Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1527317
8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 OCTOBER 2024 NEWS Booker Prize-winning author Paul Lynch set for the Malta Book Festival 2024 IRISH author Paul Lynch, whose 2023 novel Prophet Song won the prestigious Booker, will be a special guest at the 2024 edition of the Malta Book Festival. The event is organised by the Na- tional Book Council (NBC) and taking place at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), Ta' Qali from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 November. This was announced during a press conference launching the programme of the Malta Book Festival 2024. Paul Lynch's par- ticipation was made possible with the support of the Irish Embassy in Malta. Lynch will be in conversation with Maltese journalist Emma Mattei on Friday 8 November, in a public event forming part of the Festival's jam-packed programme. In his address, National Book Council Chairman Mark Camilleri noted the steady growth of the Malta Book Festi- val, which continues to expand in both scope and ambition. "This year, we are welcom- ing around 6,000 registered students from primary, mid- dle and secondary schools," he said, adding that the Festival remains free for all, offering a wide range of activities. These include workshops led by industry professionals, ses- sions with literary agents, and a masterclass by popular au- thor Anthony Horowitz — who will be joining Lynch as anoth- er high-profile international guest. Camilleri also empha- sized how like in previous years a Sensory-Friendly Room, will be designed for those needing a quiet space, thanks to collabo- rations with Inspire Malta and APS Bank. Camilleri expressed his pride in the Malta Book Festival's growing international stature, highlighting the participation of Booker Prize-winning au- thor Paul Lynch. "Attracting such high-profile names reflects the festival's rising prestige," he remarked. He thanked the Festival's many collaborators and noted the in- creasing number of exhibitors and foreign cultural partners contributing to the event's suc- cess. Camilleri also stressed the crucial importance of partners such as Arts Council Malta, APS and Inspire Malta, along with Energy & Water Agency, Benna, the Water Services Cor- poration and Piscopo Gardens. Speaking at the press con- ference, Irish Ambassador to Malta Caroline Whelan said that it was a "particular pleas- ure" to collaborate with the NBC in their efforts to bring "Ireland's latest international literary success, Paul Lynch, to the Maltese Islands". Highlighting that Prophet Song was the best-selling book in Ireland for 2023, the Ambas- sador stressed how Lynch now joins an illustrious tradition of Booker Prize-winning Irish authors, among them the likes of Iris Murdoch, John Ban- ville, Roddy Doyle, Anne En- right and Anna Burns, which "shines a light on the range of extraordinary literary talent that continues to emerge from the country". During his intervention, Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innova- tion Clifton Grima commend- ed the NBC for once again or- ganising a exceptional edition of the Malta Book Festival, which has grown from strength to strength each year and pro- vides a vibrant hub for Maltese book culture to thrive. Grima noted that the Festi- val's programme gives ample space to book lovers and in- dustry professionals to interact and turn challenges into op- portunities. He commended the NBC for its collaborations with other entities to further enhance the profile of the event. He referred to the national strategy for ed- ucation and how the Festival puts the people and students at the heart of its preparations. The Malta Book Festival will be taking place at the Mal- ta Fairs & Conventions Cen- tre (MFCC), Ta' Qali from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 No- vember. For more information and to stay updated on the latest de- velopments, visit ktieb.org.mt and the Malta Book Festival Facebook and Instagram page. VIDEO footage published by the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) shows a protected Honey Buzzard being shot down by a poach- er near Buskett Gardens last Friday. The footage shows the low-flying bird over Tal-Virtù heading towards the Buskett bird sanctuary where nu- merous other Honey Buzzards had already landed to roost that evening. Suddenly a single shot can be heard, and the hit bird immediately starts to free fall to the ground. After the incident a man with a shotgun was filmed searching the ar- ea where the bird was downed. "We assume that the poacher noticed our team and then decided to leave and not retrieve the bird," said CABS Wildlife Crime Officer Fiona Burrows. After CABS met with officers of the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU), they were able to locate the critically injured bird in farmland where it was recovered by the officers. The video evidence was shown to the officers who managed to find and question the suspect. In a separate incident, a CABS team witnessed the killing of another Hon- ey Buzzard looking for shelter in the Has-Saptan valley on Monday morn- ing. "The incident was not filmed, and the bird could not be found," CABS said, adding that its members also documented five cases of protect- ed birds of prey with fresh wounds and feather damage typical of shot- gun-injuries. The birds included two Peregrine Falcons, a Honey Buzzard and two Marsh Harriers. All were observed and photographed near Gir- genti and Buskett Gardens. CABS praised the EPU for their quick response and professional co- operation with its teams. It also highlighted the "sterling work" done by Birdlife Malta and the Malta Ranger Unit whose reports to the au- thorities have also led to the success- ful conviction of numerous shooters and trappers in the last weeks. "Malta has gone a long way in the last 20 years and the scale of illegal bird killings has undoubtedly decreased since then. However, the recent cas- es show that despite a strong surveil- lance network formed by NGOs and the Police, there is still a good number of fanatics out there who are willing to take the risk," CABS Officer Axel Hirschfeld concluded. Poachers kill protected Honey Buzzards near Buskett and Has-Saptan A hunter with protected Bee-eater in his hand (Birzebbuga, 24 Sept)