Latest news with #MareNostrum
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Kuwait Times
Scientific Center keen on preserving Kuwait's marine environment
visitors at the exhibition. KUWAIT: The Kuwait Scientific Center (KSC), a subsidiary of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), affirmed on Thursday its keenness to highlight national environmental efforts and raise awareness on the importance of protecting Kuwait's marine environment. Deputy Director General of Visitor Experience at the Scientific Center Mohammad Al-Sanousi told KUNA that the center held a specialized exhibition entitled 'Our Sea' on the sidelines of the 'Shark Week' activities held on July 17, noting that 'the exhibition started on Thursday, and concluded on Saturday.' Al-Sanousi explained that this specialized exhibition includes environmental pavilions with the participation of the Environment Public Authority (EPA), the General Directorate of Coast Guard, the Kuwait Diving Team, the Kuwait Heritage Society, the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), and governmental and private bodies that support the environmental sustainability process in the State of Kuwait. He stated that the exhibition pavilions highlight national environmental efforts and raise awareness on the importance of environmental sustainability for future generations, and have witnessed great turnout and interaction from visitors. A part of the exhibition Kuwait Fire Force Team Director of Public Relations and Media at the Public Authority Environment Minister Sheikha Al-Ibrahim told KUNA that the authority's participation in the 'Mare Nostrum' exhibition is represented by a pavilion that aims to spread environmental awareness and highlight the importance of protecting the marine environment. Al-Ibrahim stated that the participation of the Environment Authority included educational materials and interactive activities targeting various segments of society as part of its efforts to promote environmental culture and support sustainability. The leader of the Cubs Team of the Kuwait Diving Team, Meshari Al-Sanousi, said in a similar statement to KUNA that the Cubs Team's participation in this specialized exhibition comes as part of its efforts to spread environmental awareness and highlight the importance of preserving marine life, especially sharks. Al-Sanousi explained that the Cubs Team's participation is represented by an interactive pavilion that aims to raise the level of environmental awareness about protecting coasts and marine creatures with visual and realistic documentation of the Arabian Gulf environment. — KUNA
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Rome's Next Big Tourist Draw Risks Going Bust Before It Opens
(Bloomberg) -- The Aquarium of Rome wanted to open this year to show the millions of pilgrims and tourists flocking to the Italian capital that there's more on offer than ancient history and old churches. Instead, it's become a study in just how hard it is to deliver landmark building projects in modern times. Italian banks Intesa Sanpaolo SpA and UniCredit SpA still have a nominal interest in the struggling enterprise after being forced to write off 95% of their loan exposure to its owner in a previous restructuring. But talks to raise fresh cash from investors, including London-based distressed specialist Zetland Capital, have dragged on for years without conclusion, according to company filings seen by Bloomberg. That casts further doubt over the site's future. The location in Rome's EUR district — a neighborhood first developed in the fascist era and home to the monumental architecture popular back then — has been under construction for almost two decades, and will probably go bust if it doesn't open soon. Potential operating partners are holding off until the financing is secured. The 13,000 square-meter (139,930 square foot) project, meant to house more than 100 marine species, has already cost more than €100 million ($117 million). And it needs at least another €20 million to emerge from financial distress and finish the job, according to corporate filings. Making things worse is a drawn-out legal dispute with the EUR district authority, which is seeking damages from the site operator Mare Nostrum Romae Srl over the constant delays. 'The arrival of a new partner might be the only chance today to unblock the operation,' a spokesperson for EUR SpA, a company controlled by the Italian government that manages the area's development, wrote in a statement to Bloomberg. Representatives of Mare Nostrum and Zetland didn't respond to requests for comment. Spokespeople for Intesa and UniCredit declined to comment. The standoff and the struggle to secure new cash show how ambitious construction deals can quickly become a quagmire for providers of debt finance, especially if relations with local officials sour, creating a vicious circle of legal fears blocking the investment crucial to moving forward. While Italian courts have made progress in recent years to speed up litigation and insolvency processes, they still take longer than other top-rank economies. That's a red flag for international investors, even in distressed situations. The idea of the Rome aquarium was first dreamt up in the early 2000s, and the Ricciardis — a local family of developers — won a concession to build and run the site for 30 years. After a string of setbacks, delays and problems keeping up with its debts, their company Mare Nostrum had been seeking to open the site's doors this year to coincide with a Catholic Jubilee, a festival that's expected to attract 30 million pilgrims to Rome. It's looking ever more likely to miss out on that windfall. Negotiations with Zetland, founded by ex-HIG Capital managing director Ahmed Hamdani, hit a roadblock after it and other prospective backers asked for reassurances over an extension of Mare Nostrum's agreement to run the site that's set to expire in 2039, according to corporate filings by the Italian firm. EUR SpA has said it would be willing to grant a nine-year extension but has imposed conditions including for Mare Nostrum to tie up with firms with deeper pockets and more experience running aquariums. Costa Edutainment SpA, which operates Italy's largest aquarium in Genoa, is interested in the management of the site, once the financial issues are settled, a spokesperson told Bloomberg. Merlin Entertainments, a global manager of leisure parks and other attractions, previously retreated from a similar partnership. While Mare Nostrum cited 'positive prospects' for a legal settlement with EUR in its annual report, the lawsuit's still pending, according to EUR. There's skepticism too about the aquarium's prospects for getting started in 2025. 'It's difficult to expect an opening within the Jubilee year even with a new partner,' EUR said in its statement. --With assistance from Tiago Ramos Alfaro. More stories like this are available on
The Star
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Hoe Yean thrilled to share podium limelight with world champions
Proud: Khiew Hoe Yean with national swimming coach Eric Anderson at the Mare Nostrum swimming meet in France. PETALING JAYA: Malaysian swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean had the privilege of sharing the podium limelight with world champion swimmers Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong and New Zealand's Lewis Clareburt in the just concluded Mare Nostrum meet in Canet-En-Roussillon, France. Hoe Yean was one of the handful of Asians who managed to make the podium in the highly competitive swimming meet headlined by multiple Olympic medallists after he clinched third place in the men's 200m freestyle event.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Catherine Hardwicke, Rick Carter Lead Jury for Mediterrane Film Festival
Mediterrane Film Festival has revealed its international jury, which will include director Catherine Hardwicke and production designer Rick Carter. The new creative team for the festival, which runs from June 21 to 29 in Valletta, Malta, is led by festival director Ray Calleja and festival curator Mark Adams. More from Variety Malta's Mediterrane Film Festival Sets Jury and Special Programming Marcia Gay Harden, Virginia Madsen, Paris Jackson and Skeet Ulrich Join Catherine Hardwicke's 'Street Smart' Catherine Hardwicke Casts Isabelle Fuhrman, Yara Shahidi, Daniel Zovatto and Michael Cimino in 'Street Smart' The festival features three programming strands: the Main Competition, showcasing films from across the Mediterranean; Out of Competition, featuring a selection of international films; and Mare Nostrum (a.k.a. Our Sea), for films dedicated to sustainability and environmental themes. In addition to public screenings, the festival will host an industry strand, housed in the 400-year-old Fort Ricasoli, offering panels, roundtables and masterclasses from leading industry figures. The Main Competition jury will decide on the winners of the Golden Bee Awards, which will be announced at a gala event on June 29. As well as Hardwicke, director of 'Twilight, 'Thirteen' and 'Lords of Dogtown,' which will screen at the festival, and Carter, who won Academy Awards for 'Avatar' and 'Lincoln,' the jury also includes: costume designer Charlese Antoinette, whose credits include 'Air' and 'Judas and the Black Messiah,' for which she received a Costume Designers Guild Award nomination; set decorator Elli Griff, who was Oscar nominated for 'Napoleon'; production designer James Price, who won an Oscar with 'Poor Things'; and Maltese director Mario Philip Azzopardi, known for 'ZOS: Zone of Separation,' 'Habbilni Ha Nirbah' and 'Il-Gaġġa,' which is considered to be the first full-length feature film made entirely in Maltese. The Mare Nostrum jury will include Grainne Humphreys, artistic director of the Dublin Film Festival, and Ania Trzebiatowska, senior programmer at the Sundance Film Festival. Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech said: 'The Mediterrane Film Festival was born from a simple yet powerful idea – to connect creative minds from the Mediterranean and across Europe and transform their ideas into reality. We stand for opportunity, collaboration and creativity.' Calleja said: 'As we celebrate 100 years of filmmaking in Malta, we're honored to welcome an exceptional panel of judges who reflect the depth, diversity, and global reach of contemporary cinema. Together with our festival curator, Mark Adams, we're committed to shaping a program that not only honors Malta's cinematic past but also champions bold new voices from across the Mediterranean and beyond.' Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Malta's Mediterrane Film Festival Sets Jury and Special Programming
The Mediterrane Film Festival has set its international jury for the event that runs June 21 to 29 in Malta. Led by festival director Ray Calleja and curator Mark Adams, the third edition of the festival celebrates the centennial of film in the island nation, set in the capital city of Valletta. More from Variety Marcia Gay Harden, Virginia Madsen, Paris Jackson and Skeet Ulrich Join Catherine Hardwicke's 'Street Smart' Catherine Hardwicke Casts Isabelle Fuhrman, Yara Shahidi, Daniel Zovatto and Michael Cimino in 'Street Smart' 'Life,' 'To a Land Unknown' Win Main Prizes at Sophomore Edition of Mediterrane Film Festival The festival features a main competition selection featuring films from across the Mediterranean, an out of competition section with global programming and the Mare Nostrum (Our Sea) highlighting narrative and documentary films dedicated to sustainability and environmental themes. The festival also hosts an industry section at the 400-year old Fort Ricasoli featuring panels, roundtables and masterclasses from industry figures. Past speakers have included director Mike Leigh, 'Kinds of Kindness' editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis and 'Top Gun' casting director Margery Simkin. The jury for the Golden Bee awards, which are given at a gala event on June 29, will include Oscar-winning production designer Rick Carter, costume designer Charlese Antoinette, set decorator Elli Griff, director Catherine Hardwicke, production designer James Price, and Maltese director Mario Philip Azzopardi, director of the first feature film made in Maltese. The Mare Nostrum jury includes Dublin Film Festival artistic director Grainne Humphreys and Sundance senior programmer Ania Trzebiatowska. 'The Mediterrane Film Festival was born from a simple yet powerful idea – to connect creative minds from the Mediterranean and across Europe and transform their ideas into reality. We stand for opportunity, collaboration and creativity,' said Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech added. 'As we celebrate 100 years of filmmaking in Malta, we're honoured to welcome an exceptional panel of judges who reflect the depth, diversity, and global reach of contemporary cinema. Together with our Festival Curator, Mark Adams, we're committed to shaping a program that not only honors Malta's cinematic past but also champions bold new voices from across the Mediterranean and beyond.' said Festival Director Ray Calleja. The theme of the 2025 festival is 'We Are Film' – celebrating film, and connecting people through stories, emotions and shared experiences. Malta hosted its first feature film, 'Sons of the Sea,' in 1925, and has become a notable production hub for films and television programming including 'Gladiator,' 'Troy,' 'Popeye,' 'Game of Thrones' and 'Napoleon.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
