The 20 Mużika Mużika 2024 Semifinalists Announced

Nov 21 2023

Mużika Mużika 2024 has just announced the 20 semifinalists which will be competing in the very much locally beloved competition.

With many familiar faces, the talent will also be accompanied by some fresh blood as they take on the stage for a chance at the prestigious annual prize.

This comes after the 40 songs which passed through the first eliminatory phase were interpreted live, accompanied by a backing track and in front of a separate judging panel. Following a deliberation, the final 20 were chosen.

The Mużika Mużika board will now enter the next phase along with Festivals Malta as the final arrangements take place for the festival, which will take place between the 14th and 16th of March 2024.

How many of the singers do you recognise? You can find the official list here.

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Increase In Foreign Children Born In Malta Between 2011-2022

Nov 21 2023

According to an NSO report on World Children’s Day, Malta saw a substantial increase in foreign children in 2022 when compared to 2011.

In the reference year of 2011, Maltese children numbered 74,614, whereas foreign children numbered 2,113. With the total number of children being 18.4% of the entire 417,546 total population, Maltese children in 2011 registered at 97.2% of the entire child population in Malta.

In 2022, the number of Maltese children dropped to 67,272, whereas foreign children numbers increased to 14,691. With the percentage of total children in the total population dropping to 15.1% of 542,051, foreign children marked 17.9% of the total child population in 2022. Maltese children registered a population of 82.1%.

The NSO report also highlighted the amount of children aged 3 to 17 who enrolled in formal education. 33,120 male students of this age group enrolled during the scholastic year of 2021 to 22, with 4,585 being foreign.

As for females, 30,968 registered for the same scholastic year, with 4,252 being foreign.

As per percentage of children (between ages of 0 and 17) over total population, the South Eastern district registered the highest amount whereas the Northern Harbour district registered the lowest.

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Mainstage Reveal for the Upcoming Edition of Playcon

Nov 20 2023

Malta’s premier expo for video games, game development, and esports is set to make its highly anticipated return for the 3rd edition, taking place from Thursday, November 30th, to Sunday, December 3rd, at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali.

Spanning an impressive 7000 square meters of interactive and educational space, Playcon will serve as a showcase for the best that Malta has to offer in these dynamic sectors. Approximately 50 local and international companies contributing to video game development in Malta will exhibit their work, further positioning the island as an attractive destination for foreign investment in the digital sector.

Esteemed industry leaders such as Ubisoft, Keywords Studios, Exient, and ESL will headline this year’s edition of Playcon, underscoring their status as premier video game development companies and participants in international esports competitions.

Attendees will have the unique chance to engage with and play games developed by these companies, as well as participate in various competitions held throughout the event. A massive interactive stage, a local first for the Esports Industry in Malta, will host games and competitions throughout the 4 day event. Furthermore the stage will also host two satellite events as part of Playcon, Lyts Out the teen party and edition of Sunglasses at Night.

The Games Dev and Esports Summit, scheduled for Thursday, November 30th, and Friday, December 1st, will also be hosted on this massive stage. The summit shall bring together industry stakeholders to share insights and experiences on both local and global scales. With over 40 speakers, the summit provides a networking platform for those keen on exploring opportunities within these sectors, featuring internationally acclaimed experts.

Playcon will unfold from Thursday, November 30th, to Sunday, December 3rd, at MFCC, Ta’ Qali, with free entrance.

Organised by GMR with the support of Gaming Malta and the Ministry for the Economy, European Funds, and Lands, Playcon promises to be a groundbreaking event at the intersection of gaming, development, and esports.

For additional details, please visit www.playcon.mt

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Shakira Handed €7.3 Million Fine & 3 Year Suspended Sentence

Nov 20 2023

Colombian music sensation Shakira has reached a settlement with Spanish prosecutors in her tax fraud case, averting a trial and agreeing to pay millions in fines.

As part of the deal, the 46-year-old star will serve a three-year suspended sentence and contribute 7.3 million euros ($7.98 million) in fines.

The charges against Shakira involved allegations of defrauding the Spanish state of 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) in income earned between 2012 and 2014. She had contested the charges, asserting that she only became a full-time resident of Spain in 2015.

Wearing a pink suit and sunglasses, Shakira made no verbal statements to the reporters swarming the Barcelona courthouse. However, in a statement released by her legal team, she expressed her decision to settle for the well-being of her two sons, Milan and Sasha.

The singer emphasized the need to move past the emotional strain of recent years and focus on her children and upcoming career ventures, including a world tour and a new album.

The legal dispute centered on Shakira’s residency status in Spain from 2012 to 2014, with authorities contending that she spent a significant portion of that time in the country and should have paid taxes accordingly. Shakira’s defense argued that she led a “nomadic life” until 2014, earning primarily from international tours, and permanently moved to Barcelona just before the birth of her second son in 2015.

Following her split from former FC Barcelona star Gerard Pique in June 2022, Shakira relocated to Miami with her two sons. The trial, initially scheduled to last until December 14, involved an extensive list of almost 120 witnesses.

Shakira’s financial matters have previously come under scrutiny, with her inclusion in the “Pandora Papers” leak in October 2021, exposing global wealth and tax strategies. Notably, Spain has intensified efforts to combat tax evasion, exemplified by legal actions against high-profile figures such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Shakira’s former partner, Gerard Pique, also faced tax fraud charges in 2016, resulting in a 2.1 million euro payment to the tax office.

#MaltaDaily