22% discount in Internet services for senior citizens

Jul 16 2021

Senior citizens over the age of 60 living in the community will be able to benefit from new offers on internet services using their Senior Citizen ID card. The agreement was signed between the Department of Active Ageing and Community Care and GO, with Elderly and Active Ageing Minister Michael Farrugia stating that around 120,000 seniors could potentially benefit from this discount. Aimed at encouraging senior citizens to use different methods of technology and stay communally active, senior citizens who present their Maltese ID card will get a reduction on their internet service ranging between 17% and 22%.

Anzjani li għandhom ‘il fuq minn 60 sena u li jgħixu fil-komunità, se jkunu jistgħu jibbenefikaw minn offerti ġodda fuq…

Posted by Tabib Michael Farrugia on Thursday, 15 July 2021

GO’s chief commercial officer Antonio Ivankovic explained that senior citizens can benefit from a price reduction on Home Internet and a TV package which includes over 10,000 hours of films/series at a reduced price of €30 per month from € 35.99. For older people who wish to benefit from online offers outside the home, the Mobile Internet Service will have a price reduction from € 24.99 to € 19.99 per month whereas those who have the Home Pack will have a price reduction from € 22.99 to € 17.99 per month.

With 60 companies and 114 businesses forming part of the Kartanzjan scheme, the benefits allow over-60s to get discounts from a number of different shops around the Maltese islands. The minister also stated that the expression of interest is still open to businesses and other companies which are interested in being part of the scheme.

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Photo Source: Tabib Michael Farrugia FB, Japan Top News

Parts of China to deny access to hospitals and schools for the unvaccinated

Jul 16 2021

As the country targets an inoculation rate of at least 80% against COVID-19, parts of China will be banning access to hospitals, schools and nursing homes to unvaccinated individuals. Dozens of county-level governments in at least eight provinces have published notices, giving citizens until late July or early August to receive their jab. After this deadline, everyday life public services will be restricted to anyone who does not comply. The push by local governments comes as the ruling party outlined its goal to achieve herd immunity by December of this year.

Epidemiologist with the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Shao Yiming stated that given the protection rate of Chinese vaccines is below 100%, China needs to fully vaccinate 80-85% of residents. This is equivalent to 1 billion of the country’s 1.4 total population. China largely contained the spread, with many residents seeing little need to receive the jab. However, recent outbreaks in localities have pushed fear of infection and prompted a rush to get vaccinated.

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Photo Source: South China Morning Post

Eiffel Tower to welcome back guests following nine month closure

Jul 16 2021

Following its longest closure since World War II, the iconic Paris wonder the Eiffel Tower is set for reopening on Friday. The tower has been closed for nine months, caused by the ever-persistent COVID-19 pandemic. The 300-metre summit of the ‘Iron Lady’ is set to welcome tourists back, albeit with a 13,000 people daily capacity. This is half of the normal level in order to abide with social distancing rules and regulations.

France has also just imposed new requirements which state that visitors will need to show proof of vaccination or negative PCR test starting Wednesday next week. Early reservations for tickets during the summer holidays show how Paris’ tourism industry was impacted due to travel restrictions. British ticket holders were almost totally absent, with Americans making only 15%. Half of the visitors are expected to be French, with Italians and Spanish making up higher proportions than usual. The tower’s operating company Sete is set to seek additional governmental aid to stay afloat after having its revenues fall by 75% in 2020.

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Photo Source: Engoo

Woman who attempted to smuggle drugs hidden in bra to prisoner given jail sentence

Jul 16 2021

A 40-year-old woman resident of Sliema was handed an eight month jail sentence and €2,000 fine for attempting to smuggle drugs into prison. Graziella Francalanza was charged that on the 5th November and weeks before, she was trafficking and possessed heroin. She attempted to smuggle the drug into the Corradino Correctional Facility. After police conducted investigations following reports that she was going to smuggle drugs to a prisoner when he was set to appear in court, the woman was arrested upon her entrance in court.

Francalanza was taken to the Valletta police station where she gave them the packet of drugs which she hid in her bra. The drugs racked up to 0.81 grams and was 32% pure. Around 11 hours of telephone calls had also been recorded, in which the prisoner for whom the drugs were intended, was heard speaking and suggesting that some things be passed on to him. It also resulted that two weeks prior to the case the same accused had passed something on to the prisoner via a kiss.

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Photo Source: Kamra tal-Periti