8000 applications for passports in Malta in June 2022 alone

Aug 30 2022

Two years of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown drove a substantial amount of people in Malta to apply for their passport and seek time away abroad.

This saw up to 8000 applications for passports being inputted in June alone, which is double the number when compared to the same period of last year. Identity Malta was forced to increase its services by increasing time slots and upgrading online services.

Before the pandemic, Identity Malta used to receive around 2,000 and 3,000 applications for passports in June. Colonel Mark Mallia explained to TVM that:

‘The ground floor of the Public Registry was relegated solely to passport services. New stations were opened, as well as a new entry in Aldo Moro, and an online service was introduced to facilitate applications from the commodity of one’s home.’

Office times were also extended to six in the evening from Monday to Friday, with times extended to Sunday as well.

Many people are opting for holidays abroad, as both tourism and airport traffic also picks up pace towards pre-pandemic levels. Malta’s airport regained 84% of pre-pandemic traffic in June, meaning around 603,532 passengers travelled through the Malta International Airport.

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Emergency action by EU to stop rise in energy prices

Aug 30 2022

The European Union is set to take emergency action to reform the electricity market and halt the significant rise in prices as they soar due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Energy ministers from EU member states will be holding urgent talks in Brussels on September 9th. EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said that the ‘skyrocketing electricity prices are now exposing the limitations of our current electricity market design.’

High gas prices have also been blamed on disruptions to the nuclear and hydroelectric sectors as climate change continues to batter countries with heatwaves.

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz also called for action, saying at a press conference after talks with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, that they are in complete agreement that rapid action has to be taken.

The European Commission is yet to publish a detailed plan for market reform, but a temporary cap on wholesale gas prices is being called for by some member states.

Officials are considering measures to split the electricity price setting from the gas price and consider alternative sources of energy. As some other member states launch their own price reduction measures, Brussels is calling fr a more united front as this would be more effective, it claims.

This comes as all EU blocs attempt to become independent from Russian oil and gas after the latter’s war against Ukraine.

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Two of Malta’s biggest bands uniting for ONE extraordinary concert

Aug 29 2022

As far as Malta’s music scene goes, few bands enjoy as much widespread appeal and fan love as The Travellers and Red Electric… and the two music giants are coming together for ONE incredible concert.

Red Electric and The Travellers today have announced that their concert called ONE, originally scheduled to be held pre-covid, will be held on 30th of September 2022 at Sky Club and we honestly can’t wait to see what they have in story.

After leaving their mark in Maltese concert history back in 2019, the two beloved local bands will come together once again for an innovative concept unlike any other, with one 11-man band performing one Maltese hit after the other with a number of surprises along the way.

Haven’t secured your ticket yet? You can do so now by visiting this link!

Send this to a fan of The Travellers or Red Electric!

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Youths set up football fundraiser for 19-year-old coma patient

Aug 29 2022

Three youths – Michela, Matthew and Beppe – came together to create a fundraiser 5-aside football match to help a 19-year-old who unexpectedly ended up in a coma, due to 3 strokes and having to undergo a craniotomy.

The young Keith Carabott now requires a van which is set to cost upwards of €30,000, a wheelchair specifically designed for his condition as well as funds for his family to get by.

With his mother, father and his brother Matthias caring for Keith at the hospital, the family’s income took a rather large toll as they try to cope with the tragic circumstance which befell them.

The siblings are thus asking all those who can to donate and help Keith and his family through the ‘Kick it for Keith’ fundraiser. The event has secured free catering, DJs, teams for the football games as well as vouchers for the winners.

Your help through a donation would massively help this family as they work through this ordeal, with a goal of €30,000. This would go towards the specifically designed wheel-chair, the van and all other requirements the family would need to give Keith all the assistance he needs. Despite being a large sum, the fundraisers hope that when pooled in by as many people as possible, it would become a dream come true.

The event itself is scheduled for this Friday 2nd September and you can donate (with name) per whole team via Revolut : 99567915.

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