Yazmin Helledie turns 28

May 13 2023

Recently announced Love Island Malta host, Yazmin Helledie, is turning 28 today.

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Yazmin rose to prominence during X-Factor Malta season 2 when she was paired with James Mifsud and tutored by Howard Keith.

But there is more to Yazmin outside of the world of music, having graduated from the University of Malta with a degree in B.Sc Communication Therapy and spending time working as an LSE with students.

Her latest gig as Love Island Malta host will undoubtedly push Helledie’s career forward, considering the popularity the programme has achieved off of Maltese shores.

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“Living in your ego stops growth” – Neil Agius.

May 13 2023

Neil Agius, a record-breaking swimmer and ocean advocate, recently announced his next challenge of swimming 160 kilometers between Mallorca and Ibiza from June 25th to July 17th. This feat will require a whopping 70 hours of swimming and 175,000 strokes. Agius is no stranger to taking on seemingly impossible challenges. He previously set a record for the longest ocean swim by swimming over 135km from Linosa to Malta in around 50 hours in 2021.

Yesterday evening, he captured the attention of many with his recent social media post where he shared a photo of his personal journal, revealing quotes that he lives by and that push him to be the best version of himself. These quotes have helped him overcome some of the toughest ocean challenges and reflect his champion mentality. The post has highlighted Agius’ mental and emotional preparation, as well as his physical preparation, for his upcoming challenge.

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Agius is also the co-founder of the ‘Wave of Change’ campaign, which focuses on raising awareness of plastic pollution and promoting ocean conservation. By sharing his personal journal, Agius continues to inspire and advocate for ocean conservation, encouraging others to take action and make a positive impact on the environment.

Agius’ dedication and passion for ocean conservation have earned him a reputation as a great inspiration and advocate. Through his incredible achievements and his personal ethos, he continues to inspire others to challenge themselves and make a difference in the world.

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Oldest Male Lion in the World Killed

May 13 2023

A male lion named Loonkiito, believed to be one of the oldest in the world, was killed after attempting to take livestock from a community in Kenya.

The lion was 19 years old and was born in 2004. He lived in the Amboseli-tsavo ecosystem, which is an area in Kenya that protects hundreds of species of wildlife and over 1.3 million acres of land across four national parks. The news of Loonkiito’s death was announced by the conservation organization Lion Guardians on social media, expressing their “heavy hearts” and stating that Loonkiito was the “oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa”.

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Loonkiito was killed in Olkelunyiet village, and the charity explained that a drought in the area had made it difficult for lions to find wild prey, making hunting for food much trickier for them. As a result, Loonkiito and other lions were forced to turn to the local communities’ livestock for food. The communities were already vigilant and protective about their remaining animals, and this led to the lion trying to take livestock from the village.

Lion Guardians explained in a statement that “Unfortunately, Loonkiito was caught up in this dynamic as he was starving and jumped into an animal pen in the middle of the night.” The charity recognized that the situation was tough for both the community and the lion.

However, Lion Guardians also noted that a decade ago, no lions in the Amboseli-tsavo ecosystem lived beyond the age of 10. Loonkiito’s impressive longevity, along with other lions around a similar age, was credited to the efforts of “the communities who bear the burden of sharing land with lions”. The charity said that it would remember Loonkiito as a symbol of “resilience and coexistence”, and it emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to protect wildlife and foster peaceful coexistence between people and animals.

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UOM launches first European Bench to promote dialogue and collaboration across Europe

May 13 2023

The University of Malta Campus in Msida launched its first European Bench on Friday, an initiative brought to Malta by the Young European Federalists (JEF) with the support of the European Parliament Office in Malta. The initiative aims to create spaces that foster dialogue, understanding, and collaboration among individuals from different European countries and promote European integration.

JEF Malta’s President, Nicole Spiteri, explained that the European Bench serves as a symbol of the value of diversity and the benefits that come from working together towards common goals. As part of a wider initiative to strengthen European integration, the physical commitment to bringing people together highlights the importance of dialogue and understanding.

MEP Alex Agius Saliba also supported the initiative, stating that the European Bench project encompasses the values that make us truly European. He believes that this initiative, taken up by JEF, is a way to fight against right-wing extremism by promoting the values of solidarity, democracy, and equality. Saliba hopes to see more benches like this one mushrooming all around Malta and Gozo.

The Head of the European Parliament Office in Malta, Mario Sammut, also underscored the bench’s importance, stating that it will offer a visual testimony of the presence of the European Union in our lives. The European Parliament Office in Malta enthusiastically supports such worthy initiatives.

The European Bench project began in Italy as a response to the vandalisation of a European bench in the Italian city of Lecco, defaced by Nazi symbols in July 2021. This prompted a group of JEFers from the local section to launch crowdfunding for the repair of the damaged bench. Thanks to their efforts, there are now more than 50 benches throughout Italy as part of this initiative.

In Malta, the European Bench at the University of Malta is planned to be the first of a series, aiming to promote European values and unity in the face of hate and intolerance. As part of the Panchine Europee in Ogni Citta campaign, people from all over Europe will paint benches in the colours or form of the EU in their home countries.

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