to social media, marine biologist Alan Deidun posted images of local coasts looking bluer than ever as the jellyfish known as Qlugħ in Maltese washes ashore.

The Velella Velella, known colloquially as by-the-wind-sailor jellyfish bloom covered areas of the Gozitan Xatt l-Aħmar and most of the southern coast of Malta in heaps of blue.

The photo was shared with Deidun by Lee Jellyman as the Spot the Jellyfish campaign continues to monitor the marine fauna as well as educate people further about these creatures.

The jellyfish looks like a blue, oval disc with a small sail. The jellyfish is classified as having a low irritation sting as it floats on the sea surface.

It is frequently found in the Mediterranean, especially during spring. It can form dense aggregations extending for kilometres on the sea surface. Specialised floating sea slugs and sea snails find it to be a delicious snack!

For more detailed information, read more on page 20 of this online Jellyfish manual provided by Deidun and his campaign.

#MaltaDaily